“Nerd out as long as you want.” This is what one library staff said to me when I wandered into the children’s room at the Parkway Central Library in Philly, when I explained I was here for ALA Midwinter and just needed to “nerd out.” I mean, I can’t visit a new city and NOT visit the main library. And I am one of the fortunate ones whose train doesn’t leave until tomorrow morning, so that’s what I did today after the Youth Media Awards. The main library is a big impressive building and very easy to get to from the conference. I really appreciate how user-friendly SEPTA — Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority — is. I grabbed the #32 bus on the curb by the Convention Center and took it eight stops down where it let me off right in front of the building. Though chartered in 1891 by Dr. William…
Category: ALA Midwinter 2020
#alamw20 – where to go from here?
This was my second ALA Midwinter, and the first one I’ve been to since 2017. I didn’t get to the YMAs this year, but am THRILLED that the Newbery went to Jerry Craft’s graphic novel, New Kid. (Thanks to everyone posting the YMAs as they were announced, too – I was refreshing my Twitter and Instagram feeds like a woman possessed this morning!) It was exciting to be back at Midwinter. There’s an energy at this show you just can’t describe, you need to feel. I got to spend some time with my ALSC mentee, Samantha; even though we didn’t get a chance to write that joint blog post at MW, maybe there’s another one in the making soon! I got to attend my first committee meeting; got to see publisher and librarian folks I normally only get to chat with online; and brought home SO MANY BOOKS. Seriously, SO…
#alamw20 Let’s Hear It for Graphic Novel…Audios!
Some of you may be thinking…graphic novel audios? What in the world is that? Others, I know, are thinking…Yes! Bring it on! What I can listen to next? My personal goal is spread the word about graphic audios and make everyone a fan of this incredible type of audiobook. Full disclosure here, I served on the 2017 Odyssey Award committee, and I continue to blog about children’s and teen audiobooks through a blog that I maintain with fellow past Odyssey members, Natalie Marshall and Lizzie Nolan. So, I am certainly not unbiased when it comes to talking about the power of great audiobooks. I have been delighted to see all of the great programs and events that highlight outstanding audiobooks: Listen Up: Tips for Growing Audiobook Circulation, Recording Graphic Novel Audiobooks: Victoria Jamieson’s Roller Girl and R.J. Palacio’s White Bird, Behind the Mic: Authors on Podcasting and Audiobooks. It was…
Youth Media Awards!!! #alamw20 #alayma20
Just….yay! The YMAs are the highlight of the conference for me, and judging by all of the people around me—jumping up and down, cheering, crying, clapping and clapping and clapping—I think that I am not alone. Today’s award ceremony was just as exciting as I had hoped. Many congratulations go out to the talented authors, illustrators, narrators, and librarians who were honored today. And congratulations to the ones who didn’t make today’s awards list, but who have made such an impression on our hearts, too. We thank you for making a difference! We really can’t forget to recognize the hard work of the committee members who read and read and read and listened and listened and listened and then talked up a storm—all year long. They have given hours of their time in order to select the best of the best, and that is really something. Congratulations to all on…
#alamw20 Here we go!!!
The committees are in the house and the buzz is huge in this auditorium! So exiting!!!
Mail Those Books and Swag Home #alamw2020
Midwinter is winding down, and many of us are now in possession of bags and bags full of free swag. Books, tote bags, books, pens, books, posters, books … you get the idea. Instead of trying to squeeze all of your finds into your luggage, consider using the Post Office that’s right on the exhibit hall floor. That’s right. You heard me. There is a temporary U.S. Post Office right on the exhibit floor. I mail all that stuff home. No more struggling to lift that carry on bag into the overheard compartment. No more repacking at the airport so my bags aren’t over the weight limit. It is so much easier than trying to haul them to plane, train, or automobile. And the added bonus is that I get a package in the mail a few days after I get home. And there are always a few surprises in…
Kobe Bryant, Coronavirus and things that keep me up at night (like censorship of LQBTQIA+ authors, and youth media awards excitement)… #alamw20
Trying to shield the blue light of my phone screen from the peacefully sleeping husband and baby beside me. Slept a deep deep sleep and woke to the powerful urge to plan my last conference day. It’s 3:37 AM. I also want to reflect on yesterday. I captured my day in notes, media and book buzz bags. I want to share some of the bigger moments.I was leading a digital media discussion group with the Film & Media Roundtable when news broke about basketball player Kobe Bryant’s startling death in a helicopter accident. My best friend Allison was helping me live tweet the discussion via the FMRT twitter account. The FMRT Digital Media Discussion is starting now at #alamw20 in room 111-B. pic.twitter.com/PhYKjd8bPk — Film & Media Round Table (@ALA_FMRT) January 26, 2020 After the discussion, she returned my phone to me and said, some big news and messages rolled…
The YMA’s are coming! Prediction Round Up #alscleftbehind #alaleftbehind
The YMA’s are coming, The YMA’s are coming. THE YMA’S ARE COMING! As the 2020 Youth Media Awards are less than eight hours away- most committee members are hopefully in bed after surviving the day without blabbing the big news and getting sleep before the ever-exciting phone call to the lucky winners. As for me, I’m using every minute to continue to get predictions in because- why not? And statistics are fun, especially mocks/ Youth Media Award related statistics! Betsy Bird switched up her predictions this year by dividing into categories, Heavy Medal did the full balloting process, Colby Sharp made a video of his picks, I decided to take all of the winners of the ALSC submitted results and find the winners among those! I went through every category and awarded four points to every medalist and three points to the honor winner. My list includes the clear winners from…