I attended the session “Early Learning in the Library: Tools, Partnerships, and Promising Practices” and was enthralled with the information presented by the guest speakers, who were grantees in the IMLS program. Since 2013, IMLS has funded $8.5 million in early learning projects in communities nationwide.
One of the most interes
ting? A partnership that is brewing with the national organization Reach Out and Read. Pediatricians in the Reach Out and Read network routinely distribute books to babies during well visits – but the IMLS partnership looks to have pediatricians “prescribe” a visit to the library as well, so young families are encouraged to continue to read and share books with their young ones. Click here for more information, and to view the contents of the “Prescription for Success” toolkit.
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I attended the Babies Need Words Every Day workshop this afternoon. The Babies Need Words Every Day program is designed to help parents and caregivers understand the importance of talking to their babies.
The workshop offered attendees a chance to learn more about this initiative and ways other communities are already creating partnerships with local agencies to get the word out in hopes of increasing children’s exposure to language.
Go to here for more information. There you will find downloadable posters, book list brochures, and soon a media kit.
Sing those nursery rhymes!
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There is so much going on at #alasf2015, that a couple of times I’ve had to take a break from all the noise and confusion of the conference. There just is so much happening all at once that at times it is a bit too stimulating.
The first time I took a break I sat in the lovely Yerba Buena Gardens and watched the world go by. The breeze felt great.
The second time was when I got something to eat at Whole Foods. I was checking out and made a comment about visiting from Maine and guess what? My cashier was also from Maine! Not only was she from Maine, but she grew up in the town right next to mine! When I told her where I worked she said her family uses that library all the time. How cool is that?
We chatted a bit about books and reading versus watching movies, gaming and electronic devices. It was really nice and made my experience here at #alasf2015 all the more enjoyable.
It really is a small world.
And, then I met political cartoonist and author, Derf Backderf (My Friend Dahmer) As he drew his autograph in my ARC of his newest book Trapped, we chatted about how drawing can help some people make sense of the world.
Sweet!
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I didn’t actually meet Gloria Steinmen, but I heard her speak to a packed audience this morning starting at 8:30am.
Gloria has been my hero throughout my life. I’ve admired her passion and commitment advocating for women to be seen as equal citizens and our right to control our bodies. Her message of being aware and opening your mind to seeing things with a different perspective was a reason I became a children’s librarian.
Gloria said many amazing things as she spoke, but I found it admirable when she would admit that there were moments in her life when she connected the dots. Though she may have been talking about equality of the sexes, not realizing a female rock band could elicit as much screaming from fans as their male counterparts until she witnessed the explosion of emotions while at a Heart concert.
That realizing your state legislators were more important than those in Washington, D.C.
Her wisdom, candor, and wit has left me feeling as if I am riding on a cloud.
I only wish I had asked her these two questions.
If being an activist means you must be angry enough (and passionate) about something, and believe in every fiber of your being that fighting for it is the single most important focus of your life, how do you find the balance between anger and happiness?
Did you ever worry that you would be content with just okay?
Gloria closed with a recommendation for a library sign: No talking. Only laughter.
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