Please excuse cross postings   FYI,   I’m just passing this along from ALSC. ~Sharon   Dear Colleagues, ALSC is excited to open the Call for Proposals for the 2024 National Institute! The 2024 National Institute will convene in Denver, Colorado, from September 19-21, 2024. The 2024 National Institute theme is "Standing Up for Stories." Submit your proposals on new research, innovative ideas, and best practices regarding literacy, collection development, library advocacy in youth services, ...Continue Reading

FYI, The Collaborative Summer Library Program’s online store with program incentives for public libraries’ 2024 program* "Adventure Begins at Your Library" is NOW OPEN*! CSLP is a non-profit and any proceeds from these materials to support your summer programming are put right back into the good works of the organization, whose mission is to empower libraries to foster community through inclusive literacy-based programming. Membership is provided to all public libraries across New Jersey through the NJ S ...Continue Reading

FYI, If you are hosting any Banned Books Week programs for teens, please share! Download flier here. Please note we will continue to accept applications after the deadline.   *Applications Now Open: Freedom to Read Advocacy Institute* Thursdays, October 19 – November 9, 2023 / 7–9 pm ET Virtual Program   This fall, PEN America and Brooklyn Public Library are teaming up to co-host the return of the Freedom to Read Advocacy Institute! In this *FREE*, ...Continue Reading

FYI,   Results of EveryLibrary and Book Riot’s survey that examines parents’ perceptions of public libraries and book bans: https://bookriot.com/parent-perception-of-libraries-survey/   ~Sharon     All the best, *Sharon Rawlins, MLS (she/her/hers)*/Youth Services Specialist/ /Library Development Bureau/*New Jersey State Library* *P.*  609-278-2640 x116    *E.*  sraw...@njstatelib.org*W. * www.njstatelib.org   185 West State StreetP.O. Box 520, Tren ...Continue Reading

FYI,   Sorry, for sending this along for informational purposes only after the September date, but it can be used beyond that date too. Hello, Friends! I'm Your Neighbor Books-partnering with the nonprofits Welcoming America and Let's Move in Libraries-has just released a FREE StoryWalk® to promote immigrant welcoming and belonging. Using the beloved bilingual picture book Nieve en la jungla/Snow in the Jungle (Child's Play Inc.), we are offering 16 free, downloadable signs to hang or ...Continue Reading

I’m forwarding this for informational purposes only, if anyone’s interested in participating. ~Sharon   Hello,   Is teen mental health something you are thinking about? Would you like to gain skills in building positive teen well-being? As a part of the IMLS-funded /Nourishing Minds/ initiative, The Seattle Public Library is seeking six U.S. public libraries to participate in a series of activities over the next year that will give library staff the opportunity to: Build strategies for proactively creating ...Continue Reading

*Bechtel Fellowship - Apply Now*   /Now is the time to get lost in a good book (or a few thousand of them)! Applications for the Bechtel Fellowship are now being accepted. / /The Louise Seaman Bechtel Fellowship provides a grant up to $7,500 to a qualified children's librarian to spend up to four weeks reading and studying at the Baldwin Library of Historical Children's Literature of the George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville. The Baldwin Library contains a special collection of 130, ...Continue Reading

FYI,   Just passing the information below along in case anyone’s interested.   ~Sharon   All the best, *Sharon Rawlins, MLS (she/her/hers)*/Youth Services Specialist/ /Library Development Bureau/*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 *From:* Kathryn Weidener <kwei...@comcast.net> *Sent:* Tuesday, September 12, 2023 ...Continue Reading

Hi, Everyone,   Just a few updates to share from various organizations, like CSLP, YALSA, etc. * * *Spotlight News – Hoboken Book Sanctuary* At a time when books are being challenged across the country for LGBTQ-related and other content, Hoboken City Council has voted to designate Hoboken a sanctuary city for books. Joanna Gagis has a report on what exactly that means. Check out the story here. *Book Fest@ Bank Street* The Bank Street Center for Children’s Literature Presents: Virtual BookFest @ Bank Stre ...Continue Reading

Good evening Sharon, While I know this isn't something that can be done for this year's survey, I wanted to ask if it was possible for future surveys to have the option to email our responses (this is an auto feature in google forms).  In the case of my library (and many other local libraries), my director requires a copy of the survey for their state report. As is, the only way to receive a copy with the answers filled out is to print each individual section. In years prior, if I forgot to do so, I would then hav ...Continue Reading