Nominations Open for School Librarian of the Year 2020
Administered by School Library Journal and sponsored by Scholastic Book Fairs and Scholastic Digital Solutions, the School Librarian of the Year award honors a K–12 library professional for outstanding achievement and the exemplary use of 21st-century tools and services to engage children and teens toward fostering multiple literacies. Nominations close November 18, 2019.
United for Libraries invites Trustees to become Library Census Champions
United for Libraries, the American Library Association (ALA) Public Policy and Advocacy office and the Census Counts campaign has launched Library Census Champions, a new network of state, local and tribal library Trustees helping their libraries and communities prepare for the 2020 Census.
Registration Open for PLA 2020
The Public Library Association will hold its 2020 Conference, February 25–29, in Nashville, Tennessee. The PLA Conference is the premier event for public libraries, drawing thousands of public library professionals from across the country and around the world. This multi-day event offers over 100 top-quality education programs, inspiring speakers, networking events, author lunches, and a bustling exhibits hall featuring the latest in public library products and services. Wyoming library employees and volunteers are eligible to apply for Carol McMurry Library Endowment Grants for Continuing Education to support their attendance.
Supporting Youth Mental Health Through Library Services
Roughly 70 percent of mental health problems have their onset during adolescence (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health). On the YALSA blog, Ryan Moniz offers resources for teen mental health and writes, “When a group of young people walk into your library, take a moment to remind yourself that regardless of what you see on the outside, you have absolutely no idea what that individual is dealing with mentally or emotionally. With that in mind, we should take advantage of the time they spend in the library to build healthy relationships and remind them that the library is a safe and welcoming space for all.”
How to Recruit Volunteers from Start to Finish
Need volunteers? Most libraries wouldn’t turn down a few more sets of helping hands. This blog post from Wild Apricot offers detailed strategies for pre-recruitment planning, starting to recruit, targeting potential volunteers, and post-recruitment steps.
New Report: Public Libraries: A Community’s Connection for Career Services
Local public libraries serve an important role in the national workforce development system. Public libraries offer a range of career services, including résumé and cover letter support, job application assistance, interview preparation, training, and referrals to American Job Centers/other support services. A recent study from the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development chronicles the extent to which public libraries across the United States are providing these career services.
NEA’s Read Across America Rebrands With New Mission
Student populations are ever-changing and evolving and every year there are new children’s books that reflect that diversity. That’s why the National Education Association’s Read Across America is rebranding with a new logo to appeal to students of all ages and backgrounds and a continued mission of “Celebrating a Nation of Diverse Readers.” The annual event has a new focus on books that tell children of color or of different gender identities that they belong in the world and that the world belongs to them.
TechSoup’s Disaster Recovery Guide: Prepare for the Worst, Plan for the Best
Whether it’s a major storm, a wildfire, an earthquake, or a human-caused calamity, disaster can strike at any time. TechSoup’s free Disaster Planning and Recovery Guide, produced in partnership with the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, provides the guidance you need before and after a disaster.