Children and Youth Services

Children and Youth Services, Continuing Education
InfoPeople: Children’s Literature Update 2012
January 24th, 2012 | Permalink | Comment?
- Frustrated that you cannot think of a recommendation when a child asks for a “good book to read?”
- Tired of recommending the same books because you can’t think of anything new to recommend to a child visiting the library?
Discover the new books that you can recommend to children who use your library! Hear about books published in 2011, and upcoming Spring 2012 titles, that will be popular with children ages 0-12. These include picture books, easy readers, transitional fiction, genre fiction for middle grades, graphic novels, poetry, nonfiction, and more! Hear about books that will appeal to the “reluctant reader,” boys who may have drifted away from reading, and books that will have popularity with a wide audience of children.

At the end of this one-hour webinar, participants will:
- Be able to identify “read-alikes” – other books you can recommend to children after you find out their favorite book
- Discover books that will grab the attention of reluctant readers, including the newest graphic novels for kids, nonfiction including “gross” topics, and popular culture titles
- Hear a recap of the recent ALA awards (such as Newbery, Caldecott, etc.) and other recent children’s book awards, to make sure you have these available to recommend
- Take away a list of helpful websites to use when doing readers’ advisory, and sites that will help you keep up-to-date on the latest children’s books
This webinar will be of interest to any library staff or volunteer who serves children ages 0-12, in either public or school libraries.

Thursday, February 2, 2012
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Online

For additional details and registration information visit: InfoPeople: Children’s Literature Update 2012
Children and Youth Services, Continuing Education
WJ: Teaming Up with Teens @ Your Library
October 12th, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?

What is the absolute best avenue to getting teens involved and engaged at your school or public library? How can you encourage them to be peer reader advisors and library advocates in the community? Ultimately, if you want to encourage your teens to become lifelong readers, learners, and library users/supporters—and possibly even choose library work for their future career path—there is no better way to go than offering opportunities for active and involved teen library participation. In this webinar, you will explore ways teens can take part in your library, such as advisory groups, volunteering, short-term projects that use teen’s special skills, and partnering with adults. You’ll also get tips on planning, organizing, conducting, and evaluating teen participation. When you team up with teens at your library, it’s win-win! WebJunction is pleased to host this webinar in collaboration with the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA).

Tuesday, October 25, 2011
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Online

*If you require Closed Captioning in order to attend this webinar, please contact Jennifer Peterson by October 14 petersoj@oclc.org.

For additional details and registration information visit: WJ: Teaming Up with Teens @ Your Library
Breaking News from DLD, Children and Youth Services
2011 Summer Reading Survey is Open!
October 5th, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?

The 2011 summer reading survey is open and waiting for your data. It should take only 5 – 10 minutes to complete, if you have your summer reading facts and figures (circulation, number of participants etc.) readily available. You can view the questions before you go to the survey site, or just go directly to the survey and start filling it in.

The first 110 libraries to complete a survey will receive a free copy of the 2012 Collaborative Summer Library Program summer reading manual. The 2012 themes are “Dream Big – Read!”, “Own the Night” and for adults, “Between the Covers”.

Breaking News from DLD, Children and Youth Services

Destination College Savings winners announced at the State Library

September 12th, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?

Charlotte Minnick made the East Hampton Library her reading destination this summer and arrived at a $1,000.00 college savings account as well. She was one of four Connecticut children to do so, as part of the “Destination College Savings” promotion sponsored by The Connecticut Higher Education Trust, Connecticut State Treasurer’s Office, TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc., and the Connecticut State Library. The goal was to motivate children to visit their local libraries and read over the summer, and to educate families about the CHET college savings plan. Over 1,500 entries were received; eight children were awarded $50.00 Barnes & Noble gift cards while the four grand prize winners received a $1,000.00 donation to a CHET 529 plan. Libraries were winners as well; receiving either $50.00 or $500.00 checks for being a winning child’s home library.

The award ceremony was held at the Connecticut State Library in Hartford on Saturday September 10th. The children and their families received presentation checks and were congratulated for their efforts by Deputy State Treasurer Jonathan Harris.

2011 Destination College Saving Winners

Child’s Name	Library	Prize
Lorenzo Garcia	Noah Webster Library	$50 Barnes & Noble gift card
Michael McDevitt	Babcock Library	$50 Barnes & Noble gift card
Marcus Adams	Wallingford Public Library	$50 Barnes & Noble gift card
Matthew Harasimowitz	Cragin Memorial Library	$50 Barnes & Noble gift card
Arden Kuchta	New Hartford Elementary School Library	$50 Barnes & Noble gift card
Lauren Galeota	Warehouse Point Library	$50 Barnes & Noble gift card
Sophia Andrews	Milford Public Library	$50 Barnes & Noble gift card
Orleans Oduro	Russell Library	$50 Barnes & Noble gift card
Elena Cooper	Welles-Turner Memorial Library	$1,000 contribution to a CHET 529 plan
Matthew Fleischman	Somers Public Library	$1,000 contribution to a CHET 529 plan
Dylan Andriulaitis	Silas Bronson Library	$1,000 contribution to a CHET 529 plan
Charlotte Minnick	East Hampton Public Library	$1,000 contribution to a CHET 529 plan

Children and Youth Services, Grants and Reimbursements
Picture Book Math, Picture Book Science LSTA Project at the Hartford Public Library
June 16th, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?

The Hartford Public Library is collaborating with the Connecticut Science Center to bring age-appropriate understanding of numeracy, scientific inquiry, and literacy for Hartford children age 3-6.

It’s the kind of LSTA project that is scaleable to any size community and which is based on a foundation of solid, specific curricula developed by the State Department of Education.

Check out the best practices story and smiling kids on CT.WebJunction.
Children and Youth Services, Grants and Reimbursements
Lebanon’s Read, Rock & Rhyme still going strong
May 20th, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?
Four years later, still going strong!

Back in 2007, Linda Slate from the Jonathan Trumbull Library in Lebanon applied for an LSTA grant and started up the Read, Rock & Rhyme program.

Some grant programs struggle from the start. Others go great guns for a few years before succumbing to the axe-du-jour.

But Read, Rock & Rhyme (RRR) is busier than ever. Based on Betsy Diamont-Cohen’s Mother Goose on the Loose (MGOL) program, RRR’s programs showcase a wide range of early literacy elements and offer caregivers the tools to develop children’s early literacy skills.

So what’s the secret? Program director Linda Slate has some insights.

“Since our Library had just opened an additional day each week, I thought this program would be a perfect fit for the babies and their caregivers in our community who had previously been underserved.”

“After I was awarded the LSTA grant in 2007, Susan Cormier became my grant monitor. Her wealth of experience helped me ramp up the program and I was able to offer it in early 2008. Since then, RRR has served a total of 3,893 babies and their caregivers from Lebanon and surrounding towns. The babies who first attended RRR have transitioned to my Toddler Storytime, and now their younger siblings are attending RRR.

My advice to those of you who may be interested in offering a similar program would be:
- limit the program to 30 minutes;
- be flexible;
- have fun with it (most important)
Your enthusiasm will become contagious, and this will likely become one of the best attended programs at your library.”
Children and Youth Services, Grants and Reimbursements
Thompson Public Library’s Community Book Bags
May 19th, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?

The Thompson Public Library’s Community Book Bags LSTA project is wrapping up a very successful year thanks to the hard work and positive energy of children’s librarian Kim Flynn.

Check out the best practices story on WebJunction.

Kim Flynn of the Thompson (CT) Public Library reads to a young patron
Children and Youth Services
New storytime workshop
March 2nd, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?
Using “The Early Literacy Kit” to communicate the value of your storytime program to parents

Friday April 1, 2011
Middletown Library Service Center
9:00 registration
9:30 – 1:00 Program
Fee: $15.00

Presenter: Susan Cormier, Children’s Services Consultant for the Connecticut State Library

“Alerting adults to the importance of early literacy skills and how they can be developed through the sharing of books, simple rhymes, and activities allows caregivers to become active players in preparing their children for success in school.” The Early Literacy Kit

At this workshop we will
- Review the three major research strands that impact our thinking about early literacy (literacy research, brain development research and child development research).
- Look at the conclusions of three national literacy panels and the The Connecticut Preschool Curriculum Framework .
- Practice communicating with parents, using developmental tip cards from The Early Literacy Kit: A Handbook and Tip Cards by Betsy Diamant-Cohen and Saroj Nadkarni Ghoting.
Each participant will receive a copy of The Early Literacy Kit (American Library Association, 2010).

TO REGISTER: Use the Connecticut State Library Calendar of Events.
http://evanced.info/cslib/evanced/eventcalendar.asp

Questions?? Please e-mail Susan Cormier at
susan.cormier@ct.gov
Children and Youth Services, Continuing Education
InfoPeople: Teens, Tweens and Social Networking
February 9th, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?

We often have assumptions about how teens and tweens use the Internet. But:

*Are those assumptions true?
*Should your library have a MySpace or a Facebook account? Both?
*How about Twitter?
*What about cellphones?

Learn the answers to these questions and many more, as well as discovering how your library can effectively engage with young people in social media.

At the end of this one-hour webinar, attendees will be able to:
*identify the main social networking sites being used by young people
*name at least one obstacle to reaching this age group via social media
*identify at least 3 tasks for which young people use their cell phones

Wednesday, February 23, 2011
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Online

For additional details and registration information visit: InfoPeople: Teens, Tweens and Social Networking
Children and Youth Services, Continuing Education
Booklist: YA Alert: New Teen Titles for 2011
February 1st, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?

Young adult literature remains one of the most exciting areas of the publishing world, and it’s challenging to keep up with the latest news and books. In this information-packed Booklist Publications webinar, attendees will learn about the year’s hottest YA releases. Booklist’s Young Adult editor Gillian Engberg will be joined by publishing representatives who will fill you in on their leading teen titles for spring and beyond. Sponsored by Egmont USA, Bloomsbury Children’s Books/Walker Books for Young Readers, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, and Disney Book Group.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Online

For additional details and registration information visit: Booklist:YA Alert: New Teen Titles for 2011