youth services Archives | American Libraries Magazine

Getting Teens “Real Ready” for the Future

By Terra Dankowski | June 27, 2017

The case studies that were shared with YALSA membership at the American Library Association’s Annual Conference and Exhibition in Chicago on June 26 were sterling examples of the impact young adults can have—on their neighborhoods, their futures, themselves—when libraries and local organizations support their needs, interests, careers, and visions. The library projects profiled spanned the … Continue reading Getting Teens “Real Ready” for the Future →

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Welcoming Schools and the National Education Association organized national I Am Jazz school and community readings in May. Photo: Human Rights Campaign

Standing Up for Our Communities

By Chase Ollis | June 21, 2017

Underserved communities need libraries now more than ever, and among the most vulnerable communities are youth who identify as LGBTQ+. Unfortunately, library services to this group are, at the moment, “woefully inadequate,” despite the social and legal progress the community has made over the past several years. Yet libraries must take on and live up … Continue reading Standing Up for Our Communities →

Inclusive Storytimes

By Megan Roberts | June 1, 2017

The month of June, which is both Pride Month and the American Library Association’s (ALA) GLBT Book Month, is a perfect time to celebrate the voices and experiences of the LGBTQ community. I founded Family Storytime at the LGBT Center of Raleigh (N.C.) Library with Director Erin Iannacchione in 2012, after noticing there were few … Continue reading Inclusive Storytimes →

Summer Reading Reboot

By Abby Johnson | May 1, 2017

It’s understandable. Summer is a busy time at the public library, and repeating a program saves work, even if it’s not the best thing for your youth participants or staff. Though your plans for summer reading are probably set, now is an opportune time to take inventory of what you’re doing, what is and isn’t … Continue reading Summer Reading Reboot →

Research–Practice Partnerships

By Linda W. Braun | March 1, 2017

The Research + Practice Collaboratory, a nonprofit that develops and tests new approaches to research and practice, says that such jointly conducted research “can produce tools and findings that speak directly to the concerns of educators. This approach may also represent a more ethical approach to education research by giving equal voice to the insights, … Continue reading Research–Practice Partnerships →

Partnerships Beyond Four Walls

By Ashley J. Cooksey | January 3, 2017

Sometimes collaboration is accidental. I’ve had lessons that just happened to coordinate with the curriculum. For instance, our library at West Magnet Elementary in Batesville, Arkansas, was able to give students a “virtual field trip” via live stream to see President Barack Obama answering questions at DC Public Library’s Anacostia branch. Our 4th graders were … Continue reading Partnerships Beyond Four Walls →

’Tis the Season …

By Abby Johnson | November 1, 2016

In recent years, there has been much discussion among children’s librarians about whether to provide—and how to execute—holiday programming. I think the answers to those questions depend on your community, and the first step is to stop and think objectively about what you’re offering and why. Start by reading “Librarians—Check Your Holidays at the Door,” … Continue reading ’Tis the Season … →

Ready to Code

By Linda W. Braun | September 1, 2016

The OITP–Google project, Libraries Ready to Code, launched in April 2016 and will continue through the fall of this year. The team working on the project hosted focus groups and one-on-one interviews and conducted site observations in order to learn what’s going on across the country. As project researcher for this initiative, I wanted to … Continue reading Ready to Code →

Shelver Kara Van Muyen (left) and librarian Karissa Alcox at the Kitchener (Ont.) Public Library escape room. Participants had 15 minutes to complete all puzzles. Photo: gr8 Escape

Libraries on Lockdown

By Katie O'Reilly | September 1, 2016

“Anytime I experience something cool in my real life, I think, ‘How could I bring this to the library?’” says Karissa Alcox, escape room aficionado and youth librarian at Fort Erie (Ont.) Public Library. “It takes place indoors, and you don’t need much aside from some locks and props—a library can afford to do it.” … Continue reading Libraries on Lockdown →

Fifth-grader Evan Sass asks NASA astronaut Jeff Williams a question via video chat while Denise Raleigh, Gail Borden Public Library's division chief of public relations and development, holds the microphone. The Elgin, Illinois, library was one of eight nationwide selected for the traveling exhibit, Discover Space: A Cosmic Journey. Photo: Jason Brown

Houston, We Have a Library Program

By Megan Perrero | August 8, 2016

His appearance was part of Discover Space: A Cosmic Journey, a traveling exhibit that teaches library-goers about topics such as stars, planets, and gravity. The program was offered by the American Library Association’s (ALA) Public Programs Office in collaboration with the Space Science Institute’s National Center for Interactive Learning, the Lunar and Planetary Institute, and the Afterschool Alliance. … Continue reading Houston, We Have a Library Program →

Using Design Thinking

By Linda W. Braun | May 31, 2016

What if I said that that’s not how that program—or any library program—should work? By running a program in that way you aren’t really supporting youth learning. Imagine instead if you: Start by asking youth to talk with one another, in small groups or in a full group, about what they like and don’t like … Continue reading Using Design Thinking →

Growing a Program

By David Piper | May 2, 2016

The boys were eager to share their favorite graphic novels and joke books, and it was fulfilling to see them have fun and cultivate a joy of reading. While the enthusiasm was inspiring, the library needed to find ways to attract more participants and make the program worth the time it required each week. For those who have … Continue reading Growing a Program →

Latest Library Links

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ALA Publishing eLearning Solutions announces a new workshop, Tracking Technology Trends: Staying Current in a World of Information Overload with Nicole Hennig. This workshop will last 90 minutes and take place at 2:30 pm Eastern on Wednesday, October 18, 2017. As trends come and go, you may feel overwhelmed by the constant change in technology and where best to invest your time and budget. In this workshop, Hennig helps ease your worry by providing you with the best resources to stay up to date on the latest trends and by sharing practical strategies you can implement to evaluate emerging technologies.

ALA Publishing, Aug. 18
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Timothy Inklebarger writes: “White supremacist demonstrations in Charlottesville that erupted in violence and left three dead and dozens injured have prompted discussion among library officials on the institution’s role in everything from intellectual freedom to disaster relief. Libraries at both the public and university level historically have developed response plans for natural disasters, but the Charlottesville demonstrations and similar white nationalist rallies planned for other cities have library administrators working not only to protect patrons and library infrastructure but to assist in relief efforts.”

AL: The Scoop, Aug. 18
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Alexa Newman writes: “In case you are one of the 18 people who haven’t yet heard the news: There’s going to be a total solar eclipse on August 21 that will cross the United States. Media coverage of this rare occurrence is exploding. It’s exciting to have such an enthusiastic response from the public. It’s also a little intimidating.”

ALSC blog, Aug. 16
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Tom Bober writes: “Pairing primary sources with a picture book about the event or individual who created the sources can give students an opportunity to explore not only what perspective is shared through the primary sources, but also why the person who created the sources shared the perspective. The picture book Dorothea Lange: The Photographer Who Found the Faces of the Depression by Carole Boston Weatherford and accompanying photos by Lange can be a strong pairing to demonstrate perspective.”

KnowledgeQuest blog, Aug. 17
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More than 2 million people in the US are estimated to be dependent on prescription opioids or heroin. This national epidemic is affecting communities of all sizes and the public libraries that serve them. The Public Library Association is partnering with WebJunction to host a virtual town hall meeting to discuss the opioid epidemic for public library professionals, 2–3:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, Sept. 12. Representatives from libraries and other community organizations will describe their local efforts and partnerships in addressing this epidemic.

Public Library Association, Aug. 17; American Libraries feature, June 21
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Tyler Magill, an employee with the University of Virginia’s Alderman Library, suffered a stroke on August 15 that may be related to injuries he received while protesting white supremacists on the university campus in Charlottesville August 12. According to reports, Magill was hit in the neck with a tiki torch, which may have contributed to the partially dissected carotid artery and blood clots that doctors found Tuesday morning. Magill works as a liaison with Ivy Stacks, the library’s offsite shelving facility.

Chronicle of Higher Education, Aug. 16
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Eugenia Williamson writes: “A side-effect of the events in Charlottesville and the president’s response to them was a reminder that statues—their presence, absence, and context—are pretty darn important. The following novels, linked to their excerpted Booklist reviews, put statues at the front and center of the drama.”

Booklist Reader, Aug. 16

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