FYI,   The 9th Annual Schomburg Center Black Comic Festival is happening virtually January 13-16th. It’s free to attend but registration is required. The Black Comic Book Festival celebrates the rich tradition of Black comics featuring panel discussions, a cosplay show, and highlights the work of creators from across the country. The annual extravaganza and free community event connects fans, writers, illustrators, bloggers, nerds, independent publishers, and collectors of all ages. #SchomCom2021 Go to their we ...Continue Reading

FYI,   Date: Tuesday, January 12, 2021 Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm EST Online: This is an online event. Event URL will be sent via registration email. In celebration of MLK Day, Michigan State University Libraries and Capital Area District Libraries present a panel discussion on the graphic memoir March: Book One by the late US Representative John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, illustrated by Nate Powell. The panel will include activists, artists, teachers, students and scholars.  Panelists include:  ...Continue Reading

FYI,   */For your information and sharing . . . /**//* Link to register (English): https://fema.connectsolutions.com/emotionalhealthyoungadults/event/registration.html Link to register (Spanish): https://fema.connectsolutions.com/mentalhealthyoungadultsspan/event/registration.html Make sure to test your Adobe Connect before the meeting. This event will include live captioning. If you need additional accommodations, please email fema...@fema.dhs.gov. Young Adult Mental Health Announcement. ...Continue Reading

Hi Fellow Librarians, We are reviewing the designations in our collections for young people, and I'm curious about how other libraries divide their collections, and what they call the various sections. Currently, our fiction for youth is categorized as Juvenile (about grades 2-6), Teen (about grades 7-8), or YA (about grades 9-12). I would like to know if other libraries separate their books into 2 or 3 different categories, or have middle school and high school together, and what different libraries are calling each o ...Continue Reading

FYI, Coretta Scott King Book Awards Donation Grant Libraries may now apply for the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Donation Grant. One or more recipients will be awarded selected books submitted to the Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table (EMIERT) of the American Library Association. These books are sent to EMIERT every year for consideration for the Coretta Scott King Book Award. EMIERT receives multiple copies of approximately over 100 titles by African American authors and illustrators, ...Continue Reading

*_YALSA’s 2021 Selected Book Lists Released_* YALSA has released three of its four 2021 selected book lists. View them below. Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults Great Graphic Novels for Teens Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers The Best Fiction for Young Adults list will be released after the BFYA Teen Feedback Session that takes place this weekend. *_Beta Phi Mu Award_* The American Library Association and the jury for the Beta Phi Mu encourage you to submit nominations for some ...Continue Reading

FYI,   Sharing this with you. ~Sharon   All the best,   Sharon Rawlins, MLS, she/her/hers Youth Services Specialist for Lifelong Learning NJ State Library 185 West State St. P.O. Box 520 Trenton, NJ 08625-0520 sraw...@njstatelib.org 609-278-2640 ext. 116 609-278-2650 – fax / / *From:* n...@memberclicks-mail.net <n...@memberclicks-mail.net> *Sent:* Friday, January 8, 2021 8:52 AM*To:* Sharon Rawlins <sraw...@njstatelib.org>*Subject:* Vaccine Information Meeting for NJ Libraries - Monday ...Continue Reading

FYI,   In an effort to show our commitment to EDI and to support library workers who would like to become ALA members and attend ALA midwinter 2021, The Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT) is happy to sponsor a limited number of ALA memberships for those who qualify for free registration for the upcoming conference. Anyone recently furloughed, laid off, or experiencing a reduction of paid work hours is invited to request a sponsored ALA membership. If you’d like to have your ALA membership sponsored by SRR ...Continue Reading

FYI,   The contract that the NJ State Library has with READsquared online reading registration/tracking software is for two years, so public libraries can use it for their 2021 summer reading program. READsquared is also accepting new public libraries that are interested in registering to use it. If you’re interested, here’s the form to fill out:  http://www.readsquared.com/NJ If you have questions, contact: supp...@r2stg.zohosupport.com or call (602) 776-6012.   For any public library staff member who ...Continue Reading

This report and several grant opportunities are from ALA Connect so I thought I would share them with you. ~Sharon   ALISE Statistical Report and Database is a compilation and analysis of statistical data and information about graduate library and information science education programs in ALISE Institutional Member schools/institutions.  ALISE has released the 2020 Statistical Report.  It includes a well-done and readable analysis of the statistics. This stood out ...Continue Reading