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CHICAGO — The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) encourages participants to sign up for the . Registration is open for all courses. Classes begin Monday, Sept. 8, 2014.

Registrants will find that ALSC has increased the number of courses offering certified education units (CEUs). The 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½) has been certified to provide CEUs by the

ALSC online courses are designed to fit the needs of working professionals. Courses are taught by experienced librarians and academics. As participants frequently noted in post-course surveys, ALSC stresses quality and caring in its online education options.

(four weeks, Sept. 8 - Oct. 3, 2014, CEU Certified Course, 1.2 CEUs) Our children are lagging behind in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). Schools have begun to concentrate on providing better education in these areas and now libraries are being asked to provide the same. Learn how to provide educational programs using STEM without going to school to become a scientist. Children’s librarians and associates will learn to present and adapt programs for multiple ages. Taught by Angela Young, head of the children's department, Reed Memorial Library (Ravenna, Ohio).

(four weeks, Sept. 8 - Oct. 3, 2014) From “Ask Mister Bear” to Elephant and Piggie, telling stories with puppets can bring new levels of creativity and excitement to storytimes and school presentations. And it's not as hard as you think. This four-week online course will give participants practical strategies for bringing stories to life with puppets; techniques for using puppets with various ages, from toddlers to early elementary students; tips for adapting folktales and picture books into puppet presentations; strategies for rehearsal, planning and development of puppet stories; and background about how puppet tales develop narrative skills and reading motivation from the audience. Taught by Steven Engelfried, youth services librarian, Wilsonville (Ore.) Public Library.

(four weeks, Sept. 8 - Oct. 3, 2014, CEU Certified Course, 2 CEUs) Are you in a storytime rut? Do you repeat the same storytimes each year? Spice up your preschool programming using ideas from the most recent developmental and brain research. Learn how to use iTunes to create playlists and manipulate songs to use with puppets in your programs. Find literacy crafts to develop children’s fine motor skills to prepare for kindergarten. You’ll add a list of blogs and stories to your toolbox to make your library storytime the place to be! Taught by Lisa M. Shaia, children’s librarian, Oliver Wolcott Library (Litchfield, Conn.).

Detailed descriptions and registration information is available on the ALSC website at . Fees are $115 for personal ALSC members; $165 for personal 91´«Ã½ members; and $185 for non-members. Questions? Please contact ALSC Membership, Marketing Manager Dan Bostrom, 1 (800) 545-2433 ext 2164.

ALSC is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children. With a network of more than 4,000 children’s and youth librarians, literature experts, publishers and educational faculty, ALSC is committed to creating a better future for children through libraries. To learn more about ALSC, visit their website at .