FYI,   The/ *Ready Now: Supporting Youth and Families During Crisis*/ project,* * expands on the co-design work implemented in the summer of 2020. This work led to the publication of /Library Staff as Public Servants: A Field Guide for Preparing to Serve Communities in Times of Crisis// /(fondly known as The Field Guide)/, /that/ /outlines four Essential Tasks that libraries and their staff need to embrace to serve historically marginalized youth and families successfully.    Following the publication of ...Continue Reading

Hi, Everyone,   In order to make the best use of the CSLP summer reading funding, I am conducting a short survey -  for public libraries only  - to ask whether your library intends to use the CSLP customized incentives that you receive each year (banner, children’s, teen and adult bookmarks and posters). I would be very grateful if you or someone else from your library would fill out this short survey. *Only one person needs to complete it from your library*, but please make sure the answers reflect the ...Continue Reading

Please excuse cross postings * * *Joann Sweetland Lum Literacy Grant Applications Being Accepted Until Dec. 1, 2023* * * Gregory Lum is a retired school librarian and former president of the Oregon Association of School Libraries. The YALSA Joann Sweetland Lum Literacy Grant was started four years ago to honor Gregory’s late wife, and applications for this year’s grant are due on December 1st. If you have a literacy project in mind, you are encouraged to apply for the $1,000 grant. Examples of literacy ...Continue Reading

Please excuse cross postings   FYI, * * *A funding opportunity for U.S. libraries interested in starting or expanding food education or food access initiatives*   The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program is designed to increase the availability of local foods in schools and help connect students to the sources of their food through education, taste tests, school gardens, field trips, and local food sourcing for school meals. Grants can launch new farm to school p ...Continue Reading

***Please excuse cross-posting*** Hi all, I’d like to invite you to participate in Book Evaluation NJ at the Rahway Public Library. We are a group of library workers and school media specialists in Central NJ that meet twice a year to evaluate new books for kids and teens. Publishers provide us with hundreds of books to review! Each member is responsible for providing an online review (within 6 months) of the books that they pick out at the meeting. Please look at our website for a sample of recent reviews: http:/ ...Continue Reading

Please excuse cross postings   FYI,   *CSLP Manual Code for NJ Public Libraries to Access the 2024 Summer Reading Manual * * * I am attaching a flyer with the link to the CSLP 2024 manual code for public libraries. I’m also created a link to the flyer with the code. https://www.njstatelib.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/New-Jersey-2024-CSLP-Manual-Access-Code.pdf Please don’t share this code with the public. School libraries don’t have access to the code but are encouraged to reach out and partner with th ...Continue Reading

Please excuse cross postings   FYI,   “Penguin Random House and We Need Diverse Books launched their annual Creative Writing Awards program with a new *Freedom of Expression Award*. In their announcement, they write, “/In the face of book bans and attacks on free expression on the rise in America, Penguin Random House and We Need Diverse Books celebrate the power of books and stories. Applicants to the new award will be asked to answer the prompt, “Tell us about one banned book that changed your life and why ...Continue Reading

NJLA Youth Services Forum returns this year on December 12th. Using the 12/12 date as a prompt for wordplay, the theme is “12 Things I Love About YOUth Services.” The format of this year’s Forum will be unconference, unscripted, and unforgettable. You’ll experience a day of conversation-style youth services topics to engage in, such as infusing new skills into your storytime, managing teen volunteers, dealing with book censorship, plus more! There will also be keynotes from our NJLA President and Vice President, as wel ...Continue Reading

FYI,   I’m just passing this information along. Lerner Digital and Kar-Ben Publishing are making free e-books available during this painful moment in history: ebooks.lernerbooks.com/home Username: Israel Password: IsraelSolidarity2023! These are for a younger audience but sharing just in case they are of interest and because picture books are for everybody! ------------------------------ Patricia Sarles, MA, MLS, MSEd Coordinator of Library Services New Y ...Continue Reading

FYI, *_ _* Take Your Child to the Library Day is an international celebration that encourages families to take their children to their local public library, held annually on the first Saturday of February. To celebrate, libraries across the country and around the world welcome families with programs, activities, and special events. Since 2011, more than 1,735 libraries have participated, serving 56.54 million people and drawing attention to the importance of the library in the lives of children. Last year, the Ta ...Continue Reading