ISLMA announced the winning titles of the Readers’ Choice Awards for 2012:
2012 Abraham Lincoln Award winner is: Maze Runner by James Dashner
2012 Bluestem Award winner is: Adventures in Cartooning by James Sturm, Andrew Arnold and Alexis Frederick-Frost
2012 Monarch Award winner is: Shark Vs Train written by Chris Barton and illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld
The Illinois School Library Media Association/Library Book Selection Service will issue its fourth annual book grants this year. Public and private school libraries as well as public libraries registered in any of the Illinois Readers’ Choice awards programs—the Monarch Award, the Bluestem Award, the Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Book Award, and the Abraham Lincoln Illinois High School Book Award—are eligible to apply.
Grant recipients will be awarded one set of the 2013 reading campaign books for the award program indicated on their application. The titles in each book award set are determined by the individual committees in charge of the reading award programs. Sets include one copy each of the 20 or 22 books depending on the award program selected.
All grant applications must be submitted by May 15, 2012. Applicants must also be registered for the appropriate 2012 Reader’s Choice program by May 15, 2012 (a separate process). Questions may be sent to info@lbssfund.org, by fax to 309/649-0916 or by phone to 309/649-0911.
The Youth Services Forum and the Young Adult Services Forum are pleased to present the 2012 ILA Spring Workshops. This year’s workshops will highlight “sense”-ational programming and outreach ideas for special populations of children and teens and will feature discussions led by professionals on legal issues as they relate to youth and teen services.
Learn practical tips and best practices for creating programs for children with special needs, as well as outreaching tips and resources for services in your community. Find out how you can adapt programs to make them more inclusive, and considerations to take when creating programs for special populations.
Program Locations and Dates
Registration is $30 for ILA Members and $40 for Non-Members. CPDU credit will be available at each location.
Dollar General has several grants your library may be eligible for. For more information on the grants below and to apply online, visit the Dollar General website.
Dollar General Summer Reading Grants
Deadline: February 28, 2012
Dollar General Literacy Foundation Summer Reading Grants provide funding to local nonprofit organizations and libraries to help with the implementation or expansion of summer reading programs. Programs must target Pre-K through 12th grade students who are new readers, below grade level readers or readers with learning disabilities.
Dollar General Adult Literacy Grants
Deadline: February 28, 2012
Dollar General Literacy Foundation Adult Literacy Grants award funding to nonprofit organizations that provide direct service to adults in need of literacy assistance. Organizations must provide help in one of the following instructional areas:
Dollar General Family Literacy Grants
Deadline: February 28, 2012
The Dollar General Literacy Foundation Family Literacy Grants provide funding to family literacy service providers. The Foundation uses the federal government’s definition of family literacy when reviewing grant applications. Organizations applying for funding must have the following four components:Adult Education Instruction
Dollar General Youth Literacy Grants
Deadline: May 16, 2012
Dollar General Literacy Foundation Youth Literacy Grants provide funding to schools, public libraries, and nonprofit organizations to help students who are below grade level or experiencing difficulty reading. Grant funding is provided to assist in the following areas:
The theme for the Illinois Library Association’s iREAD 2013 Summer Reading program is Have Book, Will Travel! Work has already begun on the 2013 iREAD Resource Guide, and the ILA is looking for ideas to share with other librarians and educators who use the iREAD program. The Resource Guide contains crafts, activities, games, art, reading lists, and much more for children, teens, and adults. If you have a project or resource to share, send it to the ILA. The deadline for submissions is February 28. Click here to submit your ideas.
Over the past 30 years, iREAD has grown to become a leader of Summer Reading Program development by providing libraries with all of the resources they need to promote, launch, and execute great reading programs. Increasingly, iREAD themes and programs are being used year-round in schools and literacy programs. For more information, call 877-565-1896 or visit here.
Effective February 2012, certified teachers in Illinois seeking the Library Information Specialist (LIS) endorsement will have to complete 24 semester hours of coursework – half of which will be required to be taken at the graduate level - and the Library Information Specialist (175) exam. The changes in LIS endorsement requirements will take effect with Public Act 097-0607.
The LIS endorsement prepares state-certified teachers to take positions in school media centers. To see the Illinois State Board of Education’s (ISBE) Endorsement Schedule for the February 1, 2012 changes, click here.
The Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries is accepting applications for the School Library Books Grant. The deadline to submit the grant application is December 31, 2011.
The Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries makes grants of up to $6,000 to update, extend, and diversify the book collections of school libraries. All LBF grants are made to individual schools rather than to school districts, county systems, private organizations, foundations, or other entities. Only schools where a minimum of 50% of the student body qualify for the Free or Reduced Lunch (FRL) program are eligible to apply, with selection preference given to schools in which 90% or more of the students receive free or reduced lunches and are likely to have the fewest books and reading materials at home.
Applications are now being accepted for the FY12 School District Library Grant. Applications and all other information concerning the grant can be found at the Illinois State Library website.
This year’s deadline to submit the grant application and signature page is December 30. 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.
The Illinois State Library’s acclaimed reading program for high school students, Read for a Lifetime, is headed for another successful year! Organizers who haven’t done so are reminded to send in your student participation forms. Forms can be downloaded at the Illinois State Library’s website.
Return forms to Jeanne Urbanek, Illinois State Library, Gwendolyn Brooks Bldg., 300 S. Second St., Springfield, IL 62701-1796; or fax to 217-782-1877. Jeanne’s e-mail address is jurbanek@ilsos.net.
The Illinois School Library Media Association (ISLMA) offers free monthly webinars during the school year for Illinois librarians. Topics will support your professional practices in the areas of collection development, reading motivation, technology integration, and program planning. No pre-registration is necessary.
For more information about upcoming webinars and links to join the events, click here.
Contact Lisa Perez at leperez333@gmail.com with questions.