February 16, 2013

News Bites: Get Your Voice Heard During Banned Books Week!

ALA Banned Book Week logo

From September 30 to October 6 libraries, schools, and bookstores will celebrate Banned Books Week, an annual event that focuses on First Amendment rights. “During Banned Books Week, we hope to remind Americans that the ability to read, speak, think and express ourselves freely is a right, not a privilege,” said Maureen Sullivan, American Library Association President. “As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of Banned Books Week, it’s important to recognize that book banning does exist in this day and age. It’s up to all of us, community residents, librarians, teachers and journalists, to continue to stand up and speak out for the right to read.”

Calling All Kid-Friendly Administrators!

91912smilingchildren

Have you launched an exemplary children’s after-school series? Or set up outreach services for a daycare program? If you have, consider nominating yourself or a colleague for the 2013 Sullivan Award for Public Library Administrators Supporting Services to Children. The annual award honors an individual who has shown exceptional understanding and support of library services for kids.

News Bites: Celebrate Librarian’s Day

Librarian's Day logo

AudioGO is inviting librarians to visit their offices in North Kingston, RI, on Friday, September 28 to celebrate their annual Librarian’s Day. Present at the festivities will be library advocate and supporter U.S. Senator Jack Reed and authors James R. Benn and Janet Taylor Lisle. Participants will tour the audiobook company’s recording studio, listen to narrators in action, and try their own hand at narrating. RSVP deadline is September 21 and everyone who fills out the form will be entered to win a selection of audiobooks worth $500.

SLJ’s Printz Blog Has Returned

Frog Prince sitting on pile of books

Once upon a time, a new blog discussing possible contenders for the annual Michael L. Printz Award for exemplary teen titles was born on SLJ.com. Now in its second year, Someday My Printz Will Come is back and ready to take on the challenge of speculating which literary gem will wear this year’s crown.

Heavy Medal Is Back

Crystal Ball with possible Newbery contenders

It’s here. Heavy Medal, SLJ’s mock Newbery blog, resumes September 4.

There, bloggers Nina Lindsay, supervising librarian for children’s services at Oakland (CA) Public Library, California and Jonathan Hunt, library media teacher for Modesto (CA) City Schools, return to discuss and debate potential titles in the running for this year’s Newbery Award. Bestowed annually by the American Library Association (ALA), the Award honors “the most distinguished American children’s book” of the year.

Lithuania’s Holds First School Library Conference; They’re Fighting for Recognition, Too

Students getting bags ready for the conference.

More than 200 Lithuanian school librarians traveled to their capital, Vilnius, on August 8 to attend their first national meeting, “New Generation of a School Library.” Speakers from Lithuania and Russia, and as far flung as Italy, Malaysia, the U.S., and Qatar, gathered to discuss the challenges facing education and school libraries—and to help government officials understand their value in schools.

President Obama’s Call to Halt Teacher Layoffs Leaves School Librarians Out

President Obama tapes the weekly address in the State Dining room of the White House. Photo: Chuck Kennedy.

President Obama’s weekly radio and Internet address on Saturday focused on the critical role that education plays in our country’s future—and the need for Congress to pass his proposed jobs bill to help states prevent teacher layoffs and rehire them. But he made no mention of school librarians.

Putting Tech into Teen Spaces

Putting Tech into Teen Spaces

Guidelines from the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) address media literacy, low-cost options for serving kids.

Joyce Valenza’s Picks of the Top 25 Websites for Teaching and Learning

Joyce Valenza’s Picks of the Top 25 Websites for Teaching and Learning

Joyce Valenza winnows down the best of the best. The teacher librarian taps the sites she’ll be exploring this summer on her award-winning blog “NeverEndingSearch.”

ALA/ISTE 2012: Conference Survival Guide | ALA Annual 2012

ALA/ISTE 2012: Conference Survival Guide | ALA Annual 2012

From hardware to fashion, some sources to help you pack, spec your tech, and survive airport hell.

Proposed ‘Digital Literacy Corps’ will not Usurp School Librarians’ Role, Explains FCC

Library_computers

A nationwide plan described in the New York Times has sparked an angry response among school librarians. But tech trainers in the $200 million program will teach computer skills after hours and in public libraries–not in school or directly to students, according to the FCC and ALA.

Teen Book Finder App now Available in the App Store

The ‘first of its kind’ app enables users to discover titles from the lists and awards of the Young Adult Library Services Association.

Best in The West: ALA Program Guide

ala-opener

Planning to catch this year’s American Library Association (ALA) annual conference in Anaheim, CA? If you’re anything like us, you’ll want to make every second count. That’s why we’ve asked seven savvy librarians to give us the skinny on the top five sessions they plan to attend during the June 21–26 event. As you’ll see, they came up with an eclectic mix that’s bound to make nearby Disneyland’s power couple, Mickey and Minnie, a mere distraction.

SLJ Talks to AASL President-Elect Gail Dickinson

We spoke to the former school librarian about her plans for when she takes office, her advice to colleagues, and why it’s a riveting time for the profession.

Oregon Merges Library Associations to Focus on Literacy

The Oregon Library Association and the Oregon Association of School Libraries have merged, giving the state a more robust organization that will focus on literacy.

Tech-Savvy School Librarians Win AASL’s Pathfinder Award

School librarians Sally Mays, who helps Spanish-speaking students develop information literacy skills, and Elizabeth Kahn, who teaches kids how to access reliable information and use it effectively, are winners of the 2012 American Association of School Librarian’s (AASL) Information Technology Pathfinder Award.