Just sharing this for informational purposes only. Kirkus Reviews is seeking people interested in reviewing young readers' titles (board books through young adult)!   A brief overview: We handle almost everything digitally. Reviewers fill out a survey that covers preferred age ranges, formats, genres, areas of personal or professional expertise, etc. The turnaround time is usually 2-4 weeks, depending on your preferred volume, and the reviews run approximately 235 words. Submission is handled via an onlin ...Continue Reading

Please excuse cross postings   FYI, * * You’re invited to apply to attend* a SEAL (Solar Eclipse Activities for Libraries) Workshop* Thursday, June 8, 2023 – Parsippany-Troy Hills Public Library, 10 am – 4 pm Friday, June 9, 2023 – Gloucester County Library, Mullica Hill, 10 am – 4 pm (Choose only *ONE* date, the workshops are the same) Register here: https://forms.gle/5RPYy3UqpuETzptn6 Lunch will be provided. This free full day in-person workshop (10 am - 4 pm), sponsored by the NJ State Library, and ...Continue Reading

FYI,   I’m sharing this for informational purposes only. Michaela Burger from  Girls Who Code sent me this information to send out to anyone who might be interested in hosting a cost-free Girls Who Code Club at your library – and she said she knows that many of your already do this. But, if you’re not familiar with them, Girls Who Code is a nonprofit organization that provides completely free computer science programming to students, educators, and communities. They have additional information about the ...Continue Reading

FYI,   See below. 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 Street P.O. Box 520, Trenton, NJ  08625 *From:* Baker & Taylor <rep...@e.baker-taylor.com> *Sent:* Wednesday, May 3, 2023 5:01 PM*To:* Sharon Rawlins <sraw...@njstatelib.org>*Subject:* Enter the 2024 Cat Calendar Contest Your Cat Could ...Continue Reading

Please excuse cross postings   Hello, Everyone,   I know you’re anxious to know why you haven’t received your CSLP summer reading incentives since I sent out a message a few weeks ago saying they’d be shipping around April 21st and arriving within a week. I was on vacation yesterday and today, but since everyone’s been emailing me to ask, I am letting you know that there was a delay that CSLP didn’t let me know about.   The latest update from the CSLP vendor is that they will be shipping out by this Frid ...Continue Reading

Hi,  We haven't received our CSLP posters yet this year. I believe they come automatically since we filled out the yearly statistics. Any ideas? Thanks. Mary Ellen Albin Children's Librarian Randolph Township Free Public Library 28 Calais Road Randolph, NJ 07869 mary...@randolphlibrary.net 973-895-3556 ...Continue Reading

Please excuse cross postings FYI, From ALA Connect: As part of the work of the CALA/YALSA Taskforce, we're hosting a series of webinars featuring authors from the Stories Beyond Borders: A Chinese American and Diasporic Reading List. You can view our printable PDF now housed in the Chinese American Librarians Association's repository (CALASYS): bit.ly/calastoriesbeyond  The first webinar *Middle Grade Storytellers *will take place on *May 15th at 10am CDT / 11am EDT *and features m ...Continue Reading

FYI,   From ALA Connect:   Are you invested in questions about who (which racial/cultural groups) is being represented in children's books featuring Black and Indigenous people and People of Color (BIPOC) and how (what messages are being sent) they are represented? Are you a conscientious reader of picture books, early readers, middle grade and young adult literature?    If so, the Diverse BookFinder (DBF) Metadata Community of Practice may be for you!   The Diverse BookFinder seeks ...Continue Reading

FYI, *Applications Open for 2023 Judith F. Krug Memorial Fund Programming Grants* Each year the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) distributes grants for organizations to support activities that raise awareness of intellectual freedom and censorship issues during the annual Banned Books Weeks celebration (October 1-7, 2023). The 2023 theme is "Let Freedom Read."  Staff at all types of libraries, schools, universities, and non-profit community organizations are encouraged to apply. Grants are awarded for $ ...Continue Reading

FYI,   From Book Riot:   *Seattle Public Library Grants Free Access to Banned Books* The Seattle Public library is the latest to join the fight against nation-wide book banning. The library is the second to offer free library cards through Books Unbanned, an initiative started by the Brooklyn Public Library last year that granted young people across the country access to their digital collection. Through the initiative, the Seattle Public library is providing free access to its entir ...Continue Reading