Powerhouse Stacy Abrams is speaking now about the twin challenges of COVID19 and systemic racism and the impact of both on our African American community. How can libraries and librarians be a part of the change? Her answer: Reformation and Transformation. We need to reform the system with new policies and new laws and we need to transform the system by directing more dollars to education and health care to eliminate inequities. Libraries are trusted resources. Libraries are bedrock in the community. We are places where people can go to get honest and reliable information about the 2020 Census and about voter registration. Through the power of each vote and through counting each citizen especially those who are underrepresented inequities can be challenged and transformed. Librarians can create best practices to be front line workers in these powerful changes.
Tag: live blogger
Volunteer Now to be a #ALAMW18 Live Blogger
One month from today, many librarians will be heading to Denver for the ALA Midwinter Conference where they will be participating in a wide variety of activities: ALSC meetings and events panel discussions speakers Networking Uncommons committee meetings social events hundreds of exhibits to explore networking opportunities the Youth Media Awards and so much more! If YOU are heading to the Midwinter Conference next month, consider sharing your experiences on the ALSC Blog so everyone—especially those #leftbehind—can experience the conference through your eyes. Sound interesting? Contact Mary Voors, ALSC Blog manager at alscblog@gmail.com, for all the information you need to volunteer as a live blogger from the conference. We’d love it if you consider being a live blogger!
#alaac15 Prescription for Reading Success
I attended the session “Early Learning in the Library: Tools, Partnerships, and Promising Practices” and was enthralled with the information presented by the guest speakers, who were grantees in the IMLS program. Since 2013, IMLS has funded $8.5 million in early learning projects in communities nationwide. One of the most interesting? A partnership that is brewing with the national organization Reach Out and Read. Pediatricians in the Reach Out and Read network routinely distribute books to babies during well visits – but the IMLS partnership looks to have pediatricians “prescribe” a visit to the library as well, so young families are encouraged to continue to read and share books with their young ones. Click here for more information, and to view the contents of the “Prescription for Success” toolkit.
#alasf2015 Babies Need Words Every Day
I attended the Babies Need Words Every Day workshop this afternoon. The Babies Need Words Every Day program is designed to help parents and caregivers understand the importance of talking to their babies. The workshop offered attendees a chance to learn more about this initiative and ways other communities are already creating partnerships with local agencies to get the word out in hopes of increasing children’s exposure to language. Go to here for more information. There you will find downloadable posters, book list brochures, and soon a media kit. Sing those nursery rhymes!
#alasf2015 A funny thing happened at the store
There is so much going on at #alasf2015, that a couple of times I’ve had to take a break from all the noise and confusion of the conference. There just is so much happening all at once that at times it is a bit too stimulating. The first time I took a break I sat in the lovely Yerba Buena Gardens and watched the world go by. The breeze felt great. The second time was when I got something to eat at Whole Foods. I was checking out and made a comment about visiting from Maine and guess what? My cashier was also from Maine! Not only was she from Maine, but she grew up in the town right next to mine! When I told her where I worked she said her family uses that library all the time. How cool is that? We chatted a bit about books and…
#alasf2015 Meeting your hero is pretty awesome
I didn’t actually meet Gloria Steinmen, but I heard her speak to a packed audience this morning starting at 8:30am. Gloria has been my hero throughout my life. I’ve admired her passion and commitment advocating for women to be seen as equal citizens and our right to control our bodies. Her message of being aware and opening your mind to seeing things with a different perspective was a reason I became a children’s librarian. Gloria said many amazing things as she spoke, but I found it admirable when she would admit that there were moments in her life when she connected the dots. Though she may have been talking about equality of the sexes, not realizing a female rock band could elicit as much screaming from fans as their male counterparts until she witnessed the explosion of emotions while at a Heart concert. That realizing your state legislators were more…