Many libraries like to include high quality films in children’s programs. But of course, we need a public performance license to do this and it can be hard to find good films that we want to use. I’ve worked with KIDS FIRST! , a non-profit organization, for a couple of years and once again they are offering a great deal (free) for public libraries. The performance license is included with the DVD so it’s all legal. At the end of the program your library can even keep most of the films for the collection (although the public performance license expires).
KIDS FIRST! is offering a FREE screening program for libraries. The program runs from November 15 -January 15, 2008. The program includes fun selection of titles from studios, including Arthur and the Invisibles, Deck the Halls, Toddworld: Appreciating Differences, Goosebumps, Land Before Time: The Wisdom of Friends, and so many more. There are a limited number of each program, so the quantity that each library receives depends on then total number of libraries requesting titles, however you will receive at least 5 titles if you are among the first 50 libraries to submit an application.
Public performance rights for these titles are available through January 15th at no additional cost, so the library could host a Winter Film Festival or sponsor after school screenings or create a Junior Film Critics Club. If a libray would like to host a Film Festival, please call KIDS FIRST! to arrange programming.
Here is a quick overview of the program.
Is there any cost to the program? None.
How many titles will I receive? We guarantee 5 titles to the first 50 libraries applying for the program.
When will I receive the titles? Within 10 days of application.
How do I get the application. Just email or call Ann Church at KIDS FIRST! [email protected] or 505-989-8076.
Do I get to pick my titles? No, titles will be pre-selected, however, most will be from major studios.
To see a listing of screenings go to http://www.kidsfirst.org/fest/
Do I return these titles? Some titles must be returned and will be clearly marked. Titles must be returned by January 31, 2008.
Do I have public performance rights for these titles? Yes, for the period of November 15 - January 15th, 2008.
Can my library put these titles into circulation? We hope you will!
When and what paper work is required? Complete a survey for each title. The survey will be emailed to you and can be returned via email.
Can I get more information? Please call Ann Church at 505-989-8076 or email [email protected]
submitted by Jan Watkins, ALSC Priority Group VII Consultant
The main mission of the Priority Group VII (Partnerships) committees is to communicate with other organizations that serve young people in order to encourage partnerships. We are charged to identify, evaluate and recommend ways of working with other organizations and groups that have children as their focus on a local, state, and national level.
There are three committees, one discussion group, and one task force in this ALSC priority group.
AASL/ALSC/YALSA Interdivisional Committee on School and Public Library Cooperation is a newly formalized collaboration. The chair of this committee will rotate among three divisions of the American Library Association: the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), ALSC, and Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). The 12 members of this committee will be appointed, four by each division’s President-Elect. This group of professionals will identify, develop, promote, and disseminate information on effective projects that link schools and public libraries.
Liaison with National Organizations Serving Children and Youth Committee works on developing a relationship and possible partnership with other organizations that serve children or work for their benefit. The members promote libraries and reading to these organizations and promote awareness of these organizations and their services, activities, and materials to ALSC members.
Quicklists Consulting Committee functions ELECTRONICALLY. Chairs, however, are expected to attend conferences. It promotes books and other resources through compiled lists of recommended titles, and related services for mass media, individuals, and organizations that are involved in producing programs, films, or other materials and services for children. Requests are made through the ALSC Office.
Public Library School Partnership Discussion Group provides a forum for the discussion of cooperation between school and public libraries for projects and services to students.
Every Child Ready to Read (ECRR) Task Force is a joint task force between ALSC and the Public Library Association (PLA) that is charged to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the Every Child Ready to Read project.
Collaboration is one of the main goals of the ALSC Strategic Plan. The plan states, “ALSC will work collaboratively within ALA, the profession, and the wider community to ensure excellent library service for all children.” The important work of Priority Group VII’s committees helps ALSC reach its goals.
How will you be celebrating Children’s Book Week this year?
The Children’s Book Council (CBC) is the nonprofit trade association of publishers and packagers of trade books and related materials for young people, and an official sponsor of Children’s Book Week, a celebration to encourage readers of all ages to “discover the complexity of the world beyond their own experience through books.”
Children’s Book Week has an interesting history. This year it will be November 12-18. Beginning next year, the celebration moves to May.
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
–Margaret Mead
This summer when the ALA Annual Conference was held in Washington DC, I paid a visit to the FAS (Federation of American Scientists) on K Street. As the Chair of the newly revamped Great Interactive Software for Kids Committee, I wanted to make sure that our committee had a solid foundation other than playing games for fun. And although we have expanded our criteria to include the evaluation of console games and other digital forms, in addition to pc cd-roms, I wanted a deeper philosophical backbone to our committee. So I turned to the scientists for help and decided to pay them a visit since our conference was in their neck of the woods.
I didn’t really know what to expect as I walked into the gray building, heavily guarded by security guards. Michelle Roper, the Director of FAS Learning Technologies had said that the emergency drills after 9/11 had been frequent, although not so often now. I don’t think I could ever imagine what it must have been like in DC on September 11th, 2001 when one of the planes crashed into the Pentagon.
FAS was located in one of the top floors with an intercom to let visitors in. When the receptionist let me in the door, I found a starch-white office complex with multiple cubicles surrounded by pristine walls. There was little sunlight and the air was thick with concentration and severity. As a children’s librarian doing story times in lively colorful areas, I felt completely out of context. I was temporarily relieved when I spotted an adjacent room filled with books on a bookshelf.
When Amy Nicholson, the Program Coordinator for FAS Learning Technologies greeted me, I was surprised to find she was an attractive, energetic woman with a way-cool demeanor. We instantly got along as we talked about playing games like World of Warcraft, Asheron’s Call and Guitar Hero II. I admit that I had a stereotypical image of what the scientists might be like after reading their profile on the webpage (since they described themselves as the predecessors of the atomic scientists having worked on the Manhattan Project). My expectation was to meet people like my undergraduate Chemistry Professor–eccentric, introverted with coke-bottle glasses, pocket protector and gingivitis. Instead, Sachin Patil and Adam Burrowbridge, the Research Associates, looked like they could have walked off the cover of GQ Magazine. And although I had never met Michelle Roper, I’m positive that she is just as lovely in person as she is over the phone. In fact, I was embarassed that I was the one with the glasses, a geeky personality and loud laugh. Had they decided that I was just a children’s librarian that had nothing to do with their research world, they wouldn’t have given the time or day. Instead, they were delightful, and patient, helping me understand, in layman terms, different aspects of their project.
Sachin flew around on Second Life, Discover Babylon, showing me how he was reconstructing the city of Uruk (ancient Iraq) from blueprints. I had to tell myself to overlook the cosmetic interface and forget that he was flying around in a cartoon body. I found it challenging not to be overly-conscious and move past it, even though I had been in a multi-user virtual environment before 7 years ago when I played Asheron’s Call. Second Life is not a game but the Internet in a different skin. Amy described it very clearly to me that it was a wikipedia of MMOs (Massive Multiplayer Online) worlds. Once I suspended my disbelief, something amazing happened. I saw the beauty of the technology–that it rolled everything into one–IMing, emailing, podcasting, videostreaming, weblinking (Web 2.0 features) into one. I finally understood what all the rage was about! It was truly the internet in its next evolutionary stage. And a great platform to ally ourselves with other open-minded, public-serving organizations.
At the end of my visit, toting my dictionary of computer terms, and enlightened by my new-found friends, I left the building with renewed hope for my committee. The scientists sensed my desperation to help them and invited my committee to become part of their focus group. And I became an FAS groupie that day, fueled by their desire to bring learning to the world and their mission for public good. Thank you FAS. You rock!
For more information about the FAS and its Learning Technologies Initiatives, visit http://www.fas.org
