I have undertaken a really big grant project in my current position. It launches tomorrow. It was supposed to launch last week, but I got Covid the week before, which could not have been worse timing. I had to push everything back a week, which was really frustrating and disappointing. I want everything to START already!
Meet Your ALSC Board: Tori Ann Ogawa
Monthly, we will profile current ALSC Board members. We hope to offer information about the people who work to guide the organization so that you can feel more comfortable in reaching out to them with your concerns, questions, or comments. This month, we invite you to meet ALSC Board member, Tori Ann Ogawa.
Librarians on the Front Lines
Sadly, it was not surprising in late August when USA Today ran a headline calling librarians the “perfect target” for those who would ban books from schools. Librarians are often the purchasers of materials and the people to suggest and connect students with books of interest. Of course, they—we—would be under attack from those who would limit access to information of which censors do not approve.
Why Do Kids Love Thrillers?
Thrillers have been surging again in YA literature for the last few years. The popularity of thrillers ebbs and flows in YA (raise your hand if you devoured I Know What You Did Last Summer in the 90’s like I did), but Kate McManus’ One of Us Is Lying brought this genre to the top again in a big way, and it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Thrillers are also a perennial favorite among the middle grade crowd. What’s the appeal behind this genre, and what can we offer young thrill-seekers?
Bridging Technology and the Middle School Library
This past year, I had the opportunity to attend the annual NYSAIS Education and Information Technology Conference (NEIT) for New York Independent School Librarians and Technologists. During the conference, I realized that while there is some understanding of what connects librarians and technologists (it is one conference after all), I work in a unique learning environment that genuinely sees my position as a bridge between the two roles. With my “technologist” hat on at the conference, I connected with technology integrators and EdTech professionals who often feel frustrated by confusion around their job descriptions, a lack of awareness in schools on how best to utilize a tech integrator’s unique skill set, and requests from administration to start teaching skills beyond what we think of as technology integration. Substitute “technology integrator” for “school librarian” and these frustrations might start to sound familiar. Most surprisingly, I was often the only educator with…
The 2023 Geisel Award Committee Wants Your Help!
ALSC Personal Members: We need your help identifying the very best in children’s literature published in 2022. Pleaseconsider suggesting a title to the 2023 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Selection Committee forconsideration.
We need YOUR suggestions for the 2023 Caldecott Award
The 2023 Randolph Caldecott Award Committee is looking for your help! We would like to invite ALSC members to suggest books published in 2022 for consideration for the 2023 Caldecott Award.
2023 Sibert Award Committee Seeks Suggestions
Have you been WOWED by an excellent informational book for children published this year? The 2023 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award Selection Committee is seeking suggestions.