91´«Ã½

CHICAGO — The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) encourages participants to sign up for Winter 2015 ALSC online courses. Registration is open for all courses. Classes begin Monday, Jan. 5, 2015.

Three of the courses being offered this semester are eligible for continuing 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. For more information on ALSC online learning, please visit:

(six weeks, Jan. 5 – Feb. 13, 2015, CEU Certified Course, three CEUs) Imagine that Joey Pigza came into your library. Would he feel welcome? How would you provide library service for him? A child with a disability may need an individual service plan. But many books or articles provide generalizations and all-encompassing descriptions. This course will take another approach. By reading juvenile novels about children with disabilities, we will discover their individual needs. First, we will examine how schools handle students with disabilities. Then we will explore ways that the library might be able to assist each child. We will look at inclusive programming, assistive technologies, staff attitudes and legal considerations. This course is not intended to be a comprehensive course. Rather, we will collaboratively develop strategies for determining needs and identify resources that can be consulted when an actual child requires our help. Taught by Katherine (Kate) Todd, adjunct instructor, Manhattanville College.

(four weeks, Jan. 5 – Jan. 30, 2015, 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 children's department, Reed Memorial Library.

(four weeks, Jan. 5 – Jan. 30, 2015) 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 Public Library.

(four weeks, Jan. 5 – Jan. 30, 2015, CEU Certified Course, two 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.

Detailed descriptions and registration information is available on the website. Fees are $115 for personal ALSC members; $165 for personal 91´«Ã½ members; and $185 for non-members. Questions? Please contact ALSC Program Officer for Continuing Education, Kristen Sutherland, 1 (800) 545-2433 ext 4026.

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 .