Category: ALSC Institute 2024

ALSC Institute 2024

Book Evaluation Lessons from the Bill Morris Seminar

| Vanessa Salo|Leave a comment
Caldecott House

Like fellow #alsc2024 bloggers Lisa and Mitzi, I had the privilege of attending the Bill Morris Seminar this year. The seminar offered so much insight into the best practices for evaluating books for children. Whether you hope to serve on an ALSC, YALSA, or a state award committee (I spent three years evaluating history, biography, and historical fiction books for children for my state library association’s book awards!), here are some lessons that I plan to use in the future:

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ALSC Institute 2024

Reflections on Program Challenges Post-ALSC Institute #alsc2024

| ALSC Membership Committee|Leave a comment

This blog post is about my experience with program challenges, book challenges, and how I responded to these things personally and professionally. Before I start, I know that many other libraries are facing similar challenges, threats of violence, and legislative action, which leads to burnout, trauma, and leaving the field all together. We all know this is happening, so I want to provide some resources before I begin:

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ALSC Institute 2024

Reflections from my first ALSC Institute

| Rob Bittner|Leave a comment

Hello ALSC Members! I had the opportunity to attend my first ALSC Institute this year, which took place in Denver just a few short weeks ago, and I wanted to share some thoughts and observations. But first, I want to give a huge shout out to the live blogging team, who covered education panels, shared ideas, and pointed out ways to get further involved in ALSC.

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ALSC Institute 2024

Looking through a new lens – lessons from #ALSC2024

| Catherine Ash|Leave a comment

By the afternoon of day two of the 2024 ALSC National Institute, my mind was spinning from the fantastic author talks, the informative sessions, and the many, many informal talks about library life. To be honest, my energy was flagging just a bit. But during the afternoon sessions, I was once again inspired by the librarians who were presenting their work, and once again I found myself rapidly jotting down ideas about what I might incorporate in my own work once I got home. 

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ALSC Institute 2024

Taking it all home…#ALSC2024

| Elizabeth Sanderson|Leave a comment

Today was the wrap up for #ALSC2024. The sessions I attended offered a lot of practical information and resources. It struck me that librarians are always so glad to share the information they have gathered, and share the wealth of their experience. I learned strategies to support caregivers called FFN. (People who are friends, family and neighbors of the parents whose children that they watch, who may not identify as caregivers.) I learned some innovative and realistic ways to implement sustainable outreach, and how to use graphic novels to aid in emotional literacy.

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ALSC Institute 2024

Libraries Supporting Students with Dyslexia #alsc2024

| Trisha Parsons|Leave a comment

One of the school mottos at Hamlin Robinson School, Seattle, WA, is “A place where learning has no limits.” Claire Elam and Danielle Melilli work in the libraries through Hamlin Robinson School, whose mission is to “ignite the academic and creative potential of students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences.” Although they work in a school library, Claire and Danielle believe that the public library is one of the best places to connect families to their community resources. What is dyslexia?Dys means difficulty and lexia means reading, but dyslexia is more than difficulty with reading. It includes challenges with decoding abilities and spelling. For dyslexic readers, there is often a deficit in the phonological component, which means a challenge understanding the individual sounds of a letter. A reader with dyslexia has to work about 5x harder, which means that dyslexia can impede the growth of background knowledge, which is…

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ALSC Institute 2024

Why I Love the ALSC National Institute – Version #ALSC2024

| Laura Schulte-Cooper|Leave a comment

Of all conferences I attend as an ALSC staff member, the ALSC National Institute is the event I look forward to most. Working at the registration desk, I get to interact with so many of the attendees and love their energy. And there’s always a unique networking event that gets us out of the conference hotel to explore the local area. In 2022, it was The (amazing!) Rabbit Hole in Kansas City. So fun! This year, we checked out Cervecería Colorado, a Denver brewery that “believes beer is inclusive, collaborative, and celebratory.” And it really is! I had a fantastic time. I got to chat more personally with ALSC members I’ve known for years and met some new library friends, too. The craft beer was excellent, and the atmosphere was cozy and inviting. This wonderful event was hosted by REFORMA Colorado, and, the best part, 20% of the evening’s proceeds…

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