If you are an ALSC member and are interested in joining our team of Regular Bloggers, please visit our ALSC Blog Policy page and submit an interest form!
ALSC Blog Manager
Mary R. Voors (she/her) is the ALSC Blog Manager. She loves reading picture books, early chapter books, YA fiction & nonfiction, and the occasional book written for adults. Mary has served on a variety of ALSC committees including the Newbery committee, the ALSC International Relations committee, the Great Web Sites committee (chair), the BWI Summer Reading Program Grant committee, the Notable Children’s Books committee, the Intellectual Freedom committee, the ALSC Board of Directors, and the Odyssey committee.
ALSC Staff Liaison
Gavin Damore is the Membership and Marketing Specialist for ALSC and YALSA. Gavin has worked in nonprofit marketing and communications since 2015 in a variety of industries including performing arts, parks and recreation, and libraries. He holds a B.A. in English from Stonehill College and a M.S. in Public Relations from Boston University.
Bloggers
Ann Baillie (she/her/hers) is the Youth Services Assistant Manager at the Alsip-Merrionette ParkPublic Library in Alsip, Illinois. She serves on the Illinois Library Association’s Youth Services Forum and the Illinois Youth Services Institute Planning Committee. Her main interests are the connection between Readers’ Advisory and technology, and how libraries can use technology to better reach patrons. When she’s not working, you can find her reading, baking, and listening to Taylor Swift.
Annaliese Melvin (she/they) is a children’s librarian at a neighborhood library in Washington, D.C. Originally from Pennsylvania, she moved to the DC-area in 2020 to become a special education teacher after graduating with her bachelor’s from Arcadia University. In 2023, she graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a master’s degree in Library and Information Science and transitioned into the library field. Annaliese currently works to bring more inclusive programming to DC Public Libraries for children of all ages. She is passionate about equity, inclusion, reading, and Philadelphia sports.
Ariel Barreras is the Children’s Librarian at the Ridgefield Park Public Library in New Jersey. She is passionate about storytime, collection development, and serving diverse communities. She enjoys spending time with her family and checking out the latest buzz-worthy films at the movies.
Dr. Claudette S. McLinn is the current 2025-2026 President of ALSC. She is executive director of the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature (CSMCL.org). She is a former District Supervising Librarian in Library Media Services for the Los Angeles Unified School District with over 34 years of experience as a teacher, librarian, and administrator in elementary and secondary education. She was the owner of a children’s bookstore for over 20 years. She was also an Adjunct Professor at California State University, Long Beach, where she taught graduate courses in children’s literature and young adult literature with a focus on multicultural literature. She has been active in the ALA, including serving on the Newbery Award, Coretta Scott King Award (as chair), Pura Belpré Award (as chair), and Caldecott Award (as chair) Committees. She was an inaugural member of the Kirkus Prize Committee for Young Reader’s Literature; judge for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Young Adult Literature; and judge for the Ezra Jack Keats Award Committee. Dr. McLinn chaired the 2023 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature Jury and served as the United States representative of the 2024 BolognaRagazzi International Award Jury. She presently serves as Vice-Chair of the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art Board of Trustees. She has received numerous awards including the 2020 ALSC Distinguished Service Award and 2023 Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Dr. Erika Hogan is a Youth Librarian and member of the Library Freedom Project who is passionate about developing programs that feed creative and critical thinking skills for youth of all ages. Dedicated to creating inclusive and welcoming spaces in the library for play, learning, and exploration, Hogan also loves planning outdoor engagement programs that connect children and caregivers to nature. A fan of stories featuring brave mice, spine tingling tales, and novels in verse, Dr. Hogan has served on the ALSC Education Committee, ALSC’s Quicklists Consulting Committee, and the Stonewall Book Awards.
Jaime Eastman (she/her) is a senior Public Services Librarian and Family Place Coordinator at the Harrington Library, one of the Plano (Texas) Public Library locations. Jaime is also working on at least two ambitious cross stitch projects, dreaming of future travel plans, and reading far too many books at once. As a child, she wanted to grow up to be an author. Writing for the ALSC Blog and publishing with Children and Libraries feel like a good start, and she regrets nothing about her adult decision to be a librarian doing storytimes who didn’t have to grow up too much.
Jessica Tarnowski (she/her) is a Youth Services Librarian at the Bartlett Public Library District in Bartlett, Illinois. She loves designing creative, inclusive programs that inspire curiosity and help children discover the joy of reading. Jessica has a special interest in fairy tales, storytelling, and bringing books to life through playful and meaningful library experiences. Outside of work, she enjoys relaxing with her two cats and indulging her lifelong love of all things Disney.
Kary Henry (she/her) is the School Outreach Coordinator at Deerfield (IL) Public Library. She absolutely loves serving the early childhood community in Deerfield, through outreach storytimes and programs, teacher in-services, and parent workshops. She is equally passionate about elementary school outreach and homeschool programming! Kary was honored to serve on the 2023 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Committee. Her motto is “I believe that reading is reading, so read what you want!”
Kelley Taksier, M.Ed, (they/them/theirs) is a former classroom teacher pursuing a Ph.D in special education at the University of Florida.
Currently their research focuses on students’ access to texts in public schools. As a part of this work, they collaborate with school and public librarians. They are proud to be a part of Diverse BookFinder’s third Community of Practice cohort and enjoy reading science fiction outside of the reading they do as a part of their work.
Kirsten Caldwell has master’s degrees in both chemistry and information science with a certificate in youth services. She is a youth services librarian at a public library in Wisconsin and works with ages 0-18, though early literacy is where she wants to specialize. She is passionate about programming and best storytime practices and joined ALSC to meet and learn from other librarians around the country. She has served on the ALSC Notable Children’s Digital Media Committee, has been chair of the YALSA Social Media and Marketing Committee, and starting in 2024, will be co-chair of the ALSC Early Childhood Services and Programs Committee. You can find more from her at her website earlyliteracylibrarian.com.
Laura Schulte-Cooper is Senior Program Officer for Communications in the ALSC office where she has enjoyed working with the awesome ALSC membership and staff since 2000. Laura manages the ALSC website, is managing editor of Children and Libraries, and edited The Newbery Practitioner’s Guide: Making the Most of the Award in Your Work. She began her career at the American Library Association in 1989 in the Office for Research and spent six years on the Conference Services staff.
Maria Trivisonno is the Family Engagement Specialist for Cuyahoga County Public Library in suburban Cleveland, Ohio. She started paging at 16 and never completely left the library. Maria received a Laura Bush 21st Century “Youth Services, Librarians, and Museums—A New Vision of Learning” scholarship funded by the federal Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) in Washington, D.C. to get her MLIS at Kent State University, graduating in 2011. She is a member of the advisory board of the Virginia Hamilton Conference on Multicultural Literature for Youth, served on ALSC’s Managing Children’s Services Committee, and is currently co-chair of ALSC’s Intellectual Freedom Committee. Maria loves being an aunt, reading and discussing kids’ books, and all things Star Wars.
Dr. Robert Bittner is a Grants and Awards Specialist at Simon Fraser University, and the immediate past President of ALSC. He has a Master’s degree in Children’s Literature and a doctorate in Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies. His specialization is children’s and young adult literature featuring queer and trans characters and themes. You can find out more about him and his work at docrob.ca.
Committees
The ALSC Budget Committee was established in 1971 and is charged with advising the Executive Director in preparing the annual budget in alignment with priorities established by the ALSC Board. Other functions include submitting the budget to the ALSC board for approval; reviewing division activities for fiscal implications; preparing and submitting to the ALSC board periodic analysis of the finances of the division; reviewing annually at Midwinter Meeting the ALSC goals and objectives; reviewing ALSC’s fiscal relationship to ALA and other divisions, and acting as liaisons for the ALSC board to the planning and budget assembly. The committee membership includes one chair, five members and two ex-officio members (the Executive Director and the Vice President).
Children and Libraries (CAL) is the quarterly journal of the Association for Library Services to Children. ALSC’s Children and Libraries Editorial Advisory Committee supports the overall work of the journal editor by: providing feedback on published issues; recommending resource people for articles and review; reviewing materials for publication (upon request by editor); and suggesting topics for forthcoming issues.
The ALSC Children and Technology Committee was established in 1997. The committee consists of nine members, each serving 2-year terms, plus a committee chair. Its charge is to educate and encourage youth librarians to be leaders on technology issues in their institutions; and to identify technology issues impacting youth librarians and to disseminate information to the membership on these issues through programs, training opportunities, and publications.
The ALSC Early and Family Literacy Committee was established in 2019 and is charged to identify, synthesize, and disseminate current research findings relevant to early and family literacy issues from library schools, scholars of education, and other advocacy sources to libraries, childcare providers, and community agencies serving young children (birth through age 8). To develop in-person and virtual training workshops about early and family literacy skills, practices, and research, and to update and develop ALSC resources with early and family literacy information. To collaborate with and advise related ALSC committees and groups, and library and education associations on early and family literacy issues and concerns. To serve as a resource about ALSC early and family literacy products including those available for purchase.
The ALSC Early Childhood Programs and Services Committee was established in 1972. It is a nine member committee with eight committee members, each serving 2 year terms, led by a committee chair. Its charge is to identify and disseminate information on effective, cooperative, or innovative programs for young children to libraries serving young children (birth to 5). Recent projects include the Babies Need Words Every Day initiative, as well as developing training workshops on early childhood programs and presenting them at conferences and institutes
The ALSC Intellectual Freedom Committee was established in 1974, and consists of five members each serving 2-year terms, led by committee co-chairs Laura Jenkins and Bruce Farrar. The committee’s charge is to advise ALSC on matters before the office for intellectual freedom and their implication for library service to children and to make recommendations to the ALA Intellectual Freedom committee for changes in policies involving library service to children and to promote in-service and continuing education programs in the area of intellectual freedom for those who select library materials for children.
The ALSC Library Service to Underserved Children and Their Caregivers committee (formerly The Library Services to Special Population Children and Their Caregivers committee) is charged to speak for underserved children and their caregivers. To offer leadership in discovering, developing and disseminating information about library materials, programs and facilities for underserved children and their caregivers; to develop and maintain guidelines for selection of useful and relevant materials; and to discuss, develop and suggest ways in which library education programs can prepare librarians to serve these children and their caregivers.
The ALSC Managing Children’s Services Committee was established in 1990. It consists of a chair, plus nine members appointed from the ALSC membership at large, plus one Library Leadership and Management Association (LLAMA) liaison, all of whom function virtually, serving 2-year terms. The charge of the Managing Children’s Services Committee is to identify issues relating to the management of children’s services; to determine if these issues are being addressed by other divisions or committees; to cooperate as appropriate; and to initiate action to address these issues. The committee’s most recent project was a webinar series on management issues.
The ALSC Membership Committee was established in 1976 and consists of nine members led by two committee co-chairs. The committee’s charge is to plan campaigns for recruiting and securing new members for ALSC at the national, state, regional, and local levels and to serve as a channel for communication on membership matters between the ALA membership task force and the division. We engage existing members by connecting members with ALSC opportunities and resources as well as plan and assume responsibility for new and existing member engagement events to connect members to one another and to introduce and educate around ALSC purposes and procedures.
The ALSC Professional Recognition and Scholarship Committee administers the Bechtel Fellowship and Distinguished Service Award. They also select the librarians who receive the Penguin Random House Award to attend their first ALA Annual Conference and the recipients of the ALSC scholarships, Frederic G. Melcher and Bound to Stay Bound, for those seeking their MLIS and who plan to work in libraries serving children.
The ALSC Program Coordinating Committee reviews proposals and chooses a variety of diverse programs that take place at conferences such as ALA Annual and ALSC Institute. The committee also provides support during the planning phase and implementation for the chosen programs. The Program Coordinating Committee listens to and evaluates member needs for continuing education.
The ALSC Public Awareness and Advocacy Committee was established in 2020 by merging the Public Awareness and Advocacy and Legislation Committees. The committee’s charge is 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. To provide tools and information to empower members in support of grassroots advocacy efforts on behalf of libraries, children and families. To serve as a channel of communication on legislative matters among the ALA Legislation committee, the Division Leadership, and its members, recommending to the ALSC Board changes as necessary in federal, state and local legislation proposed by the ALA Legislation committee, and advise on ALSC interests in the proposals before ALA Council.
The ALSC School-Age Programs and Service Committee was established in 1999. The committee’s charge is to identify and disseminate information on effective, cooperative or innovative programming for school-age children to libraries, schools, and community agencies serving youth. The committee develops training workshops on school-age programs and services and presents them at conferences, institutes and for other institutions serving youth. We also collaborate with other ALSC committees and other associations working with the school-age child to initiate activities and projects.
Sarah Kostin
Hello,
I am the head of the Youth Services Department of a public library and am interested in starting a blog. I was doing some research about writing a blog when I stumbled onto your site — what a fantastic resource! I was wondering if I could write a blog on your site or if I need to start one on my own library’s website first. My writing interests would be mostly with reviewing great kids books and sharing great ideas for children’s programming. One article I’d really like to write is about a program I’ve done for two years in a row now where kids who read over 50 hours in the summer are rewarded with a sleepover inside the library. It’s been a great success and I think other librarians may be interested. Please let me know how I can get started.
Thanks so much for your time.
Sarah Kostin
Mary Voors Post author
Sarah –
I’m glad you found the ALSC Blog! We often have guest bloggers… if you are interested in writing a guest post, simply contact us at [email protected]. We’ll see what we can set up!
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Arnelle
I have a question for Amanda Ellington…in addition to your Master’s in Educational Leadership, did you also get your MLIS? If not, how were you able to transition into the Library field? Thank you in advance.
Amanda Ellington
Hello Arnelle– I do not have a MLIS. I work for a great Library Director who valued my background in education and took a chance on me when the Youth Services Supervisor position came available at my local library and boy am I sure glad she did! I have learned from some great mentors in my system and state since being hired in 2009. I have also graduated from Maryland’s Library Associate Training and Library Leadership Institute. Please feel free to email me if you have more questions!
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Pat Gracey
Your section on bloggers has an incorrect URL for Abby Johnson’s own blog in her blurb.
It’s http://www.abbyTHElibrarian.com (Emphasis mine)
Dan Bostrom
Thanks Pat. I’ve corrected the URL. I appreciate you letting us know.
Pat Gracey
Thanks for fixing so fast!
Also ALSC blog is an excellent resource!
amanda yuan
I am a ready from China, and I’m really astonished to find that you have such a program Babies Need Words Every Day initiative, I want to know the exact time that ALA initiated this program.
Thank you very much!
Dan Bostrom
Hi Amanda,
Thanks for your question. The Babies Need Words Every Day campaign began at the 2015 ALA Annual Conference. Thanks for your interest in the program!
Dan
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