FYI,   ALA’s Rainbow Round Table has announced their 2025 Rainbow Book List.   Access the list at* https://bit.ly/2025RainbowBookList . * * * ~Sharon    All the best, *Sharon Rawlins, MLS (she/her/hers)*/Youth Services Specialist/ /Library Development/*New Jersey State Library* *P.*  609-278-2640 x116    *E.*  sraw...@njstatelib.org*W. * www.njstatelib.org   185 West State StreetP.O. Box 520, Trenton, NJ  08625 ...Continue Reading

FYI,   I saw this on ALA’s Connect from ALSC and am sharing it with you. It’s also helpful for librarians as well. The Words & Pictures Library website “combines picturebooks, knowledge, and resources to create an open-access educational tool that supports student teachers, teachers and teacher educators in using picturebooks for English Language Teaching. The Words & Pictures Library thus fills a gap by offering a one-stop, online resource that covers the who, what, and how of picture ...Continue Reading

Please excuse cross postings   FYI,   *Public Library Summer Reading Workshops - Registration Open * The Statewide Summer Reading Committee has scheduled the dates for the 2025 Summer Reading Workshops for public library staff who work with children, teens and adults. Two of the workshops will be in person and one will be a virtual craft/activity session where all committee members and participants are invited to share ideas.   The in-person workshops will start at 10 am, with registration at 9:30 am. Th ...Continue Reading

Hi, Everyone,   In case any of you are interested in what the school librarians are doing these days, the NJ Association of School Librarians (NJASL) is hosting a virtual mini con on Monday, February 17, 2025, from 8:50 am – 1 pm where you can find out! The mini con is $20 for non-NJASL members, or $10 for members. The attached image has more information, including the link to register: bit.ly/NJASLVIRTUALCON   Forwarded by: *Sharon Rawlins, MLS (she/her/hers)*/Youth Services Specialist/ /Library Dev ...Continue Reading

Please excuse cross postings   Hello, Public Library Youth Services and Reference Staff,   Each year CSLP seeks feedback from participating public library staff for future summer slogan and theme suggestions for the summer reading programs for children, teens and adults. Public libraries from across the U.S. also contribute, and together, we come to consensus. Now is your time to be heard! Please complete this brief survey: https://shorturl.at/vQZsE to suggest a slogan for the 2028 theme of Mythical Creatur ...Continue Reading

Hello, Public Library Staff, Please see below for the announcement that Katherine Applegate is the CSLP 2025 Summer Reading Champion! She will be part of a free CSLP kickoff webinar on March 5th. More information can be found below. ~Sharon Best, Sharon Rawlins, MLS, she/her Youth Services Specialist, Library Development  NJ State Library 185 West State St. P.O. Box 520 Trenton, NJ 08625-0520 sraw...@njstatelib.org 609-278-2640 ext. 116 - phone 609-278-2650 - fax Sent fro ...Continue Reading

FYI,   I am currently conducting a series of Building Equity-Based Summers (BEBS) trainings for NJ library staff, but here’s an opportunity to apply to participate in a slightly different series of sessions with colleagues around the country. ~Sharon   ************   CSLP is partnering with Building Equity-Based Summers (BEBS) to offer an exciting learning opportunity for library workers at CSLP member libraries nationwide. You are invited to apply to participate in a sequence of four online learning ses ...Continue Reading

Hello, Public Library Youth Services Staff,   Many, but not all public libraries, received Smokey Bear Reading Challenge materials last year from me. I apologize for not having time to get the materials out to all of your libraries.   The US Department of Agriculture (USDA)  Forest Service is excited to learn about how the Smokey Bear Reading Challenge went at your library if you participated.  If you can please take just a few moments to complete the following survey, that would be greatly appreci ...Continue Reading

FYI,   Saw this from the Seed Library Network with some helpful free resources for starting and maintaining a community seed library, as well as information about Seed swap Day. I thought I would pass it along in case some of you have seed libraries.   *Seed Swap Resources* The Seed Library Network has created free resources to help you organize a successful seed swap. Visit *SeedLibraryNetwork.org/seed-swaps* for the following key tools: *How to Organize a Seed Swap*: A step-by-step guide to help you plan ...Continue Reading

Please excuse cross postings   FYI,   *_Public Library Summer Reading Workshops - Registration Opens January 21, 2025_* The Statewide Summer Reading Committee has scheduled the dates for the 2025 Summer Reading Workshops for public library staff, two of which will be in person and one will be a virtual craft/activity session where all committee members and participants are invited to share ideas.   The in-person workshops will start at 10 am, with registration at 9:30 am. The virtual session will start a ...Continue Reading