Category: Institute 2010

Why do I love ALSC Institutes? Because I get to . . . Meet . . . incredible authors and subject experts and then, in turn, inform, inspire, and impress folks back home. In Salt Lake City Laura Vaccaro Seeger unveiled her fantastic One Boy and then, a few months later, when it won a Geisel Honor I felt like I knew it and its background intimately, having an inside edge on the masterpiece. Other authors and subject experts such as Christopher Paul Curtis, Carol Peterson, K. T. Horning, Betsy Diamant-Cohen, and Michele Gorman imparted their brilliance in a setting that was intimate and interactive in a way only an Institute can be. Greet . . . old friends and amazing new acquaintances with social time and specific sessions for networking. It really is an unmatchably great chance to get to know names you recognize and those that are future…

The Institute started off the way any great endeavor should: at a brewery sharing good food and beer with new acquaintances! The meet-up in the brewery was the evening before the start of the actual Institute and helped everyone get in the swing of the next day’s programs. It was my first Institute and I was impressed by the range of programs, attendees, venue and how beautiful Salt Lake was. I enjoyed being able to take all the programs as they rotated during the two days we were together. There was a great mix of technology and collection development offerings, comfortable seating, and great food. It was fabulous to have everything in one place; no rushing off to another hotel or conference center; you didn’t even have to leave the hotel if you didn’t want to! Our rooms, the programs, meals and classes were all in the same hotel. And…

This was the first time I attended one of ALSC’s National Institutes, and it was a truly gratifying and inspiring experience.  The quality and know-how of the speakers was particularly impressive.  Being fairly new in my position as Children’s Materials Specialist I was especially interested in attending sessions geared towards the evaluation and selection of children’s materials. Both sessions I attended, part of the Inspiring Lifelong Reading track, were extremely informative and helpful.  The institute also included invited authors, something I always look forward to.  Opening General Session Keynote speaker Laura Vaccaro Seeger shared with us her path to becoming a children’s author and illustrator and her creative process (including a sneak peek at the next picture book in the “Dog and Bear” series published in 2009.)  Christopher Paul Curtis was the Friday Luncheon guest speaker.  Again, it was a treat to listen to Mr. Curtis’ personal experiences and how…

A little nudge for those of you contemplating attending ALSC Institute in Atlanta! Just want to say that the connections and friendships formed at an ALSC program are real and long lasting.  I presented at the Institute in Salt Lake City in 2008. That was two years ago…but just last month I received a request from an attendee who now serves on her State Commission for Libraries.  She needed permission to post handouts from the Institute on her monthly newsletter. The verbalization and exchange of ideas “in person” is invaluable.  It takes the palatable energy and buzz of a room full of people who love kids, children’s literature and children’s programming to make things happen!  My favorite thing? It was especially fun to sit down to a table full of complete strangers and  immediately start talking (and laughing).   We had so much in common…we  seriously could become best friends in…

I have attended several ALSC Institutes and they are consistently the best conference I attend every two years, and the 2008 conference was no exception. I took back so many great ideas…in fact; I just referred to my folder again last week. I remember attending a “Best Books” workshop and then coming home to read lots of books off the list, learning about the latest blogging sites and setting up my own account, attending an outstanding presentation on graphic novels for kids, and listening to the ever humorous Christopher Paul Curtis. Every session I went to was informative and engaging. The hotel and conference rooms were very nice and everything was easily accessible. I even enjoyed a tour of the Family History Library and Children’s Museum with a smaller group. One of the nicest things about the conference is the manageable size. At the conclusion of the conference, my husband…

The ALSC Institute is the best conference a children’s library could ever attend. All the workshops are totally relevant for children’s librarians. There are always many children’s authors for you to meet, talk to, and of course get your books signed. The networking opportunities with other children’s people are awesome. Just about everything is covered in the registration fee, including most of your meals. What could be better than that? A great value for your money! The next ALSC Institute is in Atlanta, GA, and I hope to see you there! Janis Cooker Youth Coordinator St. Mary’s County Library

The 2008 ALSC Institute in Salt Lake City was the very first that I had ever attended. Though I felt sure it would be good, the Institute was even more valuable than I had imagined. Not only were the sessions quite motivational, but some of them included ideas that I could take home and use right away. We have been doing some ‘tween groups here that we modeled after the ones we saw presented in Salt Lake. Other sessions featured ideas that we adapted to our own needs, or that at the very least led us to other ideas. Institute staff was also very friendly, and though friendliness is not necessary to make a conference worthwhile, it is certainly a nice bonus. Betty Collins Youth Services Librarian Muscatine, Iowa

The ALSC Institute was a fabulous conference attended by 260 youth services oriented staff people-all things Youth Services. All sessions were filled with useful and inspirational ideas.  There were so many opportunities for networking, author visits, book sales, autographing and galleys to share. Most programs were repeated so that we had more than one opportunity to attend the sessions we found most interesting. Since all programs were in the hotel we stayed in, it was so easy to navigate. By the end of the conference, I felt like I knew everyone! I would recommend this institute for anyone who works with children!  Barbara Brand Youth Services Manager Johnson County (Kan.) Library