News & Features

The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) has announced that the recipient of its 2013 Distinguished Service Award is Dr. Keith Curry Lance, a Ph.D. sociologist who works with school and public libraries and related library organizations.

Collaboration among teachers and media specialists is critical to promote learning, increase student achievement, and help students develop 21st century skills. Gale, part of Cengage Learning, and Library Media Connection magazine are calling for media specialists and educators at K-12 public and private schools in the U.S. and Canada to share their collaboration success stories by submitting for the 2013 TEAMS Award (Teachers and Media Specialists Influencing Student Achievement).

A picture book that focuses on Albert Einstein's intellect hrough the concepts that puzzled and excited him. Check out SLJ's starred review.

Timberlake's performance during the Grammy Awards earlier this year may have been panned, but our reviewer finds his efforts on The 20/20 Experience laudable. If you've never heard of Son Volt, it may be time to give their latest album, Honky Tonk, a listen. Been missing Lara Croft? She's back in Tomb Raider, a prequel to the wildly successful franchise that first launched in 1996.

These two guys have influenced a lot of lives. Fred Rogers takes a trip to visit Eric Carle in his studio. All thanks to @ZachariahOHora for the link. Skip ahead to the 12:30 remaining point to watch.

Michael Grant wraps up his Gone series superbly with the sixth book, Light. In Openly Straight, Bill Konigsberg depicts a gay teenager who wants to shed his "gay boy" label and just be one of the guys. And, Caprice Crane takes a crack at finding something new to say about mean girls in high school it with her novel Confessions of a Hater.

Veteran teacher, educational consultant, and author John Hunter talks to SLJ about his innovative World Peace Game, unlocking kids’ infinite potential, his faith in young people to improve our world, and how he daily inspires (and is inspired by) his students.

As far as outside-of-school literacies are concerned, "Marble Season" is possibly a definitive treatise on the subject without even intending to be...

No matter how many school classrooms I visit, tours I lead, or new patrons I welcome into the library, I cannot help but stare in shock every time I am asked, “What is the cost of a membership?” Once I realize they aren’t asking me a reference question (the local Costco fee is $55 per household, and the nearest gym charges $83 per month) I respond, “Unless you drop a book in the bath tub or return something past its due date we will never charge you for anything—ever—at this library.”