Community Outreach

The Night Gardener Written and Illustrated by Terry and Eric Fan Published in 2016 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers ISBN 978-1-4814-3978-7 2017 Charlotte Huck Award for Outstanding Fiction for Children Honor Book Book Review Grimloch Lane lives up to its name. The houses that line it are unkempt and the people who […]

Thinking about doing a community-wide read for teens? You could create a list of companion books for teens inspired by an adult selection like the St. Joseph County Public Libraries did, you could select a book specifically for your teens, or you could encourage the whole community to dive into teen lit by selecting a YA […]

Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood Written by F. Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell and Illustrated by Rafael Lopez Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in 2016 ISBN 978-0-544-35769-3   All Ages   Book Review “In the heart of a gray city, there lived a girl who loved to doodle, draw, color, and paint.” […]

I’ve had a deep, abiding love for the writing of Jenny Lawson, aka The Bloggess, ever since she introduced the world to Beyonce, the giant metal chicken, and now it turns out she loves me too. And you. And you.  (It’s a few weeks old, but read it now if you haven’t yet.) Makes your heart […]

The other day I hosted a very regrettable program. In addition to my role as a teen librarian I also host a regular craft night for adults. It’s a nice way to extend my service population, and to be perfectly honest, I like seeing how an adult group handles a project before I hand it [...]

Proposals are being accepted for the LJ/SLJ virtual program “The Digital Shift” on October 14, 2015. If you have a compelling story to share about how libraries of all types are facilitating connection and supporting strong communities—we’d like to hear from you.

Filled with unlikely but enduring attachments, ostensibly incompatible Romeos and Juliets, and unexpected instances of true animal camaraderie, these books prove that affection can allow individuals to look beyond their differences and forge long-lasting bonds. Use these books to expand Valentine’s Day and friendship storytimes; tease out overarching themes; and initiate discussions of tolerance, compassion, and community.