Find a Book is designed to make reading and libraries part of our children’s summertime fun. One review of the impact of summer reading loss found that children can lose up to 60 percent of their skills during a summer vacation. Children who read during the summer months, however, can sustain their reading gains and are better prepared when school resumes in the fall.

The Find a Book tool uses a child’s Lexile® measure, a measure of reading ability and text complexity derived from state standardized tests, including the ISAT. Information about Lexile® is also available at http://www.isbe.net/find-a-book/default.htm.

Families are also urged to participate in the Illinois Library Association’s iRead Summer Reading Program. This year’s iRead theme is “Have a Book — Will Travel.” Learn more at http://www.ireadprogram.org/.

As a former public school teacher and administrator, I know our school libraries are so important in helping students learn and prepare themselves for the future. Several studies in recent years have shown that students perform better in the classroom in school districts that have strong library media programs. Illinois was the first state to implement a school district grant program, and I’m pleased that we can continue to provide school libraries with some of the financial resources they need to produce well-educated students.” –Jesse White

Grants were awarded based on a formula of $.75 per student, with a minimum grant award of $735.50. The School District Library Grant Program provides funds that can be used for things like the acquisition of library materials to support reading for academics and enjoyment, library subscriptions to electronic resources, or improved technology to support student research.

The list of school districts receiving grants is posted on the Illinois State Library website.

When submitting your application to the Illinois State Library, please include in the subject line on the e-mail, “FY13 SDLP Per Capita Grant” — and your “School District Office Location.”

For questions concerning the grant, please contact Robert Jones at rjones1@ilsos.net, 217-785-1168 or Becky Hunter at bhunter1@ilsos.net, 217-782-7849.

This grant is designed to show the importance of “literary nonfiction” in the new Common Core Standards that will be in effect in the next few years. As priorities change, our collections need more informational texts. For the purpose of this grant, non-fiction materials may include print, audio, or electronic formats– subscription materials will not qualify.

Information about the grant, including the criteria, checklist, and rubric is available at the ISLMA/LBSS Endowment Fund website. All grant applications must be submitted by December 15, 2012. Questions may be sent to info@lbssfund.org, by fax to 309-649-0916 or by phone to 309-649-0911.

Funds for the endowment fund were received by the Illinois School Library Media Association when the nonprofit Library Book Selection Service was dissolved in June of 2005. A stipulation of the agreement between LBSS and ISLMA was that the assets be invested in order to fund grants to encourage students’ reading of quality literature in Illinois.

In honor of Banned Websites Awareness Day, this webinar will focus on how overly restrictive filtering of legitimate, educational websites and academically useful social networking tools affects student learning. Presenter Gwyneth Jones will also share what school librarians can do to fight this type of restrictive filtering in their schools. This webinar is open to AASL members and non-members.

Gwyneth A. Jones, aka The Daring Librarian, is a middle school teacher librarian, a blogger, a Tweeter, a public speaker, a citizen of Social Media, and a resident of Second Life. Gwyneth is a Google Certified Teacher, DEN Star, member of the ISTE Board of Directors, was named an Innovator and one of Library Journal’s Movers & Shakers 2011, a Gale/Cengage New Leader, and is the author of the award winning Daring Librarian blog. Admittedly, she’s also a goofball, a geek, and very, very humble.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012 ♦ 6 pm CST ♦ Cost: $0
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Please note, once you have accessed the blank application online, save the file to your computer before completing it. When submitting your application, please include “FY13 SDLP Per Capita Grant – (School District Office Location)” in the subject line on the email.

For questions concerning the grant, contact Robert Jones at rjones1@ilsos.net, 217-785-1168, or Becky Hunter at bhunter1@ilsos.net, 217-782-7849.

“Every year thousands of students in Illinois enjoy participating in this inspiring competition,” White said. “Illinois has had more entries than any other state for five years in a row. I encourage all of our students to take part in Letters About Literature, and I hope their participation leads to a lifetime love of reading.”

Participating students read a book and write letters to the authors, living or deceased, describing how that book positively impacted their life. The contest is sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, in cooperation with the Illinois Center for the Book. State winners’ letters are forwarded for judging at the national level.

The deadline to enter the competition is January 11, 2013. State winners will be announced in April 2013.

2012 Letters About Literature Winners: (from L to R):
Nadeen Shaban, Ben Gachpar, and Kate Wardenburg

For more information about the competition, contact Bonnie Matheis at 217-558-2065 or bmatheis@ilsos.net. More information can also be found at http://illinoiscenterforthebook.org.

Grant funding is one way to find resources to support innovative programming and services for children. In this webinar, the presenters share advice about finding, writing, and submitting grant opportunities. Information will also be shared about specific grants that focus on diversity, literacy and libraries, and are relevant for school and public libraries. Participants will be provided with an opportunity to ask questions and share related experiences. This webinar is presented in collaboration with the Darden College of Education, Old Dominion University and made possible through the LUCY (Librarianship Upgrades for Children and Youth) grant from IMLS.

Presented by: Dr. Sue C. Kimmel, Assistant Professor and Dr. Gail K. Dickinson, Associate Professor, School Libraries/Darden College of Education Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA

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Deadline: June 15, 2012

The 2012 theme is “The Future of Young Adult Literature: Hit Me with the Next Big Thing.” The Young Adult Literature Symposium is funded in part by the William C. Morris Endowment.

Registration for the symposium includes a welcome reception on Friday night, educational sessions on Saturday and Sunday, coffee breaks on Saturday and Sunday, a reception on Saturday evening and a general closing session on Sunday. Details, including a preliminary program, are available at www.ala.org/yalitsymposium by clicking on “Programs and Presenters.”

Early bird registration costs

• $195 for YALSA members and Missouri Library Association members;
• $245 for ALA personal members;
• $300 for nonmembers; and
• $50 for students

Rooms at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch are offered at a special rate for registrants of $105 per night.

YALSA will also offer pre-symposium special events that require additional registration on Friday, including:

• A half-day forum on dystopian teen literature ($59);
• A half-day forum on engaging students with e-readers and social networking ($59);
• A half-day forum on new trends in publishing for teens and ($59); and
• A guided library tour of public libraries in St. Louis ($25)

In addition, symposium attendees can register for one of two Bill Morris Memorial Author Luncheons, featuring David Levithan (“Boy Meets Boy”; “The Lover’s Dictionary”) or Patricia McCormick (“Sold,” “Purple Heart”). Tickets for each luncheon cost $45.

To read program descriptions, download the preliminary program, find out how to reserve a hotel room and see the full list of registration rates, visit www.ala.org/yalitsymposium.

For more than 50 years, YALSA has been the world leader in selecting books, videos and audiobooks for teens.  For more information about YALSA or for lists of recommended reading, viewing and listening, go to www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists, or contact the YALSA office by phone, (800) 545-2433, ext. 4390, or e-mail, yalsa@ala.org.