Per The Minneapolis American Indian Center: Minneapolis is a…”large and tribally diverse urban Native population, numbering well over 35,000 in the 11-county Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area.” Additionally, there are numerous community partners, including 5 academic libraries, 3 public library systems; an independent book store specializing in native books and art; and a literary center.

The Children’s Literature Lecture (formerly May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture Award) celebrates scholarship and critical thinking about literature for children. The Children’s Literature Lecture Award centers on the distinction of its winners, whose diverse voices and perspectives are important in broadening our understanding of and appreciation for children’s literature.

Stay tuned for the dates and details of the lecture that will be announced by ALSC in the near future. We hope to see you in Minnesota!

Photo Credit: AlexiusHoratius, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>,
via Wikimedia Commons

Casey O’Leary is the chair of the 2026 Children’s Literature Lecture committee and has served on the 2024 Children’s Literature Legacy committee, the ALSC Education committee, and the 2021-22 Notable Children’s Recordings committee. She is currently the school media specialist at Mary Nicholson School 70 and the Lead Media Teacher for Indianapolis Public Schools.

The post Host Site Selected For 2026 Children’s Literature Lecture with Cynthia Leitich Smith appeared first on ALSC Blog.

Some Items of note since January 2025:

• The busiest day on the Blog since the beginning of the year was on Monday, January 27th when page views were up over 331%. (It will probably come as no surprise to anyone that this was the day the Youth Media Awards were announced.)
• In an effort to ensure that we are fully complying with copyright laws, we updated our Photo Guidelines in February 2025.
• Many posts were picked up by other blogs and online magazines such as AL Direct, and/or were shared via Facebook or Bluesky. Gavin Damore, ALSC’s Membership and Marketing Specialist, made a special point of ensuring that many posts were linked to a variety of social media outlets.
• Live bloggers shared what they were learning and experiencing at the 2025 ALA Annual Conference. Over the course of the conference, they wrote 44 different posts, covering topics ranging from censorship to poetry programming to the Rainbow booklists to Governor Gretchen Whitmer to the Library Marketplace to graphic novels to Carla Hayden and more. Check them out here. Tremendous thanks go to our Conference Bloggers:
• • Alicia Rogers
  • Arlene Laverde
  • Anna Melvin
  • Desireé Sotomayor
  • Gavin Damore
  • Kelly Depin
  • Kelly Taksier
  • Maria Paz Alegre
  • Patty Gonzales Ramirez
  • Sarah Sansbury
  • William Stieglitz

It’s always interesting to look at which posts, written in the last six months, have received the most views by our readers. Here is the top ten list of most viewed posts out of the nearly 200 pieces published:

1. 2025 Mock YMA Elections Results page
2. Summer Reading Lists for 2025 Are Here: Get Excited! by Gavin Damore
3. 2025 ALA Youth Media Awards and Mock Award Programs by Mary Voors
4. My Top 5 Tips for a Successful School Visit by Jennifer Peterson of the School Age Programs and Services committee
5. Starting a Graphic Novel Book Group at Your Library by Jackie Partch of the School Age Programs and Services committee
6. Let’s Talk YMA Predictions by Olivia McElwain of the ALSC Membership committee
7. How to Manage Behaviors in the Library by Anna Melvin
8. Make a Difference with Web Accessibility: Adding PDF Accessibility Tags by Ann Baillie
9. Considering Tonies and Yoto Players by Kirsten Caldwell
10. City Schools Students Take Over Morgan State University for the Battle of the Books by guest contributor Eiyana Favers

We offer frequent opportunities for Guest Bloggers. Have you ever thought about blogging for the ALSC Blog? Check out this post to learn how you can contribute as a regular monthly blogger, a guest contributor, or an ALSC Conference Blogger. We can’t wait to hear from you!

In April, we were informed that the ALSC Blog was selected by Feedspot to rank as one of the 100 Best Children’s Book Blogs. Selections for 2025 were made from thousands of blogs on the web and ranked by “relevancy, authority, social media followers & freshness.” It is always nice to be recognized and have your work validated. Thanks, Feedspot!

In July, Feedspot let us know that the ALSC Blog was selected to rank as one of the Top 70 Diverse Book Blogs on the web. The FeedSpot website states that the Best Diverse Book Blogs were selected from thousands of blogs on the web and ranked by relevancy, authority, social media followers & freshness. It’s always gratifying to have your efforts acknowledged and your work recognized. A big thank you to Feedspot!

I can not leave this post without offering a few additional sincere thanks… First, to the awesome team of ALSC bloggers who contribute to the ALSC Blog on a monthly basis as well as to the ALSC committees which regularly contribute to the Blog. I appreciated the support of ALSC President, Rob Bittner in the past year. The help and assistance of the ALSC Staff is also tremendously valued. Thank you all. It is a privilege to work with you.

Mary R. Voors
ALSC Blog manager
[email protected]

The post ALSC Blog Overview – January through June 2025 appeared first on ALSC Blog.

Reminder: I am a special educator who did not attend school for library/information science. So when I began working with libraries, I was overwhelmed when it came to developing Disability Pride in collections. Below are the resources I’ve found most helpful. Also, please consider this your cordial invitation to share your expertise in the comments!

The Schneider Family Book Award

Since 2004, the Schneider Family Book Award has honored creators whose books “embod[y] an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.” It includes categories for younger children (ages 4–8), middle grades (ages 9–13), and young adults (ages 14–18). To see every winner or honoree in the award’s history: (1) click on this link, (2) scroll to the bottom of the page, (3) click on “Winner List,” and (4) click on each year (e.g., 2025, 2024, etc.). Schnieder Family Book Award winners and honorees are a great starting place for developing Disability Pride in a collection.

The IRIS Center’s Database of Children’s Books with Portrayals of People with Disabilities

Part of Vanderbilt University, the IRIS Center develops free resources to support all students, especially those with dis/abilities. One of these resources is a searchable database of children’s books with portrayals of people with disabilities, curated in collaboration with Dr. Mary Anne Prater. The organization of the IRIS Center’s database aligns closely with the language used in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This makes it a user-friendly resource for school-based practitioners wanting to develop Disability Pride in their collection.

Diverse BookFinder’s Searchable Collection

I have been using Diverse BookFinder since I was a classroom teacher. Diverse BookFinder offers a comprehensive, searchable collection of children’s and young adult books featuring Black and Indigenous Peoples and People of Color (BIPOC).

You can search Diverse BookFinder’s collection using this link. In addition to disability representation, you can filter Diverse BookFinder results by intended audience, central theme, the race/culture of characters, creators’ lived experiences, and much more. Diverse BookFinder makes it possible to identify books at the intersection of dis/ability and other identities or experiences.

How do you develop Disability Pride in your collection? Drop a line in the comments or at [email protected].

This blog post relates to ALSC Core Competency IV: Collection Knowledge and Management.

The post Celebrate Disability Pride Year-Round through Collection Development appeared first on ALSC Blog.

More than 14,000 people attended the conference, experiencing everything from membership events, to major speakers such as George Takei and Carla Hayden, and networking with fellow library workers.

While there were hundreds of programs and events to choose from, here are some of the highlights from ALSC.

Newbery-Caldecott-Legacy Banquet

The NCL Banquet is one of ALSC’s biggest events at ALA Annual. This year, we were delighted to hear from Caldecott winner Rebecca Lee Kunz, Newbery winner Erin Entrada Kelly, and Children’s Literature Legacy Award winner Carole Boston Weatherford.

As many of our conference bloggers and members have noted in the past, this is a must-attend event for anyone passionate about children’s literature. If you didn’t make it this year, be sure to put it on your list for next year! While a seat at a table requires the purchase of a ticket, there are always seats in the back if you just want to hear the speeches.

And Even More Awards!

The NCL Banquet isn’t the only time ALSC confers awards during ALA Annual. The morning after NCL, we held the ALSC Awards, where we honored additional youth media awardees.

ALSC also held the Odyssey Awards in partnership with Booklist on Saturday, which honors the best audiobooks for children and young adults, and the Pura Belpre Awards in partnership with REFORMA on Sunday, honoring Latino writers and illustrators.

ALSC 101

In addition to our many award celebrations, ALSC held events for members and general ALA Annual attendees interested in becoming members.

On Saturday, the Membership Committee held ALSC 101. While the group was small (Carla Hayden was speaking at the same time!), we enjoyed an intimate round-table conversation with ALSC members and folks interested in partnering with or becoming members.

ALSC Membership Meeting

After all the excitement of the NCL and ALSC Awards, ALSC held our annual Membership Meeting. Here, we announced recipients of our professional awards, heard from Distinguished Service Award winner Judy Zuckerman, and learned more about the upcoming reunification of ALSC and YALSA.

ALSC President’s Program

This year, the ALSC President’s Program delved into one of the hottest topics in library and information science – AI. attendees heard from Martha Brockenbrough, Dr. Desmond Upton, and Dr. Ebony Elizabeth about the current landscape of AI and how it is affecting children.

What To Look Forward to Next

ALA Annual is a whirlwind event, and if you attended, I’m sure you’re still resting and gathering your bearings! However, if you’re energized and looking for more ways to connect with librarians and library workers, especially those serving youth, keep an eye on these upcoming offerings from ALSC:

• Fall Continuing Education – this fall, ALSC will offer two live webinars: Should It Stay Or Should It Go (part of the Best of National Institute series) on September 18, and Creating Interactive Storytimes with Music, Play, and More on October 2. ALSC members receive 50% off registration!
• We Are ALSC Chats – these informal chats via Zoom allow ALSC members and non-members a space to discuss pertinent topics in library service to children. Keep an eye on our website for the schedule – while we do not have our next one scheduled currently, we typically hold one every 1-2 months.
• ALSC National Institute – if you liked ALA Annual, mark your calendars for ALSC National Institute in October 2026! This conference is dedicated entirely to programming and education about library service to children. While tickets are not on sale yet, dates, location, and pricing is available for planning purposes.

As a first-time ALA Annual attendee, it was wonderful to meet ALSC members and witness how passionate our membership is about the work they do. I’m already looking forward to next year’s conference!

All photos courtesy of ALA Conference Photographers

The post ALA Annual 2025: Another Exciting Year! #alaac2025 appeared first on ALSC Blog.

Last summer, I attended a session hosted by DC Public Schools that provided families with an overview of what the typical preschool day would look like for their children. I learned about what content would be covered, the length of the day, and the structure of the program. I then combined my new knowledge of DCPS’s preschool program with my own experiences as a preschool teacher to bring a preschool readiness program to my library. At the end of the summer, I introduced a multi-part series called “Little Learners” for ages 3-5. 

What was it?

Little Learners was run over four days for 1.5 hours each day at the end of August. Each program consisted of a circle time, where we reviewed a schedule, calendar, and said hello. We then transitioned into a whole-group read-aloud. Then, children and their families participated in a whole-group craft themed around the read-aloud. As participants began to finish their crafts, a block of centers was introduced. There were typically 3-4 centers available for families to work through at their own pace. These were themed around the book of the day. These centers consisted of sensory, math, and other learning activities. After about 20 minutes of centers, families were invited to clean up as a group, and then everyone came back together for a goodbye circle. 

Why this program?

Little Learners was something that I developed after hearing from many families about their nerves in getting their children ready for school. They were nervous that their children would not know what school really was, or why they were there, if they had never done something like that before. As someone who previously worked as a preschool teacher, I felt as though I was in a unique position to be able to show kids what school is like. The program was created with the following purposes:

• Show children what a typical school day might look like
• Teach children what the expectations of them at school are
• Provide families with a real-life experience to refer back to as they discussed “going to school” at home

Patron Response and Feedback

This program was extremely successful at my branch. Many of the patrons who attended still discuss last summer’s program with me a year later. I also had families inquiring about the program for this summer back in January! Because of the previous year’s success, I am able to host this program again and get even more children ready for preschool.

If you are interested in hosting this program at your library or finding out more about what went into planning Little Learners, feel free to check out my planning spreadsheet, where I list out activities and timing for each of the four days of programming. 

This post addresses ALSC Core Competencies 1.4, 1.5, 3.1, 3.2, and 3.6.

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.

The post Little Learners: Getting Ready for PreK at the Library appeared first on ALSC Blog.

There are so many ways your library can celebrate National Waterpark Day. This year, for the first time, my library is raffling off a waterpark gift card as a grand prize for our Summer Reading Program. Patron feedback has been amazing, and middle schoolers have been turning in extra reading logs to get more chances to win. You could also run a program with water-based activities. I especially love Michelle Coxford’s idea of watercolor salt painting, and Jonathan Dolce’s idea of demoing pool games. These ideas both sound like a blast, and I can’t wait to try them in the future!

Along with programs and prizes, there are so many great books about going to the waterpark! Here are some excellent choices for a display for beginning readers about the joys of going to the waterpark.

Battle of the Bad-Breath Bats by David Bowles (Scholastic)

When three cousins take a shortcut down 13^th Street, they think it will help them get to the waterpark faster. Instead, they run into evil, giant bats. This first book in the 13^th Street series is a fantastic combination of fun and spooky. Kids looking for a summer scare with enjoy this frightening good time.   

The Inflatables in Bad Air Day by Beth Garrod and Jess Hitchman (Scholastic)

The only thing better than going to the waterpark? Living there! In this funny graphic novel, four waterpark inflatables live in the lost and found. When Flamingo learns a camera crew is coming to the waterpark, can he finally become the star he was always meant to be? This is the first in a series all about waterpark floaties, making it a perfect recommendation for summer.

Fun at the Waterpark! by Amandeep S. Kochar (Paw Prints Publishing)

Jeet and his puppy, Fudge, have a great time wherever they go. In this adventure, the animal shelter is hosting an adoption event at the waterpark. Dad says that after volunteering they can go on the rides, but can Jeet and Fudge be patient enough to wait? This sweet story is perfect for animal lovers.

Splish Splash at the Water Park by Fran Manushkin (Picture Window Books)

Katie and JoJo are back and ready for another fun day. What better way to spend a rainy day than in an indoor waterpark with your friend? Everything is fun at the waterpark until Katie sees how tall the Super-Duper Slide. Can JoJo help Katie be brave and go down the slide? This book is a great friendship story and perfect for patrons who are a little nervous about going down the larger slides at the waterpark.

Flushed Away Water Park by Andy Nonamus (Little Simon)

Having your class field trip at the waterpark sounds like a great day! Or, it would be, if the waterpark was finished. But when this class arrives that the waterpark, none of the rides are finished, and the water is murky! Worst of all, the owner believes mermaids are living in the waterpark. Can this field trip be saved, or is it doomed to be a disaster? This hilarious story will make your patrons laugh as this class tries to survive their field trip.

What are your favorite books set in a waterpark to recommend to patrons?

Ann Baillie (she/her/hers) is the Youth Services Assistant Manager at the Alsip-Merrionette Park Public Library in Alsip, Illinois. She is a past-manager of the Illinois Library Association’s Youth Services Forum. Her main interests are the connection between Readers’ Advisory and technology, and how libraries can use technology to better reach patrons.

This post addresses ALSC Core Competencies II. Reference and User Skills and III. Programming Skills.

The post Slide into Fun with Books for National Waterpark Day appeared first on ALSC Blog.

Culturally Relevant Programming

I love library programming. I spent many summers at the library participating in the free, culturally relevant programs that my local library branch hosted. As a Children’s Librarian, I strive to replicate that same sense of joy I felt attending those programs many years ago. Last year, I noticed that our annual Summer of Learning program roster didn’t feature any presenters that spoke Spanish. With a growing Hispanic and Spanish speaking community by our branch, I knew that I would need to meet the community where they were at to forge the connection.

After speaking to our existing community partners that work directly with this community, we identified the need of bilingual, family friendly, evening programming. I worked with our Youth and Family Learning Services department to secure funding for six bilingual culturally relevant programs led by two members of the Latine community. We took these programs directly to our community partners during the late fall/early winter of 2024. These programs included a variety of piñata making, Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) dioramas, ceramic sugar skull decorating, and a serape fabric sewing workshop. They were a hit!

Story Time in a Variety of Languages

At our branch, we currently host two story time programs: Arabic Story Time on Saturday mornings and Bilingual Family Story Time (BFST) on Thursday mornings. As the host of BFST, I am intentional about the books I select. I prioritize books that are written/illustrated by members of the Hispanic/Latino/a/e diaspora. I spend a lot of time going through titles that are appropriate in length (attention spans can be short!) can be easily translated (if a translation doesn’t already exist) and doesn’t represent the community in a way that could cause harm.

Arabic Story Time is hosted by our contracted storyteller, Hala. She’s a native Arabic speaker and a local member of our community! I work collaboratively with our Early Learning Program Manager (who oversees all our contracted storytellers) to support Hala at the branch level. This includes advocating for the purchase of more Arabic titles, age-appropriate story time toys, and promotion of the program to our patrons, regardless if they are Arabic speakers.

Collection Development

While we have Selection Librarians at our library system who purchase items on our behalf, Children’s Librarians are still responsible for purchasing our branch’s uncatalogued paperback collection. This collection of uncatalogued books are on the honor system, and patrons can hold onto them longer than our normal 3-week checkout period. We do five orders throughout the year through Ingram. When it comes time to submit the order, I spend a few hours going through titles that I believe would be of interest to our young readers. Aside from selecting the newly published titles, I also prioritize books in our branch’s most requested languages (Amharic, Chinese, Spanish, Tigrinya). I also purposely select titles that celebrate the diverse cultures, experiences and perspectives of our community members. It’s important that our young readers see themselves in the books they read, from board books to chapter books.

Future Goals

Aside from keeping my current practices, I hope to further deepen my connections with our community partners to bring more culturally relevant programming to their locations. Our Teen Librarian and I are also working with the Early Learning Program Manager to possibly bring a very highly requested Amharic/Tigrinya evening story time, as our branch serves a large Ethiopia and Eritrean community. More community listening is in the works to see how the branch can better serve our prioritized patrons.

What are some things that you’re currently doing to center equity in your work? Please share your experiences in the comments below!

Maria Leon-Roman is a Children’s Services Librarian at the Seattle Public Library (SPL). Her childhood love of books and libraries inspired her to try to apply for a library job at the age of 8. She eventually got hired as a Student Assistant at age 17, and has spent the last 11 years working through the ranks at SPL. She is currently serving as co-chair of the ALSC Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion committee. Outside of work, Maria loves to play video games, bake, and obsess over her dog, Simón.

The post How Do You Center Equity in Your Current Work? appeared first on ALSC Blog.

Perhaps your professional development (PD) toolbox is feeling a little dusty due to underuse, or maybe some tools have become dull from overuse. As librarians, we recognize the importance of lifelong learning. We also acknowledge that when time is short, money is tight, and the day-to-day demands pile up, it can be hard to focus on our own professional growth. Life gets busy, and professional FOMO can creep up. You do not have to start from scratch. It can be easy to overthink and overlook resources already at your disposal; sometimes a trusted tool just needs sharpening or oiling. This is an invitation to take an inventory, sketch your blueprint, and get back to (re)building your professional practice.

Gather your crew

You may be the only children’s librarian in your building, but you are not alone. What do you want to learn or share with others? What are your areas for growth? How can you help others to grow? Connect with other folks (locally or online) to form a small peer group that meets monthly or quarterly to stay motivated, exchange ideas, troubleshoot challenges, and get inspired.

Grab the tools

When budgets are tight, online resources can be your best friend. Read a(nother) blog post from ALSC or check out archived webinars or courses from ALA and its affiliates, The Library of Congress, or PBS Books. Explore an ALSC toolkit and then deepen your learning by taking notes, reflecting, and applying new ideas to your own programming, collection development, or advocacy efforts. Reread past training materials to refresh your memory and revisit your learning; a second pass after more experience may reveal insights you missed the first time or offer new ways to apply familiar concepts.

Make it yourself

You do not need to be a national expert to have something valuable to share. What do you know? What is your niche? Start with what you have learned through your own experiences. Volunteer for opportunities that will allow you to share your knowledge and strengthen your skills. Write a blog post, curate a book list, submit an article, or volunteer to serve as a referee to a professional journal. Lead a workshop for colleagues or serve as a mentor. Submit a proposal for a virtual or in-person course or presentation with ALSC. Attend or help coordinate an unconference with the topics and learning driven by the attendees. Someone else is likely facing the same challenges, and your story might be exactly what they need.

Borrow from other rooms

Think beyond children’s services. Attend professional development offered to and/or by the technology team on topics like AI, digital literacy, and makerspaces. Join PD for reading interventionists or English as a Second Language (ESL) specialists in your school district. Your attendance expands your skillset, shows initiative, enriches your understanding of cross-functional work, and brings a broader perspective back to your department.

“Shop” local

You may be surprised by the learning opportunities available right in your community that connect directly to your work with children and families. Shifting your perspective from facilitator to participant can spark fresh ideas and help you see your work in a new light. Register for free community events or even attend another library’s program. City and county agencies often offer free or low-cost workshops on topics such as youth mental health, trauma-informed practice, parenting, literacy, civic engagement, equity, or (potential) engagement/partnership opportunities. Community colleges and local nonprofits may run affordable courses or training on early literacy, youth media, languages spoken in your neighborhood, or arts integration. These local learning experiences can strengthen your practice and deepen your connection to the community you serve. Browse the ALSC Strengthening Community Connections Toolkit for resources, ideas, and inspiration.

Do not skip the finish work

Deepen your learning through reflection. Take notes, highlight what resonates, and experiment with small changes in your own programming or outreach. Documentation helps you recognize your growth and creates a record to refer to when applying for/renewing certifications, requesting time for future PD, updating your resume, or advocating for yourself during evaluation season. Build a habit of reflective practice as you go. Read this ALSC Children & Libraries article to see an example of reflective practice in action.

A DIY professional development plan is about actively shaping your growth in a way that reflects your values, goals, and community needs. Take the time to notice what feels energizing and what you might want to explore next. You deserve to grow, and your patrons deserve a librarian who is inspired and empowered to keep learning.

This post addresses the following ALSC Core Competency: VII. Professionalism & Professional Development.

Amalia E. Butler, Park Avenue School Librarian (NJ), is writing on behalf of the ALSC School Age Programs & Services Committee.

The post DIY-Style PD: Refresh, Reflect, and Rebuild Your Practice appeared first on ALSC Blog.

As a Certified Yoga Teacher, I have a particular interest in mindfulness and how it intersects with our professional lives. I am a strong advocate for work-life balance and strive to apply it personally in my life. The tips shared below are simple, mindful strategies and are not meant to be a substitute for professional support; please reach out to a mental health professional if you are struggling.

Here are five strategies to have on hand as you navigate Summer:

1. BREATHE! Take a deep breath in and out. When we are busy, we tend to hold our breath unintentionally and overlook our breathing patterns. In the height of my busy seasons, there are times when I notice that I haven’t taken a deep breath all day. Taking a deep breath can help reconnect to our bodies and slow down our thoughts to regulate the nervous system.
2. Take a break! Make sure that you are taking your lunch breaks and are disconnecting from the library for this time. It’s important to have a boundary around your personal time. Offer yourself the opportunity to eat slowly while thinking about non-work related things. Aside from lunch breaks, try to infuse short breaks throughout the day, whether it be a bathroom break or a walk in the stacks to get up and move your body. It can be hard to break the stigma that we shouldn’t take our breaks, especially during a busy summer. I’d argue that it’s even harder to manage the potential negative effects of working through your lunch break or never stepping away from the Reference Desk. We all need time to recharge and it’s time to start recognizing that. Advocate for yourself by taking your designated breaks!
3. Check your posture! Summer shenanigans can have us in different twists and turns. Whether you’re sitting down at the desk or up on your feet running around at a program, always check your posture. Take a moment to roll your shoulders and wrists. Flex your foot up and down as if you’re pressing on a pedal in the car. Lightly stretch your neck and legs. If you are on your feet or setting up materials, make sure you are attentive to how you protect and support your lower back. Move with intention!
4. Spread Kindness. We’re all in this together! A simple “great job!” can go a long way to making a colleague feel seen and valued for their hard work. You never know how someone is feeling behind the scenes. Try giving one compliment per day to a colleague, or a patron, and see how you feel. Offering this support helps improve morale for both the person receiving and giving it!
5. Affirm. Remind yourself with affirmations that you are doing a great job. I like to set reminders on my phone with little boosts like “you got this!” or “be brave!”. You could also try leaving a post-it note on your keyboard with a mindful reminder ahead of busy days. These little things can make a difference if you allow them to.

I hope that these small strategies can help to make a difference this summer. Try your best and aim for actionable baby steps! Let me know in the comments if you have any specific strategies for self-care. We got this!!

Our guest blogger today is Joannie Lauria. Joannie is the Youth Services Consultant at the Suffolk Cooperative Library System in New York. She has held many roles, including Children & Teen Services
Librarian and Elementary School Librarian. Joannie is also a Certified Yoga Teacher specializing in yoga for children. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling and hiking. She can be reached at [email protected]

Please note that as a guest post, the views expressed here do not represent the official position of ALA or ALSC.

If you are interested in submitting a guest post, please read and fill out our Guest Blogging Interest Form. We would love to hear from you!

The post Self Care Summer appeared first on ALSC Blog.

On Saturday, June 28 at Annual, Brad Sietz and Alicia Vaandering, co-chairs of the LIRT Conference Program Committee moderated “Collaboration in Instruction with Other Types of Libraries.”  This session brought academic, school, and public librarians together to discuss partnerships between libraries because, as the session description noted, “libraries of all types are facing increasing demands on their resources and requests to handle areas that may be outside their staff’s area of expertise, all while also being asked to ‘do more with less.’”  

Academic librarian Morgan Brickey-Jones, Director of Community Outreach from the University of Texas at Arlington, started the panel off with a discussion of the institution’s partnership with the public library of Arlington.  Brickey-Jones also focused on how to build and maintain partnerships, recommending that before a library starts a partnership, it is important to check for alignment with your institution’s strategic goals; check for budgetary, space, and staff capacity constraints; and check for demonstrated need and interest.  These are quick tips that work for any type of library looking to start a partnership.  Brickey-Jones also discussed steps to take during the program and after the partnership program.  For example, it is important to observe the audience while the partnership event is taking place and to then talk with staff and take reflective notes after the project is complete.

Next, M’issa Fleming, Youth Outreach Librarian for the New Orleans Public Library and Matt Hassebrock, the Librarian for the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA), shared information about their partnership between a high school library and public library with the goal of fostering lifelong library users.  The libraries began their partnership journey through a library card sign-up drive, and the partnership has grown into a series of presentations by the public library for students about library resources for research.  The public library also shares SORA, Overdrive’s program that provides ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, and graphic novels, with the school students.  

I then had the opportunity to share about my partnerships with the New Orleans Public Library and with the Jefferson Parish Public Library.  My school’s partnership with the public library started similarly with a library card sign-up drive.  We are now partnering for our second year for our summer community engagement project, Books from the Heart.  This is a four-day program during which students entering third and fourth grade learn about the importance of access to books and information.  They spend the first day visiting bookstores (a local, independent bookstore, a chain bookstore, and the Community Book Center, the oldest black-owned bookstore in New Orleans).  On the second day, they visit two branches of public libraries to learn about the different kinds of information and resources available to the community.  I was excited to share that this year, we are also partnering with the Xavier University Archives for students to learn about the preservation of information and access to records.

All of the panelists stressed the importance of meeting the needs and goals of both partners.  At the end of the panel, one of the questions posed was about how to start a partnership and find partners.  All of the panelists provided good advice about reaching out via email or just making a phone call to reach out and start the partnership.  Offer to go to lunch or coffee with a colleague!  Sometimes, partnerships form by simply making connections and being in the right place at the right time…    

About a month before our panel at Annual, I realized that two of the three presentations for the LIRT panel featured the New Orleans Public Library!  While I had attended a virtual conference with Matt, another school librarian in New Orleans, I had to travel to Philadelphia to meet him in person!  At the end of the presentation, Matt and I looked at each other and asked why our schools had not partnered before?!  We immediately started talking about potential partnership opportunities that we hope to explore this year.  For example, my third grade students put on a Women of Character play each spring, so some of Matt’s theatre students might work with my students to share theatre warm ups, character research, and best practices.  

And a partnership has begun…!  

If you are looking for more information about starting or fostering a partnership between a school library and a public library, check out ALSC’s Public Library and School Library Collaboration Toolkit!  

TAGS:  #library #librarian #partnership #community #LIRT #public #school #academic

This post addresses ALSC competencies 5.6 Communicates and collaborates in partnership with other agencies, institutions, and organizations serving children in the community to achieve common goals and overcome barriers created by socioeconomic circumstances, race, culture, privilege, language, gender, ability, religion, immigration status, commercialism, and other diversities; 3.1 Designs, promotes, presents, and evaluates a variety of diverse programs for children, with consideration of equity, diversity, and inclusion; principles of child development; and the needs, interests, and goals of all children, their caregivers, and educators in the community; and 3.9 Delivers programs outside or inside the library, as well as digitally, to meet users where they are, addressing community and educational needs, including those of unserved and underserved populations.

Soline Holmes, Preschool/Lower School Librarian and Information Services Department Chair at Academy of the Sacred Heart in New Orleans, is writing this post on behalf of ALSC’s Public Awareness and Advocacy Committee. She can be reached at [email protected].

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