I’m excited to share some of my adventures from Midwinter a couple of weeks ago and update you on the ALSC Board’s work together in Boston.

Kicking things off on Thursday, I attended an Information Policy Workshop with our veep, Betsy Orsburn, and our Executive Director, Aimee Strittmatter. As one of the key elements of ALA’s Strategic Directions, learning more about this important area was very insightful and you can learn more about the day here.

Friday began with the happy task of welcoming attendees to the 2016 Bill Morris Seminar: Book Evaluation Training, which is held every other year thanks to the generosity of the William C. Morris Endowment. The Morris Seminar provides mentoring in children’s media evaluation techniques, and I couldn’t be more grateful to this year’s spectacular co-chairs Deborah Taylor and Sylvia Vardell and to all of those who shared their experiences and wisdom with attendees, one of whom, Lisa Nowlain, shared her visual impressions in an earlier blog post.

 

 

That afternoon I took the opportunity to visit some libraries in the area which I’d never been to before as part of my #ALSCtour. I really appreciate the expertise of my excellent tour guide, Ashley Waring from the Reading Public Library, as we visited the East Boston branch of Boston Public Library and the Watertown Free Public Library.

 

 

 

 

Of course a major highlight was the Youth Media Awards, and I can assure you that it’s as fun to reveal the winners to the world as I always imagined it would be when I would practice in front of my mirror! And now that we all know which books and media were honored and you’re busy celebrating them with your kids, we look forward to also celebrating their creators and selection committees at Annual in Orlando in less than 5 months.

The ALSC Board held two meetings during Midwinter (#ALSCboard).

We discussed Summer Reading & Learning as a strategic mega-issue for our association, and are looking at how ALSC can help members even more with our important summer work. We established a task force to continue this exploration and I’m delighted that Board member Christine Caputo will lead this eager group’s work as chair. Our next Community Forum, to be held later this month, will an important opportunity to hear your thoughts on this issue.

We talked about how ALSC can more thoroughly integrate the concepts of Día into all of our work throughout the year, rather than limiting its focus to one specific day, and heard from Past President KT Horning about her request to enact a statute of limitations on the confidentiality of ALSC award committees. (A Board subcommittee will explore this further over the next couple of months.) We signed on to collaborate with the Black Caucus of ALA for their new and forthcoming Walter Dean Myers Annual Memorial Lecture and began discussions (continued here) on how ALSC can support REFORMA‘s Children in Crisis project, a true example of how library services can create better futures for kids.

We got a chance to meet our Emerging Leaders, heard from the Media Mentorship Award Task Force on their proposal for recognizing those using digital media with kids in innovative ways, and also looked closely again at the current landscape for app evaluation and recognition. I believe we are moving the needle forward in these areas–please stay tuned!

Our budget is healthy, with strong award seal sales and a greater attention to policing unauthorized use of our seals on editions of award winning titles published abroad; and the work of the Diversity Within ALSC Task Force continues. Finally, in the future, all of this work will happen using Roberts Rules of Order if an item to be placed on the spring ballot to bring ALSC’s parliamentary procedure bylaw into accordance with ALA’s is approved by members.

If you have any thoughts and/or questions on any of the above, please feel free to e-mail me at [email protected], and tweets from the meeting can be founding using #alscboard.

And I would like to give a special congratulatory shout-out to our fantastic Executive Director, Aimee Strittmatter, on achieving the extremely prestigious designation of Certified Association Executive. Aimee is the first ALSC Executive Director to earn this highest ranking for association professionals and we couldn’t be prouder of her and more grateful for all she does. (Her Twitter handle isn’t @LibraryCrusader for nothing!)

 

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Hi everyone. I am a school librarian from Britain who visited the #ALAMW16 as a first -timer this month. I found the conference enlightening and inspiring. Here is my overview of the weekend (without the tint of jetlag).

Why did I take part in ALA Midwinter?

In the first instance, because an American librarian suggested it. I thought it would be exciting to see what is happening in the US in libraries, and try to get lots of good ideas to bring back to the UK.

What were the highlights?

The Youth Media Awards! It was my 35th birthday and we got up so early, to get in the queue. It was worth it for a 5th row seat, and I met some lovely librarians in the queue too! It was wonderful to be part of something with such a buzz. I loved how all the committee members were honoured, and how everyone kept to time. Everyone in my row had their phones out eagerly announcing each award to the world as it came on the screen. I want to read all the winners and introduce such wonderful books to my students.

See all the winners here: http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2016/01/american-library-association-announces-2016-youth-media-award-winners.

The friendly and open nature of librarians and bloggers who I met over the weekend – in coffee queues, on an escalator, just wandering around, or on the exhibition stands. It was so nice to chat and share ideas!

Which seminars did you take part in?

I’d like to mention 2 of the seminars which I attended, which were fantastic not only for the speakers and their material, but for the contribution of the attendees too.

Teens’ Social Media Attitudes and Behaviors: what the research means for library services.

Denise Agosto talking about social media. I made so many notes and have so many ideas thanks to her clear explanation & thorough understanding of her research, and her excellent facilitation of discussion between all of us who attended. There are tons of ideas I can implement in the short term – and some long-term thinking about social media and mobile device policy.

Foundations of Young Adult Success: A developmental framework

A fascinating insight into new research from the youth development world about cognitive development and how we should keep valuing the contribution of libraries to developing soft skills, values, mindsets and outlooks. The notes from this session are something which will be up on my wall to ponder over for a good while!

What did I take away to work on in the future?

A whole suitcase of ARCs to read and to give to my students!

Social media, digital citizenship, design thinking, participatory learning, reflection & fun are all my keywords for 2016! I also have some articles on autism and libraries which I need to read emailed by someone I met at the conference. It’s amazing what a lunch conversation can lead to.

What do you wish had been better?

Sadly, I thought my highlight would be Nancy Pearl interviewing author Andrew Dubus III. You don’t get many ‘famous’ librarians but Nancy Pearl is someone I was very excited to see in real life, having her action figure proudly displayed on my library desk. Pupils always ask ‘who is this’? I was sorry that she couldn’t be there – but when I left I went to a great seminar instead, so it all worked out.

One of my targets for the weekend was to find other librarians who are familiar with the Accelerated Reader software, which my school uses. I really wanted to discuss the use of this with other professionals (as it’s an American product) – but I didn’t find anyone. Do you use it or have previously used it? I would love to connect with you – please get in touch!

I am also setting up an international bookgroup with one of the lovely librarians who emailed me following our business card swap, & shared ideas about an international book award with another. But – I gave my card to a lot of people! It would be great if others could get in touch & we can discuss how our schools could work together in the future.

What did I feel were the similarities & differences between our countries?

I now have twitter and facebook connections with librarians, bloggers & even Lyft drivers who I met over the weekend – that would not quite happen on the same scale in the UK, although I admit my accent is a novelty.

The little things that annoy school & children’s librarians in both countries are the same, no matter where or for whom you work. We would all like more autonomy, recognition, budget & time.

America appreciates its school librarians more in terms of professionality than in the UK. I think it helps that in the US there are standard qualifications for positions, whereas in the UK it is very much down to an individual school as to they standard of ‘librarian’ they employ and what they expect their job role to be. For instance, I have a Masters in Library & Information Studies, and over 10 years working in libraries – but I could go for a job at a school in the UK and be up against someone in interview who ‘likes books’. Each school also varies in whether they expect you to have teaching experience or not. It is also not statutory for UK schools to have a library or a librarian.

What would I say is important about the ALA for British librarians?

I think that librarians of any sector should seriously think about attending the ALA at least once for their own CPD. It has been so important for me to connect with other professionals on a massive scale. I believe around 10,000 librarians attended the ALA and we just don’t have those numbers. I luckily work with another librarian at my school, but so many UK librarians work solo and it can be isolating. I have come away feeling invigorated and enthusiastic about my role and passionate to share the best practice that I’ve come across. I really hope that wherever I work in my career, that I can attend the ALA conferences every few years to keep me going!

I would love to see a British delegation visit the ALA, a cohort of authors and librarians, to share goodwill & good practice. Anyone want to join me?

 

[email protected]

http://heartlands.haringey.sch.uk/

@HelenSwinyard @LibraryHHS

https://heartlandshighschoolharingeylibrary.wordpress.com/

http://helenreads.wordpress.com

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Don’t you just love all of the conference liveblogging that happens here on the ALSC Blog? We at the Public Awareness Committee certainly do–it’s a great way to keep in the loop if you can’t be at a conference, or even if you’re attending but have to be choosey about where you spend your time. There are always so many interesting and important things happening at conferences, it can be hard to keep up with everything. So, to help everyone continue to be as informed as possible, here are…

5 Things You May Have Missed from #alamw16

1. ALSC is working with First Book for a Día initiative, and First Book is offering ways to make sure libraries with an e-rate of 90% and/or serving communities with 70%+ students eligible for free/reduced lunch have access to low cost or free books. That’s excellent, multicultural books in the library and in the hands of the children you serve. Find out more information here.

2. The toolkit for Library Services to Special Population Children and their Caregivers made its official debut. Does your library serve any of the following?: homeschoolers, LGBTQ families, children on the autism spectrum, children with incarcerated parents, Spanish-speaking families, children with print disabilities, and/or teens with children? My guess is that 100% of libraries are situated in communities with these populations, and that most of us could use some tips and refreshers on providing them with the best possible service. Take a look at the super resourceful toolkit here.

3. A four-part webinar series on Managing Children’s Services starts Tuesday, January 19. All of the webinars are free to register, and they’ll cover topics like communication; scheduling and time management; finances and budgeting; and supervising. Whether you’re currently a manager, have that goal for your career, or simply want to see things from a supervisor’s perspective, you’ll want to participate. More information and links to register here.

4. REFORMA, as part of their Children in Crisis project, has created a bilingual flier to invite Spanish-speaking immigrants and refugees to the library. You should be aware of these fliers, in particular if you’re in a library in the American southwest where the bulk of this population influx is located. Check out the flier here.

5. The 2016 Youth Media Awards marked the first time EVER that the Stonewall Book Awards recognized BOTH children’s and young adult winners. This news is big, folks, because the appearance of two awards is a direct result of the fact that more excellent literature capturing the GLBT experience is being published than ever before. That’s a huge win for everyone. Check out the winners and honors of the Stonewall Book Award, as well as all the other Youth Media Awards winners, here.

What are some things that you learned or encountered at Midwinter 2016 that you think others should know about? Please chime in below in the comments so we can all stay as informed as possible.

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Amy Koester is Youth & Family Program Coordinator at Skokie (IL) Public Library and is writing this post for the Public Awareness Committee, of which she is chair. You can reach her at [email protected].

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It began immediately after the Youth Media Awards were announced on Monday. Quiet whispers to friends and colleagues: “I was surprised by this committee’s choice” and “Why wasn’t this title selected?” and “How could that title have won?” and “My pick didn’t win and it should have!”

While I’ve often heard this kind of discussion after the announcement, I haven’t always had the words to articulate a response. But this year’s announcements for me were colored by a very new and different experience — on Friday, I had the great privilege of attending ALSC’s 2016 Morris Seminar. Here are some of the things I learned:

• Every book has faults. It’s about what book rises to the top of the pile.
• Only discuss the books on the table. You can’t talk about books from previous years.
• When you read independently, you read in a vacuum. The committee as a whole is stronger together.
• While at a group discussion, it is possible to change your mind several times in the span of a few minutes.
• No one is as widely read as the committee and no one has re-read as often as the committee.
• The committee must come to a consensus. Even committee members may not see their favorite awarded.

So, where does that leave you with your commentary? With your thoughts? With the books that you wanted to win?

Just because your favorite book didn’t win a shiny sticker doesn’t mean its days are over. Maybe that book won a different award — an invisible award — one that only you can award.

Instead of worrying about how the committee didn’t honor your choice, you honor it. You champion it. You make sure that it gets in the hands of your patrons or students and your readers. Choose it for storytime. Create a display around it. Suggest it to be the next book club book in your library or your friends group or your town. Put it on a booklist. Nominate it for your state’s reader award if you have one.

Making your difference of thoughts from the committee’s known may make you feel better, but it can take away the committee’s hard work and joy. And it doesn’t help your choice.

Take the time to make a positive contribution. Take the time to award your own choice. Award it your heart and your time and your energy. Make it the winner of your own awards.

So, what books are you going to champion? Who won your heart this year and how are you going to promote it? Let me know in the comments!

– Katie Salo
Early Literacy Librarian
Indian Prairie Public Library
http://storytimekatie.com

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This weekend I had the most incredible book discussion experience of my life. No joke. I had the joy of meeting with 9 wonderful and incredibly smart people to decide on the best LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning) books for kids and teens that were published between July 2014 and December 2015. You can find the entire list on the Rainbow List site; I am going to highlight the top books for kids through grades 6 here. The final list includes over 40 titles and of these we selected a top 10. Top ten titles are indicated with an *.

I know that book budgets are not limitless, so if you can’t buy all of these titles for your collection, a good place to start is with anything on the top 10 list: Gracefully Grayson, The Marvels (who are we kidding, you already have this book!), and Sex is a Funny Word.
While no picture books made the top ten list, that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth having. They would all make excellent additions to a library collection, but if you can only buy three start with: Red: A Crayon’s Story, Stella Brings the Family and Heather Has Two Mommies.

Picture Books

Hall, Michael. Red: A Crayon’s Story. 2015. 40p. Greenwillow, $18.89 (9780062252098). 3-7 yrs.

The label read, “Red.” However, all of Red’s strawberries and hearts come out blue. Friends and family try to fix Red until new buddy Berry helps this crayon discover his true color.

Newman, Lesléa. Heather Has Two Mommies. Written by Lesléa Newman, illus. by Laura Cornell. 2015. 32p. Candlewick, $16.99 (9780763666316). 3-7 yrs.

Heather’s favorite number is two: she has two arms, two legs, two pets, and two mommies. When Heather goes to preschool, she learns that not all families look alike, but that they all have one thing in common—love. New text and illustrations make this classic accessible to a modern audience.

Rotner, Shelly, and Sheila M. Kelly. Families. 2015. 32p. Holiday House, $17.95 (9780823430536). 3-7 yrs.

A beautiful diversity of family life is depicted through simple text and photographs.

Schiffer, Miriam B. Stella Brings the Family. Written by Miriam Schiffer; illus. by Holly Clifton-Brown. 2015. 36p. Chronicle, $16.99 (9781452111902). 3-7 yrs.

It’s Mother’s Day, and everyone is making invitations for their mothers to come to the school celebration. But Stella has two dads and no mom to invite…What should she do?

Tyner, Christy. Zak’s Safari. Written by Christy Tyner; illus. by Ciaee. 2014. 38p. CreateSpace, $15.00 (9781502325464). 3-7 yrs.

When young Zak’s outdoor “safari” gets cancelled because of the rain, he leads his readers (and his stuffed animal tourists) on an adventure through the story of his family. Zak introduces his two mothers and how they became a family of three with the help of a donor from a sperm bank.

Juvenile Fiction

Gino, Alex. George. 2015. 195p. Scholastic, $16.99 (9780545812542). Gr 3-7.

Stonewall Book Awards–Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s Award Book. When people look at George, they see a boy. But she knows she’s a girl. With the help of her best friend, George comes up with a plan, not just so she can be Charlotte in her school play but so everyone can know who she is, once and for all.

*Polonsky, Ami. Gracefully Grayson. 2014. 243p. Hyperion, $16.99 (9781423185277). Gr. 4-7.

Twelve-year-old Grayson, through a school play, finds the courage to reveal a deep truth: in spite of being seen as a boy, she knows for a fact that she’s a girl.  

*Selznick, Brian. The Marvels. 2015. 667p. Scholastic, $32.99 (9780545448680). Gr. 5-8.

In black-and-white pencil illustrations, Selznick depicts three generations of actors descending from the sole survivor of a legendary shipwreck. As that story closes, another unfolds in prose as young Joseph discovers his connection to the actors and his family history, and he embraces his uncle’s life story as it affects and changes his own.

Juvenile Nonfiction

Pohlen, Jerome. Gay & Lesbian History for Kids: The Century-Long Struggle for LGBT Rights, with 21 Activities. 2015. 192p. Chicago Review, $17.95 (9781613730829). Gr. 4-9.

From ancient China to the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision on marriage equality, this narrative history reference gives context to the challenges and achievements of both queer individuals and the broader quest for civil rights.

*Silverberg, Cory. Sex is a Funny Word: A Book about Bodies, Feelings, and YOU. Written by Cory Silverberg; illus. by Fiona Smyth. 2015. 159p. Seven Stories, $23.95 (9781609806064). Gr. 3-6.

For children with questions about bodies, gender, touch, sex, and love, this all-inclusive book guides the conversation between children and trusted adults in an accessible graphic format. Gentle, intelligent humor brings home the message of respect, trust, joy, and justice for everyone’s body. Stonewall Book Awards–Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Award Honor Book.

The Rainbow Booklist Committee had so many wonderful books to choose from this year! If you collect for teens or if you are just looking for something good to read, do check out the rest of the list here. I have already started reading for next year and let me tell you, there are some GREAT books on deck. John Corey Whaley’s Highly Illogical Behavior (May 2016) is so splendid, it is ridiculous. If you read a book for kids or teens published between July 2015 and December 2016 that you think the Rainbow Booklist Committee should consider for next year’s list, please send in a suggestion. We would love to hear from you. Happy reading!!

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I had a mind-blowing time at the Bill Morris Seminar  in Boston. The gist of it is: you take a room, fill it with librarians from all over the country at varying times in their librarian and ALSC careers, and then have incredible people lecture them on book evaluation and put them into discussion groups to apply what they’ve learned. Here is my illustrated wrap-up of the day, with wise words from KT Horning (sometimes reading the words of out-sick Martha Parravano), Thom Barthelmess, Mary Burkey, Kevin Delecki, Randy Enos, Junko Yokoto, and other participants.

All original artwork copyright 2016, Lisa Nowlain

Lisa Nowlain is the Harold W. McGraw Jr. Fellow and Children’s Librarian at Darien Library in Darien, CT (you can be the next one! Apply by April 1 at www.darienlibrary.org/mcgrawfellowship) She is also an artist-type (see more at www.lisanowlain.com).

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I’m all packed and ready to catch a plane back home, tired but re-energized & excited to begin to utilize some of the resources and information I’ve learned while at ALA Midwinter in Boston.

Reflecting on the highlights of the conference, I think of:

• The information I learned at the ALSC Collection Management Discussion Group session and the decision to create a Facebook page for the group; this will surely be a good place for ongoing discussions.

• The announcement of Pat Scales as the 2016 recipient of ALSC’s Distinguished Service Award. A former middle school and high school librarian and a passionate advocate for children’s intellectual freedom, it was exciting to see her receive this well-deserved award.

• Sitting in on book discussions

• Visiting the exhibits and talking with vendors

• The number of ARCs in my suitcase which I will bring back to my library to offer to excited young readers and to start work on our 2017 Mock Election programs

• Learning new ideas about creative programming in libraries

• Networking

• Participating in ALSC Board meetings and working to move the division forward

• Meeting authors & illustrators and hearing them speak about their work

• The excitement of being among the hundreds and hundreds of people at the YMA Press Conference as the 2016 Awards were announced.

• Seeing old friends and colleagues; meeting new friends

• Learning more about the importance and usefulness of ALSC’s newly revised Competencies for Librarians Serving Children in Public Libraries.

So much to process!

Thanks, Boston! It’s been a great conference.

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#alaYMA @ #ALAmw16

It is always a highlight of my midwinter ALA journey to attend the Youth Media Awards Press Conference, and this year was no exception.

The excitement was palpable in the Boston Convention Center ballroom as hundreds of librarians and other children’s literature aficionados excitedly heard the announcements of the Youth Media Awards. As the winners were announced, they were greeted with (sometimes raucous) applause, hoots of delight, and gasps of surprise.

Tremendous thanks go to all the committee members who worked and read so diligently throughout 2015 to bring us this stellar collection of winners!

Here is a complete list of the winners announced this morning:

John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature:

“Last Stop on Market Street,” written by Matt de la Peña, is the 2016 Newbery Medal winner. The book is illustrated by Christian Robinson and published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC.

Three Newbery Honor Books also were named: “The War that Saved My Life,” written by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley and published by Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC; “Roller Girl,” written and illustrated by Victoria Jamieson and published by Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC; and “Echo,” written by Pam Muñoz Ryan and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.

Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children:

“Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear,” illustrated by Sophie Blackall, is the 2016 Caldecott Medal winner. The book was written by Lindsay Mattick and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

Four Caldecott Honor Books also were named: “Trombone Shorty,” illustrated by Bryan Collier, written by Troy Andrews and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS; “Waiting,” illustrated and written by Kevin Henkes, published by Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; “Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement,” illustrated by Ekua Holmes, written by Carole Boston Weatherford and published by Candlewick Press; and “Last Stop on Market Street,” illustrated by Christian Robinson, written by Matt de le Peña and published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC.

Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award, recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults:

“Gone Crazy in Alabama,” written by Rita Williams-Garcia, is the King Author Book winner. The book is published by Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Three King Author Honor Books were selected: “All American Boys,” by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division; “The Boy in the Black Suit,” by Jason Reynolds and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division, and “X: A Novel,” by Ilyasah Shabazz with Kekla Magoon and published by Candlewick Press.

Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award:

“Trombone Shorty,” illustrated by Bryan Collier, is the King Illustrator Book winner. The book was written by Troy Andrews and Bill Taylor and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS.

Two King Illustrator Honor Books were selected: “The Book Itch: Freedom, Truth & Harlem’s Greatest Bookstore,” illustrated by R. Gregory Christie, written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson and published by Carolrhoda Books, a division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc. and “Last Stop on Market Street,” illustrated by Christian Robinson, written by Matt de la Peña and published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons, an imprint of Penguin Group USA.

Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award:

“Hoodoo,” written by Ronald L. Smith, is the Steptoe author award winner. The book is published by Clarion Books, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Illustrator Award:

“Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement,” illustrated by Ekua Holmes, is the Steptoe illustrator award winner. The book is written by Carole Boston Weatherford and published by Candlewick Press.

Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement:

Jerry Pinkney is the winner of the Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. The award pays tribute to the quality and magnitude of beloved children’s author Virginia Hamilton.

Jerry Pinkney’s illustrations detail a world that resonates with readers long after the pages of a book have been turned. His five decades of work offer compelling artistic insights into the legacy of African American storytelling and experience. Beyond Pinkney’s technical brilliance, his support of differentiated learning through art and of young illustrators sets him apart as both artist and educator. His powerful illustrations have redefined the scope of the sophisticated picture book and its use with multiple levels of learners.

Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults:

“Bone Gap,” written by Laura Ruby, is the 2016 Printz Award winner. The book is published by Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Two Printz Honor Books also were named: “Out of Darkness,” by Ashley Hope Pérez and published by Carolrhoda Lab™, an imprint of Carolrhoda Books, a division of Lerner Publishing Group, and “The Ghosts of Heaven,” by Marcus Sedgwick and published by Roaring Brook Press, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group.

Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience:

“Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah,” written by Laurie Ann Thompson, illustrated by Sean Qualls and published by Schwartz & Wade Books, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House LLC, a Penguin Random House Company, New York, wins the award for children ages 0 to 10.

“Fish in a Tree,” written by Lynda Mullaly Hunt and published by Penguin Group, Nancy Paulsen Books, and “The War that Saved My Life,” by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley and published by Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, are the winners of the middle-school (ages 11-13).

The teen (ages 13-18) award winner is “The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B,” written by Teresa Toten and published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House LLC, a Penguin Random House Company, New York.

Alex Awards for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences:

“All Involved,” by Ryan Gattis, published by Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

“Between the World and Me,” by Ta-Nehisi Coates, published by Spiegel & Grau, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.

“Bones & All,” by Camille DeAngelis, published by St. Martin’s Press.

“Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits,” by David Wong, published by Thomas Dunne Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Press.

“Girl at War,” by Sara Novic, published by Random House, an imprint and division of Penguin Random House LLC.

“Half the World,” by Joe Abercrombie, published by Del Rey, an imprint of Random House, a division of Random House LLC, a Penguin Random House Company.

“Humans of New York: Stories,” by Brandon Stanton, published by St. Martin’s Press.

“Sacred Heart,” by Liz Suburbia, published by Fantagraphics Books Inc.

“Undocumented: A Dominican Boy’s Odyssey from a Homeless Shelter to the Ivy League,” by Dan-el Padilla Peralta, published by Penguin Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.

“The Unraveling of Mercy Louis,” by Keija Parssinen, published by Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

Andrew Carnegie Medal for excellence in children’s video:

Weston Woods Studios, Inc., producer of “That Is NOT a Good Idea,” is the Carnegie Medal winner. In an innovative adaptation of this read-aloud favorite, Goose accepts an invitation to accompany Fox on a simple stroll – or is it? Watch along with a comical chorus of goslings as they react to this cautionary tale.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Award honors an author or illustrator whose books, published in the United States, have made, over a period of years, a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children.

The 2016 winner is Jerry Pinkney, whose award-winning works include “The Lion and the Mouse,” recipient of the Caldecott Award in 2010. In addition, Pinkney has received five Caldecott Honor Awards, five Coretta Scott King Illustrator Awards, and four Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honors.     

Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults:

David Levithan is the 2016 Edwards Award winner. His books include: “The Realm of Possibility,” “Boy Meets Boy,” “Love is the Higher Law,” “How They Met, and Other Stories,” “Wide Awake” and “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist,” all published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC.

May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture Award recognizing an author, critic, librarian, historian or teacher of children’s literature, who then presents a lecture at a winning host site.

Jacqueline Woodson will deliver the 2017 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture. Woodson is the 2014 National Book Award winner for her New York Times bestselling memoir, “Brown Girl Dreaming.” The author of more than two dozen books for young readers, she is a four-time Newbery Honor winner, a recipient of the NAACP Image Award, a two-time Coretta Scott King Award winner and was recently named the Young People’s Poet Laureate by the Poetry Foundation.

Mildred L. Batchelder Award for an outstanding children’s book translated from a foreign language and subsequently published in the United States:

“The Wonderful Fluffy Little Squishy” is the 2016 Batchelder Award winner. Originally published in French in 2014 as “Le merveilleux Dodu-Velu-Petit,” the book was written and illustrated by Beatrice Alemagna, translated by Claudia Zoe Bedrick and published by Enchanted Lion Books.

Three Batchelder Honor Books also were selected: “Adam and Thomas,” published by Seven Stories Press, written by Aharon Appelfeld, iIllustrated by Philippe Dumas and translated from the Hebrew by Jeffrey M. Green; “Grandma Lives in a Perfume Village,” published by NorthSouth Books, an imprint of Nordsüd Verlag AG, written by Fang Suzhen, illustrated by Sonja Danowski and translated from the Chinese by Huang Xiumin; and “Written and Drawn by Henrietta,” published by TOON Books, an imprint of RAW Junior, LLC and written, illustrated and translated from the Spanish by Liniers.

Odyssey Award for best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States:

“The War that Saved My Life,” produced by Listening Library, an imprint of the Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group, is the 2016 Odyssey Award winner. The book is written by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley and narrated by Jayne Entwistle.

One Odyssey Honor Recording also was selected: “Echo,” produced by Scholastic Audio/Paul R. Gagne, written by Pam Muñoz Ryan and narrated by Mark Bramhall, David de Vries, MacLeod Andrews and Rebecca Soler.

Pura Belpré (Illustrator) Award honoring a Latino writer and illustrator whose children’s books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience:

“The Drum Dream Girl,” illustrated by Rafael López, is the Belpré Illustrator Award winner.  The book was written by Margarita Engle and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Three Belpré Illustrator Honor Books for illustration were selected: “My Tata’s Remedies = Los remedios de mi tata,” illustrated by Antonio Castro L., written by Roni Capin Rivera-Ashford and published by Cinco Puntos Press; “Mango, Abuela, and Me,” illustrated by Angela Dominguez, written by Meg Medina and published by Candlewick Press: and “Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras,” illustrated and written by Duncan Tonatiuh and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS.

Pura Belpré (Author) Award:

“Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings: A Memoir,” written by Margarita Engle, is the Belpré Author Award winner. The book is published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division.

Two Belpré Author Honor Books were named: “The Smoking Mirror,” written by David Bowles and published by IFWG Publishing, Inc.; and “Mango, Abuela, and Me,” written by Meg Medina, illustrated by Angela Dominguez and published by Candlewick Press.

Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for most distinguished informational book for children:

“Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras,” written and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh, is the Sibert Award winner. The book is published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS.

Four  Sibert Honor Books were named: “Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans,” written and illustrated by Don Brown and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; “The Boys Who Challenged Hitler: Knud Pedersen and the Churchill Club,” by Phillip Hoose and published by Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers; “Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom: My Story of the 1965 Selma Voting Rights March,” written by Lynda Blackmon Lowery as told to Elspeth Leacock and Susan Buckley, illustrated by PJ Loughran and published by Dial Books, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC; and “Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement,” written by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Ekua Holmes and published by Candlewick Press.

Stonewall Book Award – Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award given annually to English-language children’s and young adult books of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience:

“George,” written by Alex Gino and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., and “The Porcupine of Truth,” written by Bill Konigsberg and published by Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., are the winners of the 2016 Stonewall Children’s and Young Adult Literature Awards respectively.

Two honor books were selected: “Wonders of the Invisible World,” written by Christopher Barzak and published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC; and “Sex is a Funny Word: A Book about Bodies, Feelings, and YOU,” written by Cory Silverberg and Fiona Smyth, illustrated by Fiona Smyth and published by Seven Stories Press.

Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished beginning reader book:

“Don’t Throw It to Mo!,” written by David A. Adler and illustrated by Sam Ricks is the Seuss Award winner. The book is published by Penguin Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA), LLC.

Three Geisel Honor Books were named: “A Pig, a Fox, and a Box,” written and illustrated by Jonathan Fenske and published by Penguin Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC; “Supertruck,” written and illustrated by Stephen Savage and published by A Neal Porter Book published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing Holdings Limited Partnership; and “Waiting,” written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes and published by Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

William C. Morris Award for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens:

“Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda,” written by Becky Albertalli is the 2016 Morris Award winner. The book is published by Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publisher.

Four other books were finalists for the award: “Because You’ll Never Meet Me,” written by Leah Thomas and published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books; “Conviction,” written by Kelly Loy Gilbert and published by Hyperion, an imprint of Disney Book Group; “The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly,” written by Stephanie Oakes and published by Dial Books, an imprint of  Penguin Young Readers; and “The Weight of Feathers,” written by Anna-Marie McLemore and published by Thomas Dunne Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Press.

YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults: 

“Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War,” written by Steve Sheinkin, is the 2016 Excellence winner. The book is published by Roaring Brook Press, an imprint of Macmillan’s Children’s Publishing Group.

Four other books were finalists for the award: “Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings: A Memoir,” written by Margarita Engle and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing; “First Flight Around the World: The Adventures of the American Fliers Who Won the Race,” written by Tim Grove and  published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS; “Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad,” written by M.T. Anderson and published by Candlewick Press; and “This Strange Wilderness:  The Life and Art of John James Audubon,” written by Nancy Plain and published by University of Nebraska Press.

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Everyone knows about ALSC committees like Newbery & Caldecott, but there is a galaxy of other committees full of dedicated librarians that make ALSC tick and support us all in our work.

Serving on a process committee like Membership, Grants Administration, or Organization and Bylaws provides opportunities to build relationships with other librarians, while also building leadership skills, looking at ALSC: The Big Picture, and guiding how ALSC operates and serves us all.

Not all of these groups require attending a conference, there are virtual committees too. These can be really excellent for finding mentors and building a librarian community if you’re feeling isolated.

Check out the roster of opportuntities on the ALSC Committees page & fill out your volunteer form today!  Join us!

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Wow, my brain is starting to hurt!   #alamw16 has offered some amazing opportunities, of that you can be sure–you’ve read about many of them here.   But don’t forget to take a break too!

I like to hop into the Pop Top or Book Buzz areas to hear authors, illustrators, and editors talk about their work.  Today, my “must read” pile grew by leaps and bounds.

I loved Charlesbridge’s- The Art of Storytelling: How Illustrators Construct Stories event yesterday.  These illustrators shared their processes, where they start and the responsibility of bringing stories to life.   Which of these events have you attended? What was your favorite? Share your pictures!

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Pat Scales! Congratulations to Pat, a 38-year member of ALSC, and a dedicated and influential librarian, advocate, teacher, and author.

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If you have a few free minutes at the conference, stop by the Notable book discussion. You’ll hear thoughtful insights about a range of titles for children. I personally would rather spend extra time there than in the exhibit hall! The work this committee does is so impressive and important. It is an open meeting, so audience members can quietly come and go. The books they are discussing are all on a table in the room, so if something catches your attention in their discussions you can check it out in person. Don’t worry, if you’re #alaleftbehind, you can see what they’re discussing with this online list. Soon we’ll all get to see what titles they pick to be on the 2016 Notable Children’s Books List!

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Among all the required meetings and opportunities for learning, networking, and growth, it’s always good to make room for some good old-fashioned fun. AAP’s Library Family Feud was such an opportunity.

Played in the style of the classic TV game show, the session pitted authors (Ruta Sepetys,  Margaret Peterson Haddix, Josh Funk, Stephanie Evanovich, and Cecilia Tan) against a team of Boston librarians with team captain, Michael Colford.

It was a entertaining interlude in a very busy day.

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Greetings from Midwinter where the REAL Caldecott Medal winner will be announced tomorrow morning — along with all the other youth media awards. If you can’t be there in person, here is a link to the live webcast (Monday 1/11 at 8 a.m. EST).

It’s been a treat having the conference in our own back yard for a change. All of us at the Horn Book are required to attend and go to a few of the publishers’ parties. No problem! Walking up and down the aisles in the massive exhibit hall, I keep running into old friends and colleagues including librarians, people who work in publishing, teachers, former students, and even some folks I know from totally unrelated parts of my life. It reminds me of being at a high school reunion.

It’s also kind of overwhelming. I’m on day 3, my feet hurt, my face is tired from smiling so much, and I still haven’t seen everything I want to. But I did get to sit in on part of the Notables committee’s discussion 2015 picture books. This is one of the few book award deliberations that is open to the public. Unexpected bonus: Micky Freeny, one of my  2005 Caldecott Committee colleagues, was chairing the group.

Now I’m resting my feet and looking through photos from the past three days. Tomorrow morning I’ll be out the door bright and early, aimin to arrive at the convention center around 7:30 to get a good seat for the Big Announcements. You’ll hear more from all of us after that. Until then, here are a few picture.

 

 

 

 

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Inevitably, when I attend a conference, I want to LEARN ALL THE THINGS and also GET ALL THE BOOKS. This generally results in packed schedules, double booked time slots, skipped meals, and lots of running around.

It’s difficult to balance attending sessions that will give you valuable information to bring back to your library, sessions that just sound really interesting because you’re a librarian so of course you love learning, and spending time in the exhibit hall to learn about great books.

Yesterday, for example, I attended 4 conference sessions (on data visualization, YouTube in libraries, creative programming in libraries, and new ideas about youth librarianship), one author signing, and one publisher’s Book Buzz session; then, I spent my few free moments seeing what new books were available around the exhibit hall. I did not, as you may suspect, eat lunch.

Regardless of what I choose to do, I always feel like I’m missing out on SOMETHING-what if, while I’m in that super informative presentation that I know will provide me with valuable tools to apply to my job, a publisher happens to put out the one book I was most anticipating?!?!

This is the reality of conference life. I always schedule 2-3 things at the same time and choose what sounds most interesting on the day of, confident that I have a solid backup plan if my choice turns out to be lackluster. I also try to balance sessions that are heavy on tech or programming with Book Buzz events, author events, and wandering the exhibits, because ALL of those things are important for my job.

And, at the end of the day, I have to remember that even if I didn’t get to EVERYTHING that I wanted, I still has a really great experience, learned beneficial new things, networked with other amazing librarians, and will be returning to my library refreshed and full of new ideas.

 

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In less than 24 hours, the Youth Media Awards will be announced at #alamw16. Hundreds and hundreds of librarians will be at the press conference. They will be eagerly anticipating the announcement of the 2016 Newbery, Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Printz, Pura Belpré, Sibert, Geisel, Schneider Family, and more.  The excitement is building in Boston as children’s librarians engage in animated discussions about titles they read and loved over the course of the year.

Are you excited? Will you be participating in the YMA Pajama Party from your home? Do you have a title you are hoping, hoping, hoping will take home a medal? Let us know in the comments below.

Meanwhile, check out some of the results of Mock Elections from around the country.

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How fun it was to celebrate a New Year with ALSC Leadership this morning complete with shiny hats and noisemakers! @alscblog #leadalsc #alamw16

I was invited by ALSC Leadership to speak at their session on Saturday morning. ALSC President, Andrew Medlar, asked me to give a brief overview of youth services in Massachusetts and I was honored to do so-after “ringing” in the New Year of ALSC with a bit of festive fanfare! Andrew’s a pretty hard act to follow, especially since he was wearing a fabulous party hat, but I did my best.

I work as an Advisor for Youth & School Library services in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. One of my favorite aspects of this position is that I get to visit many public libraries and talk with 100s of youth librarians across the state. I recently surveyed children’s librarians in the state to learn about what they are proudest of and how ALSC impacts their work. If you’re curious follow this link for the infographic I shared at the meeting today that gives a  snapshot of the great programs and services children’s librarians in Massachusetts are offering their communities.

It was really a terrific way to start the morning and set a fun tone for the rest of my day!

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While browsing the exhibits at ALA Midwinter, I came upon the Harry Potter Alliance and its work on organizing youth to participate in National Library Legislative Day – mainly by creating local chapters in schools, libraries, youth centers, etc.. to enlist passionate readers in youth advocacy.  Of course, I also had to buy this wicked awesome (note my attempt at Boston lingo!) t-shirt:

These local chapters “serve as an access point for young people who are passionate about stories to become civically engaged and lead projects that improve their communities.” (thehpalliance.org)  The HPA envisions librarians being “most heavily involved in creating their chapters, planning the first few meetings, and identifying potential leaders among the young people in attendance.”

Are you as intrigued as I am? You can send questions via a virtual owl (HPA brilliant lingo!) to their Chapters Staff at [email protected] to learn more.

 

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Pat Scales is the 2016 recipient of the Association for Library Service to Children’s (ALSC) Distinguished Service Award. This prestigious award honors an individual who has made significant contributions to library service to children and to ALSC.

This year’s recipient, Pat Scales, is a former middle school and high school librarian who is an independent consultant, author, and active member of ALSC and ALA.

Throughout her career, Scales has been a passionate advocate for children’s intellectual freedom. She works to educate librarians, teachers, and parents on how to talk about books and teach life lessons through sharing books.

Scales’ involvement with children, libraries and ALSC spans 38 years. She served as ALSC President in 2008-2009 and also served as chair of many ALSC award committees including the Newbery, Caldecott, and Wilder award committees. “My first ALA was in 1977, and I learned at that conference that ALSC was my professional home,” said Scales. “My work with intellectual freedom has been for the thousands of students that I have served and the youth of this nation who deserve the right for free expression in its many forms. ALSC has given me the platform for this work.”

As an authority on censorship and children’s literature, she has published three books and is a contributor for Random House, Library School Journal, and Book Links. She has also been called upon as an expert witness by ALA to defend the Library Bill of Rights in book challenges.

“Pat Scales is not only a champion for children’s freedom to read,” said chair Katrina Hartz Taylor, “but she is also a champion for the teachers, librarians, and authors who provide the array of books that children need in order to grow and understand their world.”

ALSC is pleased to honor Pat Scales with the 2016 Distinguished Service Award.

ALSC, a division of the ALA, is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children. With a network of more than 4,000 children’s and youth librarians, literature experts, publishers and educational faculty, ALSC is committed to creating a better future for children through libraries. To learn more about ALSC, visit ALSC’s website at www.ala.org/alsc.

The 2016 ALSC Distinguished Service Award Committee includes: Chair, Katrina Hartz Taylor, Saint Paul (Minn.) Public Library; Carolyn R. Angus, Mountain View, Calif.; Connie J. Champlin, Cape Cod, Mass.; Julie Corsaro, Williamsburg, Va.; Ellen G. Fader, Portland, Ore.

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One of the sessions I was most looking forward to at #alamw16 was Curiosity Creates: Research and Best Practices in Creativity Programming for Children. At my school, there is a lot of focus on designe thinking and makerspaces, and so, as always, I was looking for ideas to steal to enhance those aspects of my own library program.

I really enjoyed learning more about the research that has been done on creativity and hearing about specific programs and initiatives happening at libraries who have received grants to implement programming that fosters creativity. Here are a few things that jumped out at me during the presentation:

• Supporting creativity and curiosity isn’t just good, but necessary; we need disruptive thinkers and innovators who are going to be able to take on the challenges that arise as society continues to evolve.
• When looking at the heritability of different traits, researchers found that creativity is much less tied to genetics and more affected by environment; therefore, ANYONE can be a creative thinker.
• There is something called curiosity satisfaction-being curious about something and then finding out the answer makes you feel good AND increases the likelihood that you’ll retain that information.
• Researchers came up with 7 critical components, or skills, of creativity: imagination and originality, flexibility, decision making, communication and self-expression, collaboration, motivation, and action and movement.

While it was certainly interesting and informative to hear about this research into creativity, I also really enjoyed learning about the actual ways some libraries have chosen to implement creativity programming. Grant recipients have used funds for such things as designing a new children’s room with creative activities that is accessible to and inclusive of all children, creating toolkits that have different materials related to robotics, engineering, fiber arts, and paper crafts that encourage preteens to think creatively to solve certain problems, and funding open art time in the children’s room.

I’m definitely excited to take some of these ideas back to my own library! If you’re looking for more information about the research done on this topic or resources for implementing more creative programming, be sure to check out the Center for Childhood Creativity’s website.

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I found myself circling the exhibits a few times while I was on the lookout for the ALA Joblist and Career Development Placement Center. Now, before you excitedly google my job, no I am not in the market, thank you very much. I love my library.

So why the placement center?

I wanted to take advantage of the amazing photography service. It’s been awhile since I have had an actual headshot taken, and let’s face it – sometimes that selfie just won’t cut it. So I found the placement center (it’s right near the post office on the exhibit floor), checked in at the desk, paid my $20 and headed over.

There were 2 professional photographers there and we took several shots. The photos will all be sent to me digitally as raw files so that I can filter them up to my heart’s delight!

This is a great opportunity, that I highly recommend. Good photos help your brand, allow consistency across social media platforms, and are super handy to send off when you need a bio for a speaking engagement. The photographers hours are today and tomorrow from 9am -5pm.

If you are not in the market for a headshot, the placement center also has resume review, on the fly mentoring, and career counseling.

Why not take advantage of these great services?

 

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ALSC’s Education Committee has updated the importance and useful Competencies for Librarians Serving Children in Public Libraries. At a breakout session, my table discussed the competencies with a focus on how to use them. Here are some ways to use this document:
-Self-reflection and career growth
-Staff reviews
-Creating job descriptions
-Managing staff reorganizations
-Designing spaces
-Advocating for resources from decision makers

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ALSC members are the best! There are so many ways to get involved and make wonderful friends while doing good work. We just went around the room at Leadership & ALSC, and every person stood up to say who they are and why they are here. Yes, many people are here because they are on the board or a committee. But there are also new members and long-time members who want to get more involved. It is easy to do! Fill out a committee volunteer form, and check off many committees that interest you. Send it in anytime (at least once a year), and you will hear back with information about how you can get involved.
It may sound silly, but this is truly one of my favorite mornings at conferences, where ALSC members can put faces to names, reconnect with old friends, and cheer one another on for the great work we do for children across the country.

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ALSC President, Andrew Medlar welcomed attendees to #alamw16 and the Bill Morris Seminar, “summer camp, minus the poison ivy,” and encouraged us to take it all in, and enjoy the day.

Like summer camp, I met new people, learned new things, was placed outside my comfort zone, left with some new tools in my bag, and the desire to do it all over again.
The day opened with KT Horning and Thom Barthelmess covering the basics of book evaluation and getting the most out of books. Some key take-aways:

• Always look for the good, expect it
• Every book is a clean slate
• Know yourself, but question yourself
• LISTEN, actively when in discussion about books
• EVERY book has flaws
• In the end, it’s just you and the book

From here, small groups discussed a variety of award winners from the previous year. These groups were like heading back to your cabin at the end of full day of camp activities, and knowing the excitement is just beginning.

Discussion started strained, but very quickly each “camper” opened up and as one noted, it was like our ideas were piling up on the table and we were learning more and more about each and every title. This process was amazing, but was extremely rushed as we tried to get it all in before “lights out.” Back to the large group for sharing opportunities, lunch, networking and finishing off with a panel discussion from past ALSC Awards Committee chairs. Throughout the day, “campers” were eager to learn more tips and tricks of the trade and to hopefully prepare for a future that includes sitting on an awards committee.

Before I knew it, camp was over. An amazing day to say the least…apply, you won’t be sorry!

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