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Hi, folks, This is the last in my series of Teachers Who Helped.  Of course, I saved the best for last. In 1995, I moved to Kirkland, Washington. A friend of mine, Kathi Appelt, encouraged me that there was a vibrant group of writers in the Seattle area and recommended that I take a class on children's writing at the Bellevue Community College. Kathi said the teacher was considered very helpful.

I signed up for the class and met the teacher, Peggy King Anderson. (Those of my readers in the children's writing community are freaking out right now because I am dropping some names!)  Peggy is a teacher like no other I have ever known. She loves her students and her subject. She taught me that my best story is in my soul, curled up inside, and that it is destined to break out its chrysalis and take flight. But the most important lessons I learned from Peggy were all about loving the journey of writing books, loving the people who write children's books, and actually letting the writing transform me, before it transforms anyone else.

Her Master Classes around her dining room table were magical. Bowls of popcorn, slices of apples, and generous heaps of conversation, I met Jolie Stekly, Meg Lippert, Allyson Schrier, Vijaya Bodach, and so many more in these classes. One thing was clear about Peggy: she nurtured excellence. Most writers entered her classes unpublished. Few stayed that way. Peggy encouraged me as a mom, as a wife, and as a student. She understood that people are complex and all the pieces of who you are inform your stories.  She taught me that in the midst of storms of life that writing is my safe place. She said, "Writing is saving you."

I'm a person of faith in Christ. With Peggy's gentle critique, I learned that there was a divine spark in in my work, something wholly outside me. Each book is lit by God and is part of a great fire of goodness. Faith is something beautiful that I share with Peggy. She taught me about holiness of my work, that it is important, and that children were hungry for my words. It is my sacred duty to make my words wonderful, to draw close to the bone, and reveal the hidden truth of the worth of every individual.

Finally, Peggy's belief in each and every one of her students buoys me. Do you have any idea how powerful the faith of a learned teacher is? Her unending encouragement lit a fire of encouragement in me that I try to pass it on. Peggy is no longer teaching classes to devote time her family. (Always keeping those priorities right.)  She does however continue to mentor. Check out the link to website above if you are interested.

My puny words are never going to reveal the total awesomeness of Peggy. If you read my post, and know Peggy, drop by her Facebook, and let her know what a difference she has made in your life. If not, thank the teachers who believed in you.

I hope you liked this series and will back with next week with a series I call Close to the Bone.

Here is a doodle for you.

Hi, folks, This is the last in my series of Teachers Who Helped.  Of course, I saved the best for last. In 1995, I moved to Kirkland, Washington. A friend of mine, Kathi Appelt, encouraged me that there was a vibrant group of writers in the Seattle area and recommended that I take a class on children's writing at the Bellevue Community College. Kathi said the teacher was considered very helpful.

I signed up for the class and met the teacher, Peggy King Anderson. (Those of my readers in the children's writing community are freaking out right now because I am dropping some names!)  Peggy is a teacher like no other I have ever known. She loves her students and her subject. She taught me that my best story is in my soul, curled up inside, and that it is destined to break out its chrysalis and take flight. But the most important lessons I learned from Peggy were all about loving the journey of writing books, loving the people who write children's books, and actually letting the writing transform me, before it transforms anyone else.

Her Master Classes around her dining room table were magical. Bowls of popcorn, slices of apples, and generous heaps of conversation, I met Holly Cupala, Jolie Stekly, Meg Lippert, Allyson Schrier, Vijaya Bodach, and so many more in these classes. One thing was clear about Peggy: she nurtured excellence. Most writers entered her classes unpublished. Few stayed that way. Peggy encouraged me as a mom, as a wife, and as a student. She understood that people are complex and all the pieces of who you are inform your stories.  She taught me that in the midst of storms of life that writing is my safe place. She said, "Writing is saving you."

I'm a person of faith in Christ. With Peggy's gentle critique, I learned that there was a divine spark in in my work, something wholly outside me. Each book is lit by God and is part of a great fire of goodness. Faith is something beautiful that I share with Peggy. She taught me about holiness of my work, that it is important, and that children were hungry for my words. It is my sacred duty to make my words wonderful, to draw close to the bone, and reveal the hidden truth of the worth of every individual.

Finally, Peggy's belief in each and every one of her students buoys me. Do you have any idea how powerful the faith of a learned teacher is? Her unending encouragement lit a fire of encouragement in me that I try to pass it on. Peggy is no longer teaching classes to devote time her family. (Always keeping those priorities right.)  She does however continue to mentor. Check out the link to website above if you are interested.

My puny words are never going to reveal the total awesomeness of Peggy. If you read my post, and know Peggy, drop by her Facebook, and let her know what a difference she has made in your life. If not, thank the teachers who believed in you.

I hope you liked this series and will back with next week with a series I call Close to the Bone.

Here is a doodle for you.

Hi, folks!  Whew, it rained buckets this week. I will have to mow my yard soon. This month I've been writing about what waters my work. I've chatted about longing, forgiveness and simple moments; all water my creative ground. Now, I'm going to talk about something that waters me like nothing else, and that is mentoring.  Be the rain.

I received an email this week that just poured more buckets of water into me than any flood. It was from one of the kids I mentored in my teen writing program last year. The program is called TEENSPublish at the Ringer Library in College Station, TX. (Follow the link for the deets) She thanked me for my efforts to help her become a writer and wanted to know if mayhem was going to happen again this year. She planned to tell ALL her friends.

I said, "Of course, mayhem is happening!"

In June, I will be putting on TEENSPublish at the Ringer Library in College Station, TX.  (Cost: Free!, 2:30-5:00 on Wednesdays, skip July 6)The program is for 7th-12th graders and is all about helping young writers find their voice and share it with the world. Here is the deal, doing this will help me more.

In a rut? Surround yourself will people that beginning their journey. It will transform your life.

Sometimes we don't understand our situation. We long to grow, but instead, we are stagnating. You are no longer the ground. You have become the clouds. Stagnation is about your unwillingness to share the water within. Wring out all that water on dry ground. Let what you know flow from your heart to others.  So creative folk, if you want to water your work go out there and volunteer. Give something of yourself. Be the rain.

You are welcome.

I will be back next week with one more April Showers, and then a new series starts.  Exciting news, a guest blogger is going to usher in the month of May with Bloom!  Excellent author Alexandria La Faye will be here! If you don't know her already, please check her out!!! www.facebook.com/alafayeauthor
www.alafaye.com, [email protected]

This year, our class motto has been "Push through the struggle." Originally a mantra of one student, but quickly became the motto of the community. These are the words used to encourage each other to persevere in all learning tasks. The Slice Of Life Story Challenge was no exception!

Applications are open for the spring 2016 mentoring cohort. Apply by Feb. 26, 2016. Image courtesy of ALSC.

January was National Mentoring Month, but there’s still time to make a difference. The ALSC Mentoring Program is in it’s third year of existence and it’s worth re-visiting what the program is all about.

In 2012, the ALSC Emerging Leaders team put together recommendations for a new mentoring program. The original intention was to pair early career professionals with experienced ALSC members. Since Fall 2013, ALSC has been matching mentors and mentees in an effort to make new connections in the profession and increase awareness of interest and familiarity with ALSC committee service and participation.

Mentors and mentees set their own goals and meet on their own time. Matches do a lot of different activities, including mock interviews, writing blog posts, and performing research.

What Does It Take To Be a Mentor?

One difficulty for the program has been in attracting as many mentors as mentees.  The misconception is that it is easy to be a mentee, but hard to be a mentor. It couldn’t be further from the truth.

To combat this, the ALSC Membership Committee and Managing Children’s Services Committees have come up with three suggestions for why you should be a mentor:

1. Being a mentor is giving back to the profession
2. Mentoring requires only a few hours of time per month
3. It can be as easy as having a 30-min conversation every two weeks

ALSC has also sought to increase communication about what happens in the program. Every year, ALSC hosts two mentoring forums – one in the fall, one in the spring – to bring matches together to talk about goals and obstacles. If you’re curious check out the recorded webcasts of these events to learn more.

Thank You Mentors and Mentees!

Another one of the new practices of the program is to recognize mentors and mentees for their participation. The following mentors and mentees were matched in Spring 2015. We thank them and wish them well in their future endeavors:

Spring 2015 Mentors

• Jordan Boaz
• Anne Clark
• Mary Cook
• Cheri Crow
• Carol Edwards
• Lucia Gonzalez
• Christie Hamm
• Carol Hopkins
• Abby Johnson
• Kendra Jones
• Julie Jurgens
• Rachel Keeler
• Laura Keonig
• Marybeth Kozikowski
• Mollie Lancaster
• Meghan Malone
• Angie Manfredi
• Allison Murphy
• Brooke Newberry
• Carol Phillips
• Marian Rafl
• Julie Ranelli
• Angela Reynolds
• Kristina Reynolds
• Katie Salo
• Brooke Sheets
• Robin Sofge
• Kelly Von Zee
• Marc Waldron

Spring 2015 Mentees

• Emily Aaronson
• Megan Ashley
• Carly Bastiansen
• Emily Bayci
• Jeannine Birkenfeld
• Amy Cantley
• Katie Carter
• Kathleen Dean
• Jessica Espejel
• Joie Formando
• Haley Frailey
• Rebecca Greer
• Pamela Groseclose
• Emily Heath
• Ajarie Holman
• Kimberly Iacucci
• Amanda Jachec
• Taylor Johnson
• Kristen Jones
• Naara Kean
• Kari Kunst
• Samantha Magee
• Kate Mahoney
• Kyra Nay
• Alison O’Brien
• Renee Perron
• Jessica Ralli
• Amy Steinbauer
• Mary Watring

How You Can Participate

Want to be a mentor or mentee? ALSC is now accepting applications for the Spring 2016 cohort. The deadline to apply is Friday, February 26, 2016.

The post Mentoring: How You Can Give Back to the Profession appeared first on ALSC Blog.

Have you been looking for a way to get involved in YALSA but not sure where to start? Try volunteering for a taskforce. The nice thing about a taskforce is the work is focused and is carried out over a shorter period of time than a committee. It also gives you an opportunity to work with and get to know some of your fellow YALSA members and increase your own professional skills at the same time.

This is my second term serving as Chair of the Mentoring Taskforce and I found it to be a very rewarding experience. The taskforce reviews the applications submitted for YALSA's Mentoring Program and matches mentors and protégés. I couldn't have asked for a better group of people on the taskforce and I enjoyed learning about the people who applied for the mentoring program. I also gained a sense of accomplishment by getting involved and giving back to YALSA and knowing these mentoring program participants will learn from each other.

So what was it like being on a virtual taskforce? We did most of our work through email. This allowed us to work at our own pace when we had time and eliminated time zone conflicts. Even though our taskforce worked asynchronously and we had a very short turnaround time to complete our matches, everyone was quick to respond to communication and we stayed on track. In early July I asked the committee members to introduce themselves to each other via email so we all had a feel for who we were working with. By the last week of July we were reviewing suggested tasks and matching protégés with mentors. We only had the information provided in the applications to decide who would make the best matches. We turned in our final matches by the second week in August. I feel good knowing that we were able to work so efficiently without ever meeting face-to-face.

If you are thinking about getting involved but haven’t wanted to make the commitment, I would highly recommend volunteering for the mentoring taskforce, or any taskforce, when you see the call go out via the weekly YALSA e-news. It’s a great way to give back to YALSA and meet other like-minded professionals without making a huge time commitment. You don’t have to commit to travel, either, since virtual members are not required to attend ALA conferences. Who knows? Maybe it will inspire you volunteer for more committees or even to run for the YALSA Board! Check out the different ways you can get involved at: http://www.ala.org/yalsa/getinvolved/getinvolved

Gail Tobin is Branch Coordinator at the Schaumburg Township District Library. She is the current Chair of the Mentoring Taskforce and a former YALSA Board member.

• The Sunnyvale Library Make-HER blog offers fantastic inspiration. From: Conversation Starter: From Maker to Make-HER: Leveling the STEM Playing Field for Girls.
• Look at your existing resources people, meeting rooms, digital, etc.   Are you using them to their greatest potential?  From  Session: So You Didn’t Get the Awesome Teen DigiTechnoSuperLab: Now What?  Joslyn Jones was funny, smart and offered valuable information.
• Change is inevitable.  When the work environment is in transition, most everyone experiences anxiety.  You can control your situation in the long-term.  Transform yourself.  Make yourself more valuable to your library and community.   From: No Sugarcoating Allowed: Four Honest Perspectives on Change Management.
• Social media is a powerful tool that can be used to connect not only with our customer base, but also with authors.  Virtual author visits anyone?  From: riding the shuttle bus with the energetic and cool School Librarian and ALSC Live Blogger Stacey Rattner.
• Moving outside your comfort zone is a good thing.  Librarians are naturally helpful.  So if you need help navigating your first conference or getting a ride to the airport when it is all over, just ask.   ALSC also has a mentor program.  You can check it out here.
• If you can’t make it to an in person event, try these online learning opportunities offered by ALSC.

I had a wonderful time at #alaac15.  I enjoyed learning and sharing with the amazing librarians, writers and artists.  Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and making my experience so grand.

Angela Chadbourne
Youth Services Librarian
Santa Clarita Public Library

The post My Top Transforming Takeaways from #alaac15 appeared first on ALSC Blog.

LREI – Wikimedia commons

I was lucky this week to host a fellow librarian from another NYC independent school.  She had attended a workshop at my school earlier in the year and wanted to chat about the job of the “American school librarian”.  She is to be returning to France soon, and is going to be writing a paper on the subject.

We chatted about our respective schools for a bit and then got down to the real meat of the conversation.  What does it really mean to be a school librarian in the USA today? What are our roles? What could our roles be?

Within this conversation, she filled me in on what it is like to be a school librarian in France. She lamented the fact that there are no elementary school positions — there are only middle and high school librarians in France.  I found this incredibly interesting, as my experience has shown me that elementary positions in the States seem more easily defended than high school positions (“they can just use the internet”).  We spoke about research, stand alone classes, pushing in and progressive integrated curriculum.

I have to say, this tête à tête was just what I needed to get the wind back in my sails for the end of the school year.  It reminded me again about the importance of our jobs as school librarians and the importance of opening the doors and letting folks into our spaces and our practice.

The post Opening the Doors appeared first on ALSC Blog.

Skill in presenting programs, an understanding of child development, and a love for working with young people are all traits required for staff working in youth services. There are other important traits which outstanding youth services staff must possess. When the time comes to replace a member of this department, what skills, characteristics and strengths do you seek? What do you admire in your colleagues?

It is true that youth services staff must have the special ability to connect with young people and their caregivers, but there are other characteristics that are necessary for staff to be the best team players they can be and for them to have the most positive impact on the team. A positive mind set, a strong work ethic, and problem-solving abilities are qualities that make staff excel.

(Image provided by Thinkstockphotos.com)

For a positive mindset to truly make an impact in the workplace, it must be all encompassing and not selective. I’ve seen the most successful staff not only exude that warmth and their encouraging manner to customers of all ages, but to staff members at all levels as well. Not only do staff that are the most positive become the most productive in the workplace, their uplifting attitude often spreads to those around them. Positivity is a choice with healthy and long-lasting consequences. How have you found staffers’ positivity to benefit you and your work team?

Youth services staff also work hard! The physical aspect and the emotional energy they spend on presenting programs and engaging their patrons often knows no bounds. Typically, the amount of programming they produce is exhausting and the scope of the audience they reach is expansive. Staffers must have a strong sense of the importance and the efforts required in their position for them to most successfully complete all the demands their work requires. How do you see your colleagues’ work ethic impact the productiveness of your library system?

(Image provided by Thinkstockphotos.com)

Youth services folk often have the uncanny ability to excel in problem-solving and the knack to think outside the box on any given issue. Do your supervisees or youth services colleagues easily see challenges that can be overcome or obstacles that hinder their growth? Perhaps youth services staff are so solution-driven because they fully grasp the significance of their work and the powerful impact they have in shaping young people’s lives. How do you see youth services staff being able to turn life’s headaches into highlights?

Our field is filled with youth services professionals demonstrating positivity, a strong work ethic, and problem-solving skills. What are the other characteristics that you see that are necessary for staff holding youth services positions in your libraries? What traits in your co-workers or supervisees are required to build the best possible team? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!

The post Winning Traits appeared first on ALSC Blog.

ALSC announced the opening of spring 2015 applications for the ALSC mentoring program. 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. Applications are now open for both mentors and mentees. The application process ends on Saturday, February 28, 2015. Here are a few things to know about the program:

• The program lasts one year
• Mentee applicants do not need to be ALSC or ALA members The only requirement is that mentees have some connection to children’s library service
• Mentees may be students, early career professionals, individuals returning to the profession, or those who would like to refine their skills, make connections, and learn more about children’s librarianship as a career
• Mentors should be ALSC members
• There is no face-to-face requirements
• Mentors and mentees set their own goals and work at their own pace

Mentors and mentees who apply to the program will be matched by members of the ALSC Membership and Managing Children’s Services Committees. The mentoring program was developed through the hard work of these two committees. ALSC cannot guarantee that every applicant will be matched.

For more information on the ALSC Mentoring Program or to apply, please visit http://www.ala.org/alsc/mentoring

The post Mentors and Mentees Wanted! appeared first on ALSC Blog.

Last year I read a post about the ALSC Mentoring Program, and it struck a nerve. To apply for the program, I had to fill in some basic information and state whether I would like to be a mentor or a mentee with another fellow librarian. ALSC would set up the match, and shepherd us through the program by offering helpful tips and guidelines.

When I came to the part where I had to check if I’d like to be a mentor OR a mentee, I checked both. Feeling a bit schizophrenic that day? No, I just could see myself in both positions. Even though I’ve been in the library world for about 10 years, I don’t feel that I ever had a true mentor. There was never one person who took me by the hand and showed me the whole world of librarianship, taught me what to do when a child started crying hysterically in storytime, or learn how to incorporate early literacy practices into my programs. Maybe I was asking for too much and should realize that most people aren’t lucky to have this kind of a mentor, or maybe this kind of person doesn’t even exist!

When the blogosphere exploded a few years ago, I suddenly had the internet at my fingertips and couldn’t learn fast enough. I pored through blogs like Mel’s Desk, Storytime Katie, and Abby the Librarian. Suddenly there were people out there that I could learn from, and boy did I learn. I actually contacted Melissa, of Mel’s Desk, one day when I recently started the Tiny Tots program for children aged 0-12 months. She was so kind to reply in a timely and caring fashion and her advice was invaluable. I almost cried because I wished she lived closer!

So, not having a mentor made me realize how important it is to help others along the way. I also have an elementary school teacher upbringing and educating is in my blood. I love to present ideas to people, see how they are collected, and watch them bloom. I know that I could really benefit from having a mentor, but maybe now was not the time. Maybe it was time for ME to help someone and give them the guidance I feel I lacked.

ALSC matched me with a wonderful young woman named Mary. During our first phone call, I knew that something would be a bit different about this match. Mary was also going to San Jose State University for her MLIS program, and she had started just about the same time I had. Not only was she going to graduate school full time, she was also working in a library, and teaching dance classes. Wow, she has energy!

Mary is almost the same age as my oldest daughter, so one would think that I should feel more mature and experienced. Not so, though! With all of her energy and enthusiasm, Mary has taught me more about the library world than I think I’ve taught her. She is dedicated and determined, and is already connected to committees and book award groups.

I hope I’ve helped Mary during this year, but I have also gained so much from her. We have talked about graduate school classes, shared book titles, and learned about the different book award committees we attend. It’s been a definite win-win in my opinion!

In a less formal manner, I have also been mentoring another young woman at our library named Alyssa. This came about because I told our Head of Children’s Services that I really wanted to gain some supervisory experience. She suggested that I mentor Alyssa with her first story time program – which would be a pajama story time. This was so exciting because I was able to work with Alyssa from the ground up. We discussed what books she would use and the songs she would sing. As we talked about the merits of certain titles, I could see that she was beginning to understand how a book would work in story time, and what would be the most engaging for the audience.

Working with Mary and Alyssa has taught me that my way of doing things is not always the right way, and I should offer guidance, but let them try and figure things out for themselves. I started the mentoring process because I hoped I could offer help to both young women, but I’ve learned more from them than I expected.

***********************************************************

Our guest blogger today is Allison Murphy. Allison has worked in the marketing department of a number of children’s book publishing companies. She has been a children’s library programmer and most recently, a children’s librarian, for about 10 years. Allison has been on the CT State Nutmeg Award committee and is currently pursuing her MLS degree from San Jose State University. She hopes to finish before she has grey hair or grandchildren, whichever comes first!

Please note that as a guest post, the views expressed here do not represent the official position of ALA or ALSC.

If you’d like to write a guest post for the ALSC Blog, please contact Mary Voors, ALSC Blog manager, at [email protected].

The post Mentoring and Me appeared first on ALSC Blog.

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.

There more than 10 ways to get involved with ALSC (image provided by ALSC)

If your 2015 resolution is to make a better future for children through libraries, it’s time to explore how you can become more involved in ALSC! Membership in ALSC makes your career and the profession richer! Fortunately for you, ALSC membership has many paths and opportunities! Here are 10 ways – there are many more – to participate in ALSC this year:

1. Join a committee – this is a popular route, but it’s not always for everyone. Being on a committee means dedicating a lot of time and effort
2. Apply for an ALSC award, scholarship or grant – did you know that ALSC gives away more than $100,000 in awards, scholarships and grants every year? It’s true and as a member, you’re eligible! Find one that’s right for you.
3. Host a Día event – ALSC’s national recognized diversity initiative, El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day), commonly known as Día, is a celebration every day of children, families, and reading that culminates yearly on April 30.
4. Become a mentor or mentee – being a mentor or mentee means being involved on a one-to-one level. The ALSC mentoring program will open applications for spring 2015 mentors and mentees in January.
5. Take part in Take Action Tuesday – membership is more than just a membership card or line on a resume. It’s a belief in a cause. Take Action Tuesdays are part of the ALSC Everyday Advocacy initiative and a great way to showcase your advocacy on behalf of children’s library service.
6. Participate in an ALSC Community Forum – held quarterly, these are discussions about important topics in youth library service. Interact with your colleagues and the ALSC Board of Directors in real-time!
7. Investigate ALSC continuing education – whether you choose in-person (conferences) or online (webinars & online courses), ALSC has the right option for you. Members receive discounts!
8. Write for ALSC – members are talented and passionate, and those traits come out in their writing! We’re always looking for bloggers and individuals to submit manuscripts for publication!
9. Join in #alscchat – every second Thursday of the month, the Children & Technology Committee hosts a free Twitter discussion called #alscchat. Topics vary but always focus on issues central to the youth library.
10. March on Washington – National Library Legislative Day (NLLD) happens every May and you can join in the party – both virtually and in-person.

The post Top 10 Ways to Get Involved with ALSC in 2015 appeared first on ALSC Blog.

This month children’s librarians from all over the country will gather in Oakland, California for the biennial ALSC Institute. There are educational sessions including libraries’ roles in early education, better ways to connect our customers to information, tips on how to be at the “community table” and even, this time around, a trip to fairy land. It is an exciting and inspiring event; to be among so many people who share our passion and commitment.

The greatest value of the Institute though is the space and time to really connect to our colleagues. In the busy worlds of libraries today with the competing demands of customers, stakeholders and administration, made more urgent by shrinking budgets, most of us have little time to consider what drives us to this work. A weekend sharing knowledge and energy is just the thing to recharge.

Even if you can’t get to California, reaching out to like-minded colleagues is a wonderful way to find energy you are sure you just don’t have. ALSC is built on a tradition of mentorship and the street is gleefully both ways. In our modern environment of 24/7 virtual connections, even time zones can’t keep mentor from mentee and vice versa.

It isn’t always easy to get our heads around mentoring. Sometimes we feel we can’t possibly have anything of value to say to another professional. We haven’t been doing this long enough or we have been doing it too long. We aren’t experts. There are things we just don’t know. These perceived gaps of excellence are the very steps to connecting in meaningful ways to others. Ask a question. Offer to go to lunch. Send an email. Tweet passionately or Facebook someone who intrigues you. All of us can name a person who guided us in our lives. It all began, long ago or just last week, with a conversation. So speak up in whatever way works for you.

Mentoring is like friendship. To find one you need to be one. That is the real truth of it. While those of us in California may come away with new ways of thinking about our work, hopefully we will also come away with at least one new friend be it mentor or mentee. We are everywhere. You don’t have to be in fairy land to find us.

There’s a lot of research out there that suggests that mentoring is pretty good for you. In adult-mentoring-children scenarios, research shows that the mentoring relationship assists in developing stronger ties to the community. Individuals who participate in a mentoring relationship experience:

• improved self-esteem
• improved communication skills
• reduction in depressive symptoms
• greater social acceptance
• better academic attitudes

Career mentoring isn’t much different. Professional mentoring relationships help create connections and foster career growth. In fact, these are two of the objectives of the ALSC Mentoring Program. The others:

1. Build the skills and confidence of early career children’s librarians and those new to the profession
2. Encourage personal and professional connections
3. Give members the opportunity to acquire peer-taught skills
4. Re-energize and re-invigorate members in their work
5. Create interest and familiarity with ALSC committee service and participation
6. Build familiarity with ALSC’s Competencies for Librarians Serving Children in Public Libraries
7. Foster the development of a new cohort of leaders

The ALSC Mentoring Program is entering its second year of existence and we’re looking for some good mentors and mentees. Applications for the Fall 2014 program are now open. Please submit your application by Friday, August 25, 2014.

We hope that you’re interested in participating, because we think you’ll get a lot out of it.

By Mary Pender Greene

Mentorship is one of the most compelling assets for professional success. The mentor-mentee relationship offers one of the most priceless of all human qualities — transparency. The mentor offers the mentee hope for the future by sharing both wisdom and past challenges. Mentors help mentees be their best selves by helping them overcome their fears of failure and apprehension of taking risks.

Everyone struggles and gets scared. It takes courage to ask for help. Many of us are afraid to take the risk of being vulnerable. So we pretend to know. In fact, we are often encouraged to “fake it until we make it.” But if we never talk about our challenges and fears openly, we will never get help with those challenges. More importantly, we miss out on key authentic moments. Being fearful about our imperfections and abilities — as well as of the future are all universal human emotions — and it is at the intersection of these authentic moments that we learn, accept, and grow. If we pretend to know it all, no one reaches out to us. When we ask for help and guidance, many hands are extended.

There has been a paradigm shift as to how professional knowledge is passed on. It no longer happens naturally through traditional professional grooming and succession rituals. With greater turnover, less time, lower budgets, and more uncertainty, traditional mentorship models have become nearly obsolete in today’s workplace. This dramatic upheaval in the professional landscape has changed how 21st century professionals can most effectively cultivate career success. Mentorship is more important now than ever before.

Some benefits of mentoring are:

• Enhances career development initiatives
• Creates a “learning organization”
• Improved on-boarding and training programs
• Improved diversity initiatives
• Improved adjustment to the workplace culture
• Improved employee engagement & retention
• Targeted skill and leadership development
• Can address skills gaps

Mentoring has existed throughout the ages as an effective way to develop talent. More formal mentoring programs comprise structured components, such as training and onboarding programs. These programs are often tied to specific, quantifiable business goals and objectives. There are many new mentoring styles too, including:

• Reverse mentoring: Senior employees are mentored by junior employees to fill a specific skill gap.
• Team mentoring: Work teams are mentored by a supervisor.
• Group mentoring: Groups from within different departments or the same department are mentored by a senior manager
• Distance mentoring: Mentor-mentee pairs who are working in different locations.

Less formal mentoring relationships are less hierarchical. There is an equal partnership where both parties greatly benefit — and learn — from the relationship.

Mary Pender Greene, LCSW-R, CGP is a psychotherapist, relationship expert, clinical supervisor, career & executive coach, trainer, and consultant, with a private practice in Midtown Manhattan. Mary’s background also includes executive management roles at America’s largest non-profit organization, The Jewish Board of Family Services in NYC. Mary is the author of Creative Mentorship and Career-Building Strategies: How to Build your Virtual Personal Board of Directors.

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Hi, folks! I'm continuing my series for the month of March. In honor of Saint Patrick's Day, I'm calling this series: Lucky Serendipity. I have tripped across many moments in life that really direct the whole of my writing future. I call these moments: lucky serendipity. So here is the story of one of those moments.

Some years ago I had cancer. I went from a furiously busy life with four kids to run after, a huge volunteer gig, and a busy writing life, to a life that came to an absolute standstill. Into the hospital I went, weeks of bed rest to follow, and then a much slower life after that. I felt like a miserable fly caught in a spider's webbing.

Each day while recovering, I cheered myself up by doing something I hadn't had the chance to do when I was so busy. Some things were simple like enjoying the sunrise or doodling for several hours straight. One of those things was to apply for a scholarship to the Chautauqua Writers' Workshop put on by the Highlights Foundation.

I received the scholarship! A few months later I was heading to Chautauqua to meet my mentor of the week, Patricia Lee Gauch. (She still offers workshops, but they are often hard to get in.)

Those few hours chatting  and then a flurry  of emails with Patti transformed me as a writer. They taught me to trust my writerly bones, to trust what they are telling me, to trust my energy and passion.  A book is a terrifying leap. For me not every book I've attempted has worked out.  You may simply fall, dust yourself off, and leap again.

Patti validated my writing faith -- that if I keep showing up at the page somehow a viable book will appear. Patti's mentoring sent me on a journey of paring down what my character really wants and sticking like glue to as many pages as I need to tell the story. 

I've covered the some in my blog before. Here is the link back to my travels back in 2005.  Here is a link to a class I took later from Patti Gauch when she visited Western Washington.

I hope that you consider liking my upcoming book on Goodreads, PLUMB CRAZY from Swoon Romance.  My pretty cover is in the sidebar.  I'll be back next week with the last of this Luck Serendipity series.


The doodle. Look, you found a four leaf clover! How lucky!

Because I keep seeing so many amazing storytime ideas from blogs I read, I am feeling the itch to do Storytime. My position as Head of Youth Services means that I do a lot coordinating, consulting, book ordering, book recommending, grant writing, program development, and training. Which means I am in an office based in a Headquarters location that is not a public library. Which means: I don’t have a regular storytime. For many years, this has been ok with me. I was actually kind of tired of doing storytime, and was happy to compile booklists and make storykits and show staff, child care providers, and parents how to interact with kids around books. But how I can recommend all this new fun stuff if I don’t test-drive it first? Enter Storytime Lab. Once a month, I will be heading over to my local library to test out new songs, fingerplays, flannel stories, activities,  and books on the willing “Guinea Pigs” that come through the doors. Not only do I get to test out new ideas, but I have also invited our staff that do storytimes, plus local agencies that do storytime activities, to come and observe as a training session. They get to see a storytime modeled, and see how the kids react. The children and families that attend get to experience the newest books, songs, puppet stories, and flannelboards that I can find. Plus, it is only once a month. That fits in just right with my schedule. Now, I just need a lab coat….

Today, we’re excited to welcome two participants in the ALSC Mentoring Program to the blog. Mary Fellows and Skye Corey are matched in the program and want to tell us all about it. They asked each other six questions and we’re running their interview as today’s post. 

Skye Corey, participant in the ALSC Mentoring Program (photo courtesy of Skye Corey)

1.
Mary Fellows: Hello, Ms. Mentee! To get us started, let me pose to you the questions I ask myself some hectic days: “What’s my name, where do I live, why am I here?”

Skye Corey: My name is Skye Corey, and I live just outside of London, Ontario, Canada. I’m in my final year of the University of Western Ontario’s Library and Information Science program, where, among other things, I’ve been having a wonderful time reading the writings of the early pioneers of children’s librarianship. What vision they had!

I’m here because after attending the “ALSC 101” program at the ALA Annual Conference this past year in Chicago, I was overcome by the passion, intelligence, compassion, and vision of leaders and members alike. “These are the kind of people,” I said to myself, “that I want to learn from.”

Mary Fellows, past president and ALSC mentor (photo courtesy of Mary Fellows

2.
Skye: Just to give those new to ALSC (like myself) an understanding of who you are, I’m going to ask the same questions of you. What’s your name, where do you live, and why are you here?

Mary: My name is Mary Fellows. I live and work in the Albany, New York area. In New York State we have 23 public library systems that exist to provide expertise and economies of scale that make individual public libraries better. I have the best job in my organization (don’t tell my coworkers!), Upper Hudson Library System: working with the librarians who serve kids, teens, and families in their libraries.

Why am I here? I love learning. And I love helping others develop their skills, challenge their boundaries, and grow. A major part of my job is influencing people: modeling, training, informing, and motivating staff members to take risks and improve their service. One of my favorite quotes is from Anais Nin: “Life expands or contracts in proportion to one’s courage.” I try to foster the development of courage!

When ALSC initiated a mentorship program, I thought, “I can do that!” I signed right up, and here we are!

3.
Mary: In getting to know you, Skye, I’ve enjoyed your optimism, can-do attitude, and humor. You have another characteristic, though, that our readers may be curious about: you’re Canadian, going to school in Canada. Why ALSC?

Skye: Well, Mary, I wish I could tell you that I undertook a thorough investigation of all possible associations before signing up, but the words “Christmas list” and “time crunch” come to mind when thinking about an answer to “Why ALSC?”

I was finishing up my first semester of library school and my parents wanted my Christmas list immediately. I’d already been hoping to subscribe to a journal that discussed current practice and issues in the field, so I figured I’d better hurry up and choose a journal to put on that list or else I’d end up with a scratchy turtle-neck sweater under the tree. After checking out the different journal options, I discovered that I could get free access to Children & Libraries if I became a member of ALSC, so I quickly put “ALSC Membership” on my Christmas wish-list. My parents, how I love them, did one better and not only paid for my membership, but also paid for me to attend the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago. There, through the pre-conference and other sessions, I became extremely impressed by the abundance of learning opportunities that ALSC offered. You better believe that an ALSC membership renewal is on my Christmas list this year!

4.
Skye: You mentioned the importance of mentoring in a previous ALSC blog post, stating that, alongside being an ambassador and a visionary, leaders mentor. Can you tell me about an individual who has played an important mentoring role in your life? What sorts of qualities did she or he exhibit?

Mary: Let’s take a recent example. I was elected vice-president/president-elect of ALSC in 2010, following Julie Corsaro, whom I barely knew. The three-year presidency track (vice/elect, president, immediate past) loomed quite scarily ahead of me. But to my great good fortune, Julie chose mentorship as her theme (this project we’re in came originally from her), and lived out her value by mentoring me in ALSC leadership skills. She was open, frank, able to laugh about things that were exasperating, and shared information and helpful hints that only someone who has made hundreds and hundreds of committee appointments would know. Julie was also organized, poised in her presenting, and always gracious. You can bet my eyes were glued to her as she presented our part of the webcast Youth Media Awards and presided over the Newbery-Caldecott Banquet – and what a good model she was!

5.
Mary: Now back to you . . . when you signed up to join the mentorship program, what were your hopes? What benefits are you gaining from our mentoring relationship thus far?

Skye: When I signed up to join the mentorship program, my one major hope was to learn. I wanted to learn both about the things I knew I needed to learn, and about the things I didn’t even know I needed to learn. For example, I knew that I wanted to learn about how I could help strengthen the next generation of children’s librarians, in my role as co-leader of our school’s student group, “The Student Librarian’s Association for Children and Youth Services.” I also wanted to learn about things I didn’t even know I needed to learn. I wanted to identify the gaps in my knowledge of the field, and find ways to fill in those gaps.

In terms of benefits gained from the mentoring relationship thus far, I feel like I’ve learned so much already! Just by listening to how you articulate answers to different questions has taught me how to think deeply and broadly. More specifically, by going through ALSC’s core competencies you’ve helped me identify areas for growth, and connected me to resources that will foster that growth.

6.
Skye: One last question: if you could pick one character from a children’s book that was the ultimate example of a good mentee, who would you pick and why?

Mary: Here you are, really challenging me again! I pick Olivia (Olivia, by Ian Falconer). She’s a pig with creativity and aspirations. Olivia is open to outside influences, and can learn both by observing and trying, so she’s mentally flexible. Olivia knows the importance of being prepared, and she thoroughly investigates the options before making a decision – useful habits to develop. On the emotional skill level, she’s able to be firm when needed, which means that Olivia has boundaries – hugely important! Mainly, though, Olivia’s not afraid to take risks – and that kind of “let’s try it see what happens” attitude is very appealing in a mentee. Olivia reminds me a lot of you, Skye – well, except that you’re not a pig . . .

One of the benefits of technology is the ability to meet and collaborate with other library professionals from across the United States (even the world!). This fall, ALSC began its first mentoring program matching professionals interested in library service to children together to foster collaboration, communication, and education.

I was paired with JoAnna Schofield from the Akron-Summit County Public Library system.   I’m a Youth Services librarian for Broward County Library in South Florida.  JoAnna and I immediately discovered we had a few things in common.  She has three kids, and I have four.  Both of us knew what it was like to try and balance work and family.  Even more compelling, both of us have been touched by autism.  For JoAnna, it was her sister.  For me, my son. Because we both have an interest in autism, we decided to create goals for our mentorship experience that concentrated on library programs for autistic children and their families. My library in South Florida recently began planning a program for preschoolers with autism as part of a grant by Autism Speaks.  This grant by Autism Speaks is a part of their project “Making Public Libraries Accessible for Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders”.   JoAnna’s library is exploring library services to children with special needs, and they will be conducting in-service training on the topic in the spring of 2014.

After talking about potential goals, we came up with three to focus on.  Our first goal is to put together a resource list that would be beneficial for a library structuring services for children with Autism.  This resource could contain books that would be useful in a storytime as well as parental resources.  Our second goal is to create plans for social skills story times by choosing books that focused on specific life skills. For example stories could include “Going to the library and what to expect”, “How to make a friend”, “Taking turns”, etc.  Lastly, our third goal is to explore the development of a program for the siblings of children with special needs so they also can experience a positive library experience and connect with other children in similar situations. This is important since it can be very difficult to deal with the challenges of having a sibling on the autistic spectrum or other disabilities not to mention the difficulties of watching your parent(s) juggle their time between you and the various therapy visits that they need to do for their sibling.

By writing blog posts over the course of our mentorship, it is our hope to be able to dispel some of the fears and concerns that go with starting a storytime for children on the autistic spectrum.  It is normal for people who have not worked with children with disabilities to feel a little unsure or uncomfortable initially.  I’m hoping as we share this experience during the year, more may explore library programs and services for children with disabilities and their families. Please feel free to comment and share what your library is doing to reach and serve this community!

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Our guest bloggers today are Susan Ostrof and JoAnna Schofield who wrote this article together. For simplicity’s sake, they wrote the article as if it was from Susan’s perspective to avoid pronoun confusion.

Picture of “Sue and Sue” at the Field Museum in Chicago courtesy of blogger’s daughter, Caitlin Ostroff

Susan is  a Youth Services librarian for Broward County Library.   She  enjoys coming up with interesting program ideas and teaching others how to use databases. One of her goals is to develop more programs in the library for children and their families with special needs. She is married and the mom to four kids, two Labrador Retrievers and two pet Dumbo rats.  In her spare time, you will find her partaking in her photography hobby and occasionally some cake decorating.  Her photos can be seen at http://www.susanostroff.com/  Her library can be visited at http://www.broward.org/library/

Courtesy photo from guest blogger

JoAnna is a children’s librarian at the Akron-Summit County Public Library in downtown Akron, Ohio. She passionately enjoys her toddler, preschool, and school age outreach, baby time series, and school age science and technology programs. She is eagerly awaiting the start of 2014 and her new Tech Tuesdays school age programs. Along with her participation in the ALSC Mentoring Program, she has recently accepted appointment on the 2015 (Theodor Seuss) Geisel Book Award Committee. Her inspiration comes from her three beautiful children: Jackson (3), Parker (2), and Amelia Jane (8 months). She can be reached at [email protected].

Please note that as a guest post, the views expressed here do not represent the official position of ALA or ALSC.

If you’d like to write a guest post for the ALSC Blog, please contact Mary Voors, ALSC Blog manager, at [email protected].

“What I need is someone who will make me do what I can.”  – Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Would you like to finish a middle grade or YA novel, or complete four picture books by the end of next year, and start submitting to agents and editors?  What if you could be mentored by an award-winning children’s book author who would give you the structure, support and accountability to do just that?

Enter the Children’s Literature Fellows, a one-year certificate program launched last year by Stony Brook Southampton’s esteemed MFA in Creative Writing and Literature, and now accepting applications for 2014.  Admission to the program is highly selective; only twelve applicants are selected each year – and the application deadline for 2014 is December 1, so you’ll need to act fast if you’re interested.

My colleagues and I at Stony Brook Southampton developed this year-long course of instruction – accomplished mostly in distance learning format – to offer children’s book writers a more affordable and flexible option than matriculation in a two- or three-year MFA program.  Because not all writers who want to complete projects have the time or the funds to complete a full degree program, the Children’s Literature Fellows do their work within a framework tailored to their needs.  The program bears 16 graduate level credits, and is customized, affordable, comprehensive, and professionally useful.   

Fellows work independently with the gifted writers who make up Stony Brook Southampton’s outstanding faculty – including Patricia McCormick, Maryrose Wood, Jules Feiffer, Kate and Jim McMullan, Tor Seidler, Cindy Kane, Rachel Cohen, myself and others – in a highly individualized curriculum that is accomplished from home.  Twice a year, they come together as a cohort: once in July during the Summer Conference and a second time in January for a special Publishing and Editing Conference, during which they have the chance to meet with editors, agents and other members of the publishing industry.

Picture book author Julie Gribble, a 2013 Children’s Lit Fellow, says, “Being a Children’s Lit Fellow is like having a guided tour of a city you’d always wanted to explore – you learn so much more than you could traveling about on your own!”

“The Children’s Literature Fellowship is the best thing I’ve ever done for myself,” says middle grade novelist Janas Byrd.  “It is a one-on-one mentorship with awarding winning authors who are also brilliant teachers.   As a middle school teacher and mother of two, time is a hot commodity.  This fellowship allows me the flexibility to write when it is most convenient for me. I will finish and polish my novel in nine months, a feat that would not have been possible to accomplish on my own.”

For more information about the Stony Brook Southampton Children’s Literature Fellows program and the application process, go to http://childrenslitfellows.org or visit http://www.stonybrook.edu/mfa and click on Children’s Lit Fellows. 

But do it quickly! December 1 is just two weeks away!

Looking for a pre-Thanksgiving lesson to do with your students? Consider having them write gratitude poems or songs of thanks. Katherine Paterson and Pamela Dalton's new book, Giving Thanks: Poems, Prayers, and Praise Songs, can be used to inspire their writing. Leave a comment on this post if you'd like to be entered in a drawing for a copy of this book.

It is important to say the name of the author and the illustrator when you read a picture book.

“Attempt as many different things as possible, even if it’s scary. Enjoy yourself and let loose!” (Storytime Intern)

Do you wish you could offer more outreach? Oak Park Public Library trains student interns to perform dynamic, interactive storytimes on the road. They present enriching programs to children in daycares, model storytelling techniques, and introduce new books to caregivers. We hire two interns for 10 weeks each season, and they spend two intensive weeks training under the guidance of a staff outreach coordinator. The interns observe our storytellers, and we provide them with constructive feedback. Our curriculum is based upon 4 building blocks: Core Storytime Skills, Book Selection, Stretchers, and Group Management.

Recent Storytime Interns

We hire the most enthusiastic people we can from area colleges and give them the confidence to have fun and put it all out there. As experienced storytellers, we sometimes forget what it’s like to be new and we think some things are intuitive, when they’re not. We start with how to hold and pan a book for a group and move on from there. We emphasize the importance of smiling, eye contact, volume, and pacing. We teach them to observe their audience’s reactions and adapt with a flexible and positive attitude.

Silly Storytime in Action

Good books are the most important foundation of any storytime. We train the interns about the differences between a toddler book and one for older preschoolers. We encourage them to emotionally respond to a book in order to make it successful. Intern partners read aloud to each other and offer support and feedback. They feel silly at first, and we tell them that’s the point. The sillier, the louder, and the more over the top the better!

Best Tips:

• Make every book a multidimensional experience—what enrichment can you add? A puppet, a song, or dramatic play?
• Use fun stretchers for smoothing transitions, enhancing a theme, or group management.
• Voice: use projection, volume, modulation and sound effects.
• Pacing: don’t go too fast or too slowly; build up to the climax of the story.
• Look for exciting story lines and surefire fun hits. Use props!
• Kids’ behavior: lower your voice so they have to lower theirs, tell them what to expect in advance, plan transitions carefully.

You already know the things that you can train others to do—how to be flexible, how to be enthusiastic, how to promote your library, and how to get kids excited about reading. We tell our interns, “You’re nervous right now, but by the end of this internship, you’ll be able to do a storytime on the subway platform!” Having confidence from the very beginning is important—both for you as trainers and for the interns to feel like they will be successful. Lesson #1 is to dive right in and try something new, and your support and coaching will inspire your interns to achieve. Give Internology a try!

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