Industry News

In response to LM_NET queries, Doug Johnson published a BFTP (blast from the past) post today on Your Library’s Back-to-School Letter. Doug encourages us to use the start of school as an opportunity for connection and advocacy, inspiring us to design an initial communication that conveys the energy and contributions of our library programs in [...]

Follett has partnered with Random House to offer new and popular ebook titles to school libraries. The partnership gives librarians the opportunity to enhance their collections with popular titles such as Rachel Hartman's Seraphina and Christopher Paul Curtis's The Watsons Go To Birmingham – 1963.

Be sure to check out the starred audiobook review of Holly Black’s Doll Bones, a tale of friendship and the trials of growing up set against the backdrop of a spooky ghost story. Nick Podehl expertly voices all the characters.

A design revolution is reinventing the children’s room in public libraries and changing the way young children learn. This new breed of literacy-packed play spaces in libraries is inspired by children’s museums and the developmental theories that drive them.

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) Great Websites for Kids (GWS) committee announced the inclusion of 10 additions to its compilation of exemplary websites for children on July 29. These online resources are geared to children from birth to age 14, and range in subjects as diverse as animals and dinosaurs; games and entertainment; history and science; art and music; and resources for teachers and parents.

On July 31, 2013 (Harry Potter and author J. K . Rowling's birthday), Scholastic unveiled a new look for ​Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Author/illustrator Kazu Kibuishi created new covers for each of the titles in the beloved series. The book covers were revamped in time for the 15th anniversary of the U.S. publication of Rowling's series opener.

Tuesday, September 17, 2013, 2:00-3:00 PM ET Kevin Henkes is the creator of nearly 50 books for children. He has written both picture books and novels; his picture books include Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse; Chrysanthemum; and Kitten’s First Full Moon, a winner of the Caldecott Medal. Among his novels are the Newbery Honor Book Olive’s Ocean and the upcoming middle grade novel The Year of Billy Miller. Join us to hear Kevin talk about his work, his inspirations, and The Year of Billy Miller--an acclaimed and irresistible story about friendship, siblings, and the perils of elementary school. And take this chance to ask him your questions live! Archive is now available!

From Walter Dean Myers's latest to a new early reader series by Pam Muñoz Ryan, highlights from Scholastic's Fall preview, which is also available online.

Acclaimed young adult fantasy author Tamora Pierce headlined SLJ’s SummerTeen online event on July 24, and shared her love for libraries and books during the conference’s opening keynote. The 2013 Margaret A. Edwards Award-winner regaled the virtual audience of librarians and teens via webcam with a presentation about her writing process, her inspirations, and other fantasy novels and writers that readers should be adding to their to-be-read piles. The following is a list of the titles that were cited in Pierce’s talk.