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Summer reading is just around the corner for most public libraries, which means it’s crunch time for youth services staff with a goal to engage as many young people in the community as possible with the biggest initiative of the year. If we’ve got a goal to help combat the summer slide–which it seems many, if not most, of us do, based on the plethora of conferences and programs on the topic–then high student enrollment and participation is a major objective.

So how do you raise awareness of summer reading at schools in order to get as many kids as possible reading over the summer?

Rallies at Schools – I’ve heard many a library talk about their summer reading rallies–those springtime visits to area schools to get kids pumped up about summer reading. Some involve skits, some are just a quick overview of the most important details and highlights. Many a librarian has shared details of their school summer reading rallies online; here’s how I did them when I worked in Missouri.

A Teacher Newsletter – I’m also really interested in the go-straight-to-the-teachers method adopted by the Phoenix Public Library. They’ve got a regular teacher enewsletter, and from the looks of it teachers who read it get notice of major events for their students in that knowledge sweet spot: not too early that it feels irrelevant and then goes forgotten, but not too late as to drown among all the end-of-school-year announcements. Their April blurb on summer reading is brief and includes the basics like program dates, incentives, and who to contact for more info. I hope teachers who get this newsletter realize how great it is!

Special Summer Reading Lists – One of the most successful reading initiatives we do at my library is our annual summer reading list. We’ve got two age-specific versions: Cool Summer Reads for grades 3-5, and Hot Summer Reads for grades 6-8. Committees of staff select 10-12 titles each year for these lists, then in the spring staff visit schools to promote the lists and the library summer reading program. Every student gets a promotional bookmark listing the books, and kids positively flock to the library as soon as the visits start to get these books. To keep the enthusiasm running strong over the duration of the summer, we encourage kids to vote and rank their favorites on our summer reads website. Then, sometime during the next school year, we bring one of the top authors to local schools for in-person visits. Cue the excitement.

Register Participants Where They Are: Community Events – I’m sure many library staff are already getting families in the library asking when summer reading will begin. That’s great! They’re excited! If they’re in the library asking about the program, though, chances are they’re regular participants–which means their kids are going to read and be part of the program no matter what. What about the kids whose families aren’t currently aware of summer reading, or who can’t easily get to the library? At my library, we’re trying two new strategies this year for engaging as many kids in summer reading as possible. First, we’re offering a special weekend of advance signup for the club. Those signups will happen at our village’s annual Festival of Cultures. The library has always had a booth at the festival, which is highly attended, but this year we’ll also be signing folks up for summer reading. People are already at the festival–now the summer reading registration desk at the library is one less stop on their to-do list for summer.

Register Participants Where They Are: School – The second thing we’re trying is the automatic enrollment of students with library cards at one of our school districts. We’ve been working with schools for years to help every public school student get a library card, and for the school record to include the child’s library card number. Based on the permissions caregivers gave when they signed the library card form, and with the school’s partnership, we’re able to automatically enroll every student with a library card in our program. A letter is going home to all the students to explain the program and that kids are already involved, and it includes the game board for the program. This strategy means families with limited transportation need to find their way to the library only once over the course of the summer, to turn in their stuff–if that. We’re also working with the school to bring some special bookmobile stops to the school community, too, hopefully making access even easier for many families.

These are a handful of ways to think about raising awareness of your library’s summer reading program among kids and students in your community. How do you go about letting them know about your program?

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Amy Koester, Youth & Family Program Supervisor at Skokie (IL) Public Library, is writing this post for the Public Awareness Committee. She can be reached at [email protected].

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El Día de los Niños/El Día de los Libros is a celebration of children and reading across all language and cultures. While it is intended to be celebrated all year long, the culminating event is held annually on April 30. This year is the 20th anniversary of promoting literacy for all children from all backgrounds through Día. Check the Día website to discover a wealth of information, including the history of the celebration and how it came to mean what it does; booklists; and tons of suggested activities. Support materials include downloadable publicity, coloring sheets, bookmarks, and activity sheets. Take a look!

Many different programs fit under the vast umbrella of Día celebrations at libraries across the country. The program registry on the above webpage allows you to publicize your own programs, as well as to look at what others are offering. Location, time, and descriptive information are provided. Registrations so far include libraries from Louisiana to Michigan and California to Massachusetts!

Here’s a sample of some different programming approaches:

King County Library System, outside of Seattle WA, will host programs during the week of 4/23-4/30 that include a Steel Drum Party, South Indian Classical Dance Performance, and Story Telling through the Harmony of Koto. Story times will be held in 11 different languages across the county. And that’s in addition to multicultural-themed story times in English. For more information, look at www.kcls.org/dia.

Seattle Public Library will host two separate events on 4/30 called Celebrate Día! One features an Open Mic for participant-sharing, and both will have stories. See more on these programs and others at SPL at http://www.spl.org/audiences/children/chi-calendar-of-events.

Denver Public Library will host a celebration on Sunday 4/24 that reflects a partnership with local museums. Activities are planned for children and adults, including dance, storytelling, and artmaking. More details can be found at https://www.denverlibrary.org/event/kids/celebrate-d%C3%ADa-del-ni%C3%B1o.

These examples are just a smattering of the programs that will be taking place in libraries this month to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Día. Share your plans in the comments!

Jennifer Duffy works at the King County (WA) Library System. She is writing this post for the Public Awareness Committee.

The post Upcoming Día Celebrations appeared first on ALSC Blog.

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In her 2002 Newbery Award acceptance speech, Linda Sue Park recalled how her father, a Korean immigrant, regularly took her and her siblings to the library and helped them find books. As an adult, she had once asked how he chose the books. As she relayed his explanation in her speech, it brought tears to the eyes of librarians in the audience: “He left the room for a few moments,” she said, “and came back with a battered accordion file and handed it to me. Inside were dozens of publications listing recommended children’s books–brochures, flyers, pamphlets–and most of them were issued by ALA.”

As this moving story shows, booklists can be enormously helpful to parents and teachers, and even the kind of young reader who likes lists. Instead of being overwhelmed by all those books on the shelves, the library user has a guide with ideas from experts.

I’m a great fan of the ALSC lists, and particularly Notable Children’s Books. Many years ago I served on the committee so I know how much work and care goes into creating it. Yet do these annual lists reach as many young readers as we’d like, either directly or through parents and teachers? I’m confident we can spread the word about these books even further. Here are some ways to share the list online or in print:

Ten Ways to Publicize Notable Children’s Books

1. Use the power of social media to connect to ALSC’s online version of the list. You’ll find “share the page” buttons for Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, Stumbleupon, Reddit, Digg, Pinterest, Tumblr, and Addthis.

2. In the past, libraries could buy brochures of the list. Now you can print out the whole list or part of it at the ALSC website, and make it available as a good old-fashioned list on paper for library patrons. Or, if you want a list without annotations, I’ve created versions by age group that can be found here:

• 2016 Notable Children’s Books for All Ages
• 2016 Notable Children’s Books for Younger Readers
• 2016 Notable Children’s Books for Middle Readers
• 2016 Notable Children’s Books for Older Readers
• 2016 Notable Children’s Books

3. Create a bookmark with a link to the online list and an explanation of what it offers.

4. Make a book display of the Notables books or a bulletin board display. There’s a reason that publishers pay to have their books displayed at the front of bookstores: those are the books that catch people’s eye. Displays serve the same function in libraries. Have the lists or bookmarks there for patrons to take home.

5. Put a Notables sticker on the books. ALA sells these along with other award stickers at the ALA Store. They can be used for the Notable books, recordings, videos, and software.

6. Talk about the Notables books! Booktalk the books formally in schools and informally to individual patrons. Share your enthusiasm. Remind parents about the lists at gift-giving times.

7. Make sure your local bookstore knows about the list. They might want to highlight recommendations from experts, too, with displays and lists.

8. Alert your local newspaper, freebie parenting magazine or local family radio program about the list and send them a copy or the link. To respect copyright, follow the simple directions at ALA’s Copyright Statement.

9. Create a Voki —- a free, talking avatar at voki.com —- to promote the booklist. You can view my Voki here.

10. Write a note or email to local teachers recommending 3-5 Notable titles that you think would be particularly enjoyed by their students. Handselling individual titles can go a long way.

More ideas means more sharing the message about Notables, so please add ideas of your own in the comments!

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Kathleen Odean, a children’s librarian for 17 years, is the author of Great Books for Girls and Great Books for Babies and Toddlers, and chaired the 2002 Newbery Award Committee. She currently gives workshops for educators on new YA books. She is writing this post for the Public Awareness Committee. You can reach her at kathleen [at] kathleenodean [dot] com.

The post Ten Ways to Publicize Notable Children’s Books appeared first on ALSC Blog.

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Every year at the beginning of April, we ceremoniously reflect on the joy of reading. There are many literary holidays this season, some spanning the entire month while others are observed for just a single day. April is both School Library Month and National Poetry Month, and has the following weeks or celebrations: National Library Week, Drop Everything and Read Day, National Bookmobile Day, and El día de los niños/El día de los libros.

And while the month is rich in options, we must do our due diligence to bring books to life for the particular audiences we serve. It is our professional responsibility and joy to kindle an interest in reading, and as Ranganathan summed up, “Every book its reader.”

And this is why April 2nd, International Children’s Book Day, must be one of my favorite literary holidays to observe. It is totally aligned with what we do in our professions. Widely celebrated in schools, public libraries, and literary centers around the world, it’s essentially a love letter to reading. It transcends beyond literary trends, publishing appetites, or cultural preferences because it embraces a global approach to literature. Books are mirrors and books are windows. We, as humans, love to read because of our innate desire to share stories and understand one another. Universal experiences distill into beloved fairy tales, and we see the patterns of archetypes emerge.

This year, Brazil is the National Section of International Board on Books for Young People, which determined both the theme, author, and illustrator for this celebration, which is respectively “Once Upon a Time”, by Luciana Sandroni and Ziraldo. You can promote this important work by sharing the materials and resources featured on the International Board on Books for Young Children website, who have hosted this event since 1967. For even more program ideas, articles, and resources that you can pin now and read later, visit the USBBY blog.

How do you like to celebrate April with your young readers?

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Christine Dengel Baum is formerly a children’s librarian and a school and library liaison. She works in Atlanta as a content strategist but continues to volunteer in libraries. She wrote this post for the Public Awareness Committee. You can reach her at [email protected].

The post Celebrate International Children’s Book Day appeared first on ALSC Blog.

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Well, friends, we here at the Public Awareness Committee hope that you’ve been learning A LOT by reading the daily entries in the Babies Need Words Every Day Blog Tour this week. As a refresher, you can find a link to all of the posts here from Early Childhood Programs & Services Committee chair Brooke Newberry.

Our committee is tasked with wrapping up the blog tour by sharing some simple, high-impact ways in which you–yes, YOU!–can get these amazing resources created by the Early Childhood Programs & Services Committee out into your library and your community at large. Many of these are field-tested, so you know they’re legit. So challenge yourself to be an early literacy advocate in the next few weeks by doing one (or more!) of the following.

13 Ways to Champion Early Literacy using Babies Need Words Every Day Resources

1. Send the posters home with your storytime parents with the specific invitation to share it with a friend who can’t make it to storytime.

2. Next time you head to a preschool or daycare for an outreach visit, bring some of the posters with you for the center to hang in their halls or lobby. Bonus: Share the link to the posters so the center can print their own and send them home with families!

3. Give your local child-serving establishments a call and ask if you can bring some posters to them to display on their community boards and/or above changing tables. Bonus: Create a small banner to hand below the posters to advertise your library!

4. Think of existing service bundles that you offer to young families and add a poster and the book list to the mix. For example, the Lake Oswego Public Library has “new parent” gift bags that they give to patrons who have babies under 6 months old. Each bag contains 4 board books, a brochure about the library, and Babies Need Words Every Day literature and a poster.

5. Share the posters and other resources on your library’s social media platforms.

6. Share the link to the Babies Need Words Every Day page on your local library and early childhood listservs. Work those networking connections!

7. Share this very blog post, and the others from the tour, with your supervisor and ask that Babies Need Words Every Day be one of your initiatives for 2016.

8. Send a personal note, along with a poster, to your community contacts who may have influence and connections that can give the posters wider use.

9. Make it a goal to include each of the four poster practices in your next four baby storytimes.

10. Reach out to your local newspaper and other news sources to see if they’d cover the library’s early literacy initiatives, making sure to include Babies Need Words Every Day resources.

11. Hang the posters over changing tables. Use the Changing Table Locator website to find changing tables at establishments in your community frequented by families, then head to those locations with poster and tape in hand. Add any changing tables you visit to the locator if they aren’t already included.

12. Think of existing programs you do, both in-house and outside, and think of a way to work in the posters and the practices they tout. For example, if your library offers parent-baby classes at a hospital, bring some posters with to share with families and hang up in the waiting room.

13. Think creatively about where families in your community spend time, then bring posters to those locations. Think community centers, transit stations, laundromats, doctors’ offices, the post office, the DMV, banks, parks, schools, restaurants, grocery stores, shopping centers… truly, families are everywhere, and early literacy support can be, too!

How have you been inspired to promote early literacy throughout this week’s Babies Need Words Every Day blog tour?

 

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This post was written by the Public Awareness Committee.

The post 13 Ways to Champion Literacy: Babies Need Words Every Day – The Blog Tour! appeared first on ALSC Blog.

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Don’t you just love all of the conference liveblogging that happens here on the ALSC Blog? We at the Public Awareness Committee certainly do–it’s a great way to keep in the loop if you can’t be at a conference, or even if you’re attending but have to be choosey about where you spend your time. There are always so many interesting and important things happening at conferences, it can be hard to keep up with everything. So, to help everyone continue to be as informed as possible, here are…

5 Things You May Have Missed from #alamw16

1. ALSC is working with First Book for a Día initiative, and First Book is offering ways to make sure libraries with an e-rate of 90% and/or serving communities with 70%+ students eligible for free/reduced lunch have access to low cost or free books. That’s excellent, multicultural books in the library and in the hands of the children you serve. Find out more information here.

2. The toolkit for Library Services to Special Population Children and their Caregivers made its official debut. Does your library serve any of the following?: homeschoolers, LGBTQ families, children on the autism spectrum, children with incarcerated parents, Spanish-speaking families, children with print disabilities, and/or teens with children? My guess is that 100% of libraries are situated in communities with these populations, and that most of us could use some tips and refreshers on providing them with the best possible service. Take a look at the super resourceful toolkit here.

3. A four-part webinar series on Managing Children’s Services starts Tuesday, January 19. All of the webinars are free to register, and they’ll cover topics like communication; scheduling and time management; finances and budgeting; and supervising. Whether you’re currently a manager, have that goal for your career, or simply want to see things from a supervisor’s perspective, you’ll want to participate. More information and links to register here.

4. REFORMA, as part of their Children in Crisis project, has created a bilingual flier to invite Spanish-speaking immigrants and refugees to the library. You should be aware of these fliers, in particular if you’re in a library in the American southwest where the bulk of this population influx is located. Check out the flier here.

5. The 2016 Youth Media Awards marked the first time EVER that the Stonewall Book Awards recognized BOTH children’s and young adult winners. This news is big, folks, because the appearance of two awards is a direct result of the fact that more excellent literature capturing the GLBT experience is being published than ever before. That’s a huge win for everyone. Check out the winners and honors of the Stonewall Book Award, as well as all the other Youth Media Awards winners, here.

What are some things that you learned or encountered at Midwinter 2016 that you think others should know about? Please chime in below in the comments so we can all stay as informed as possible.

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Amy Koester is Youth & Family Program Coordinator at Skokie (IL) Public Library and is writing this post for the Public Awareness Committee, of which she is chair. You can reach her at [email protected].

The post 5 Things You May Have Missed from #alamw16 appeared first on ALSC Blog.

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It happens to the best of us: you’re going about your business, running programs as usual, when all of a sudden you hear about a library holiday or observance that you didn’t even have on your radar. How could you have missed National Something-Something Day?!? There are so many observance-worthy months and days each year, but it can be hard to keep track of them all, especially with enough lead time to plan something for your library. Never fear! We at the Public Awareness Committee want you to be aware of all the celebrations and commemorative dates coming in 2016. So bookmark this calendar, check out some of the links for information and ideas, and get prepared for your most festive year yet.

January

International Creativity Month
• Visit the National Gallery’s NGAkids Art Zone at http://tinyurl.com/ngakidz
• http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/creativity-month-classroom-activities.shtml

National Soup Month
•http://www.campbellskitchen.com/recipecollections/featured%20recipes/its%20national%20soup%20month
• http://healthymeals.nal.usda.gov/features-month/january/national-soup-month

Get Organized Month
• Use the Dewey Decimal Spinner (http://tinyurl.com/q8zunt4) to review the Dewey Decimal System

January Observances
• January 18 – Martin Luther King Day
• January 24 – Belly Laugh Day
• January 28 – Fun at Work Day

February

Library Lovers’ Month
• http://www.librarysupport.net/librarylovers/

Black History Month
• http://asalh100.org/future-themes/

American Heart Month
• http://www.cdc.gov/features/heartmonth/
• http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/
• http://healthfinder.gov/NHO/FebruaryToolkit.aspx

National Bird Feeding Month
• http://www.birdschoice.com/backyard-birding/february-national-bird-feeding-month

February Observances
• February 1-7 – Children’s Authors and Illustrators Week
• February 7 – Give Kids a Smile Day
• February 8 – Chinese New Year
• February 8-12 – Random Acts of Kindness Week
• February 15 – Presidents Day
• February 17 – Digital Learning Day
• February 24 – World Read Aloud Day

March

American Red Cross Month
• http://www.redcross.org/

Irish-American Heritage Month
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish-American_Heritage_Month

National Women’s History Month
• http://womenshistorymonth.gov/

Youth Art Month
• http://www.arteducators.org/news/yam

March Observances
• March 2 – Read Across America Day
• March 9 – No Smoking Day
• March 13 – Daylight Savings Time Begins
• March 16 – Freedom of Information Day
• March 23-29 – Arthritis Awareness Week

April

D.E.A.R. Drop Everything and Read Month
• A national month-long celebration of reading designed to remind folks of all ages to make reading a priority activity in their lives. Programs have been held nationwide on April 12. http://www.dropeverythingandread.com/

El día de los niños/El día de los libros
• (Children’s Day/Book Day), commonly known as Día, is a nationally recognized initiative that emphasizes the importance of literacy for all children from all backgrounds. It is a daily commitment to linking children and their families to diverse books, languages and cultures. Visit http://dia.ala.org for more information on celebrating this day. The celebration is intended to be year-round, culminating on April 30.

Math Awareness Month
• http://www.ams.org/samplings/math-awareness-month/mam

National Humor Month
• http://www.humormonth.com/

National Library Week – April 10-16, 2016
• http://www.ala.org/conferencesevents/celebrationweeks/natlibraryweek

National Poetry Month
• https://www.poets.org/national-poetry-month/home

School Library Month
• Visit www.ala.org./aasl/slm for ideas to celebrate and promote school libraries.

April Observances
• April 10-16 – National Library Week
• April 12 – National Library Workers Day
• April 13 – National Bookmobile Day
• April 21 – Poem in Your Pocket Day
• April 23-30 – Money Smart Week

May

Jewish American Heritage Month
• http://www.jewishheritagemonth.gov/

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
• http://www.asian-nation.org/heritage.shtml

Mental Health Awareness Month
• http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/may
• http://www.nimh.nih.gov/index.shtml

National Foster Care Month
• https://www.childwelfare.gov/fostercaremonth/

Children’s Book Week – May 2-8, 2016
• http://www.bookweekonline.com/
• http://www.cbcbooks.org/

May Observances
• May 1-7 – Choose Privacy Week
• May 2-3 – National Library Legislative Day
• May 8 – Mother’s Day
• May 30 – Memorial Day

June

National GLBT Book Month
• http://www.ala.org/glbtrt/glbt-book-month

Audiobook Month
• Display award-winning and favorite children’s audiobooks.
• Get the list of ALA’s Odyssey award winners at http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/odysseyaward

June Observances
• June 5 – World Environment Day
• June 14 – Flag Day
• June 19 – Father’s Day
• June 19 – Juneteenth

July

National Parks & Recreation Month
• http://www.nrpa.org/july/

Family Golf Month
• Take a swing at STEM to find out why golf balls have dimples:
• http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/sports/golf/basics/question37.htm

July Observances
• July 4 – Independence Day
• July 30 – World Friendship Day

August

National Inventor’s Month
• Set up a tinkering station to encourage your young inventors: http://amomwithalessonplan.com/tinkering-station

National Back to School Month
• https://healthymeals.nal.usda.gov/features-month/august/national-back-school-month

August Observances
• August 7 – National Kids Day
• August 9 – World Indigenous Peoples’ Day
• August 12 – International Youth Day
• August 26 – Women’s Equality Day

September

Library Card Sign-up Month
• http://www.ala.org/news/mediapresscenter/factsheets/librarycardsign

Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15–October 15)
• http://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/

September Observances
• September 5 – Labor Day
• September 6 – Read a Book Day
• September 11 – National Grandparents Day
• September 15 – International Dot Day
• September 21 – International Day of Peace
• September 25 – Comic Book Day
• September 26-October 1 – Banned Books Week

October

Computer Learning Month
• Visit PBS Kids “Get Your Web License” at http://pbskids.org/old_license an online game that teaches Internet safety.

Arts and Humanities Month
• http://www.americansforthearts.org/events/national-arts-and-humanities-month

Go on a Field Trip Month
• Take a panoramic virtual tour of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History at www.mnh.si.edu/panoramas

October Observances
• October 4 – World Animal Day
• October 16 – World Food Day
• October 22 – Make a Difference Day
• October 29 – Cat Day

November

Picture Book Month
• Check http://picturebookmonth.com every morning to read inspiring essays about why picture books are important

National Adoption Month
• https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/adoption/nam/

Aviation History Month
• Visit the National Museum of the US Air Force at www.nationalmuseum.af.mil

Families Stories Month
• http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/family-stories-month-november/

Native American Heritage Month
• The Library of Congress created a Pinterest board to share resources from their collection. http://tinyurl.com/pfuvqbk

November Observances
• November 8 – Election Day
• November 11 – Origami Day
• November 19 – International Games Day

December

Safe Toys and Gifts Month
• https://www.healthtradition.com/december-is-safe-toys-and-gifts-month/

December Observances
• December 5 – International Volunteer Day
• December 5-12 – Computer Science Education Week
• December 10 – Human Rights Day

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Debbie Bond is a Children’s Librarian at the Norwood Branch Library of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County in Ohio, and she is writing this post for the Public Awareness Committee. You can reach her at [email protected].

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Since you are reading this post, chances are you are familiar with ALSC initiatives, professional tools, and latest announcements. It’s also likely that, as a librarian, educator, or library student, you’re accustomed to learning about a topic without having to rely exclusively on Wikipedia. Whether you’re an ALSC member or not, you have come to participate in a national conversation about children and libraries. Which is why you are being surveyed for your feedback!

We’re updating our website and Wikipedia page and want help from ALSC members and ALSC Blog readers in determining which content needs to rise to the top so that the general public can learn about us and see our value. What unique role does ALSC fulfill, and where have the biggest impacts been made?

Is it the opportunities in resource and work sharing, or the curated book lists and Great Websites for Kids? Have you connected to a mentor who shared lessons learned over years of experience? Are there other skills that you developed via ALSC publications, conferences, webinars, and volunteer opportunities? One can make an impact through collaborating on a shared goal, especially starting with the local community. Not only does ALSC advocate for its members, but it starts the discussion in the news and trending topics that impact our industry. We’d love to hear your thoughts on what’s most important to include when general providing information on ALSC, so please fill out the survey below, and be sure to share it with your colleagues! (If you don’t see the survey below, click here to access it.)

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If you’ve got additional ideas, questions, or concerns about this project, please direct them to Amy Koester, the chair of the Public Awareness Committee (email her at [email protected]).

Thank you for your help!

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Christine Dengel Baum is a content strategist in Atlanta, GA, and is writing this post for the Public Awareness Committee. You can get in touch with her at [email protected].

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In honor of National Library Card Sign-Up month, the Public Awareness Committee wanted to call attention to this amazing campaign and to also share some of the stories behind our cards and our library’s cards.

Christine Dengel Baum shared: Personally, my card was JUST updated. Our library had this ancient typewriter they would use and then laminate the paper. Before we could sign our own names we had a juvenile card (green) and once we could sign it, as a rite of passage, we got yellow. Then last year we upgraded the system so now it’s plastic, has our picture on it, and includes artwork from the artist who painted our murals.

Jennifer Duffy shared the following about King County Library System’s card choices: Here is one of our library card choices at King County Library System…a very popular one (purple!). I think we have about 10 variations, even before the new “limited edition” ones coming next month. I also sent my two favorite new library cards: Seahawks colors 12 and the Rainbow bookshelf.

And as for me, I remember getting my first library card in third grade. You had to sign your name in cursive to count as a “signature” back in those days and our schools began cursive instruction at the end of second grade. I finally felt ready in third. I had brought a hot pink pen to use and I had practiced writing my formal name instead of “Katie”. At the last minute, I chickened out and signed my card as Katie Salo. The pen smudged over the years and became a pink streak across the signature line. When I was a sophomore in college, I had to turn over that white card with green lettering and a large pink smudge where my name used to be. I will forever be sad that I couldn’t keep that first library card.

So, tell us, what is YOUR library card’s story? Does the library you work at have a unique design? Let us know in the comments!

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Katie Salo is an Early Literacy Librarian at Indian Prairie Public Library in Darien, IL and is writing this post for the Public Awareness Committee. You can reach her at simplykatie(at)gmail(dot)com or at Storytime Katie.

The post Every Card Has a Story… appeared first on ALSC Blog.

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I first heard the term “everyday diversity” from Anna Haase Krueger. Everyday diversity books feature diverse characters doing everyday activities and in everyday situations. My favorite example to give people unfamiliar with the term is The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. The focus of the story is that Peter is enjoying the newly fallen snow and not that Peter is African-American.

[There are many more titles that are worthy of inclusion on a recent publications list and I’ve left several other booklists at the bottom of this post for further reading. This is by no means a comprehensive list — I know that there are titles and resources missing. A few of the books on this list feature large diverse casts without a main diverse character.]

15 Things Not to Do With a Baby by Margaret McAllister
An older sister welcomes a new sibling by learning all the things not to do with a baby — lose it in the garden, snuggle with an octopus — and all the things you can do with a baby. This story is perfect to share one-on-one with children expecting new siblings, but would also work in a preschool storytime setting. Expect lots of laughter.

Fire Engine No. 9 by Mike Austin
This book is absolutely perfect for toddler storytimes, full of sound effects to make and colorful illustrations. Firefighters are varied in skin tones (although I don’t remember any female firefighters) and the book is engaging for all involved. Bonus points for a vertical spread down the firepole.

It’s Tough to Lose Your Balloon by Jarrett Krosoczka
A picture book version of the saying “when life hands you lemons, make lemonade”. A reassuring title featuring lots of diversity and everyday kid stresses. Also, make sure to watch the adorable YouTube trailer where kids narrate Krsoczka’s pages: YouTube.

Juna’s Jar by Jane Bahk
After Juna’s best friend Hector moves away without saying goodbye, she turns to the kimchi jars that they used to collect treasures in to find comfort. What she finds is more adventures and maybe even a chance to come to terms with Hector’s disappearance.

Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña
CJ and his nana travel through their neighborhood every Sunday. CJ questions why they always have to take the bus and why he doesn’t have the latest gadget and Nana thoughtfully answers his questions. A great trip through an urban environment with a variety of colors, sizes, shapes, and status.

Music Class Today! by David Weinstein
One little boy is hesitant to join his more rambunctious classmates at music class. Lots of different skin tones are present in this fabulous book which will feel familiar for storytime librarians. An excellent read-aloud for large groups and one of my favorites of this year.

One Family by George Shannon
So much diversity is packed into this simple counting text. A great read for a storytime setting but also wonderful for one-on-one sharing to allow children to appreciate the details in each page spread. The last lines of the book are resonate and will (hopefully) remind children that we are all one family.

Say Hello! by Linda Davick
My new favorite toddler storytime book. Lots of children with a variety of skin and hair colors show how they say hello to each other in a rhyming text. The big vibrant colors and basic illustrations make this book ideal for sharing with a large group.

The Smallest Girl In the Smallest Grade by Justin Roberts
Best suited for an older crowd or a classroom read, this title is great because it includes a diverse classroom setting and also talks about size diversity. As a short person (5’2″), I’m always happy to see my height reflected in novels and stories. I know from experience that short kids feel the same way! Noteworthy: This book is written by children’s music superstar Justin Roberts.

Stella Brings the Family by Miriam A. Schiffer
This is the book that slightly toes the everyday diversity line, but it’s so wonderful that I had to include it. Stella has two dads and isn’t sure who to bring for her class’s Mother’s Day celebration. She finds a unique solution to the problem after talking with her classmates about what kinds of things moms do. The last few pages reflect a variety of family situations perfect for making kids of all families feel accepted.

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(Ten bonus older favorites: The Babies on the Bus by Karen Katz, Counting Ovejas by Sarah Weeks, Jazz Baby by Lisa Wheeler, I Got the Rhythm by Connie Schofield-Morrison, Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinn, Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match by Monica Brown, My Nose Your Nose by Melanie Walsh, Peekaboo Morning by Rachel Isadora, Round is a Mooncake by Roseanne Thong, Say Hello! by Rachel Isadora)

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Additional Booklists:
Best Picture Books of 2014 That Celebrate Diversity, Kirkus Reviews.
Culturally Diverse Books Selected by SLJ’s Review Editors.
A Diverse Book List for the Under-Five Set by Lisa G. Knopp, published by School Library Journal.
Picture Books About Diversity and Acceptance, Storytime Standouts.
Multicultural Books, What We Do All Day.

ALA Awards:
Coretta Scott King Book Awards
Pura Belpre Award
Schneider Family Book Award
Stonewall Book Award

Resources:
ALA’s Día (Diversity In Action)
School Library Journal’s Resources for Diversity
Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Diversity Resources
We Need Diverse Books & School Library Journal Booktalking Kit
We Need Diverse Books & We Need Diverse Books Guide to Where to Find Diverse Books

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So, which books or resources did I miss? Tell me in the comments!

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Katie Salo is an Early Literacy Librarian at Indian Prairie Public Library in Darien, IL and is writing this post for the Public Awareness Committee. You can reach her at simplykatie(at)gmail(dot)com or at Storytime Katie.

The post 10 Recent & Upcoming Picture Books Featuring Everyday Diversity appeared first on ALSC Blog.

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We’re now a two weeks out from the conclusion of the 2015 ALA Annual Conference in San Francisco, which is a good amount of time for those who were able to attend to be able to let the learning percolate into some major takeaways. As promised, we at the Public Awareness Committee are back to follow up on some of the sessions we were most excited for at ALA.

Leadership & ALSC – Lisa Guernsey gave an excellent keynote to tie in with the official release of the white paper Media Mentorship in Libraries Serving Youth. Her talk, titled “Literacy & Equity in the 21st Century: The Critical Role of Media Mentors,” began with the acknowledgement of the “quiet crisis”–that children are struggling to learn to read proficiently. Guernsey quoted data about how two-thirds of American children in fourth grade are not reading at a fourth grade proficiency, and that numbers are even high amount children of color and children on free and reduced lunch. That’s a crisis indeed. We know that is major crisis exists, and if we ignore technology and how it can be used with children, says Guernsey, we are missing an opportunity to support kids. Guernsey went on to share some research and resources on this topic, including some tips and recommendations for using technology in positive, literacy-developing ways with children. Her core message, if anything, is that any tool that can help get toward equity in children’s literacy is one worth exploring to wield it well.

Pura Belpré Award Celebración – I was unable to attend this celebration due to another engagement, but I am thrilled that the remarks of medal and honor winners are available online for anyone who’d like to celebrate these talented writers and illustrators even more. Here are the Belpré remarks. And all throughout the conference, folks were reminding attendees to look forward to next year’s 20th anniversary celebration of the Belpré. It’s sure to be an event to remember!

Babies Need Words Every Day – This program served as the major release of ALSC’s initiative “Babies Need Words Every Day,” which aims to help close the 30 million word gap by encouraging parents and caregivers of young children to interact with their children through talking, reading, singing, and playing. If you haven’t yet seen the beautiful posters–designed to go over changing tables, but truly limitless in their applicability–make sure you do that ASAP and print some off for your library and other local establishments that families with young children use. Then check out School Library Journal‘s excellent writeup of both this conference session and the initiative.

Speeches at the Newbery-Caldecott-Wilder Awards Banquet – These speeches are moving every year, but I think Dan Santat’s Caldecott acceptance speech takes the metaphorical cake for packing the biggest punch. Santat, it turns out, is not only an incredibly prolific author and illustrator with over a dozen books out last year along; but he’s also affected by a persistent feeling of “will he ever be good enough.” This sentiment really resonated with me in a library conference context, as I see so many library professionals who fall into this same psychological trap–doing so many things, but not being able to easily see the value and import of those things. Santat’s award perhaps means all the more because he never assumed he deserved it. This speech (read it in full here) in particular reminded me why I am so happy there are so many awards for youth media, because there are so many deserving authors and illustrators whose works make huge impacts on the lives of children. Kwame Alexander’s Newbery acceptance speech was beautiful in its own poetic way, with the author’s reminiscences of how, he thinks, he got to the point of being at that podium accepting the award. Life is full of moments of impact–that’s my major takeaway of the Newbery speech (read it in full here). And finally, Donald Crews wrapped up the evening with his acceptance of the Wilder Medal, during which he reflected on a life and career filled with art and love. Beautiful words (read the speech here) to accompany a beautiful body of work.

Early Literacy Outreach for Teen Parents – This is another session which I personally was unable to attend, but I had quite a few conversations with folks who were able to sit in on the session. The biggest takeaway of these attendees’ takeaways, for me, was the framing of the unique and powerful role that a library staff member can fill in the life of a teen parent. The presenters set up an analogy of the librarian not as teacher to the teens, but as a sort of grandparent. These teens have plenty of teachers, most of whom are ultimately concerned with whether the teens learn specific content. Grandparents, on the other hand, are full of joy at spending time with the teen; supportive of the teen; and both a resource and role model in ways that are not didactic. In filling that grandparent-type role, librarians serving teen parents are able to have a tremendous impact on the whole lives of the teens, including but not limited to just their parenting. What a powerful way to think of this work.

Finally, if you haven’t already done so, I recommend checking out the coverage and recaps of the conference that have been published here on the ALSC Blog. You can check out all the livebloggers’ coverage by perusing the “Live Blogging” tag, and you can also read a recap from our division president, Andrew Medlar.

What were your top takeaways from #alaac15?

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Amy Koester is Youth & Family Program Coordinator at Skokie (IL) Public Library and is writing this post for the Public Awareness Committee, of which she is chair. You can reach her at [email protected].

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Every ALA and division journal, blog, and enewsletter is in full-on Annual Conference mode at this point, making sure that both first-time attendees and old pros have what they need to navigate the convention center and city of San Francisco. And while there’s always a great ALA Scheduler available on the conference website with which to plan your personal schedule of sessions and programs, the volume of what’s offered at conference can be overwhelming.

To help wade through the plethora of development opportunities, the Public Awareness Committee has put together a brief list of some of the sessions and events we are most looking forward to. We hope you’ll consider adding these to your schedule, but check back in July for some of our recaps and highlights if you can’t attend in person. And don’t forget the team of folks who will be liveblogging the conference for the ALSC Blog directly from San Francisco!

Leadership & ALSC – Saturday, June 27, 2015 – 8:30am to 11:30am – This particular session happens at every conference; it’s an opportunity for the ALSC membership (and others interested in attending) to find out what ALSC is up to, with a keynote on a particular topic. At ALA Annual 2015, the topic is media mentorship–a combination of an introduction to the new ALSC white paper, “Media Mentorship in Libraries Serving Youth,” as well as a talk from expert Lisa Guernsey.

Pura Belpré Award Celebración – Sunday, June 28, 2015 – 1:00pm to 3:00pm – Join the celebración of the 2015 Belpré Medal winners and honorees. This is the ceremony where all these authors and illustrators receive their awards and share their acceptance speeches.

Babies Need Words Every Day – Sunday, June 28, 2015 – 1:00pm to 2:00pm – Have you been looking to beef up your early literacy game when it comes to serving the youngest children and their families? This session should go a long way toward helping you to do so, combining research and expert voices in the field of early childhood development with new initiatives for libraries.

Speeches at the Newbery-Caldecott-Wilder Awards Banquet – Sunday, June 28, 2015 – 5:30pm to 11:00pm – While the dinner portion of the banquet does require purchase of a ticket, attending the speeches of the 2015 Newbery, Caldecott, and Wilder Award winners is free to all. But you had better be prompt about finding a seat in the back of the room around 8:00pm when the speeches start. It’s always a great set of presentations, and the people watching can’t be beat. This year we’ll hear from Kwame Alexander, Dan Santat, and Donald Crews.

Early Literacy Outreach for Teen Parents – Monday, June 29, 2015 – 1:00pm to 2:30pm – Sometimes creating meaningful library opportunities for teens can be a struggle in and of itself, but reaching teen parents and their unique needs can take even more planning and intention. This session looks to be a stellar introduction to this topic for novices and seasoned outreach folks alike, and should include plenty of great ideas and resources to be used in different library settings.

What sessions are you most looking forward to at ALA Annual 2015 in San Francisco?

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Amy Koester is Youth & Family Program Coordinator at Skokie (IL) Public Library and is writing this post for the Public Awareness Committee, of which she is chair. You can reach her at [email protected].

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As ALSC blogger Renee Grassi reminded us earlier this month, April is National Autism Awareness Month. For libraries, months that observe, celebrate, or raise awareness for a group of people or an issue should serve as annual checks for our services: “It’s National Autism Awareness Month; I should make sure that our library services to children with special needs and their families are excellent all year long.”

If you find yourself currently evaluating your programs for children with special needs of any type–in particular for young children and their families–I’m pleased to share that members of the Library Service to Special Population Children and their Caregivers (LSSPCC) Committee have been amassing and curating resources on a Sensory Storytime board on ALSC’s Pinterest account. They’re creating an excellent resource for libraries just setting out to offer sensory storytimes as well as for those of you in a place to evaluate and tweak what you’ve already been offering.

Thus far, the board offers a few dozen pins that link to program plans and write-ups; research related to special needs library services; and book recommendations for use in Sensory Storytime. Check out this resource for yourself to learn about some of the awesomely intentional ways you and your library can offer programs inclusive to every young library customer.

If you have favorite sensory storytime resources, link to them in the comments so our curators can add them to the board!

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Amy Koester is the Youth & Family Program Coordinator with the Skokie Public Library and is writing this post for the Public Awareness Committee.

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Coming soon: on April 30, we will celebrate the culmination of Día. But did you know that Día doesn’t end there? It’s the beginning of a new year of Book Joy, emphasizing the importance of literacy for all children from all backgrounds, and in all languages.

How can you keep Día in your heart, and your work, every day? Commit to including a book, song, or rhyme from or about another place in every storytime. Creating a book display? Include diverse books on the theme, but then add translated editions of those titles; kids and adults need to know that their favorite reads are available in their first language. Visiting a site with your bookmobile? Check your stock for titles published in the languages spoken in the community before you depart. By demonstrating how easily all people can be represented, we encourage our peers, families, teachers, and caregivers to do the same.

But where to find materials? So many resources are generated within our profession and beyond:

• Check out the resources on the Día website at dia.ala.org, especially the recently-created “Building STEAM with Día” booklists.
• Not ready to start a Día Family Book Club? Use the curriculum to guide discussion in any setting.
• Need more? Bookmark the ALSC Book & Media Awards page and utilize the links to lists of vetted, quality titles and authors for kids from all backgrounds.
• Look beyond libraryland: a quick web search leads to the #WeNeedDiverseBooks campaign, which hosts a fantastic guide to booklists celebrating everybody!
• Finally, talk to your peers! Share books at every opportunity. Make yourself familiar with your collection, pick favorite authors, and then include them in your programming, readers’ advisory interactions, school visits, and summer reading presentations.

Stay conscious of the need to represent the world to your families. With enough repetition, we’ll build a tolerant, inclusive, well-read, and better-educated community in which everyone is reflected in books. Keep Día in your heart and mind every day!

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This post was written by Robin J. Howe, MLIS, Children’s Librarian with the King County Library System for the Public Awareness Committee. Reach Robin at [email protected].

The post Día Every Day appeared first on ALSC Blog.

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In the world of children’s literature, I can’t think of a day that hasn’t been better than the one before it. On Monday morning, February 2nd, this theory proved true. Diversity in children’s literature was honored in a multitude of ways. Librarians, families, teachers and kids all awaited the Monday morning Youth Media Award announcements with anticipation. They waited to hear if their favorite girl would win an award in more than one category, if their favorite author would garner the top prize, if the book that reflected their lives and spoke to them would stand tall and proud amongst the best of the best. As the medal winners’ names were spoken, dreams were coming true all across the country.

Each day that you have an opportunity to talk about diversity in children’s literature is a day when you are making the world more welcoming and real for all children. Literature awards can spark all kinds of conversations about why we need diverse books. (#WeNeedDiverseBooks).

The news spread far and wide like fire on a prairie (or snow headed for Chicago). Those announcements, though, were just a smattering of the literature awards that will be given this year. Also announced at the American Library Association’s Midwinter conference were the winners of the The Asian Pacific American Library Association (APALA) literature awards. These include a winner and honor book in children’s, young adult, and picture book categories.

The Asian Pacific American Library Association was established in 1980 to create an organization that would address the needs of Asian Pacific American librarians and those who serve Asian Pacific American communities. Since 2001 they have been honoring the best books published in the previous year for children and young adults related to Asian/Pacific American experiences (either historical or contemporary) or Asian/Pacific American cultures.

The APALA winners are announced during the midwinter meeting, but there is no fanfare until the annual ALA conference awards ceremony. And so, while we were all shouting “hooray” for the likes of Jacqueline Woodson, Kwame Alexander, Duncan Tonatiuh and others……..even more dreams were quietly coming true.

2015 Winners:
Young Adult

Winner: Tiger Girl by May-Lee Chai (GemmaMedia)

Honor: Shadow Hero by Gene Luen Yang (First Second), illustration by Sonny Liew.

Children’s

Winner: Gaijin: American Prisoner of War by Matt Faulkner (Disney/Hyperion Books)

Honor: Ting Ting by Kristie Hammond (Sono Nis Press, Canada)

Picture Book

Winner: Hana Hashimoto, Sixth Violin by Chieri Uegaki and Qin Leng (Kids Can Press)

 

Honor: Father’s Chinese Opera by Rich Lo (Sky Pony Press)

 

 

 

 

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Andrea R. Milano is a Youth Services Librarian at Multnomah County Library in Portland, Oregon and she is writing this post on behalf of the Public Awareness Committee.

The post Dreams Do Come True appeared first on ALSC Blog.

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Did you know that a well-child visit to the doctor’s office can also help to promote early literacy and school readiness? It can if your well-child appointment is with one of the 5,200 medical providers who participate in the Reach Out and Read Program.

One new Reach Out and Read Program site, the Bethesda Family Practice in Cincinnati, Ohio, reached out to their local Norwood Branch Library, which is a medium-sized branch in the Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County system, for assistance in setting up their waiting room Literacy Corner. The Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County’s Marketing department donated full-color literacy posters with Book Suggestions for Babies and Toddlers and a growth chart on the side. Also displayed in the Literacy Corner is the current monthly calendar of events and story times available at the Norwood Branch Library. This is just one example of how children’s librarians can reach out to their communities to promote early childhood literacy. Try sending area medical providers an email directing them to the Reach Out and Read website at http://www.reachoutandread.org/.

As recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, Reach Out and Read incorporates early literacy into pediatric practice, by integrating children’s books and advice to parents about the importance of reading aloud into well-child visits. Reach Out and Read builds on the unique relationship between parents and medical providers to develop critical early reading skills in children.

Reach Out and Read serves more than 4 million children and their families annually. Currently, Reach Out and Read partners with more than 5,200 program sites and distributes 6.5 million books per year. The program serves more than one-third of all children living in poverty in this country, and continues to grow each year with the vision that one day the Reach Out and Read model will be a part of every young child’s checkups.

The Reach Out and Read model for literacy promotion has three key elements:

• Primary care providers (doctors, NPs, PAs and RNs) are trained to deliver early literacy guidance to parents of children 6 months through 5 years of age during each well-child visit. This age-appropriate guidance centers on the importance of: frequent and early exposure to language, looking at board books and naming pictures with infants, rhyme and repetition for gaining phonemic awareness during toddlerhood, and reading interactively (such as using open-ended questions) when reading with preschoolers.
• During well-child visits for children ages 6 months through 5 years, the provider gives the child a new, developmentally-appropriate book to take home, building a collection of 10 new books in the home before the child goes to kindergarten. The provider also repeatedly prescribes reading aloud, every day.
• Reach Out and Read program sites also create literacy-rich environments that may include gently-used books for waiting room use or for siblings to take home. In some waiting rooms, Reach Out and Read volunteers model for parents the pleasures and techniques of reading aloud to very young children.

Reach Out and Read is endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, the Literacy Partner American Academy of Family Physicians and is a Library of Congress David M. Rubenstein Prize 2013 Award Winner. For more information visit http://www.reachoutandread.org/.

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Debbie Anderson is a Children’s Librarian at the Norwood Branch Library of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County in Ohio, and she is writing this post for the Public Awareness Committee. You can reach her at [email protected].

The post Reach Out and Read Promotes Early Childhood Literacy appeared first on ALSC Blog.

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Do you often field gift book questions from patrons around the holiday season? I’ve had my share of parents ask me for the best new picture book of the year for their daughter or a grandparent who wants to gift their tween a book but has no clue where to start. If you have also had these experiences, check out ALSC’s updated booklists! These are a great resource to help parents, grandparents and caregivers of all sorts purchase great books for the children in their lives during the winter holiday season- or any time of year.

The ALA-Children’s Book Council (CBC) Joint Committee, with cooperation from ALSC’s Quicklists Consulting Committee, have updated the four Building a Home Library booklists to provide advice to caregivers and others interested in constructing an excellent, star quality library for children at home. The committee looked to include less mainstream gems, wonderful multicultural books, beloved classics and new, notable titles.

The CBC Committee has included two printer-friendly versions of the bibliographies for four specific age groups. You will find suggested titles of exemplary content and quality for children from birth to age 3, children ages 4-7, children ages 8-11 and even for tween-aged children 12-14. The brochures are great for putting out at your desk for interested patrons. Does your library receive donation gifts for area shelters, churches or other organizations? You can place these brochures next to your donation bin for easy suggestions the busy patron can bring to their local bookseller when shopping.

Some of my favorite choices from the lists that would be perfect gifts are:

Carle, Eric. La oruga muy hambrienta/ The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Philomel/ Penguin, 2011.

This classic story from beloved author and illustrator Carle is indeed a great gift for babies birth to age 3.  This publication is particularly great because it will introduce both English and Spanish words to your little one.

Snicket, Lemony. Illustrated by Jon Klassen. The Dark. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2013.

Children ages 4-7 are sure to enjoy this wonderful picture book that gives a voice to the dark. This is an especially fun read-aloud with two readers and a perfect opportunity for caregivers to participate in their preschooler’s reading time!

Palacio, R.J. Wonder. Knopf/ Random House, 2012.

8-11 year olds of all reading levels will appreciate this heart-warming story of a 5th grade boy with facial abnormalities. It’s realistic tone and kind message make it a lovely holiday gift choice.

Telgemeier, Raina. Drama. Graphix/ Scholastic Inc., 2012.

Encourage caregivers to snag this title if they have a reluctant tween reader to please. This graphic novel about middle-school drama club and making new friends will become a well-read book at home.

What books do you love to recommend for holiday gifts? If you have any favorites, please share them with us in the comments!

From everyone on the Public Awareness Committee, happy holidays!

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Nicole Lee Martin is a  Librarian at the Grafton-Midview Public Library in Grafton, OH and is writing this post for the Public Awareness Committee. You can reach her at [email protected].

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Thousands of unaccompanied refugee children fleeing violence in their home countries of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras have crossed the United States border and turned themselves in where they are being held in detention centers and placed in removal proceedings. In June 2014, at the ALA Annual Conference in Las Vegas, REFORMA (National Association to Promote Library & Information Services to Latinos & the Spanish Speaking) decided to form the Children in Crisis Task Force to get books into the hands of these children while their future is determined. The Children in Crisis Task Force Co-Chairs are looking for ways  to partner with immigrant youth centers. Co-Chair Patrick Sullivan states, “Vendors are waiting in the wings ready to donate books.” Through monetary donations REFORMA is ready to purchase books, backpacks and school supplies.

In September 2014, National REFORMA President Silvia Cisneros personally delivered the first shipment of donated books to McAllen, Texas. In October 2014, Theresa Garza Ybarra, President of REFORMA’s Estrella de Tejas Chapter coordinated a second shipment of donated books to Karnes City, Texas. REFORMA is currently working on a third shipment to Artesia, New Mexico with REFORMA de Nuevo Mexico Chapter President Flo Trujillo. Task Force Co-Chair Oralia Garza de Cortes says it is a slow challenging process that is important. She states, “(REFORMA) is the first group to put books into the detention facilities. No one has done that before.”

Sullivan says that the next phase of this project is to determine what REFORMA can do to help local chapters help newly arrived children in their region who have been re-united with their families but are still under order of removal. Some REFORMA chapters are already doing this such as Los Angeles and San Diego Libros. For example, Ady Huertas, Teen Center Manager for San Diego Public Library’s Central Library, is working closely with local community organization Southwest Key. They have a couple of centers that provide temporary housing and education for youth in transition. They arranged one class visit consisting of 2 centers and 3 classes with 20 youth aged 8-17 years old. Huertas gave them a tour, library cards, and introduced them to library resources. She also gave the youth free Spanish books and some incentives. She is now coordinating a second visit and hopes to schedule regular monthly visits. To her surprise, Huertas even received thank you notes in English! Huertas explains that libraries have a role in servicing this segment of the community. Huertas states, “We’re trying to introduce the library as a safe place and in cities anywhere where they end up, they should look for the local library and get resources and technology for free.”

Libraries have traditionally reached out to immigrant populations to help them navigate their way in a new country. Garza de Cortes notes that this population is different in that they have refugee protected status. When asked about the next steps, Garza de Cortes responded, “(We need to) create more awareness of our role and responsibility as librarians to provide accurate information for the families and work with agencies to be able to help them better understand the power of libraries and power of books to help children change their lives.”

To find out more information about this project or make a book or monetary donation, please visit the Children in Crisis site here.

Additional Resources:
* Tan, Shaun. The Arrival. A.A. Levine, 2006.
Tan, Shaun. Emigrantes. Barbara Fiore, 2007.
Graphic novel of the immigrant experience. Available in English and Spanish but completely wordless.

* Department of State. Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration. Office of Admissions Refugee Processing Center Affiliate Directory : From Boise, Idaho to Wheaton, Illinois, this official directory lists the many service agencies working directly with refugee children.

* Southwest Key Programs: Immigrant Youth Shelters : Information and map locator for shelters run by Southwest Key that temporarily house unaccompanied minors.

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Ana-Elba Pavon is the Branch Manager of Oakland Public Library’s Elmhurst Branch in Oakland, CA and is writing this post for the Public Awareness Committee. You can reach her at [email protected]

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The National Program Registry opens for Día on November 1st, so make sure to mark your calendars! The registry serves two purposes. First, your library will be recognized as participating in the El día de los niños/El día de los libros events on April 30, 2015. Additionally, by joining the registry, your library’s program will be part of a national searchable database in which other librarians can peruse your program ideas, get inspired, and hopefully design their own programs around diversity in literature. As a bonus, the registry also increases your library’s publicity and gives you some bragging rights.

I regularly check ALA’s Día website for program ideas, book lists, book club kit ideas, and free downloads. It’s where you can register your 2015 program and become part of the growing Día community. The Día booklist this year will have a STEAM focus, providing enticing possibilities of integrating STEAM content into your programs, displays, or book clubs. The booklist will be out in December, and I’m already anticipating it. I have in mind several STEAM-related programs or displays, including a scientist display honoring minorities in the field; a program on using technology to discover your own unique background and heritage (genealogy); and a program using blown-up prints of various engineering feats for children to guess which counties or persons designed them. The possibilities are endless!

Don’t forget that there are mini-grants available this year. You can check out more information on how to apply for one, and the approaching deadline, via the Día website or the Día Facebook Page. In previous years, libraries across the country have hosted everything from poetry readings, border dances, festivals and food tastings as Día events. We can’t wait to see what you all come up with for 2015! Start thinking about Día now. Remember to put your program in the database so we can all be amazed at what you’re doing for your diverse and dynamic communities!

Reminder! ALSC is now accepting mini-grant applications for libraries through the Día initiative. Mini-grants will be used to initiate a Building STEAM with Día program in libraries. Up to 20 mini-grants will be awarded at $1,500 each. Applications are due Friday, October 17 at 5pm Central.

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Emily Scherrer is the Library Administrator for Sierra Vista Public Library, Arizona and is writing this post for the Public Awareness Committee. As a librarian living and working in a “border town,” she is a big advocate for diverse programming and collections.  You can contact her at [email protected]

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More links and pins are coming to the ALSC and Día Pinterest accounts!

In an effort to increase the material pinned to the Pinterest account, all ALSC committees will have the opportunity to maintain their own boards and content. ALSC committees will then be able to share relevant blog posts, links, and resources that relate to their committee’s work and charge. Committee chairs that are interested in using social media should contact Amy Koester, chair of Public Awareness Committee at amy(dot)e(dot)koester(at)gmail(dot)com.

ALSC’s Public Awareness Committee will continue to maintain the Día page, but with more regularly pinned content. Look for new ideas and inspiration to bring your Día programming up to the next level.

We’re looking forward to the changes that will be taking place and hope that members will find loads of useful information about the work that ALSC is doing! If you have any suggestions for boards or pins that should be on the ALSC Pinterest board, please feel free to leave those in the comments.

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Katie Salo is an Early Literacy Librarian at Indian Prairie Public Library in Darien, IL and is writing this post for the Public Awareness Committee. You can reach her at simplykatie(at)gmail(dot)com.

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One great initiative that the Public Awareness Committee works to promote is El día de los niños/ El día de los libros (Children’s Day/ Book Day), which was founded in 1996 by Latino children’s author Pat Mora. Día is a special way for libraries to emphasize the importance of advocating literacy to children of all backgrounds while also encouraging families and children to connect with multicultural books, cultures and languages. Exposure to diversity on a regular basis is very important for children and the public library is poised as the perfect space to provide diverse encounters. You can read more about why nurturing cultural diversity in your library is important by reading Jamie Campbell Naidoo’s wonderful ALSC white paper The Importance of Diversity in Library Programs and Material Collections for Children.

At the recent ALA Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Naidoo and Debby Gold of the Cuyahoga County Public Library presented a poster session titled “How Do You Día?”on behalf of the Public Awareness Committee. They invited all who visited the poster session to submit and share their own Día success stories into their iDía jar.

Seven awesome iDías were submitted and here they are!

* A public library donates a book for every child to celebrate Día and partners with other organizations to donate goods for diverse programming.

* At the Salt Lake County Public Library four people demonstrated science experiments in four difference languages to introduce diversity into the community.

* Dallas Public Library offers bilingual Día storytimes and crafts.

* A library shares Spanish language uses for materials and provides multicultural book talks.

* Each New Orleans Public Library branch hosts a yearly program geared towards Día  programming. Themes may focus on different countries and their cultures, such as Africa, China, India and Italy. Local authors are also brought in.

* A library in Commerce, CA invited author Antonio Sacre to read during a storytime program.

* A library holds multicultural craft events, including creating Native American dream catchers, basket weaving and Egyptian vases. They also invited an Indian dance troupe to perform.

What stellar iDías! I especially love the iDía to hold a science program in various languages. Thanks to everyone who stopped by the poster session and shared their success stories! Do you have an iDía that you would like to share? Tell us! Better yet, show us! Share photos from your diverse library program by posting on the Día Facebook page.

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Nicole Lee Martin is a Children’s Librarian at the Grafton-Midview Public Library in Grafton, OH and is writing this post for the Public Awareness Committee. You can reach her at [email protected].

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Hello, friends and fellow ALSC members. I want to introduce myself to you: I’m Amy Koester, and I am the new chair of the ALSC Public Awareness Committee.

In case you’re not particularly familiar with this committee, allow me to share its charge:

To promote awareness of the value of excellent library service for all children. To plan, execute, coordinate, and disseminate public awareness campaigns about the importance of library service for youth. To provide public awareness learning opportunities for library staff and other stakeholders.

Over the course of this next year, this committee will be working to expand public awareness of the excellent services that libraries offer to children and their families. That means any and all services–including those that we as professionals consider to be widely known.

I want to encourage you to think for a moment about the community you serve. Not just the folks who visit and use the library, but the community at large. Thinking about that community, ask yourselves some questions. Do all families in your community:

• know how to get a library card? Do they understand what free services come with library card ownership?
• know they can bring their children to the library for free programs?
• understand that the library is a resource and partner for the development of their young children?
• recognize that the library has materials that reflect and celebrate diversity, so no matter what their family looks like, they can feel welcome?

These are just a few questions we can start to ask ourselves when we step back from our day-to-day work and consider what, in fact, the public is aware of when it comes to library service for children. It is the work of myself and this committee to do everything we can to help bring awareness–and to help you bring awareness in your communities–to what the library can offer.

In conjunction with that work, you’ll continue to see monthly posts from the committee here on the ALSC Blog. We aim to make these posts as useful to you as possible, so if you have particular areas of library service that you’d like your public to be more aware of, I hope you’ll share those ideas in the comments. Or, if you’d rather engage in a more private conversation, feel free to email me at amy(dot)e(dot)koester(at)gmail(dot)com.

Chances are, if folks in your community don’t know about something the library offers, then folks in other communities are missing out, too. And we don’t want families and children to miss out on these excellent, vital library services just because they don’t know about them.

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Amy Koester is a Children’s Librarian with the St. Charles City-County Library District and is writing this post for the Public Awareness Committee.

 

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Happy Father’s Day! As summer rolls around, it is time to celebrate the special men in your life!!   Father’s Day is the perfect time to add a few books to programming about the unique gifts and joy that comes from spending time with an uncle, father, or grandfather. It is also a time to salute your heritage by starting a family tree or making a photo album to honor all those special people in your life. Here are some books that may get your creative juices flowing.

Papa and Me by Arthur Dorros (HarperCollins, 2008) is the perfect way to start Father’s Day! This stunning book, winner of a Pura Belpre Honor Illustrator award, has very brief text and works well read aloud. A young boy wakes his father and begins a day of rituals together as they cook breakfast, then prepare for an adventure in the park and a family party. While the father only speaks Spanish, the boy is bilingual and often answers in English. The vibrant, colorful artwork by Rudy Guttierez, playfully underlines the love between the father and son.

A Beach Tail by Karen Lynn Williams (Boyds Mills Press, 2010) portrays a simple day at the beach with Greg and his father. The adventurous little boy cannot sit still and enjoys exploring and building in the sand, especially because he knows his dad is there to protect him. Lovely, oversized pastel illustrations by talented Floyd Cooper will make this title very enjoyable for young children.

What is it like to work at running and owning a Chinese restaurant? A young boy takes the reader behind the scenes at Big Jimmy’s Kum Kau Chinese Take Out by Ted Lewin (HarperCollins, 2001) as he helps his dad, uncles, and other family members scramble from morning to night to prepare the delicacies that make this place a popular neighborhood destination. Arresting watercolor paintings capture the energy of the hustle and bustle as the restaurant opens for business.

Imagine what it would be like if your grandfather was the town bee expert! The Beeman by Laurie Krebs (Barefeet Books, 2008) is a charming and whimsical look at the many tasks a grandfather performs in his job as a beekeeper and how proud that makes his grandson.   Bright acrylic illustrations and simple rhyming text make this a great book for sharing.

What are some of your favorite titles to share on Father’s Day?

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Debby Gold is a Children’s Librarian at the Cuyahoga County Public Library for over 30 years and is writing this post for the Public Awareness Committee.

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Happy Mother’s Day! Did you enjoy celebrating Día ? Don’t forget to share any pictures that you might have taken. I hope that you had a wonderful time observing Día at your library with local families and friends. Now that April 30th has come and gone, don’t think your opportunity to incorporate diversity into your programming and collection has passed! Día celebrates children and books while also encouraging families and children to connect with multicultural books, cultures and languages. To honor the special ladies we all treasure today, I’ve put together some of my favorite books about mothers that can expose children to different cultures and languages.

Mama, Do You Love Me? by Barbara Joosse (Chronicle Books, 1998) is a great choice for a multicultural Mother’s Day read. This story tells of an Inuit mother and daughter and is set in the majestic wilderness of Alaska. The child seeks to find out whether her mother will love her no matter what she does. Children will learn about the native creatures of Alaska as the child imagines herself as a polar bear and musk ox.  Preschoolers will be delighted with Lavallee’s artwork depicting mother and daughter clad in Inuit garb. A Canadian historian even assisted in checking the manuscript to assure that the Inuit culture was portrayed accurately in this book.

Kindergarteners will enjoy My Mom is a Foreigner, But Not to Me by Julianne Moore (Chronicle Books, 2013). This is a lovely picture book that explores the feelings some children may have when they have a parent from another country. Children can learn how to say, “I love you, Mom!” in a variety of languages such as German and French. So’s beautiful illustrations exhibit various ethnic clothing and foods.

For the remarkable grandmothers in your life, read All About Grandmas by Roni Schotter (Dial Books for Young Readers, 2012). This charming book looks at grandmas of all shapes, sizes and colors! Children can learn how to say “grandma” in 50 languages thanks to a convenient list in the front of the book. Grandchildren will love reading this with their Lola (Philippine dialect) , Farmor (Swedish) or Oma (German).

My final selection for Mother’s Day, A Tale of Two Mommies by Vanita Oelschlager (Vanita Books, 2011), follows a young boy at the beach as he discusses his two mothers with his friends. This is a fun choice for any same-sex couples who may have children with questions about their non-traditional family dynamic, as it shows that they are really not that different from other families at all.

What are some of your favorite titles to share on Mother’s Day?

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Nicole Lee Martin is a Children’s Librarian at the Grafton-Midview Public Library in Grafton, OH and is writing this post for the Public Awareness Committee. You can reach her at [email protected].

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What celebration are children’s librarians across the United State getting ready for on April 30th that involves families, fun, food and of course, books? Although every day is an opportunity to celebrate the joy of reading, El día de los niños/ El día de los libros (Children’s Day/ Book Day), founded in 1996 by Latino children’s author Pat Mora, “Día” is a wonderful way for libraries to reach out to their community and emphasize the importance of advocating literacy to children of all backgrounds. In addition, Día connects them to different cultures through books, craft activities and recipes.

 Your celebration can be as small as promotingDía at a storytime with a bookmark making craft or as large as an evening event with a special guest such as an author or storyteller. To get started with some excellent ideas, check out the Día Facebook page or the Día Pinterest account.Register your program on the Día Registry and receive special bookmarks, stickers, and posters. Don’t forget about the wonderful Día Family Book Club Toolkit available for free download! A special bonus offered this month only to help you prepare and incorporate Día into your library programming are the four free webinars offered through ALSC. What are you planning for Día?

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Debra S. Gold is blogging on behalf of the Public Awareness Committee and has been a Children’s Librarian for Cuyahoga County Public Library (Cleveland, Ohio)  for the past thirty years.  She served on the Newbery Committee in 1996, the Caldecott Committee in 2004, and the Coretta Scott Book Award Committee in 2011 and 2012.

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