FYI, * * *2021 Rural Child Hunger Summit* Tuesday-Wednesday, March 23-24 http://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/rural-child-hunger-summit https://mailchi.mp/strength/register-today-rural-child-hunger-summit-275910 The goals of the 2021 Rural Child Hunger Summit are to highlight the disparities driving child hunger in rural communities, identify promising practices and policy levers that amplify the impact of existing nutrition assistance programs and/or reduce the incidence of rural child hunger, and celebrate inno ...Continue Reading

FYI,   *Data: Fewer K-3 students on track in reading* Achievement in reading among students in kindergarten through third grade has declined this year, according to data from the DIBELS assessment of about 400,000 students in 41 states. The largest declines were seen in kindergarten, where 37% of students are on track but that's down from 55% the year before, and first grade with 43% on track versus 58% the prior year. *Full Story: *The 74 (2/24),  K-12 Dive (2/25)    What Kids Are Reading: 2021 E ...Continue Reading

*Read Across America Week*   In honor of Read Across America week, U.S. Senator Cory A. Booker recorded a video reading /Freedom Soup/ by Tami Charles – you can watch the video on YouTube *here* or download it on Dropbox *here*. Feel free to use the video in any events you are planning for Read Across America, and please share it with any of your community partners who may be planning an event.   ****Please let us know if you post this video on your website, or share it via your social media channels. ...Continue Reading

Please excuse cross postings   FYI,   SLJ’s Middle Grade Magic Virtual Event, Tuesday, March 9, 2021 Join School Library Journal for our third annual Middle Grade Magic virtual event, a free day-long celebration of authors and creators dedicated to crafting literature for children ages eight through 12. Get a behind-the-scenes glimpse at some of the most anticipated new titles for kids and tweens, from modern coming-of-age tales to eye-popping graphic novels to immersive fantasy. Attendees will ...Continue Reading

FYI, Dear Reading Enthusiasts, The USBBY Committee for the IBBY-Asahi Reading Promotion Award is soliciting names of programs to be considered for USBBY's nomination for the 2022 IBBY-Asahi Reading Promotion Award.  The Award is given biennially to a group or institution, which by their outstanding activities are judged by an international Jury to be making a lasting contribution to book promotion programs for children and young people.  The prize-winning organization will receive a diploma and a sum of $1 ...Continue Reading

FYI,   *Seasonal jobs available in NJ parks, forests, natural and historic sites*   From NJSpotlight article: https://www.njspotlight.com/2021/02/700/   All sorts of seasonal jobs are waiting to be filled by the state Department of Environmental Protection — everything from naturalists, history educators, visitor service assistants, trail stewards and office assistants to lifeguards and maintenance personnel, with more than 700 jobs throughout state parks, forests, and natural and historic sites.  ...Continue Reading

FYI, I’m sharing this information I received from a virtual performer:   My name is Yasu Ishida and I am a library performer living in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Before the Covid time, I used to *perform 80-90 library shows a year*, in south eastern states (SC, NC, GA, FL, AL, TN). First of all, thank you so much for everything you do for the community in this tough time. I feel like libraries are needed more than ever. Last year, I *worked with more than 55 libraries in 10 states* around t ...Continue Reading

The ALA Annual Conference 2021 Poster Session Submission Site is now open! Submission are due Monday, March 8, 2021. Digital poster will be presented at the 2021 ALA Annual Conference Virtual, June 23-29, 2021.  Applicants will be notified in April, after a double-blind peer-review process, if their submission has been accepted for presentation at the virtual conference.  Submissions are invited from all types of libraries and on any topic relevant to librarianship and may include a descriptio ...Continue Reading

FYI, Position Title: Youth Service Librarian Join the diverse and vibrant team at the Atlantic City Free Public Library as the Youth Services Librarian and help provide responsive services to a community with a wide range of different social and ethnic backgrounds.  The Youth Services Librarian provides library services to the general public especially children and teens on a day-to-day basis; works closely with the Head of Adult Services and Library Director; coordinates the scheduling of staff at the Youth Servi ...Continue Reading

[Please excuse cross-postings.] Hi, everyone -- Recently I partnered with Central Jersey Family Health Consortium to help promote the Ages and Stages Questionnaire 3 (ASQ-3), a developmental screening tool that gives families a quick look at how young children are doing in important areas such as communication, physical ability, social skills, and problem-solving skills.  CJFHC provides the ASQ-3 for free to families with children ages 0-5 who reside in its service area: Middlesex, Mercer, Hunterdon, and Somers ...Continue Reading