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January is National Mentoring Month! Today, we’re once again excited to welcome two participants in the ALSC Mentoring Program to the blog. Erin Rogers and Robin Sofge interviewed each other as part of the program and agreed to share their interivew on the blog. Thanks Erin and Robin!

ALSC Mentoring Program participant Erin Rogers (photo courtesy of Erin Rogers)

Erin: I am the children’s librarian at the Gayton Branch of the Henrico County Public Library and have been for the last seven years. I have a passion for play, technology, and alternative picture book organization!

Robin: In December I was thrilled to be hired as a full-time Youth Services Librarian I at the Bull Run Regional Library in Manassas, Virginia. For over two years previously, I was a part-time Youth Services Librarian I at Beatley Central Library in Alexandria, Virginia. Some of my claim to fame at Beatley was starting a Lego Family Night program and a cupcake walk for the Fall Festival.

ALSC Mentoring Program participant Robin Sofge (photo courtesy of Robin Sofge)

Erin: I really wanted to participate because I have been so lucky to have great mentors over the years. Thanks Pat F., Shirley, and Tom! I also LOVE the enthusiasm of new librarians.

Robin: I love learning new things whether from an online class, webinar or another colleague. The virtual meetings and no cost to participate are major benefits in my book too.

3. Why did you join ALSC? Do you belong to any other divisions or roundtables?

Erin: I originally joined ALSC as a student to connect with my profession and recently rejoined for the same reason.

Robin: Ditto. I also have a mentor through the New Member Round Table Career Mentoring Program.

4. What do you think youth service librarians will be doing ten years from now?

Erin: I think youth service librarians will always have some form of storytimes, I would be really surprised if that went away. I think the transition to community center will continue to grow and we will see more playgroups and the like. Our job will be to make sure the library is a destination by providing play experiences, new technology with training, and most importantly a fun welcoming environment where all feel comfortable. I think our collections will get smaller to allow more space but I don’t believe the physical book is in any danger of extinction.

Robin: I believe youth service librarians will be even more valuable in ten years, especially those who can do creative programs on a shoestring budget. I believe librarianship is being transformed right now.

5. Would you rather offer a storytime to a large group of preschoolers or read one-on-one with a child?

Erin: Both can be amazing but if I had to choose I would go with a large group. I love the bustle and seeing the children interact with each other.

Robin: Go large group! I love the action of a big crowd. Some librarians disagree about the quality of programs with big groups. But as long as you’re following fire codes, the kids and adults are enjoying it and you are too, I say go for it.

6. What is one “rule” you wished every librarian followed?

Erin: I wish all librarians weeded. The things it can do for circulation and your patrons is amazing! Check out the CREW guidelines.

Robin: I wish every librarian was passionate about what they did. We can make a difference in our community and the world.

7. What do you like to do in your spare time?

Erin: Reading, especially science fiction and fantasy. Cuddling kitties, my dog who thinks he is a cat, and my partner Sean. I also perform with a belly dance troupe in Richmond and teach beginners classes.

Robin: I don’t have a lot of spare time these days. But one thing I’m super committed to is my book group that started a long time ago with Wally Lamb’s “She’s Come Undone.” One of the best parts has been the road trips that have run the gamut from a storytelling festival to the beach.

8. What have you gotten out of mentorship?

Erin: It has been fun to match up the skills I have with those that Robin wants to learn. Robin has so much enthusiasm for the profession and this program she has been a joy to work with.

Robin: Erin has been a fantastic mentor! The ALSC Mentorship has been a useful career development tool. Erin and I set three specific measurable goals. She was also very supportive when I had a job interview. We did a mock interview in advance. Erin encouraged me to be myself and let my strengths shine. Success, I landed the job! I love my new job!

9. Why did you become a librarian?

Erin: When I decided I didn’t want to teach any more, my first profession, I started scouring want ads to try to figure out what was next for me. One day I ran across an ad for a children’s librarian position and I knew immediately that was what I wanted to do. I moved to South Carolina and went back to school and here I am!

Robin: As a young child, we didn’t have a lot of money and my mom took us to the library all the time. Our neighborhood librarian loved kids. She would open the back door to the library and we would all pile in after school to watch a movie. My first career started as a newspaper reporter. But after my son was born at a mere 3 pounds 15 ounces, I stayed home and we celebrated life at the library. I eventually started as a part-time library aide. I was later hired to work in a new library. Fairfax County Public Library Managers Linda Schlekau and Cindy Hall believed in me and encouraged me to get my MLIS. That motivated me to go for it.

The post 2015 ALSC Mentoring Program Interview appeared first on ALSC Blog.

ALSC is reminding members to apply for professional awards this fall. Applications are open and several deadlines are approaching. Below is list of ALSC professional awards which are available for submission or nomination.  Please consider applying or nominating a colleague:

Louise Seaman Bechtel Fellowship
Deadline: Extended to Saturday, November 1, 2014

This fellowship provides a $4,000 stipend to allow a qualified children’s librarian to spend a month or more reading at the University of Florida’s Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature.

Maureen Hayes Author/Illustrator Award
Deadline: Saturday, November 1, 2014

This $4,000 award was established with funding from Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, in honor of Maureen Hayes, to bring together children and nationally recognized authors/illustrators.

ALSC/Baker & Taylor Summer Reading Grant
Deadline: Saturday, November 1, 2014

This $3,000 grant provides financial assistance to a public library for developing an outstanding summer reading program for children.

The ALSC slate for the 2014 spring election is online now at http://www.ala.org/alsc/aboutalsc/governance/election. More information about the elections will be posted to this webpage as it becomes available.

The slate also will appear in the December issue of ALSC Matters!

An organizational note: The slate will not appear in the Winter issue of Children and Libraries, as in the past. By recent Board action, the journal is being reorganized to publish quarterly, resulting in a shift in content to timely, substantive research and programmatic articles.

Taken from the ALSC Community Forum – August 2012

It has been sixteen years since the last ALSC dues increase….

At the 2012 ALA Annual Conference, the ALSC Board of Directors discussed a proposal by the Budget Committee to implement a dues adjustment. There was a discussion on the proposed dues adjustment that took place during the ALSC Membership meeting in Anaheim.

To address the Budget Committee’s proposal, the Board held ALSC Community Forums on August 8th and 9th. During the second half of these open meetings, we opened the discussion to members to give us their input on a possible change in the ALSC dues structure.

In early August, the ALSC Budget Committee released the Dues Structure Change FAQ (log-in required) to introduce our members to the proposed dues increases and the new proposed member categories. To better understand the dues adjustment…please take time to read the thoughtfully prepared FAQ which includes considerations and cost thoughts provided by the Budget Committee.*

Some background information on the dues adjustment. One of the ALSC Budget Committee’s charges is “to review for the ALSC Board, on a regular basis, the dues structure.” The Budget Committee recently reviewed the structure and has recommended adjustments to the ALSC Board. If the Board agrees with the recommendation, they will vote to have the recommendation placed on the 2013 ALSC ballot for the entire ALSC membership to review and to vote on the recommended changes.

ALSC currently has only two personal membership categories:

• Regular $45
• Student $18

The proposal provides for four new personal member categories: Support Staff; Non-Salaried; Retired; Advocate. These new category areas carry the same definitions as ALA membership category areas.

The proposal would slightly increase the two current categories and expand the personal categories:

• Regular $50;
• Support Staff $35;
• Non-Salaried $35;
• Retired $35;
• Advocate $25 (authors, teachers, parents, etc.);
• Student $20

Even though the August Community Forum has concluded, the conversation can continue on ALA Connect. Whether or not you are able to join a live Forum, you can always add your thoughts by leaving a comment. The ALSC Budget Committee will post questions on ALA Connect regarding the ALSC dues adjustment proposal. For information about ALSC Community Forums or if you need help logging in please visit the ALSC Community Forum site. The August transcripts are posted.

We hope that you’ll come to the Community Forums to give us your thoughts. Through your participation, we can gather more input into how this proposed dues change will affect members and how it will shape the future of ALSC membership.

In closing, one of the questions asked of our members during the dues adjustment proposal discussion on the August Community Forums was “What aspects of your ALSC membership do you value most?” Some of the member replies are displayed in the word cloud at the top of this blog. Please feel free to add the aspects of membership that you value the most as a comment below.

Thank you for your dedicated service to ALSC and for creating a better future for children through libraries—every day!

*Please keep in mind this is a current proposal as of the annual conference, the ALSC Board has asked the Budget Committee to reexamine the student proposed rate and the existing organizations and corporate rates. A recommendation from the Budget Committee is due to the ALSC Board no later than ALA Midwinter 2013.

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Our post today is from ALSC President Carolyn Brodie. Carolyn is a regular blogger with ALSC.

And, so my year as ALSC President has begun with a month already past, can it really be August?

The weeks of July since ALA Annual Conference were very busy with an abundance of ALSC correspondence, reading post-conference committee reports, working on ALSC committee placements, creating charges for new task forces and for the new ALSC Website Advisory Committee and preparing for this week’s ALSC Community Forums.  (I did manage to squeeze in a few days for Arkansas family to visit here during our Ohio heat wave.  My southern relatives were very disappointed they experienced no relief from their summer heat during their days in Ohio!)

Our very busy and energetic annual conference was filled with a host of events that offered us the opportunities to connect through attending exemplary ALSC programs, meeting up on the exhibit floor and sharing dinner during our glamorous Newbery/Caldecott Banquet with the stellar speeches by Chris Raschka and Jack Gantos.  We made even more connections with each other by attending ALSC 101, participating in committee meetings, chatting at parties or just running into each other on an Anaheim street.

It was indeed a great pleasure to meet with many ALSC members in Anaheim as we work together this next year and focus on this year’s theme of “Connecting Communities” that will focus in part on the goal area of “Advocacy” from our ALSC Strategic Plan. We will work on connecting through our communication and information venues, through our advocacy initiatives and through our programming.

When I had the chance to meet members, many asked great questions about our association’s work and many also expressed an interest in how to get involved in ALSC through committee work.  It was rewarding and heartwarming to feel so much dedication from so many.

So, if you aren’t already serving on a committee — how do you volunteer your service to the ALSC community?   Here is some information on how the ALSC committee appointment process works:

First, where do you find out more about the work and the structure of ALSC committees?  Go to the ALSC Committees page to learn more about the possibilities.  The page includes a link to ALSC Committees:  A Guide to Participation that provides additional information.

The next step is to fill out a volunteer form which is available on the ALSC Website at www.ala.org/alsc.  You’ll find the form under the “members” tab.  Complete the form and make sure to note your background, note your experience in particular areas such as budget or programming. This extra information certainly helps in making a good committee match. Make sure to mark the appropriate box if you require a virtual assignment.  It is also really important to clearly indicate your preferential choices (as many as you can where you have interest and/or experience) on the form, not just by priority group, but also by committee.  If you’re willing to mark the box that says “I will serve wherever needed!” then that is great too!

Don’t hesitate to send your form in during any time of the year.  There are unexpected vacancies that occur all during the year and new appointments are made when this happens. For example, during this past month, I made several replacement  appointments.  And, if you haven’t been appointed and it has been a while, please send in another form.

A great time to volunteer is February through June for the ALSC process committee appointments.  Starr Latronica, our Vice-President/President-elect will make appointments to process committees (non-award committees) next spring. So certainly after the first of the year or after ALA Midwinter in Seattle, make sure to send your form for a p

Thank you! ALSC has helped me in one of the biggest ways possible by awarding me with the Melcher Scholarship. I cannot explain the gratitude I have in receiving this assistance. Since my scholarship application our family business has not done any better, only worse. This scholarship has alleviated some of the financial pressure we are enduring, so thanks again.

So far my schooling is right on schedule as planned. My plan was to take two courses per semester so I would receive my Library Media Endorsement (Type 10) on my current elementary teaching certificate by the end of this school year. I am registered for the final two courses this spring semester: Media Productions and Curriculum in School Libraries. Media Productions sounds like fun in that I will be learning many ways to incorporate technology and media into a school library media program. The Curriculum in School Libraries course will reinforce not only the library /technology standards, but the new Common Core Standards as well. Upon completion of these two courses, I will still need to complete an internship in May/June. After that I will be eligible to apply for my Library Media Endorsement, but will still need three more courses in order to receive my Masters in Library and Information Science.

I love the Dominican University program. The people I have met so far, professors and classmates alike, have truly been inspiring. I have made quite a few dear friends, developed professional relationships with many of my professors, and have learned a lot in the process! I’ve enjoyed meeting face-to-face in a classroom setting, versus an online course. I am more of a people person, so this face-to-face contact has worked for me.

It is difficult for me to pinpoint one class as my favorite because I have really enjoyed them all. If I had to choose one that was most interesting to me, I’d have to pick School Libraries. Not only did I have a phenomenal professor for this course, but I also learned a lot about the actual job of school librarianship. While working on two group projects, I made two of my closest graduate school friends whom I continue to keep in regular contact.

I hope to get a full-time certified position for next school year. There aren’t many school library media positions posted so far, but I plan on applying for many once they are posted. I also have the opportunity to apply for a job in the school district where I am currently working which would be a perfect fit for me.

Unfortunately I was not able to attend the most recent ALA conference due to school, work, and family time commitments, as well as due to being strapped financially. I hope to attend a more local conference in the near future. I would like to find out about various professional development seminars or workshops and how other newer professionals are doing with their job search.

As I mentioned before, I am grateful the assistance I have received from ALSC. Hopefully I will get a job as a school library media specialist next year. Then I will continue my coursework until I receive my MLIS. Thanks again!

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Today’s guest blog post comes from Patricia Prodanich, recipient of the 2011 Frederic G. Melcher Scholarship. She is currently thea graduate student in Library Science at Dominican University in River Forest, IL.

Each year ALSC gives away nearly $50k in scholarships to applicants interested in pursuin

We’re two weeks past Midwinter Conference, and I am still energized by the many interactions I had with ALSC members.  A piece of advice I’ve given to students choosing their library specialty is to go to different groups’ events, look around at the people there, and ask themselves: “Are these my people?” I’m happy to say that ALSC members are my people!

I hope to hear from many of my people during the Community Forum on February 22, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Eastern. This is our second ALSC live chat. Our discussion topic, after time for Midwinter board updates and Q & A, is revitalizing the ALSC membership meeting.  ALSC’s by-laws currently require a  membership meeting at Annual Conference. Our Community Forum – and space on ALAConnect afterwards – will be a time frame for brainstorming about making our membership meeting more convenient and more valuable.

Please mark your calendar to join the Community Forum on 2/22 or read the transcript afterwards and comment.  We’ll send out specifics on how to connect to the Forum soon.

I’m looking forward to your ideas to make our association better!

Many years ago I read a distinction between “friends of the road” – people in our lives briefly, drawn to us by common circumstances – and “friends of the heart” – people with whom we have a true and lasting connection. I’ve found that a useful distinction as I’ve moved around to pursue my career. The best memento from each stop is a friendship that transcends separation.

Organizations, too, have friends of the heart. Beginning in the next newsletter, ALSC will recognize individuals who have been faithful members of ALSC for 25 or more years. You will get to meet some of these folks through member profiles. But that notoriety is only the icing on the cake. The real benefit for these ALSC friends of the heart has been the rich experiences and nurturing relationships enjoyed through their years with ALSC.

ALSC also has Friends with a capital “F.” Just as libraries have Friends groups to help boost the library’s services, so too ALSC Friends support special initiatives such as early literacy, creative programs addressing 21st century challenges, and more. When joining, you get to choose which area your membership supports. Friends are also recognized at the Newbery-Caldecott Banquet. It’s a nice feeling to see your name on the screen, but the real reward is knowing that you have helped to build something meaningful for children.

So I invite you to join me . . . renew your ALSC membership and become a Friend of ALSC. When you’reALSC’s Friend of the heart, you will be helping ALSC to create a better future for children through libraries – and you will be making a positive difference in the world.

The recognition? That’s just the frosting rose.

Here’s something I’m really excited about: the ALSC Connecting with Tween Readers online course. And the Introduction to Graphic Novels for Children online course. And the Reading Instruction and Children’s Books online course. All right, I confess – I’m excited about all of the ALSC online courses!

I’m excited because I believe in the value of continual learning. We *need* to keep honing our skills and gaining new ones to give youth the best possible library service. But continuing education is fun, too – what’s not to like about exploring fresh ideas? Many of us are librarians in part because we love variety!

I’m also excited because this is one of the essential roles of ALSC, in my view – offering our members a convenient, cost-effective way to expand our expertise and improve our service. I especially love that we can take these courses from our own desks, in our jams if we want to (if we work at home, that is!).

Last, I’m delighted that we are addressing such timely topics in our online courses. Service to tweens can be a puzzle and a challenge. Graphic novels for children are on the upswing as we recognize the need for visual literacy. Understanding how reading happens is great foundation knowledge, programming around series books is a shortcut to well-attended programs, and learning about the Caldecott Medal is a fun window into the development of our profession. Look here for all the details on these great courses.

If you’re a person who likes to make a meal out of appetizers, or if you want to learn a little to decide if you want to learn a lot, our webinars are enticing “small meals,” providing a taste of a variety of topics. Details here.

So this fall, nourish your professional self with help from ALSC! Kudos and thanks to our members who recommended topics and are teaching these interesting online courses and webinars, and to Jenny Najduch, ALSC Continuing Education Program Officer. Nice work!

As we get into August, it’s a great time to consider becoming an ALSC member. For one thing, ALSC is starting to accept committee assignments, so new members can volunteer to help out in a number of key areas. ALSC is also preparing to start accepting applications for professional awards and grants. Every year, ALSC gives away over $82,000 in grants, awards, and scholarships.

New members can also forward to joining one of the largest organizations dedicated to children’s librarianship in the world. Still not sure? Here’s just a quick list of some awesome benefits to ALSC membership:

• Discounts on ALSC’s fun, convenient and informative online education courses
• The opportunity to connect with thousands of other librarians, academics, and children’s librarians via ALSC’s social media networks
• Become involved in one of many committees including the prestigious Newbery and Caldecott selection committees
• A subscription to ALSC’s academic journal Children and Libraries and to ALSC’s quarterly newsletter ALSConnect
• A discount on professional development opportunities like ALSC National Institute and Annual Preconference
• Reduced rates on ALSC publications, such as the recently released El día de los niños/El día de los libros: Building a Culture of Literacy in Your Community through Día or In the Words of the Winners: The Newbery and Caldecott Medals, 2001-2010

It’s important to remember that membership with ALSC can also be discussed in terms of the quality of relationships and interactions with other members. Every member that joins ALSC becomes a part of a community of professionals and advocates.

Consider joining ALSC today. For more information on how to become a member, check out the ALSC Membership Page. Should you have any questions, you can also contact ALSC Membership Specialist Dan Rude at [email protected] or 800-545-2433 ext 2164.

The American Library Association (ALA) is now accepting applications for the 2011 class of Emerging Leaders. Applications can be found at http://www.ala.org/cfapps/emergingleaders/index.cfm. The deadline to apply is July 30.

The program is designed to enable a group of library workers to get on the fast track to ALA and professional leadership. Participants are given the opportunity to work on a variety of projects, network with peers and get an inside look into the ALA structure and activities.

In order to be eligible for participation in the program, those selected must meet the following criteria:

• Be under 35 years of age or be a library worker of any age with fewer than five years experience working in a library, and
• Be able to attend both ALA conferences and work virtually in between each,
• Be prepared to commit to serve on either an ALA, division, chapter or round table committee, taskforce or workgroup, or in your state or local professional library organization upon completion of program and
• Be an ALA member or join upon selection if not already a member.

For questions or more information regarding the program, contact Beatrice Calvin at [email protected]. The entire news release is available on the ALA website.

If you are attending the 2010 ALA Conference in Washington D.C. and you like to write, please contact me at [email protected] to learn more about how to share your conference experience with the readers of the ALSC Blog.

Thanks!
Teresa Walls
Manager, ALSC Blog

Do you know that 35% percent of the gross ALSC operating budget comes from the net profit associated with the sale of award seals? If this is the kind of accounting prose that makes your heart flutter, then consider volunteering for the ALSC Budget Committee.

Do you keep “Robert’s Rules of Order” or the “Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure” at your fingertips? If so, then honor your inner parliamentarian and sign up for the Organization and Bylaws Committee, affectionately known as O&B.

Have you always had a secret yearning to run for public office? Then the ALSC Legislation Committee that keeps tabs on federal, state and local legislation that impacts library services to children might be the perfect grooming ground for you.

If you want to find out more about the work of these committees, then check out the charge for each one listed below. You can also visit the ALSC homepage, where you will need to click on “About ALSC” in the left-hand navigation bar, followed by “ALSC Committees.” Next, point your browser to the appropriate Priority Group (I for Legislation; IV for O&B and Budget) followed by the name of the committee.

You can also contact me directly with questions or with your volunteer information at: [email protected]. ALSC member appointments to each of these committees are for two years and will begin at the conclusion of the 2010 Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.

Thanks for your consideration.

Julie Corsaro
ALSC Vice-President/President-Elect (and appointing officer)

The ALSC Budget Committee Charge:

To advise the ALSC Executive Director in preparation of an annual budget based on priorities established by the Board; to submit the budget to the ALSC Board for approval; to review for the ALSC Board division activities for fiscal implications; to review for the ALSC board, on a regular basis, the dues structure and to prepare and submit to the ALSC Board periodic analysis of the finances of the division; to review annually at Midwinter Meeting the ALSC Goals and Objectives; to review ALSC’s fiscal relationship to ALA and other divisions and to act as liaisons for the ALSC Board to the Planning and Budget Assembly.

The ALSC Organization and Bylaws Committee Charge:

To develop for presentation to the Board of Directors a plan for the structure and function of each new committee or discussion group. To study, review, and, if necessary, make recommendations to the Board for revision of structure or function, addition, or discontinuation of committees and discussion groups. To make recommendations to the Board on organizational matters affecting ALSC as a whole, and to serve as liaison with the ALA Committee on Organization upon request of the Board. To serve, upon request, in an advisory capacity to priority group consultants, committees, and discussion groups on organizational matters in ALSC or between ALSC and other ALA divisions. To consider, develop, and present to the Board, and subsequently to membership, suggested amendments to the Bylaws. To assist in interpretation of the Bylaws to the Board, the membership, and the ALA Constitution and Bylaws Committee.

ALSC Legislation Committee:

To serve as a channel of communication on legislative matters between the ALA Legislation Committee and the division, recommending to the ALSC Board changes as necessary in federal, state, and local legislation proposed by the ALA Legislation Committee, and advise on ALSC interests in the proposals before ALA Council. To call t

Here are the election results. Many thanks to all of our candidates!

Vice-President/President-Elect

Mary Fellows, Upper Hudson Library System, Albany, N.Y.

Board of Directors

Nina Lindsay, Oakland Public Library, Oakland, Calif.
Carolyn Brodie, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio

Caldecott Committee, 2012

Pabby Arnold, East Baton Rouge Parish Library, Baton Rouge, La.
Cathryn M. Mercier, Simmons College, Boston, Mass.
John Peters, New York Public Library, New York, N.Y.
April Roy, Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City, Mo.
Christine Caputo, Free Library of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa.
Allison Santos, Princeton Public Library, Princeton, N.J.
Tony Carmack, Ashburn Public Library, Ashburn, Va.
Ellen Fader, Multnomah County Library, Portland, Ore.

Newbery Committee, 2012

Amanda Williams, Austin Public Library, Austin, Texas
Stacy Dillon, Little Red School House, New York, N.Y.
Lynn Rutan, Holland, Mich.
Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library, Los Angeles, Calif.
Laura Amos, Grissom Branch Library, Newport News, Va.
Mary Clark, Greenwich Country Day School, Greenwich, Conn.
Timothy Capehart, Dayton Metro Library, Dayton, Ohio
Renee McGrath, Nassau Library System, Uniondale, NY

Sibert Committee, 2012

Richard Kerper, Millersville University, Millersville, Pa.
Karen MacPherson, Takoma Park Library, Takoma Park, Md.
Deborah Taylor, Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore, Md.
April Mazza, Wayland Free Public Library, Wayland, Mass.
Roxane Bartelt, Kenosha Public Library, Kenosha, Wis.

Wilder Committee, 2013

Margaret Tice, New York, N.Y.
Heather McNeil, Deschutes Public Library, Bend. Ore.
Darwin Henderson, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio

1. What do you consider the most important role of the ALSC President?

Although it is a multi-faceted position, one of the most important roles to me is to bring people together within the division and association to support the importance of library work with children and to move this agenda forward.

What strengths would you bring to the office?

The years on ALSC committees (both process and award), as a priority consultant and on the board have given me a deeper knowledge of how ALSC works. That, coupled with a sense of humor and a love of networking and collaboration, are the strengths I would bring to the VP/Prez position.

2. Why should someone choose to join ALSC?

I think ALSC is on the cutting edge of excellence in service to kids. We seek out, model and publicize outstanding programs and materials. ALSC is where the action is for children’s library services on a national level.

What services do you feel ALSC provides that are valuable to new members? To long-term members?

The most important service we offer for our new and our long-term members – of the many things we do – is an opportunity to participate on a national level and opportunities to network with colleagues and, through the division work that is done, to develop leadership skills. We support excellence in library service and that support is available to all our members through the projects, bibliographies and media evaluation awards that member leaders work on.

3. If elected, what topic would you like to highlight for either a preconference or the Charlemae Rollins President’s Program?

It is hard to pin down to one topic. Networking and partnerships have been a passion of mine for many years. That coupled with providing a faster pathway to leadership for our newer and younger members and involving our many members who cannot afford to attend our national conferences but still deserve a place at the table of decisions are very important issues for me.

4. How has ALSC membership impacted your life?

For the twenty-three years I worked at a small library, being an ALSC member let me have a place to work on and affect issues of importance nationally. It was great to know that even coming from a small library, I could help participate to create and support great children’s services. I learned leadership skills and worked with colleagues who have become lifelong friends. By networking with so many people I learned new ways to approach issues and concerns, new programs and new ways to evaluate books that I use in my library work with my community every day.

How has your membership in ALSC impacted library service to children?

Like each and every ALSC member who participates on any committee, I have been part of the great gestalt that has moved ALSC forward and helped chart the course of great services for kids over the twenty years I have been an active member. It is truly a case of together we can make something better. I am proud to have been able to have a small part in this along with so many men and women over the past two decades.

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Thanks so much to Marge Loch-Wouters and Mary Fellows for answering these questions for the ALSC Blog!

1. What do you consider the most important role of the ALSC President? What strengths would you bring to the office?

Naturally, the ALSC President’s most important role is that of leader – which has many facets. Three key aspects are:

Ambassador: The president is the face of ALSC both within ALA and to the outside world. She or he must know what ALSC stands for and be able to communicate that clearly, and when necessary, firmly.

Visionary: While all members participate in creating ALSC’s future, the president has responsibility for identifying a compelling vision and articulating it.

Mentor: Leaders mentor. Without mentoring, we impoverish ourselves of future leaders.

As for strengths, I think I’m strong in vision, creativity, humor, integrity, assertiveness – and after this long list, let’s not forget humility!:)

2. Why should someone choose to join ALSC? What services do you feel ALSC provides that are valuable to new members? To long-term members?

Joining ALA is a bit like beginning to date. Some of us start by sampling what’s out there – other divisions, in this case. Others of us have an innate sense of the “right” division, or stumble upon it immediately, and then it’s a matter of developing the relationship. When you commit to a person, or to a division like ALSC, you enrich your opportunities for personal growth. You also make an indelible impact on the person, or division.

For new members, ALSC is a treasure trove of potential mentors and role models, opportunities to broadly impact the profession, useful contacts, continuing education, fun and exciting social events like the Newbery Caldecott banquet, occasions to meet admired authors and illustrators, and a whole division full of potential friends who share your interests.

These same advantages apply to established members. With the pace of change in today’s world, more seasoned members also need role models and mentors from among our younger colleagues, and we enjoy the other benefits as well. ALSC also provides us a community of deep collaborations and decades-long relationships, and a sense of long-term, shared endeavor on behalf of something larger than any of us.

3. If elected, what topic would you like to highlight for either a preconference or the Charlemae Rollins President’s Program?

Oh, what a big, fun decision! I think it’s important that our more focused training offer a breadth of experiences. So I’d want to look at what we as an organization highlighted most recently in our Institute and other programs and what’s new in the world of research on youth before I made that choice. There has been much discussion of late about service to tweens so that’s a possibility.

4. How has ALSC membership impacted your life? How has your membership in ALSC impacted library service to children?

ALSC has given me a professional home, in a sense. I have moved quite a lot, so my coworkers and library or office home have changed often. But I always had my ALSC home, created by coming to conferences and working and learning among my ALSC friends.

The importance of that ALSC home became clear to me during a brief period when I departed youth services for administration. To my dismay, my heart did not accompany me. I sorely missed youth services work, but I was afraid that the statement, “You can’t go home again” applied here. After too much struggle, I realized that I could go home again, and I did – to ALSC.

ALSC has given me much more than a home, of course – opportunities to develop leadership skills, exciting experiences like serving on the Caldecott Committee, forums in which to meet personal heroes, and perhaps most of all, another opportunity to make a differ

As someone who posted this morning on ALSC-l regarding “Scope of Attention,” I received written notification later in the day that the proposed Bylaws change [changing the scope of attention from "preschool" to "birth" and the upper age range from "the eighth grade of junior high school age" to "age 13"] cannot appear on the ballot until 2011. As a result, I am optimistic that this delay will provide time to hear from more members about this challenging issue, and that this turn of events will also open up opportunities for discussion at the Annual Conference in D.C. Since I promised to post my original message on the ALSC Blog, it is as follows:

Because our shared understanding as a Board is to act as “one voice,” I have been reluctant to post my concerns—as well as my vote—regarding the “Scope of Attention.” However, as the draft of the Midwinter Board minutes scheduled to be published today should make clear, I did not support lowering the upper age of ALSC service to “13.” As a result, I voted against the motion to include it on the spring ballot. My objections were not only related to the content of this motion–as these minutes as well as my post on ALA Connect (made prior to the 2010 Midwinter Meeting) should demonstrate–but also to the process that led up to it.

On ALSC-l, former ALSC president KT Horning has asked for clarification from Board members as to why this issue has been pursued with such vigor at this time. To be frank, I’m not sure why. Last spring, ALSC President Pat Scales received a letter from the YALSA leadership requesting that ALSC consider stopping our range of service at age 11. As the minutes of the summer 2009 ALSC Executive Committee Meeting demonstrates, this request was discussed yet there was no indication that ALSC would pursue lowering the upper end of our age of service.

As the subsequent minutes from the fall 2009 ALSC Executive Committee Meeting also indicate, information about the Scope of Attention Task Force was presented, as well as the fact that the Organization & Bylaws committee would be informed of the Scope of Attention Task Force in the event that a “tight turnaround” was needed at Midwinter [to insure that a motion was included on the spring ballot]. What these minutes do not indicate–and I will request they be amended to include–is that Pat Scale’s request that discussion of the “Scope of Attention” also take place on ALSC-L was denied. Although Board members would have the responsibility to decide whether or not to support the recommendations of the Scope of Attention Task Force, I feel that our discussion was repressed at the Executive Committee meeting using the justification that it was a matter for the membership to decide. Ironically, if KT Horning had not brought the actions of the ALSC Board into question, I believe that such an essential membership discourse would never have happened.

As Vice-President of ALSC, I apologize for not being more assertive in guaranteeing that the membership be allowed the opportunity to fully discuss this contentious “Scope of Attention” issue. As a measure of my commitment to transparency, I will post this commentary on ALA Connect and request that it is posted on the ALSC Blog as well. ALSC Executive Director Aimee Strittmatter and I have already talked about our commitment to having regular meetings with the entire Executive Committee so that no Board member in the future will have to plead ignorance about why any issue is being pursed by the ALSC leadership. In addition, Aimee and I have also been discussing having the ALA Parliamentarian attend the ALSC Board Orientation Meeting this summer so that the Board is fully informed about the range of responses available to a motion beside supporting or rejecting it. To conclude, I believe that the best way to insure that the ALSC Board speaks as “one voice” is to respect the voice of each individual Board member.

Julie Corsaro

Much work will take place at ALA Midwinter (January 15-19 in Boston). To understand more about the work of ALSC, you may visit ALA Connect where the ALSC Board Midwinter agenda and documents are available to be downloaded and viewed. The URL is http://connect.ala.org/node/91780.

As a new year begins, it is a good time to consider ways to partner with other organizations in your community. ALSC is involved in many projects and partnerships. For descriptions of some of the latest activities, visit the ALSC Web Site –>Initiatives –> Partnerships.

The ALA 2010 Midwinter Meeting is January 15 – 19, 2010, in Boston, Massachusetts.

The ALSC daily schedule with room locations is listed on the ALSC Web Site.

If you will be in Boston, on Friday, January 15, from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m., plan to attend ALSC Speed Networking. The object of the evening is to meet as many professionals as you can. Participants will be organized to move around the room, meeting new colleagues and exchanging ideas every couple of minutes. The event is free. Please RSVP by January 4, 2010.

For more Midwinter Meeting information, visit the ALSC Web Site, the ALA Web Site and ALA’s Official Midwinter Meeting Wiki.

Today is the first day of Banned Books Week. Robert P. Doyle writes in Books Challenged and Banned in 2008-2009: Speak-Read-Know,

The challenges documented in this list are not brought by people merely expressing a point of view; rather, they represent requests to remove materials from schools or libraries, thus restricting access to them by others. Even when the eventual outcome allows the book to stay on the library shelves and even when the person is a lone protester, the censorship attempt is real. Someone has tried to restrict another person’s ability to choose. Challenges are as important to document as actual bannings, in which a book is removed from the shelves of a library or bookstore or from the curriculum at a school. Attempts to censor can lead to voluntary restriction of expression by those who seek to avoid controversy; in these cases, material may not be published at all or may not be purchased by a bookstore, library, or school district.

Visit the American Library Association’s Issues & Advocacy: Banned & Challenged Books for information and resources on ways to prepare and respond to challenges to library materials, which includes essential preparation, challenge support, and reporting a challenge.

Effective library service for children entails a broad range of experience and professional skills. The 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.

These competencies are further explained on the ALSC Web Site –> Education & Careers –> Core Competencies:

• Knowledge of Client Group
• Administrative and Management Skills
• Communication Skills
• Knowledge of Materials
• User and Reference Services
• Programming Skills
• Advocacy, Public Relations, and Networking Skills
• Professionalism and Professional Development
• Technology

The Core Competencies document was created by the ALSC Education Committee, 1999. It was revised by the ALSC Education Committee, 2009, and approved by the ALSC Board of Directors at the 2009 American Library Association Annual Conference.

Sponsored by Scholastic Library Publishing and administered by the ALA Public Awareness Committee, this $3000 grant supports a single library’s public outreach efforts during National Library Week. National Library Week 2010 will be celebrated April 11-17. The 2010 theme is Communities thrive @ your library.

The application deadline is October 16, 2009. Proposals must use the theme; include “@ your library®” in accordance with the official trademark policy; involve at least one other type of library and/or community organization; take place as part of National Library Week; be submitted electronically; include clear objectives, a realistic budget and a timeline; specify a coordinator; and describe a method of evaluation.

For more information and the complete guidelines, visit the 2010 National Library Week Grant page of the ALA Web Site, under ALA Public Information Office. Questions may be directed to Megan McFarlane ([email protected]), 800/545-2433, ext. 2148.

The winner will be notified and announced during the 2010 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Boston.

During the 2009 Annual Conference, the American Library Association’s Council adopted the Minors and Internet Interactivity statement as part of ALA’s Interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights. As stated in the introduction to the Interpretations,

Although the Articles of the Library Bill of Rights are unambiguous statements of basic principles that should govern the service of all libraries, questions do arise concerning application of these principles to specific library practices. […] These documents are policies of the American Library Association, having been adopted by the ALA Council.

Please read Minors and Internet Interactivity, which is available on the ALA Web Page (Mission & History–> Key Action Areas–> Intellectual Freedom –> Policies, Statements, Guidelines.) To provide for ease in commenting, it is also included here in its entirety:

Minors and Internet Interactivity: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights

The digital environment offers opportunities for accessing, creating, and sharing information. The rights of minors to retrieve, interact with, and create information posted on the Internet in schools and libraries are extensions of their First Amendment rights. (See also other interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights, including “Access to Digital Information, Services, and Networks,” “Free Access to Libraries for Minors,” and “Access for Children and Young Adults to Nonprint Materials.”)

Academic pursuits of minors can be strengthened with the use of interactive Web tools, allowing young people to create documents and share them online; upload pictures, videos, and graphic material; revise public documents; and add tags to online content to classify and organize information. Instances of inappropriate use of such academic tools should be addressed as individual behavior issues, not as justification for restricting or banning access to interactive technology. Schools and libraries should ensure that institutional environments offer opportunities for students to use interactive Web tools constructively in their academic pursuits, as the benefits of shared learning are well documented.

Personal interactions of minors can be enhanced by social tools available through the Internet. Social networking Web sites allow the creation of online communities that feature an open exchange of information in various forms, such as images, videos, blog posts, and discussions about common interests. Interactive Web tools help children and young adults learn about and organize social, civic, and extra-curricular activities. Many interactive sites invite users to establish online identities, share personal information, create Web content, and join social networks. Parents and guardians play a critical role in preparing their children for participation in online activity by communicating their personal family values and by monitoring their children’s use of the Internet. Parents and guardians are responsible for what their children—and only their children—access on the Internet in libraries.

The use of interactive Web tools poses two competing intellectual freedom issues—the protection of minors’ privacy and the right of free speech. Some have expressed concerns regarding what they perceive is an increased vulnerability of young people in the online environment when they use interactive sites to post personally identifiable information. In an effort to protect minors’ privacy, adults sometimes restrict access to interactive Web environments. Filters, for example, are sometimes used to restrict access by youth to interactive social networking tools, but at the same time deny minors’ rights to free expression on the Internet. Prohibiting children and young adults from using social networking sites does not teach safe behavior and leaves youth without the necessary knowledge and skills to protect their privacy or engage in responsible speech. Instead of restricting or denying access to the Internet, librarians and teachers should educate minors to participate responsibly, ethically, and safely.

The First Amendment applies to speech created by minors on interactive sites. Usage of these social networking sites in a school or library allows minors to access and create resources that fulfill their interests and needs for information, for social connection with peers, and for participation in a community of learners. Restricting expression and access to interactive Web sites because the sites provide tools for sharing information with others violates the tenets of the Library Bill of Rights. It is the responsibility of librarians and educators to monitor threats to the intellectual freedom of minors and to advocate for extending access to interactive applications on the Internet.

As defenders of intellectual freedom and the First Amendment, libraries and librarians have a responsibility to offer unrestricted access to Internet interactivity in accordance with local, state, and federal laws and to advocate for greater access where it is abridged. School and library professionals should work closely with young people to help them learn skills and attitudes that will prepare them to be responsible, effective, and productive communicators in a free society.

Adopted July 15, 2009, by the ALA Council.

At the Membership Pavilion in the Exhibit Hall at the ALA 2009 Annual Conference, April Roy, member of the ALSC Early Childhood Programs and Services Committee presented the new brochure and announced the new product line for the ALSC Born to Read initiative during a Saturday Membership 101 Program.

April shared the new design which offers quick tips about how to share books with your baby, includes a book list, and stresses that talking to and reading to babies increases their language development and understanding. As the parent of a 7-week-old daughter, April knows how busy expectant and new parents are and how overwhelmed they can feel by all of the reading material given to them. The new design is crisp and uncluttered with the headings “Read,” “Share,” “Talk,” and “Play.” Some of the tips are:

• Read to your baby every day. Set aside a special time, such as before bed.
• Read to your baby in short amounts whenever you have time–while you’re in line at the grocery store or waiting for a bottle to warm.
• Read or tell stories in the language you know best.
• Attend a baby story time at the library. Ask your librarian for help finding books, music, and toys.
• Choose books with bold colors, simple words, pictures of baby faces, and textured pages.
• Read with expression. Vary the tone of your voice.
• Point to pictures and talk about them.
• Chant nursery rhymes and add actions.
• Point out and name animals, household objects, people, colors, and shapes everywhere, all the time.
• Respond to your baby’s babbling. Laugh, babble, and talk with her.
• Share books when you and your baby are both in a good mood. Move on to a new activity when your baby loses interest.
• Use reading time to bond with your baby. Cuddle with your baby on your lap and let her hold the book.

After her presentation, April talked with me a bit more about how her library has purchased bundles of the new brochure as part of a grant they have received from a local memorial fund. With these monies, the Kansas City Public Library gives books and Born to Read brochures to local women’s clinics. Speaking of her own experience reading with her baby, April stated, “It’s a fun time for us. When she’s in a good, happy mood, reading is the perfect thing to do.”

The committee continues to work on revamping the Born to Read web site and program material. ALSC members are encouraged to volunteer for ALSC committees as we work to provide exceptional library service to all children. For a committee volunteer form, visit the ALSC Web Site and click on the link “ALSC Wants You!” to download the form.