A theme I have really noticed during #alsc20 is #giveyourselfgrace.We all have strengths. We all have weaknesses. #giveyourselfgrace.It can be easy to think you are not doing enough, or are doing bad work. #giveyourselfgraceThere are so many great ideas out there and you cannot always do everything. #giveyourselfgraceUnplanned, unforeseen personal events are always happening. #giveyourselfgraceYou have a life and a family and anxieties and troubles. Those are valid #giveyourselfgrace Add more reasons in the comments and remember. GIVE. YOURSELF. GRACE.
Category: ALA Virtual Conference 2020
Song & Story Share!

Wow! This session was a plethora of amazing information. People shared in the chat, in a Google Document, and turned on their camera to share live. Topics included Baby Storytime, Favorite Storytime Books, Rhymes, Flannelboards, Inclusivity, and more! I’ll just share some highlights and links: The Resource Handout from today’s brainstorm is here. ALSC’s Virtual Storytime Services Guide is here. Miss Rose’s Ukulele Storytimes are here. A wonderful ASL (American Sign Language) resource is here. Someone shared an amazing personal Storytime Resources document (can’t find the person’s name- I apologize!). It’s here. Renee Grassi was a superb host! I had to download the transcript so I can look back later for all the great sharing! I could have been there for hours.
Surrounded by Story: A Conversation with Minh Lê, Siman Nuurali, Bao Phi, & Kao Kalia Yang. Facilitated by Sara Park Dahlen

Let me set the scene. My dog ate a sock last night, so I was up for hours with a soundtrack of puppy upchuck. In preparation, I had my pumpkin spice coffee ready to go this morning. I signed in to the morning session, and the chat box was booming and participants were excited. Well, my coffee sat untouched, because this conversation pole-vaulted me into the morning. Sara Park Dahlen, Associate Professor in the Master of Library and Information Science Program at St. Catherine University, facilitated the initial session about unimpeded truths. Its afterglow is still swirling around the air in my office. As children, all four of these authors were surrounded by story. Kao Kalia Yang’s grandmother used to lift her arm and state that every piece of hair on it is a tree, and the veins were rivers. Minh Lêparticipated in “storytelling by necessity”: he made up…
ALSC 101 (Virtual!) Recap
Every June, ALSC members gather on the Saturday night of ALA Annual to get to know one another, play games, win some prizes, and learn more about the Association. It is also an opportunity for prospective members to see what ALSC is about and to learn how to get involved. When the conference went virtual this year, ALSC 101 went virtual as well. Held on August 1st, Virtual ALSC 101 welcomed a panel of new and seasoned members, a trivia game, and breakout sessions.
Notable Children’s Books Discussion List, Summer 2020
Be a part of history! Join the Notable Children’s Books meetings from the comfort and privacy of your home or office. The ALSC Notable Children’s Books committee is taking their public discussions to you! This committee normally holds their evaluation meetings in an open, public forum at the Mid-Winter and Annual conferences. Without an in-person Annual Conference, the committee will host their discussions over Zoom, and YOU are invited to listen in. Audience members do not contribute to the discussion, but listen as the committee members debate each of the items on their discussion lists as they search for materials that meet the Notable criteria. This is an opportunity to hear about some children’s books that have been published in the first half of 2020; it is also an opportunity to learn about the evaluation process. Two meetings to be held on Wednesday, July 1 and Thursday July 2 at 1:00 pm Central…
Notable Children’s Recordings, Discussion List – Summer 2020
Be a part of history! Join the Notable Children’s Recordings meetings from the comfort and privacy of your home or office. The ALSC Notable Children’s Recordings committee is taking their public discussions to you!
The ALA Book Award Celebration #TheBookAwardCelebration
Today was supposed to be the Newbery Caldecott Legacy Banquet — the big celebration of children’s books at the ALA Annual Conference which honors some of the best of the best in children’s books which were published last year. As we all know, due to the pandemic, the “in person” conference was cancelled this year, and with it, the “in person” Banquet. But never fear! ALA has come up with an astounding day celebrating even more books for youth in an all day celebration! It’s The ALA Book Award Celebration! And that day is TODAY! Read on for for more information from the official ALA anouncement which gives all the details: The American Library Association (ALA) is offering an exciting new free all-day virtual event celebrating the winners of several of its major book awards, including the esteemed Newbery and Caldecott medals, the Coretta Scott King Book Awards, the Printz Award,…
#alavirtual20 is NOT over!
I’m going to be honest – working full-time (from home), with a five year old has not allowed for a typical conference experience. At this point (and conference is “officially” over), I have been able to view three sessions. They were excellent, but THREE! In case you are wondering – you should check out the Opening Session featuring Misty Copeland, Matthew Cordell, and Healing Reading Trauma: Rebuilding a Love of Reading Through Libraries for Liberation – they are all fantastic. This weekend, I look forward to catching up. I am so thankful that sessions have been recorded. Usually, I scroll through Twitter and feel “session envy.” Now, I can go back and attend whatever session I want. And, OF COURSE, I am thrilled for the day long event on Sunday, available at ALA’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/AmLibraryAssociation. Do I wish I were dressing up and attending the banquet live? YES!…