Search the Blog
Categories
- Books & Reading
- Broadband Buzz
- Census
- Education & Training
- General
- Grants
- Information Resources
- Library Management
- Nebraska Center for the Book
- Nebraska Memories
- Now hiring @ your library
- Preservation
- Pretty Sweet Tech
- Programming
- Public Library Boards of Trustees
- Public Relations
- Talking Book & Braille Service (TBBS)
- Technology
- Uncategorized
- What's Up Doc / Govdocs
- Youth Services
Archives
Subscribe
Category Archives: Youth Services
Library Program Performers Database
Take a look at the Library Commission’s new “Nebraska Library Program Performers Database.” It is designed for Children’s and Teen librarians to recommend and seek performers for their libraries’ events.
All listed performers have been recommended by a Nebraska library following a successful event. We currently have 25 entries and would like to expand this list. Librarians are encouraged to click on the link to “submit performers you would recommend” to continue to increase the number and variety of choices listed. Performers from neighboring states who are willing to travel to regions of Nebraska are welcome as well.
We do plan to add a bit more information in the future, such as one or more stars for range of fees and other costs, as well as the distance the performer is willing to travel. If you have suggestions for possible fields to add to the information included, send your ideas to Sally Snyder. No promises, but we will consider additional ideas.
Posted in General, Programming, Youth Services
Leave a comment
Celebrate National Poetry Month with the National Poetry Out Loud Competition
Amanda Pohlman, a freshman from Skutt Catholic High School, Omaha, will compete for the National Poetry Out Loud championship in Washington, D.C. April 29-30, 2014. Amanda, who won the won the Nebraska state championship earlier this spring, is one of nearly 3,000 Nebraska students from 25 high schools that participated in Poetry Out Loud this year.
Poetry Out Loud is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. The program encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance, and competition. It helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage. Now in its ninth year, Poetry Out Loud has grown to involve millions of students across the country. To be eligible to participate, a high school must be registered with the state coordinator. For more information on Nebraska’s Poetry Out Loud program, contact Anne Alston, EducationManager at the Nebraska Arts Council, at 402.595.2122 or anne.alston@nebraska.gov.
Poetry Out Loud offers educators free curriculum materials, a teacher’s guide, lesson plans, and video and audio on the art of recitation. Download these resources and find out more about this program at http://www.poetryoutloud.org/.
Posted in Books & Reading, Youth Services
Tagged contests, Nebraska Arts Council, poetry, Poetry Out Loud
Leave a comment
Wimpy Kid Webinar
Jeff Kinney and his publisher are celebrating “Wimpy Kid Month” and offering a Webinar on April 28 from 8:00 to 8:30 a.m. This will include a review of the Wimpy Kid books, an interactive quiz, a draw-along, and sneak peeks at book #9, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck. Kinney will be answering fans’ questions throughout the webcast. Kids can also download a drawing prompt to create and submit their own renditions of Wimpy Kid covers. Register at the Wimpy Kid Website, which offers additional W.K. material. If you cannot make the live ‘cast, it will be available later at Wimpy Kid Videos.
NCompass Live: Paws to Read at Kearney Public Library
Join us for next week’s NCompass Live: “Paws to Read at Kearney Public Library”, on Wednesday, April 9, 10:00-11:00 am Central Time.
Once a month our library goes to the dogs all in the name of literacy. Paws to Read is a cooperative reading program between Kearney Public Library and local therapy dogs. This program helps children improve their literacy skills with the assistance of certified pet therapy dogs in a fun, non-judgmental and relaxed environment. Children involved in Paws programs nationwide have shown improved reading skills, a sense of pride in their accomplishments, a willingness to become involved in other positive activities, and have learned respect and kindness in their interactions with animals. Presenters will share their experiences with this great project.
Presenters: Christine Walsh, Kearney Public Library; Kimberly Williams, Therapy Dogs, Inc., Kearney, NE.
Upcoming NCompass Live events:
- April 16 – Killing Dewey
- April 23 – Tech Talk with Michael Sauers
- April 30 – Smart Investing: Reference Strategies and Resources
- May 7 – The Internship: A Win-Win Situation
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
NCompass Live: Fizz, Boom, Read! : Summer Reading Program 2014
Join us for the next NCompass Live: “Fizz, Boom, Read! : Summer Reading Program 2014”, on Wednesday, April 2, 10:00-11:00 am Central Time.
Sally Snyder, Coordinator of Children and Young Adult Library Services at the Nebraska Library Commission, will give brief book talks of new titles pertaining to the 2014 Summer Reading Program themes: Fizz, Boom, Read! (children’s theme) and Spark a Reaction! (teen theme).
Upcoming NCompass Live events:
- April 9 – Paws to Read at Kearney Public Library
- April 16 – Killing Dewey
- April 23 – Tech Talk with Michael Sauers
- April 30 – Smart Investing: Reference Strategies and Resources
- May 7 – The Internship: A Win-Win Situation
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Featuring the Film: How Book Adaptations Get Patrons Reading
“For many readers, news that their favorite book will be adapted to film can be thrilling. Films bring the words to life, create new worlds and transform beloved characters into living, breathing flesh and blood. Films make us see these books in new ways, especially when artistic license is taken in condensing and enlivening long books into neat, two-hour packages.
And yet… how often have we heard friends lament, or complain ourselves: the book was better! Sure, films are great, but they don’t offer the same inclusion of the book. Watching a film, the viewer is merely an observer, and doesn’t feel everything the character feels, as you would when reading the book. There are no limits, no restrictions, no computer-generated-images trying to suspend your disbelief.
However, what most people don’t understand is that the standoff between books and film is like trying to decide if chocolate bars or chocolate ice cream is better. They are two completely different mediums, and should be experienced differently, with different expectations. Once we settle on the fact that there is no reason to qualify one over the other, films can become a terrific resource for programs intent on the celebration of reading!
Film screening tie-ins are a wonderful addition to any community or all campus reads programming. Indeed, being introduced to the film first often encourages readers to pick up the book, enriches book discussions, and motivates reluctant readers to turn out. ” (Reprinted from Books in Common–http://www.booksincommon.org)
To get you started with some book-to-film ideas, here are a few titles available from the Book Club Kits at the Nebraska Library Commission:
Start Planning for April: School Library Month
Jeff Kinney, New York Times bestselling author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, has been named the national spokesperson for the 2014 observance of School Library Month. Celebrated in April and sponsored by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), School Library Month honors the essential role that strong school library programs play in a student’s educational career.
“I don’t know where I’d be without my school library,” said Kinney. “Our librarians were passionate about putting great books in the hands of kids, and making us into lifelong readers. School libraries introduce kids to whole new worlds and new perspectives and are so important in broadening kids’ minds. It’s crucial that we support our school libraries, especially in times of tightening budgets. I’m so grateful for the well-stocked libraries and knowledgeable, dedicated school librarians that were a part of my childhood.”
Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid is the story of middle-school underdog Greg Heffley who shares his life in a journal filled with cartoons and text. The first book in the series was released in April 2007 and was an instant bestseller, capturing the attention of reluctant readers, their parents and librarians everywhere. There are now eight books in the series, the most recent, “Hard Luck”, released on Nov. 5, 2013. It was the No. 1 bestselling book of 2013, adult or children’s.
“In creating such widely appealing characters, Jeff has enriched the lives of both students and school librarians,” said Susan Hess, School Library Month committee chair. “As such a popular author and illustrator, AASL is extremely fortunate to have Jeff Kinney as the School Library Month 2014 spokesperson.”
More information on the 2014 School Library Month celebration can be found on the AASL website at www.ala.org/aasl/slm.
The American Association of School Librarians, www.aasl.org, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), promotes the improvement and extension of library services in elementary and secondary schools as a means of strengthening the total education program. Its mission is to advocate excellence, facilitate change and develop leaders in the school library field.
The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series has been a fixture on the USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. The series has remained consistently on the New York Times lists since the publication of the first book. The books have been sold in more than 44 territories in 42 languages. Published by Amulet Books, an imprint of ABRAMS, Kinney’s work has been widely praised for its ability to turn reluctant readers on to books. Jeff Kinney was named one of Time magazine’s most influential people in the world. Three movies based on the book series have grossed more than $250 million internationally. The book series won Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards in 2010, 2011, and 2012, and Jeff Kinney won a Children’s Choice Book Award in 2012 and 2013. Books in the series have won numerous awards voted on by students and teachers around the globe. The Wimpy Kid Island (Wimpy Wonderland) on poptropica.com, a virtual world for kids, remains one of the most visited on the site.
NCompass Live: Passive Programming for Tweens and Teens
Join us for the next NCompass Live: “Passive Programming for Tweens and Teens”, on Wednesday, January 22, 10:00-11:00 am Central Time.
Engage young patrons who hang out at your library with programs that run themselves. Rachelle McPhillips, from Columbus Public Library, shares several ideas libraries can adapt to year-round programming. These passive programs are great for libraries that have a thriving young adult program as well as those that are looking to reach out to tweens and teens but have limited time and money.
Upcoming NCompass Live events:
- Jan. 29 – Tech Talk with Michael Sauers: CES & Libraries
- Feb. 5 – Where in the world…? Nebraska’s Polley Music Library and the World of Music Librarianship
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Posted in Education & Training, Programming, Youth Services
Leave a comment
Registration now open for Big Talk From Small Libraries 2014
Registration for the 2014 Big Talk From Small Libraries online conference is now open! Details can be found on the registration page.
The schedule of presentations has not yet been set. We’re in the process of contacting presenters now, and we’ll have a schedule available for you soon.
More info about the online conference can be found on the event website.
Nebraska Libraries Invited to Apply for BOOKS FOR CHILDREN Grant
The Libri Foundation is a nationwide non-profit organization which donates new, quality, hardcover children’s books to small, rural public libraries in the United States through its BOOKS FOR CHILDREN program. Only libraries within the 50 states are eligible to apply. Libraries are qualified on an individual basis. In general, county libraries should serve a population under 16,000 and town libraries should serve a population under 10,000 (usually under 5,000). Libraries should be in a rural area, have a limited operating budget, and an active children’s department. Please note: Rural is usually considered to be at least 30 miles from a city with a population over 40,000.
Applications are accepted from school libraries only if they also serve as the public library (i.e. it is open to everyone in the community, has some summer hours, and there is no public library in town). Please note: Town libraries with total operating budgets over $150,000 and county libraries with total operating budgets over $450,000 are rarely given grants. The average total operating budget of a BOOKS FOR CHILDREN grant recipient is less than $40,000.
BOOKS FOR CHILDREN grant recipients that have fulfilled all grant requirements, including the final report, may apply for another grant three years after the receipt of their previous grant. Grant recipients that do not fulfill all the grant requirements, including the final report, are not eligible for another grant.
To obtain a grant application from The Libri Foundation:
- Read the application instructions and fill out the form online. The form must be printed out, STAPLED, signed, and returned to The Libri Foundation via mail.
- To receive a paper application in the mail, please email your name and your library’s name and mailing address to The Libri Foundation at libri@librifoundation.org. You may also request an application packet by mail, telephone, or fax at the address or phone numbers given on the Libri Foundation home page.
Applications for this round must be postmarked by January 23. Grant recipients will be posted on the Grant Recipients page within a few days after grants are awarded. Acceptance packets are usually mailed 14-18 days after grants are awarded. http://www.librifoundation.org/apps.html
NCompass Live: Best New Youth Books of 2013
Join us for the next NCompass Live: “Best New Youth Books of 2013”, on Wednesday, December 4, 10:00-11:00 am Central Time.
Sally Snyder, Coordinator of Children and Young Adult Library Services at the NLC, will give brief book talks of new titles that could be good additions to your library’s collection. Titles for preschool through older teens will be highlighted.
Upcoming NCompass Live events:
- Dec. 11 – Turning Your Library Around – Part 2: 4 Years Later
- Dec. 18 – To Bake or Not to Bake: Library Cake Pan Collection
- Dec. 26 (Thursday) – Tech Talk with Michael Sauers: SHOG.US – Share with Flare
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Read Aloud School or Community
There is still time to sign up to become a Read Aloud School or Community. The opportunity is available through November 1, 2013, and it only takes a few minutes.
Just go here and click on “School” or Community” depending on which one you represent. A community can be the public library, a book discussion group, a philanthropic organization, or other such group of people.
All it takes is a bit of time to fill out the form and submit it. No cost to you and one of several benefits of being a Read Aloud School or Community is the opportunity to request books at no cost to you to give away to children in your school or community. Join for the second (third, fourth, fifth, etc.) year and you are eligible to apply for a $250 competitive mini-grant to promote or celebrate reading aloud.
And while you are at it, save Friday, April 4, 2014 to hear Rob Reid talk about “Reid’s Read-Alouds” and “Making Lit Come Alive” – it is sure to be a wonderful day. You can see the “Save the Date” information now, and more details later also here on the web site. The Library Commission has seven of his books available for loan, such as Something Funny Happened at the Library and More Family Storytimes: Twenty-four Creative Programs for All Ages.
Posted in Books & Reading, General, Youth Services
Leave a comment
Dia 2014 Mini-grants Available — Deadline is Nov. 30, 2013
The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) is now accepting applications for mini-grants intended to prepare libraries to incorporate Día into their existing programs throughout the entire year. Mini-grants will be used to initiate a Día Family Book Club Program in libraries. Up to 15 mini-grants will be awarded at $2,000 each.
Intended as an expansion of El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Día), the mini-grants will be awarded to libraries that demonstrate a need to better address the diverse backgrounds within their communities.
The mini-grants are part of the Everyone Reads @ your library grant awarded to ALSC from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. In addition to these mini-grants, funding from this grant will also allow ALSC to create a Día Family Book Club curriculum that will be accessible to all.
Mini-Grant Eligibility
- Must be a public library with a demonstrated need and the capacity to address the diverse backgrounds within their community and commit to incorporating Día into existing programs.
- Must be located within 20 miles of a Dollar General Store, distribution center, or corporate office (please visit Dollar General’s Store Locator at http://www.dollargeneral.com/storeLocator)
- Must have the capability to initiate a Día Family Book Club that will meet at regular intervals a minimum of 6 times.
The deadline for applications is November 30, 2013. For more information and to access the application, go to http://dia.ala.org/dia-2014-mini-grants-available.
Summer Reading Program Manuals are in the Mail
Be on the lookout for a large envelope that has been mailed to the director of each legally established public library in Nebraska. It includes the 2014 Summer Reading Program (SRP) manual, SRP catalog, evaluation forms, and the library’s motion picture license certificate.
The science topic for 2014 brings us the children’s slogan: “Fizz, Boom, Read!”; the teen slogan: “Spark a Reaction” and the adult theme: “Literary Elements.” For more information on topics and themes for the future, and ones used in the past, go here.
Posted in Books & Reading, General, Youth Services
1 Comment
Youth Grants re-opened for Applications
Due to a low number of submissions, the Youth Grants for Excellence have been re-opened for applications. They will be due on October 31, 2013. Applications must be received by the Nebraska Library Commission with the postmarked date no later than October 31, 2013 or submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. CT on October 31, 2013. Faxes will not be accepted. You will be notified by November 27, 2013 if you are awarded a grant.
All support materials, such as signature page, copies of web or catalog pages, and/or letters of support, are due no later than Friday, November 8, 2013.
The applications received by the original due date (October 8, 2013) will be considered and those grants will be awarded by November 8, 2013.
For more information visit our web page: http://nlc.nebraska.gov/grants/youth/
Posted in General, Youth Services
Leave a comment
Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries Grant Applications for School Libraries Due Dec. 2, 2013
School libraries may apply for grants of $5,000 from the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries to expand, update and diversify their library book collections. The deadline for applications is December 2, 2013. Eligibility requirements and the application are available at https://laurabushfoundation.unt.edu/lbf-grant-application.
The Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries was founded in 2002 as a fund of The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region. Since its inception, the Laura Bush Foundation has awarded more than $10.5 million to schools in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Marshall Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands. In addition to these yearly grants, the Foundation has also awarded more than $6.3 million to school libraries in the Gulf Coast region to rebuild their library book collections that were lost or destroyed by hurricanes or storms.
The mission of the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries is to support the education of our nation’s children by providing funds to update, extend and diversify the book and print collections of America’s school libraries. Further information is available at www.laurabushfoundation.org.
Posted in General, Youth Services
Leave a comment
Award Winners to be Honored at October 26 Celebration of Nebraska Books
An awards presentation ceremony will highlight the Nebraska Center for the Book’s Celebration of Nebraska Books on October 26 at the Nebraska State Historical Society’s Museum of Nebraska History, 15th and P Streets, in downtown Lincoln. Winners of the 2013 Nebraska Book Awards will be honored and the celebration will include readings by some of the winning authors. And the winners are:
2013 Nebraska Book Award Winners
Anthology: Artifacts & Illuminations: Critical Essays on Loren Eiseley edited by Tom Lynch and Susan N. Maher, University of Nebraska Press
Children’s Picture Book: House Held Up by Trees by Ted Kooser, Candlewick Press
Cover/Design/Illustration: Nebraska’s Post Office Murals: Born of the Depression, Fostered by the New Deal by L. Robert Puschendorf, Design by Nathan Putens, Nebraska State Historical Society Books
Cover/Design/Illustration Book Arts Award: In Times of Considerable Wars and Interludes by Don Welch, Design, Illustration and Production by Elysia Mann, All Along Press
Fiction: Hell or High Water by Joy Castro, Thomas Dunne Books
Fiction Honor: Lake Country: A Novel by Sean Doolittle, Bantam Books
Nonfiction Autobiography: Called to Justice: The Life of a Federal Trial Judge by Hon. Warren K. Urbom and William Jay Riley, Law in the American West, Bison Books, University of Nebraska Press
and
Backstage: Stories from My Life in Public Television by Ron Hull, Bison Books, University of Nebraska Press
Nonfiction Biography: Free Radical: Ernest Chambers, Black Power, and the Politics of Race by Tekla Agbala Ali Johnson and Quintard Taylor, Texas Tech University Press
Nonfiction Essay: What the River Carries: Encounters with the Mississippi, Missouri, and Platte by Lisa Knopp, University of Missouri
Nonfiction History: Standing Firmly by the Flag: Nebraska Territory and the Civil War, 1861-1867 by James E. Potter, Bison Books, University of Nebraska Press
Nonfiction Nebraska as Place: Nebraska’s Post Office Murals: Born of the Depression, Fostered by the New Deal by L. Robert Puschendorf, Nebraska State Historical Society Books
Poetry: Stray Cat Blues by Hal Sirowitz, The Backwaters Press
Young Adult Fiction: The Miseducation of Cameron Post by emily m. danforth, Balzer + Bray
Youth Nonfiction: Light on the Prairie: Solomon D. Butcher, Photographer of Nebraska’s Pioneer Days by Nancy Plain, Bison Books, University of Nebraska Press
The celebration, free and open to the public, will also feature presentation of the Nebraska Center for the Book’s Jane Geske Award to the Nebraska Library Commission for exceptional contribution to literacy, books, reading, libraries, or literature in Nebraska. The Jane Geske Award commemorates Geske’s passion for books, and was established in recognition of her contributions to the well-being of the libraries of Nebraska. Jane Pope Geske was a founding member of the Nebraska Center for the Book, former director of the Nebraska Library Commission, and a long-time leader in Nebraska library and literary activities.
This year the Celebration marks the ninth year of One Book One Nebraska, selecting and promoting a book title for Nebraskans to read to celebrate the literary richness of our state. O Pioneers! is the 2013 One Book One Nebraska and Nebraska libraries and other literary and cultural organizations across the state are hosting activities and events to encourage all Nebraskans to read and discuss the same book (see http://onebook.nebraska.gov.)
The Nebraska Center for the Book Annual Meeting will be held at 2:30 p.m.—just prior to the 3:30-6:30 p.m. Celebration. An Awards Reception honoring the winning authors, book signings, and announcement of the 2013 One Book One Nebraska book choice will conclude the festivities.
The Celebration of Nebraska Books is sponsored by Nebraska Center for the Book, Humanities Nebraska, and Nebraska Library Commission, in partnership with the Nebraska State Historical Society, Museum of Nebraska History, and the Friends of the University of Nebraska Press. The Nebraska Center for the Book is housed at the Nebraska Library Commission and brings together the state’s readers, writers, booksellers, librarians, publishers, printers, educators, and scholars to build the community of the book, supporting programs to celebrate and stimulate public interest in books, reading, and the written word. The Nebraska Center for the Book is supported by the Nebraska Library Commission.
As the state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission is an advocate for the library and information needs of all Nebraskans. The mission of the Library Commission is statewide promotion, development, and coordination of library and information services, bringing together people and information.
Posted in Books & Reading, General, Public Relations, Youth Services
Leave a comment
Teen Read Week™ Set for October 13-19, 2013
Join Teen Read Week™ website for new resources and perks! Visitors who register as an online community member of the Teen Read Week™ (TRW) website will have access to a wealth of resources and perks courtesy of YALSA and the official 2013 Teen Read Week sponsors.
Thanks to new sponsors Blink, Merit Press, Scholastic, and Soho Teen, as well as longtime TRW sponsor, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, there are more resources than ever to help library workers and educators with their efforts in encouraging continued literacy development among teens.
The new resources and perks available to TRW registrants include:
- Eligibility to receive one of three Merit Press bookshelves containing 12 riveting novels – signed by the authors
- An autographed copy of “Gorgeous” by Paul Rudnick, courtesy of Scholastic, for any individual who joins YALSA through the Teen Read Week site by Oct. 1st
- Eligibility to receive a Soho Teen bookshelf containing 10 Soho Teen hardcover novels
- A free digital download of the “Ten Years of the Teens’ Top Ten” toolkit, courtesy of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation. The toolkit includes a compilation of the past Teens’ Top Ten lists, as well as “Fun Facts” and “Read-A-Likes”
- Free access to a webinar featuring recommended reads that fit with the “Seek the Unknown” theme
In addition to the current resource offerings, more are in the works and TRW registrants are encouraged to check back for updates. E-blasts announcing new resources will also be sent to those registered for the Teen Read Week website.
Teen Read Week™ is being celebrated October 13-19 this year with the theme “Seek the Unknown @ your library.” Official Teen Read Week products are available for purchase through the ALA Store. Products include themed posters, bookmarks, manual, and more. Order by September 26 to receive items in time for Teen Read Week.
Teen Read Week™ is a national adolescent literacy initiative created by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). It began in 1998 and is held annually during the third week of October. Its purpose is to encourage teens to be regular readers and library users.
For more than 50 years, YALSA has worked to build the capacity of libraries and librarians to engage, serve and empower teens. For more information about YALSA or to access national guidelines and other resources go to www.ala.org/yalsa, or contact the YALSA office by phone, 800-545-2433, ext. 4390; or email: yalsa@ala.org.
Posted in Books & Reading, General, Public Relations, Youth Services
Leave a comment
Young Readers Invited to Enter Letters about Literature Contest
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 6, 2013
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Mary Jo Ryan
402-471-3434
800-307-2665
Young Readers Invited to Enter Letters about Literature Contest
Young readers in grades 4-12 are invited to write a personal letter to an author for Letters about Literature (LAL), a national reading and writing promotion program. The letter can be to any author (living or dead) from any genre—fiction or nonfiction, contemporary or classic—explaining how that author’s work changed the student’s view of the world. This reading and writing promotion is sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, in partnership the Nebraska Center for the Book and Nebraska Library Commission, and locally supported by Houchen Bindery Ltd.
Prizes will be awarded on both the state and national levels. The Nebraska Center for the Book’s panel of judges will select the top letter writers in the state, to be honored in a proclamation-signing ceremony at the state capitol during National Library Week in April 2014. Their winning letters will be placed in the Jane Pope Geske Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors at Bennett Martin Public Library in Lincoln. Nebraska winners will receive state prizes, and then advance to the national judging.
A panel of national judges for the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress will select one National Winner per competition level (Level I for grades 4-6, Level II for grades 7-8, and Level III for grades 9-12) to receive a $1,000 cash award. The judges will also select one National Honor winner on each competition level to receive a $200 cash award, to be announced in May 2014.
Teachers, librarians, and parents can download free teaching materials on reader response and reflective writing, along with contest details and entry forms, at www.read.gov/letters. Nebraska-specific information (including lists of Nebraska winners of past contests) is available at http://centerforthebook.nebraska.gov/programs/LAL.html. Submissions from Grades 9-12 must be postmarked by December 10, 2013. Submissions from Grades 4-8 must be postmarked by January 10, 2014.
Nebraska-specific information (including letters from Nebraska winners of past contests) is available at http://centerforthebook.nebraska.gov/programs/LAL.html. For more information contact Mary Jo Ryan, 402-471-3434 or 800-307-2665.
The Nebraska Center for the Book is housed at the Nebraska Library Commission and brings together the state’s readers, writers, booksellers, librarians, publishers, printers, educators, and scholars to build the community of the book, supporting programs to celebrate and stimulate public interest in books, reading, and the written word. The Nebraska Center for the Book is supported by the Nebraska Library Commission.
As the state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission is an advocate for the library and information needs of all Nebraskans. The mission of the Library Commission is statewide promotion, development, and coordination of library and information services, bringing together people and information.
###
The most up-to-date news releases from the Nebraska Library Commission are always available on the Library Commission Website, nlc.nebraska.gov/publications/newsreleases.
Posted in Books & Reading, General, Youth Services
Leave a comment
NCompass Live: Libraries Lending eReaders
Join us for the next NCompass Live: “Libraries Lending eReaders”, on Wednesday, August 21, 10:00-11:00 am Central Time.
Lots of libraries lend eBooks, but did you know that some are also lending eReaders? As eBooks become more popular, patrons want to know more about the various devices they can use to access them. Join our panel of librarians as they share their experiences circulating eReaders at their libraries. Speakers: Karen Stuart, Columbus Public Library; Megan Boggs, Seward Memorial Library; Nancy Black, Mead Public Library; Sara Lee, Central City Public Library; Susan Knisely, Nebraska Library Commission.
Upcoming NCompass Live events:
- Aug. 28 – Tech Talk with Michael Sauers: Building your own ILS from scratch
- Sept. 4 – Affordable Care Act Resources for Libraries
- Sept. 11 – Scholarship Student Reflections on ALA 2013
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
