# data[].attributes.body
Penny Kittle was one of the first professional people I followed on social media. She is the author of many professional books that fit my philosophy. Penny Kittle tweets about ideas she has, other resources that are helpful, and what up-to-date information for the English/Reading world.

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I love seeing Gallagher present. If he is part of a conference I go see him speak! I love how his ideas are realistic and he is always willing to try new ideas.

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Kelly Manning
kellymanning@wsdr4.org
Kelly leads many book studies, has numerous resources, and is in charge of reading/writing curriculum.

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Missy Henke
melissahenke@wsdr4.org
Missy has been a library and reading department chair for over 10 years at the middle school level. She would be a great resource to bounce ideas off of and knows the community well.

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Stacey Wade
staceywade@wsdr4.org
Stacey is the head of PD for the district. She would be a direct source that could help a librarian advocate for teachers and students.

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Mernie Maestas
merniemaestas@wsdr4.org
Mernie is the "go-to" person for the latest legislation and ideas for my future library.

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Amanda Moody
amandamoody@wsdr4.org
Amanda is in charge of the technology department in my district. She is always sending out ideas about new technology, teaching Google classes, and coming into the classroom. Amanda will be a great resource for the media specialist part of librarianship.

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Ideas for Back to School Lessons

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26 Forward-Thinking Programs for Back to School

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From a picture-book presidential election to a course in cleaning up digital footprints, designer garment upcycling, and TOEFL test prep, these initiatives pack a powerful impact.

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Ideas for Novel Engineering

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Novel Engineering projects are designed around books that teachers choose, generally trade books with interesting plots, rich characters and detailed descriptions of the setting. As they read the text, students are prompted to identify problems faced by characters in the text and whether these problems are ones that might be addressed with a product or process that the students could design in the classroom. Below are examples of books that some Novel Engineering classrooms have used. Click one to view problems identified by the students and solutions designed and built by students.

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Novel Engineering projects are designed around books that teachers choose, generally trade books with interesting plots, rich characters and detailed descriptions of the setting. As they read the text, students are prompted to identify problems faced by characters in the text and whether these problems are ones that might be addressed with a product or process that the students could design in the classroom.

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When parents, community, or administration questions the importance of a library.

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Without question, the Internet has changed the way we think and learn, and will continue to do so as our technology evolves. In particular, the ability to access enormous amounts of information at any time from almost any place is forcing schools to redefine the idea of a classroom and the way we approach teaching. It is also reshaping the notion of school library services - what libraries look like and how they and librarians best serve schools.

Increasingly, we hear the questions: "Are libraries necessary today? Isn't everything on the Internet? Can't we use the library space for better purposes?" We read about prominent independent schools that have chosen to eliminate most or all of their print collections in favor of digital resources. Other schools have replaced trained librarians with technologists who are expert at connecting students with digital tools and websites, but not at maintaining and expanding the carefully curated and already owned print and digital collections. Some independent school librarians are being asked to dramatically weed their print collections to accommodate a move to a space smaller by half or more. More than a few school leaders see this as a good time to cut library funding in order to save money in the overall budget.

Clearly, a popular impression out there is that the plentiful free information on the open Internet will answer all academic needs.

We respectfully disagree - and the research is on our side.

Today's independent school libraries have an increasingly different look and function from libraries of the past, even the recent past. They continue to grow and change with the growth of technology tools (devices, applications, and information resources). But good schools know that libraries and professional librarians are still essential to their missions. Maybe more essential than ever, if excellence in education remains the goal.

A school might support a traditional library model or move to incorporate elements of either a Learning Commons or a Makerspace model or both. "Learning Commons" is a term that refers to a mixed-use space for research, study, collaboration, global connection, and more - with librarians embodying the all-important connection between resources and students. The term "Makerspace" refers to an area of a library focused on production - offering, for example, digital cameras, a 3D printer, and photo manipulation and layout software. The Makerspace idea reinforces the library's role in the entire learning spectrum from recreational reading to research to production and sharing.

A school library can be successful using aspects of either or both of these models, or the school's own interpretation of these models. Strong and successful school libraries require broad collections of resources in many formats and enthusiastic, trained librarians to support students in using and applying information resources to build new knowledge.

The Human Touch

"Libraries are more relevant than ever," writes Luis Herrera, the city librarian of San Francisco, in the New York Times. "They are a place for personal growth and reinvention, a place for help in navigating the information age, a gathering place for civic and cultural engagement, and a trusted place for preserving culture." ¹

Also writing in the New York Times, Matthew Battles, a fellow at the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University, underscores Herrera's point. "Libraries are bridges, enabling people access to many of the information tools that might help them improve their lives and grow their careers," he writes. "Libraries constitute archaeologies of knowledge, reflecting not only cultural memory, but also the changing import of information, learning, and literary expression in different times and places." ²

School librarians provide the all-important human connection between students and information, as well as between teachers and information. They promote a love of reading and learning. They curate collections that support a sense of wonder at the breadth of possibility in the world. Their human touch lifts information access from a rote and random activity to purposeful, meaningful learning.

The 2012 Pew Internet & American Life Project study, How Teens Do Research in the Digital World,³ reports that while the Internet enables students to access a wider range of resources than would otherwise be available, 83 percent of teachers surveyed agree that the available amount of online information is overwhelming to most students. Seventy-one percent agree that "digital technologies discourage students from using a wide range of sources." The surveyed educators also report that the skills needed for seeking quality information "need to be taught by all teachers across the curriculum, and that library staff can be a key part of that process."

In short, professional librarians are experts in teaching the search skills that help researchers accomplish what the Pew study reports is essential: how to best "evaluate the quality of information, how to recognize what information is and is not relevant to the question at hand, and how to synthesize information from multiple sources into a coherent piece of work."

But it's not just the vast amount of information that makes research difficult - and librarians essential - today. Commercial search engines often complicate the process of finding balanced information. In an age where computers are becoming what Eli Pariser, author of The Filter Bubble (2011), describes as "one way mirror(s)," search results tend to provide individuals with search results based on their searching habits, which reinforce what they already believe about any given topic. Students (and many teachers) need training to find the best information because it is hidden by Internet "page ranking" and search personalization. ⁴ In other words, students need to be taught how to be critical researchers. Students who don't understand strong search methods will be at an increasing disadvantage as they advance in school. They need to know how to dig deeper for the varied and more interesting results that will build an academic project to excellence.

Contemporary school libraries are more than centers of information access. They are centers for learning that extend and support the work that goes on in the classroom. They are focal points of collaboration and entry points to global connection. Research demonstrates that students at schools with strong libraries - libraries staffed with trained librarians - often have stronger test scores than schools without that facility and staff. A well-supported school library is at the heart of student academic growth and integral to academic success. In short, they leverage the mission of the school.

The "Hum" of the Library

While school libraries remain central to high quality academic programs, the look and feel of libraries are adapting to the times. School libraries have been and should remain welcoming places where educators work with students, where students access information and collaborate on projects. But in recent years, they've extended their reach and purpose.

A forward-looking library will include multifunctional spaces that facilitate studying, researching, meeting, creating, collaborating, and sharing of final student projects. The library continues to evolve with the needs of teacher and student researchers, making flexibility of space key. It should offer a physical and virtual access point to all formats of information, whether through the existing collection of print books or the growing collection of ebooks and other digital resources, including online subscription databases and the Internet itself. Even the most traditional library is a Makerspace - a place in which students compile and assimilate information into new knowledge. It also comes with experts - librarians - to assist students and faculty with their activities.

The forward-looking library may seem different from the hushed center of scholarship we remember, but it remains a library in all the traditional definitions: a collection of resources organized for easy access by interested researchers. Derek Attig, a 2012 Google Policy Fellow and currently an OITP Research Associate at the American Library Association's Office for Information Technology Policy, argues that "reading and making actually have a great deal in common. They are both opportunities for creative, productive engagement with a wider world. The future (and the absolute necessity!) of libraries is in facilitating that engagement - whether it's with a MakerBot or with Moby Dick or with something we haven't yet even imagined." ⁵

Librarians demonstrate their passion for the collision of interest, enthusiasm, and knowledge when they teach research skills and accurate citation as applied to the content students want and need. Attig continues, "What is reading... but precisely 'a dynamic participatory experience'? The human mind shapes and is shaped by the process of reading. Readers engage with texts [regardless of format] in unpredictably participatory ways. In short, making is not the opposite of reading. Both are opportunities for people to engage creatively with materials at hand and produce something new. Whether those materials are polymers fed into a 3-D printer or Charlotte Perkins Gilman stories fed into a mind is, well, almost immaterial."

Today, an intellectual "hum" is the new "quiet." Librarians function as instructors, coaches, teachers, and cheerleaders - while all around them students and teachers engage in multiple forms of learning. To spend a day in a contemporary school library is to witness what all the research says about quality education for the 21st century - educators and students engaged in research, collaboration, communication, problem solving, creativity, and more.

School libraries offer a variety of models from campus to campus that reflects each individual school's mission and community. In this time of transition from all print to increasingly digital, there is a persistent tension as each campus sorts out the balance that best supports local needs. Regardless of where a school lies on the transitional spectrum, however, professional librarians are essential.

Beyond the Print vs. Digital Debate

Why does the headlined library debate often stem back to collections being "Print or Digital?"

According to John Palfrey, head of Phillips Academy (Massachusetts), "We must redefine libraries for a digital-plus era," ⁶ where the "plus" may include everything that has been included in traditional libraries, from print to realia.

The common question about going "print or digital" with library content naïvely glosses over multiple variables that significantly impact the resource availability to library patrons. There is often an assumption that digital content is less expensive than print, but that is a false assumption. Digital content can be substantially more expensive depending on content availability, methods of access, accessibility to mobile users, and the prevalence, availability, types, and cost of mobile devices. Decisions about content must take into account issues of access that are directly affected by campus infrastructure and technology standards, budget, and student use and demand patterns. A final factor is content availability: as of spring 2013, some publishers are resisting library ownership of ebooks, which means that committing to an all-digital collection could deny students access to some cutting-edge thinking. Nicholas Carr writes in a Wall Street Journal article, "Don't Burn Your Books - Print Is Here to Stay," that ebooks as we know them today may be just another format, like audiobooks. ⁷ In other words, an all-digital collection can be just as limiting as an all-print collection.

It makes sense for schools to increase their digital collection and virtual presence, but we don't believe that schools benefit by dramatically downsizing the library's space. School libraries will continue to need teaching spaces that support the increasing Makerspace activities. Librarians remain the best trained to teach information and research skills. The library is, at its core, a classroom that promotes independent learning, but even the most independent learners benefit from expert guidance as they seek new resources. The actual space needed will remain substantial. Depending on the age of the students and the school's existing print collection, the arrangement of the space may change substantially to allow more class teaching areas with Wi-Fi and useful digital applications. Or it may stay about the same to house existing collections of perhaps picture books for the very young, academic books that may never be digitized but that support specific courses on a campus, and/or continuing strong print collections because the community prefers some materials in that format.

Independent schools are known for their independence of thought. Each school - through its mission and vision - will analyze the changing terrain of the ebook and digital content conversation as it affects both budget and space decisions. Few schools can ignore e-content totally; just as few will want to eliminate all print content from their libraries. Change requires us to examine the spectrum and see where we fit within it. It requires an ongoing conversation and awareness of what other schools are doing, what devices and new formats are on the horizon, and how those facts can best be aligned for our specific situation.

The Librarian's Role in a Multiformat School Library

When a student discovers the perfect resource to answer a question or need - whether it is a database article, a book published in the 1880s, or a website - there is usually a librarian who facilitated that discovery, marking the path from the student search term to the discovered source. They help students to ask good questions of all resources, and to apply the answers to their continued research efforts. But finding quality authoritative information online is not the whole of the library-technology related curriculum. Many school librarians also teach digital ethics, copyright laws, and creative problem solving. They help facilitate the increasingly important global connection between students and the rest of the world, helping students connect to an authentic audience in a broader community, arranging Skype sessions with authors or experts in other locations, and culling resources as needed from varied sources and experts outside the school walls. Many librarians are on the leading edge of social media use, modeling cyber-wisdom through library blogs, Facebook pages, and Twitter accounts and recommending new tools for specific curricular projects.

As the digital world becomes ever more pervasive on our campuses, librarians offer the human connection among campus departments. Because the library centralizes so many digital access points and ensures that teachers get the best support possible, librarians are in constant collaboration with the information technology staff and educational technology specialists.

For example, Annunciation Orthodox School (Texas) has created a technology leadership team that includes the library director, the information technology manager, the education technology coordinator, and two technology teachers. The technology leadership team coordinates a faculty technology committee to strategically plan for technology implementation at the school.

Independent School Librarians Unite

The Independent School Section of the American Association of School Librarians - itself a division of the American Library Association - offers its members a nationwide network of colleagues who can answer questions, offer resources, and support informal research. All librarians working within independent schools are encouraged to join.

In a time when school library services are evolving in order to take advantage of new technological learning tools - for instance, using more ebooks or restructuring a library into a Learning Commons - this resource is a great benefit to the NAIS community.

To access the Independent School Section of the American Association of School Librarians, go to:www.ala.org/aasl/abouta asl/aaslcommunity/aaslsections/iss/iss.

The more informal Association of Independent School Librarians (AISL) also offers librarians a strong network of colleagues and an annual conference (www.aislnews.org). The two organizations complement each other in mission.

At Brentwood School (California), the librarians and educational technology specialists team up to collaborate with faculty members. Additionally, the technology specialists at Brentwood School have their offices in or next to the libraries, increasing spontaneous collaboration and collegiality. The Brentwood library supports the new upper school 1:1 iPad program in several ways - conducting teacher training, exploring and teaching how the library resources work best on the iPad, and maintaining a presence on the iPads with apps (such as database and catalog apps, pathfinders, ebook portals) that are "pushed out" to all student and faculty, allowing the community to virtually take the library with them wherever they go.
Technology and the Library:

What's Hot, and What's Not?

What's hot

What's not

Physical and virtual libraries as hubs of creating new knowledge and educational innovation.

libraries as stand-alone centers of knowledge consumption.

regular collaboration with the technology team to ensure consistency in skills, approach to technology, and technology policies.

librarians teaching technology in a vacuum, or ignoring the technology curriculum, while staying out of the conversation about technology policy or plans for the school.

Staffing that allows librarians to visit classrooms, to teach and accompany students on the research experience where it is happening, and to attend faculty meetings and department meetings across the curriculum.

Understaffing the library so the teaching librarian has to supervise the library and miss authentic research and collaboration moments.

Keeping a curated selection of books and digital resources that are used, and weeding and updating the collection on a regular basis.

Keeping an archive of books and resources that are rarely used.

encouraging the librarian to experiment and play with new digital resources and tools.

no opportunities to offer ebooks and new media to students and faculty due to budget constraints.

offering collaborative workspaces for students and noise-cancelling headphones for those who want silence.

Shushing students all day.

lending gear from laptops to iPads, from phone chargers to video cameras, from rulers to calculators.

advocating in-library use only for many materials.

librarians active in their personal learning networks in order to stay aware of the rapidly changing field and to help lead the discussions about new and meaningful avenues for technology in the curriculum.

librarians not willing (or not given the opportunity) to implement change in the library program or services offered.

collaborating with teachers to create inquiry-based projects that seamlessly integrate research and information literacy skills into the academic curriculum.

leaving the librarian out of the planning process and implementation in regard to research and technology resources.

learning how to search google effectively.

one million hits in your google results list.

a library space with powerful Wi-Fi, numerous outlets, whiteboards, moveable furniture, and easy access to the virtual library.

inflexible learning spaces.

a welcoming, student-centered library that supports learning and curiosity.

a library where students feel there are too many rules with no purpose.

The Viewpoint School (California), Brentwood, and Annunciation Orthodox libraries actively promote digital resources by creating LibGuides, online research pathfinders for student projects. This is a collaborative effort between librarians and faculty. The library resources, along with project-specific LibGuides are presented both in the library and, ideally, in the classroom - and are available 24/7 online.

According to Palfrey of Phillips Academy, "We have to recreate the sense of wonder and importance of libraries, as public spaces, as research labs, as Makerspaces, and as core democratic institutions for the digital age."⁸ We wholeheartedly agree. These are exciting, but complicated times. Librarians have never been as important as they are now in helping students and faculty sort through the glut of information and tools for the best resources. As institutions, school libraries continue to evolve to serve and lead their communities with curated collections, services, and programs tailored to a school's mission.

Few schools will benefit from a drastic reduction of their print collections or their library staff. Equally few schools will be able to ignore digital content in favor of fully paper-based print collections. Passionate, professional librarians' careful selection of print and digital resources, combined with strategic efforts to market and promote these resources, make librarians essential to good schools. They understand that as students learn how to do authentic, quality research, they will also need a space to synthesize and express their new knowledge in creative ways. They understand that facilitating strong student learning and achievement across subject disciplines is a necessary service for higher education and the contemporary marketplace. They encourage and assist students, in groups and individually, as the students expand their knowledge and passions in a world with ever expanding resource formats.

In short, libraries and librarians are essential to an excellent independent school education.
Notes
1. Luis Herrera. "More Relevant Than Ever." Room for Debate. New York Times, 27 Dec. 2012. Web. 19 Jan. 2013, www.nytimes.com/room fordebate/2012/12/27/do-we-still-need-libraries/libraries-are-more-relevant-than-ever.

2. Matthew Battles. "For Gathering and for Solitude."Room for Debate. New York Times, 27 Dec. 2012. Web. 20 Jan. 2013. www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/ 2012/12/27/do-we-still-need-libraries/libraries-are-for-gathering-and-for-solitude.

3. Kristen Purcell, et al. "How Teens Do Research in the Digital World."Pew Internet. Pew Research Center, 1 Nov. 2012. Web. 6 Jan. 2013. www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2012/Student-Research.aspx.

4. Eli Pariser,The Filter Bubble: How the New Personalized Web Is Changing What We Read and How We Think. Penguin, 2011.

5. Derek Attig. "What Do Making and Reading Have in Common?"Bookmobilty: Information in Motion. Derek Attig, 7 Aug. 2012. Web. 19 Jan. 2013. http://bookmobility.org/post/28917606989/makingreading.

6. John Palfrey. "Do We Still Need Libraries?"John Palfrey. Phillips Academy, 30 Dec. 2012. Web. 19 Jan. 2013. http://jpalfrey.andover.edu/ 2012/12/30/do-we-still-need-libraries/.

7. Nicholas Carr. "Don't Burn Your Books - Print Is Here to Stay."Wall Street Journal. Wall Street Journal, 5 Jan. 2013. Web. 20 Jan. 2013. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323874204578219563353697002.html.

8. John Palfrey. "Do We Still Need Libraries?"

Independent Ideas Blog

Teaching & Learning: The First Step is Being Ready to Learn

Teaching students organization, time management, and assessment strategies can help learners of all kinds.
Read the Post

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Without question, the Internet has changed the way we think and learn, and will continue to do so as our technology evolves. In particular, the ability to access enormous amounts of information at any time from almost any place is forcing schools to redefine the idea of a classroom and the way we approach teaching.

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Great source for book talks

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This would be great to jumping off point before the researching unit.

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Log in and start using Piktochart's templates and drag-and-drop editor to create stunning visuals

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Log in and use Piktochart to create beautiful infographics, posters, reports, presentations, flyers, or social media graphics. No design experience needed

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The students could fill out their own profile. It will help with figuring out what they should read.

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Find and read more books you'll love, and keep track of the books you want to read. Be part of the world's largest community of book lovers on Goodreads.

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Looking into your local library to become more involved in the community

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Missouri Association of School Librarians 

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Missouri Association of School Librarians 

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Getting involved in voting for nominees and participating in book battles

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Missouri Association of School Librarians

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The final nominees for MASL's 2018-2019 Readers Awards are listed below. Congratulations to all authors, illustrators and publishers! This Final List will be voted upon by students in March of 2019; the recipients of the awards will be announced at the 2019 MASL Spring Conference.

Gateway (Grades 9-12)

Truman (Grades 6-8)

Mark Twain (Grades 4-6)

Show Me (Grades 1-3)
Downloadable list of the 2018-2019 Readers Awards Final Nominees.

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2018-2019 MASL Readers Awards Final Nominees

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The final nominees for MASL's 2018-2019 Readers Awards are listed below. Congratulations to all authors, illustrators and publishers! This Final List will be voted upon by students in March of 2019; the recipients of the awards will be announced at the 2019 MASL Spring Conference. Gateway (Grades 9-12) Title Author Publisher Symptoms of Being Human...

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From book fairs, to grants, to lessons, to magazines, this website is full of resources

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Scholastic | Books for Kids | Learning Resources

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Find the best kids books, learning resources, and educational solutions at Scholastic, promoting literacy development for over 100 years.

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Keep up with the latest legislation, standards, and book lists

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Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)

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A list of resources by subject area for librarians serving youth.

Access | Advocacy | Book Lists | Common Core State Standards | Competencies for Librarians Serving Children | Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act | Copyright | Digital Media | Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion | Early Literacy | Environmental Scan | Intellectual Freedom | Junior Maker Space | LIS Educators | Mentoring | Partnerships | Programming and Services for Youth | Research | School Age Programs and Services | Services to Special Population Children | Summer Reading | Technology

Access

Access to library materials should not be restricted for any reason. Unfortunately, children and teens suffer when policies are put in place that hinder their access to all types of information. Several sections of the ALA Web site pertain to access and intellectual freedom and revolve around The Library Bill of Rights. Sections of importance to children and those who serve them are:

Free Access to Libraries for Minors
Access for Children and Young Adults to Nonprint Materials: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights (Adopted by ALA Council, 1989/Amended, 2004)
Access to Electronic Information, Services, and Networks
Access to Library Resources and Services Regardless of Sex, Gender Identity, or Sexual Orientation
ALSC and Equity of Access Presidential Initiative

"Giving Children Access to Print Materials Improves Reading Performance," June 2010
An article from Reading is Fundamental, highlighting the positive outcomes for children who have an abundance of materials from which to choose.

Advocacy

Everyday Advocacy is a website offering a collection of resources designed to empower librarians and library staff to take action in their libraries, communities, and beyond. Advocacy is so important, but that doesn't mean it has to be intimidating. Everyday Advocacy highlights ideas and tips that are quick, easy to implement, and highly doable. The site's goal is to develop powerful advocates for children and library service to children. This go-to resource is for both day-to-day advocacy and crisis advocacy, providing resources that address a variety of advocacy circumstances.

Check out helpful information and resources posted by the Advocacy & Legislation Committee on the ALSC Blog.

How Americans Value Public Libraries in Their Communities. This report is part of the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project, which is exploring the role of libraries in the lives of individuals and communities.

In 2014, the ALSC Emerging Leader Team E examined methods of appraising and communicating the full range of youth services and the resulting outputs and outcomes. Their final report, entitled Ask, Assess, Advocate: Demonstrating the Value of Library Youth Services, was submitted to the ALSC Board of Directors and available for download as a PDF.

Book Lists

Through its many book lists, ALSC promotes literacy, reading for enjoyment, and books.

Common Core State Standards

Common Core State Standards (CCSS) have been adopted in a majority of states, and librarians and teachers are scrambling for resources and knowledge to embrace the new paradigm. In response, ALSC's School-Age Programs and Services Committee has compiled a list of essential resources (articles, blogs, websites), which provide a starting point for becoming more familiar with CCSS in order to gain confidence in serving the educational community.

During the spring of 2014, the AASL/ALSC/YALSA Interdivisional Task Force on Common Core developed a toolkit and webinar on the common core and the public librarian.

Competencies for librarians serving children in public libraries

Children's librarian must do more than simply provide age-appropriate service. Effective library service for children entails a broad range of experience and professional skills. ALSC's Competencies seek to define the role of the librarian serving children. Use the Competencies to develop job descriptions for your open positions or as a training resource with your youth services staff.

Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA)

In 2008, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act was passed as a way to protect children from the harmful effects of lead. One of the consequences of its passage was concerns raised about library books.
In-depth and up-to-date information from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission
ALSC's last CPSIA Update -- 6/1/2009
Copyright

Cornell University Copyright Information
Current copyright information for all ages.

What Youth Librarians Need to Know about Copyright
Information about copyright issues for children's librarians.

Digital Media

Digital Media Resources
A go-to list of current articles, blog posts, and websites, about iPads, tablets, eBooks, apps, and more, for children's librarians navigating their way through the evolving digital landscape.

This webpage provides resources to help support children's librarians in their role as media mentor to children and their families. - The number of children and families who use digital media is growing, and children require mediated and guided experiences with digital media for the experiences to translate into positive and productive digital literacy skills. Libraries have the capacity to support families with all their literacy needs, traditional and digital.

Young Children, New Media & Libraries Survey
Between August 1 and August 18, 2014, 415 children's librarians responded to a survey of 9 questions concerning the use of new media with young children in libraries. The survey was created as a collaborative effort between Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), LittleeLit.com, and the iSchool at the University of Washington. Preliminary finding are available through an infographic created by ALSC's Public Awareness Committee.

Ebook Resources for Libraries
Compiled by the ALSC Children & Technology Committee and presented at the 2013 ALA Midwinter Meeting.

Slides and audio from Sue Polanka's Leadership and ALSC presentation at the 2013 ALA Midwinter Meeting.

Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion
Social Justice in Youth Librarianship Resources:
ALA & ALSC Strategic Plans
As represented in both the ALA Strategic Plan and the ALSC 2017-2020 Strategic Plan, ALA and ALSC are working to expand our membership so it is more reflective of the communities we serve and ensuring that the library profession has the tools needed to advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion in all areas of librarianship and our library communities. Here are the objectives for ALSC's startegic direction in Diversity & Incusion:
Toxic Stress in the Library: The Upstream Impact of Life Adversity on Children

Increase diversity in ALSC membership and reduce barriers to participation as measured against the Diversity in ALSC baseline survey by September 2019. Transforming ALSC

Expand opportunities for existing members from underrepresented experiences to serve in ALSC activities, as measured by longitudinal studies and/or focus groups, by September 2020. Transforming ALSC

Increase the cultural competency of library staff serving youth by developing an accessible online cultural competency training series by September 2018. Transforming Children's Librarianship

Listen to Dr. Nicole Cooke; Assistant Professor and Program Director for the Master's of Library and Information Science at the School of Information Sciences, at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, presenting research in the areas of diversity and social justice in librarianship during the 2017 Leadership & ALSC meeting

Access ALSC's archived August 2017 community forum discussing social justice in youth librarianship with Dr. Nicole Cooke, Assistant Professor and MSLIS Program Director at the School of Information Sciences, at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and Jessica Anne Bratt, Youth Services Manager for the Grand Rapids Public Library and co-founder of Libraries4BlackLives. Please note access to this forum is limited to ALSC members using your ALA login and password

"3 Ways to Speak English" by Jamila Lyiscott and the Anderson Cooper Doll Test

Talking About Race in Storytimes

R. David Lankes on Racism, Ignorance, and Librarianship

Equality is Not Pie; Libraries and the Insidiousness of Subtle Racism

This Is What (Straight, Cis, Capitalist, Christian, White Male) Democracy Looks Like

The impact of stress toxicity on the lifespan of children can be observed throughout educational and community settings, affecting families disproportionally over time. In this presentation, Dr. Janina Fariñas and Johanna Ulloa Girón MSW, will introduce how current knowledge on toxic stress and its impact is shaping the way Public libraries provide services and programs for children and their families. The presentation will offer a brief overview of the research, as well as clear, practical approaches for implementing solutions that support the critical role of libraries in diverse communities.

View Dr. Janina Fariñas and Johanna Ulloa Girón's Leadership & ALSC Midwinter 2018 presentation. Please note, due to technical difficulties the concluding five minutes of the presentation are not on the video recording.
Considering All Children: A New Ideal in Evaluating and Engaging around Books for Youth
As part of ALSC's commitment to diversity in library programming and material collections for children, an Action tab was developed on our Día website as a clearinghouse of multicultural resources for youth service librarians. Resources in the Action section fall under categories including advocacy tools, action steps, awards, Day of Diversity materials, professional development, and more. Content in this section includes free webinars, links to useful articles and websites, ideas on how YOU can move the diversity needle forward, and so much more!

Serving Diverse Communities Resources
ALSC Program Presentation Recordings Cultural Competency in Youth Librarianship - 2018 Emerging Leaders Project
Awards, best-of-the-year lists and reviews focus on "quality" and "excellence" in literature for youth, but what do "quality" and "excellence" really mean in the canon of American literature for children? Who is deciding which books stand out? How are some critics and some children privileged in our field's thinking? How are some dismissed or made invisible? What does "American literature for children" even mean? What are common assumptions and current discourse, and what it would look like if we truly considered all children as we evaluate books and single out titles for distinction both within and beyond ALSC?

For this resource guide, the program panelists and moderator were each asked to share suggested critical readings and 5 to 7 must-have books for libraries. Download PDF.

How can ALSC help increase the cultural competence of librarians serving youth and reduce barriers to member participation in ALSC? The 2018 ALSC Emerging Leader Team helped ALSC deliver on its Diversity and Inclusion objectives by developing the framework for a cultural competency training video.
The team built a repertoire of resources that will inform an ALSC cultural competency training series and, specifically, enhance the understanding of microaggressions - what we say and how we say it- and the impact they have on common workplace and social interactions. The team employed research skills to locate relevant examples of cultural competency training, collaboration to develop training messages for individuals and groups engaged in ALSC committee work, and creativity to identify innovative media strategies to deliver an authentic and informative training video script that can be implemented by ALSC staff. Located in this final report is also the brochure distributed during their poster session at the 2018 ALA Annual Conference on What is a Microagression.
View the 2018 Emerging Leader Final Report

Early literacy

The Babies Need Words Every Day initiative, created by the ALSC Early Childhood Programs and Services Committee, represents ALSC's commitment to bridging the 30 million word gap. Launched in August 2015, the visually appealing posters deliver simple, effective rhymes, games and other ways for parents and caregivers to communicate with babies. A customizable book list provides suggestion of books that parents can request at their local library. Over the course of the year, ALSC will encourage librarians to get the word out to their community partners about these free resources to engage them in the effort to bridge the word gap.

The Importance of Play in Early Literacy
As part of the partnership with LEGO® DUPLO®, ALSC is committed to examining the role of play in early literacy. This web resource provides programming ideas, a librarian toolkit, and a white paper that addresses the importance of play in the lives of young children.

Environmental scan

The 2016 ALSC Emerging Leaders Team created an environmental scan [PDF] for the ALSC Board of Directors. The group gathered research on the trends and needs that will impact the future of youth services. This document presents the results of the group's research. This research includes qualitative data gathered from a specialized survey created by the EL group, quantitative data from the survey, case studies gathered in literature reviews, and interviews with ALSC members and other stakeholders from around the country.

Intellectual freedom

Intellectual freedom is the right of all individuals to read, view, or listen to whatever materials they choose and to speak and write the beliefs and opinions they hold. Intellectual freedom is the basis of democracy and is the core concept upon which libraries are built.

The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that these basic policies should guide their services, as outlined in the Library Bill of Rights.

This article written by Sania Zaffar, 2017 ALSC intern and Loyola University Grad Student, reflects on the discussion of frequently challenged children's books with Kristin Pekoll, Assistant Director of the Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF). Some frequently challeneged titles have received an ALSC award or honor, so what does that say to a caregiver, if anything? In this article, Sania discusses this point along with resources to help librarians and teacher have important conversations about challenged books.

Written by Alan Bern, member of the 2017 ALSC Intellectual Freedom Committee, this think piece explores the realms of fake news and alternative facts, including quotes from, and links to, a host of online resources on the topic. This is a companion piece to a March 18, 2017, ALSC blog post from the Intellectual Freedom committee: " Find Your Footing Despite the Flood of Fake News."

ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom
Established December 1, 1967, this office is charged with implementing ALA policies concerning the concept of intellectual freedom. This site includes contact information for OIF staff. Do not hesitate to contact this office; the OIF works for you, as a paying member of ALA and its divisions! Also of interest in this section is basic information, publications, policies, statements and guidelines which can be found in Intellectual Freedom.

Check out resources and helpful information posted by ALSC's Intellectual Freedom Committee on the ALSC Blog.

A caution against ratings in a Booklist article, " Three Bombs, Two Lips, and a Martini Glass Revisited," (March 31, 2016) by ALSC Past-President Pat Scales.
Intellectual Freedom Tool Kit Cooperative Children's Book Center IF Resources Strategies for dealing with challenges to library materials Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
Guidelines, policies, and other materials to help librarians and others deal with challenges can be found at:

Challenges to books and other library materials
Coping with Challenges: Kids and Libraries
Support for dealing with or reporting challenges to library materials

What You Can Do and How to Organize
Celebrate the freedom to read, seek ways to combat censorship, and join other advocates of intellectual freedom.

Kids! Know Your Rights (PDF)
A publication created for children and young people, introducing concepts central to intellectual freedom and the library's role in protecting First Amendment Rights.

Expurgation of Library Materials
The expurgation of library materials is a violation of the Library Bill of Rights. Expurgation as defined by this interpretation includes any deletion, excision, alteration, editing, or obliteration of any part(s) of books or other library resources by the library, its agent, or its parent institution (if any).

Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA)
Contains information for librarians implementing CIPA filtering at their libraries, including a legislative history of CIPA.

Privacy Resources for Librarians, Library Users, and Families
Educational resources for parents and children.

Junior Maker Space

The Association for Library Service to Children is happy to be working with LEGO Systems, Inc. to bring Junior Maker Spaces to libraries across the country. This project will focus on giving children ages 4 to 6 areas to make and create in their local libraries.

LIS educators

ALSC offers the following resources to professors of library and information science that will help classes and students dig deeper into the field of library service to children.

Mentoring

ALSC Mentoring Program
The ALSC Mentoring Program matches mentors and mentees for one year of collaboration. The program, which is open to members and non-members, is intended to help build a new collection of leaders in the field of library service to children.

Partnerships

AASL/ALSC/YALSA Interdivisional Committee on School/Public Library Cooperation Resources
* Toolkit including context and suggestions for creating partnerships of all sizes
* List highlighting past successful partnerships between school & public libraries

Programming & services for youth

Curiosity Creates began as a grant-funded project and has since turned into a proclamation for librarians doing innovative work with children. In 2015, ALSC used an $800,000 grant from Disney to issue 79 minigrants of up to $7,500 each to public libraries for the implementation for creativity programming. ALSC also developed resources that will continue to support the ongoing work of librarians seeking to start similar programs in their communities. Visit the Curiosity Creates page to view a video compilation of some of the grant-funded programs, download the informative best practices resource, Curiosity Creates: Innovative Library Programming for Children, and learn about the 79 library recipients. ALSC librarians are also welcome to share their creativity programming ideas and photos on twitter using the hashtag #alsccreates.

The Importance of Diversity in Library Programs and Material Collections for Children
The Importance of Diversity in Library Programs and Material Collections for Children white paper explores the critical role libraries play in helping children make cross-cultural connections and develop skills necessary to function in a culturally pluralistic society. This white paper, written for the Association for Library Service to Children by Jamie Campbell Naidoo, PhD, was adopted by ALSC's Board of Directors on April 5, 2014.

Kick Start Your Programs for School-Age Kids
A wealth of programming ideas for school-age children from public and school librarians compiled by ALSC's School-Age Programs and Services Committee. (2012)

Public awareness

Kids! @ your library
ALSC's 2006-2010 public awareness campaign generated a tool kit filled with resources to help librarians position their library as a valuable and important community center for kids and their families. Although the campaign is no longer active, many of the tool kit resources are still relevant and valuable and can be found here.

Research

ALSC committees were asked to identify topics/issues on which they would like to see research done, the results of which could assist and/or guide them in their work. This is a summary of responses [PDF: 37 KB], intended to provide potential researchers and students with ideas for relevant, practical research topics. Please note: This list will be updated on an annual basis during the summer months.

School Age Programs and Services

Check out resources and helpful information posted by the School Age Programs and Service Committee on the ALSC Blog.

Service to Special Population Children

Access Inclusive Spaces and Services for Children of All Abilities Community Forum presented by Jason Driver, Renee Grassi, Eva Thaler-Sroussi, and ALSC President Nina Lindsay. (please note, access is limited to ALSC members using their ALA username and password) - January 2018

Library Services to Special Population Children and Their Caregivers: A Toolkit for Librarians and Library Workers - created January 2015
This toolkit is designed to help librarians develop or enhance library services to special populations of children and families. It is the culmination of a year-long project by the ALSC committee, Library Service to Special Population Children and Their Caregivers. The resource covers a variety of special populations including home school families and Spanish-speaking families. For each special population, there is a brief introduction; subject headings and keywords for catalog and online searching; resources for further study including organizations, online and print resources; subject matter experts within the library community; and examples of existing partnerships between libraries and community organizations.

Autistic Self Advocacy Network: The Autistic Self Advocacy Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization run by and for autistic people. ASAN was created to serve as a national grassroots disability rights organization for the autistic community run by and for autistic Americans, advocating for systems change and ensuring that the voices of autistic people are heard in policy debates and the halls of power. Our staff work to educate communities, support self-advocacy in all its forms, and improve public perceptions of autism. ASAN's members and supporters include autistic adults and youth, cross-disability advocates, and non-autistic family members, professionals, educators, and friends. ("About" section on ASAN website)

State and local conferences

ALSC Roadshow
ALSC provides funding to members who represent the division at local and state conferences through a program called ALSC Roadshow. Members can apply for funding by presenting a program, hosting a social event or staffing a booth.

Summer reading

Summer reading is an integral part of most public libraries. But what's the importance of these programs? Find out more below.

Dominican University study on the impact of summer reading programs
The Graduate School of Library and Information Science at Dominican University received a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) for a three-year research study (2006-2009) to answer the question: do public library summer reading programs impact student achievement?

The Importance of Summer Reading: Public Library Summer Reading Programs and Learning
This research paper and bibliography was created by the New York State Library and focuses on the advantages of reading over the summer months, access to books, time spent reading, and use of public libraries during the summer months.

Technology

Children are bombarded with choices about where to get their information. Librarians and parents can help them find the best materials by accessing some of the following resources, as well as informing them about the way children access the Internet.
Web Resources about the Internet & Technology
Technology Statement
ALSC's technology statement affirms its commitment in supporting children and parents in their use of technology.

Check out resources and helpful information posted by the Children and Technology Committee on the ALSC Blog.

Navigating the 'Net with Your Kids (PDF)
An informative PDF brochure for parents (downloadable).

Children and the Internet: Policies that Work
A collaborative electronic publication from ALSC and the Public Library Association

Guides to Cyberspace for Parents and Children
Links to resources that have useful information for librarians and parents about online safety.

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-association for library service to children

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Professional Tools for Librarians Serving Youth

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A list of resources by subject area for librarians serving youth.

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I have the journal mailed to me and I also have the online newsletter.

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2019 NCTE Annual Convention

Join thousands of educators, experts, authors, administrators, publishers, and others in Baltimore, Maryland, for the 2019 NCTE Annual Convention! November 21-24, 2019

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Kinloch is the Renée and Richard Goldman Dean of the School of Education and Professor at the University of Pittsburgh. She is also an executive member of the AERA Consortium of University and Research Institutions and co-chair of the Remake Learning Council. In 2018, Kinloch was awarded the NCTE Advancement of People of Color Leadership Award. In 2015 she was awarded the NCTE Rewey Belle Inglis Award for Outstanding Women in English Education.
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NCTE amplifies the voice of educators through personal connection, collaboration, and a shared mission to improve the teaching and learning of English and language arts at all levels. Join thousands of educators, experts, authors, administrators, publishers, and others in Baltimore, Maryland, for the 2019 NCTE Annual Convention! November 21-24, 2019 Learn more.

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This assignment helped me network with librarians in my district and they suggested I sign up for this newsletter. I read a few articles and really like what I saw!

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Sign up for our monthly newsletters, full of book news, award information, display ideas and resources curated just for librarians and educators!

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I joined the group through one of my grad classes and have attended one meeting. Even though I am not a librarian yet, it was exciting to meet a few and network!

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Fall 2018 Meeting - Future Ready Libraries and Summer Learning Share Out

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I joined this group because the conferences they offer look exciting.

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Visit our COVID-19 Recovery pages for updates and recommended resources.

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I love following the library so I can promote what the library is doing each week.

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I follow the Wentzville District more than just to find out when there is a snow day! I send pictures to HR and the students love when they "make" the website.

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I am part of the Frontier Middle School Facebook group. This is a group of teachers who post supporting quotes and spread community.

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The Incredibly True Adventures of a School Librarian

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The Incredibly True Adventures of a School Librarian

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This is a great blog for lesson plan ideas and social media ideas. I also followed her on Twitter. Nikki even does webinars. You can email/post something on her blog and she will ACTUALLY answer you back with ideas. Nikki will be a great resource for knowing about the latest conferences and how to work with 1:1.

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This blog's author adds mini-lessons or details about different tech tools. In this sections she talked about Canva and its different applications.

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#edtechchat
The media specialist part of being a librarian will be the most difficult part of me. I want to keep up-to-date on the newest and best technology. Twitter chats will help with this process.

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#mschat
I love middle school and eventually would like to be a middle school librarian. I know middle school is a tough time in a teenagers life. I want to be up-to-date in the best practices and know how to handle trauma.