Hear Ye! Hear Ye! | November 2023
91´«Ã½
Member News
ALSC/91´«Ã½ News: STEAM Programming Webinar | 2024 ALSC Slate | Carnegie Library to Host ALSC Lecture | ALSC Blog's Mock Results Page | 2024 PLA Conference
Field Notes: NEA Big Read Grants | New Museum Dedicated to Children's Books
Member News
Jane Botham (left), 1986-87 ALSC president, was inducted into the Wisconsin Library Hall of Fame last month. She was lauded for her innovation, mentorship, collaborative efforts, advocacy, leadership, and her passion in serving the "whole child." Her influence and leadership in youth services, her ability to lift and support others in becoming leaders themselves, and her sense of humor were noted in the nomination and letters of support. Jane was "surprised and tickled pink" at receiving the honor. Congratulations, Jane! (Photo courtesy of Marge Loch-Wouters)
Lucía Martinez González (middle), 2021-22 ALSC president, accepted a position to serve on the Board of Directors of the Jane Addams Peace Association, shortly after completing her term on ALSC's Board of Directors. Also, in August, the mayor and City Council of North Miami, Florida, voted unanimously to approve the naming of a playground (next to her former library) in Lucia's name! Yay, Lucia! (Photo courtesy of Lucia Martinez González)
Karlie Herndon (above right) was recently appointed as curator of the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection at The University of Southern Mississippi. A former student employee and intern at USM, Karlie retur
ned to the collection August 2022 as assistant curator and was later named interim curator, following the retirement of Ellen Ruffin. Congrats, Karlie! (Photo courtesy of Karlie Herndon)
Liz Deskins, adjunct professor, Kent State University (Ohio), is the co-author of LGBTQIA+ Books for Children and Teens, Second Edition (2023, 91´«Ã½ Editions). The resource guide provides a range of LGBTQIA+ titles along with guidance on fostering spaces that are safe, warm, and welcoming for all young readers. Kudos, Liz!
STEAM Programming Webinar: Inspiring Curiosity and Exploration
Join ALSC for the webinar Full STEAM Ahead: Maximizing Wonder and Learning in Library Programs on Thursday, November 16, at 1pm ET/12pm CT/11am MT/10am PT, to learn how library staff of all experience levels can encourage young learners to engage with foundational STEAM concepts by utilizing trusted early literacy models and encouraging unstructured exploration.
2024 Slate Announced
The 2024 slate of ALSC candidates is now available on the website. President Jonda McNair announced the slate on the ALSC Blog this morning. We sincerely thank those standing for election for their time and commitment to ALSC. ALSC also thanks the 2024 Nominating and Leadership Development Committee, including Co-Chairs Susan Dove Lempke and Elisa Gall, Jessica Agudelo, Joanna K. Fabicon, Sophie Kenney, Rachel Godwin Payne, and Susan H. Polos.
The 91´«Ã½ election period is March 11 through April 3, 2024. Renew your membership by January 31, to ensure that you receive your ballot for the election. For more information, visit the 91´«Ã½ election site.
Carnegie Library to Host Williams-Garcia Lecture
ALSC's Children’s Literature Lecture committee chose Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh as the site of the 2024 lecture featuring award-winning writer Rita Williams-Garcia. The author of more than a dozen books for children and teens, Williams-Garcia is the recipient of multiple awards, including the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, the Scott O’Dell Historical Fiction Awards, three Coretta Scott King Author Awards, and a Newbery Honor Award. The date and time of the lecture, next spring, will be announced soon.
Share Your Mock Election Results with Us!
It's November and that means the annual Youth Media Awards press conference (YMAs) is on the horizon. The winners of the Newbery, Caldecott, Coretta Scott King Book, and Printz awards, along with a host of others, will be announced on January 22, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. (ET), during . It is officialy mock election season!
Libraries, schools, and other groups around the globe offer mock election programs, where readers come together to discuss books and pick their winners--just like the actual award committees. And every year the ALSC Blog gathers and shares results on its . And this year, for the first time, we are collecting election results for EVERY book award given out at the YMAs, including American Indian Youth Literature, Asian Pacific/American Award for Literature, Batchelder, Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Geisel, Newbery, Printz, Pura Belpré, Schneider, Sibert, Stonewall, AND Sydney Taylor.
If you are hosting a mock election this year for any one of these awards, we want to help you share the exciting results news! To add your results to the blog page, . And don't forget to check in to the over the next couple months, to see which 2023 titles are coming away with the accolades.
Reserve Your Spot at the PLA 2024 Conference
The Public Library Association (PLA) invites you to join thousands of public library workers, supporters, and vendors in Columbus, Ohio, April 3–5, to celebrate all things public libraries! The offers more than 100 education sessions, including a dozen programs focused on serving youth. Attendees will also enjoy inspiring speakers and authors, engaging networking opportunities, career services, micro-learning moments, and a bustling exhibits hall. and save with the advanced rate.
NEA Big Read Grants
Applications are open for grants to support NEA Big Read projects between September 2024 and June 2025. An initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in partnership with Arts Midwest, the NEA Big Read supports community reading programs designed around an NEA Big Read book. The goal of the program is to inspire conversations, celebrate local creativity, elevate a wide variety of voices, and build strong connections in communities. The Intent to Apply deadline is January 10, 2024. Visit the for complete grant guidelines and application information.
New Museum Featuring Children’s Literature
The Rabbit hOle, an immersive museum dedicated to children’s books, opens in March 2024. Located in a renovated warehouse in North Kansas City, Missouri, the museum includes more than 30 exhibits, featuring literary favorites, such as Goodnight Moon and Last Stop on Market Street. The space also offers a bookstore, resource library, maker space, and more. The museum also will offer arts and literature-based programming, professional development workshops for educators, field trips and special events with authors and illustrators from around the country.
To learn more about The Rabbit hOle, .
Do you have news of national interest to ALSC Matters readers--those working on behalf of youth in libraries, educators, and others interested in youth services in libraries? Please use this form to submit your news item (non-commerial) to be considered for inclusion in ALSC Matters.
