DECEMBER 2023 NEWSLETTER

Meeting peers, conquering fears!


I was so happy to attend the YALSA Symposium in St. Louis Nov 10-12th and learn from youth librarians all over the country - as well as meet some amazing authors and grab some advance copies of books dropping in 2024!


I'll be sharing out resources and ideas from the conference in upcoming newsletters. Remember that your state aid funds can be used to attend local and national conferences - it is such a valuable experience.


On a personal note, I conquered both my claustrophobia and fear of heights and made it to the top of the St. Louis Arch during a program break. It was beautiful! Takeaway - don't give yourself too much time to think about it!


Remember, you can always find all the newsletters on the Youth Services page of the NMSL website.


-Kelly

CALENDAR -  DATES AND DEADLINES

Monthly Youth Services Meetings


NEW TIMES! Two Options - Pick the one that works for you!


Friday, December 15 @ 10:00am Zoom Link Here

Monday, December 18 @ 1:00pm Zoom Link Here


This month's Discussion Topic - Year in Review! Share your most successful programs from the last year. Hear from other folks across the state. Let me know what you would like to see from the state library in 2024.


This is an informal meeting of YS staff from across the state. Drop in, help a colleague, or get some feedback on your own programs.

Youth Services

Quarterly Book Club


Holiday/Winter Theme - Choose your title!

Discussion: Wednesday, December 6 @ 9:00am

ZOOM LINK: HERE


For the next Book Club we will have a Genre Club.

This is a great way to host a club without having to buy multiple copies of the same book. Choose a Middle Grade or YA title within the theme to share with other attendees! Get your coffee and join us for an informal discussion about the book and it's appeal to our youth patrons.

Looking Ahead:

Take your Child to the Library Day

February 3, 2024


takeyourchildtothelibrary.org


Take Your Child to the Library Day (TYCLD) is an international initiative that encourages families everywhere to take their children to their local library. Launched in 2011 in Connecticut, TYCLD raises community awareness about the importance of the library in the life of a child, and promotes library services and programs for children and families.


Library staff can register your participation and get promotional graphics and resources here.

SRP2024: Adventure Begins at Your Library


The CSLP Store is open https://shop.cslpreads.org/


The CSLP Manual is available for download. If you participated in the 2023 Summer Reading Survey, you will have a passcode for free access. Contact Kelly McCabe for more information.


SRP24 Niche Academy Course

There is a new 2024SRP Niche Academy course that is a one-stop-shop for all things CSLP. This is an evolving resource - new material will be added as it becomes available. Check out the new course here.

There is a new video tutorial for using the online manual.


CSLP Professional Development Opportunity

REGISTRATION IS OPEN! - https://www.cslpreads.org/summer-symposium/

NEWS

We're excited for another year of the Early Literacy Calendar!


The calendar incorporates the early literacy practices found in Every Child Ready to Read, and includes, rhymes, songs and book lists on the back.


You can download all months in English and Spanish from the Niche Academy course - here - and distribute to your patrons, or share on your library website or social media - just like the

A. W. Thompson Public Library in Clayton. NM (left).

Bilingual Book Walks Available!


We were thrilled to see the coverage Socorro Public Library received for their recent Bilingual Book Walk installation of Time to Play/Tiempo de Jugar by Eva Mastogiulio in the El Defensor Chieftan newspaper. The Bilingual Book Walks are one category of circulating kits you can borrow from the New Mexico State Library. Book Walks are available with either indoor or outdoor stands.


You can read the article here, and read about all the available circulating kits on our website at nmstatelibrary.org/circulating-kits


Maribel Tarango, Youth Services Assistant at Socorro Public Library, guides young patrons through the outdoor book walk.

@ SEEN ON SOCIAL

OPPORTUNITIES

Bring the NEA Big Read to your community!


The NEA Big Read annually provides support to selected nonprofit organizations around the country to host dynamic community-wide reading programs in collaboration with local partners to develop and conduct engaging events and activities.  Grant awards range between $5000 and $20,000. Applications are now open for grants to support NEA Big Read projects between September 2024 and June 2025. Intent to Apply deadline is Wednesday, January 10, 2024.


Get full details on the Big Read website - HERE


Scholarships and Grants from ALA


The ALSC/Candlewick Press "Light the Way" Grant is sponsored by Candlewick Press in honor of author Kate DiCamillo and the themes represented in her books. The award consists of a $3,000 grant to assist a library in conducting exemplary and replicable outreach to underserved populations through a new and innovative program or an expansion of work already being done. Deadline to apply December 15, 2023.

Full details and to apply - click here


Penguin Random House Young Readers Group Award

This award, made possible by an annual gift from Penguin Young Readers Group and Random House Children's Books, provides a $600 stipend to up to four children's librarians to attend their first ALA Annual Conference. Deadline to apply December 31, 2023.

Full details and to apply - click here


Mary V. Graver Scholarship: An annual scholarship consisting of $3,000 to a U.S./Canadian citizen or permanent resident who is pursuing an MLS specializing in youth services in an ALA-accredited program. Deadline to apply March 1, 2024

Full details and to apply - click here


Miriam L. Hornback Scholarship: An annual scholarship consisting of $3,000 to an ALA or library support staffer who is a U.S./Canadian citizen or permanent resident who is pursuing an MLS in an ALA-accredited program.

Deadline to apply March 1, 2024

Full details and to apply - click here

Two Will Eisner Graphic Novel Grants for Libraries will be given in the 2024 grant cycle - one Will Eisner Graphic Novel Growth Grants will provide support to a library that would like to expand its existing graphic novel services and programs and one Will Eisner Graphic Novel Innovation Grant will provide support to a library for the initiation of a graphic novel service, program or initiative. These Grants will support two categorical grants that will encourage public awareness on the rise and importance of graphic literature, sequential art, and comics as a literary medium. Each winning library will receive a grant award of $4,000 to support initiatives that align with the objective of the Will Eisner Graphic Novel Grants for Libraries.

Deadline to apply January 28, 2024.

Full details and to apply - click here

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Tools for Reimagining

School Readiness

Tuesday, December 5, 1:00-2:00pm MT


Libraries play a vital role in preparing young children for school by providing interactive and playful programs in which children can develop social, emotional, math, science, and executive function skills and practices. The Reimagining School Readiness Toolkit provides free, online, research-based resources, created specifically for library staff. These resources make it easy for you to enhance what you are already doing. This webinar will introduce library staff to the background and components of the Toolkit, along with testimonials from practitioners about how they are reimagining school readiness in their own libraries. You’ll leave with ideas and strategies for supporting your families and communities.


For full details and to register - click here


Libraries Foster Social Connection: Responding to the Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation

Thursday, January 4, 2024, 1:00-2:00pm MT


Libraries can play a vital role in building social cohesion and promoting community resilience, especially in challenging times. This engaging session will explore ways to intentionally design for social connection in library services and programs, from passive to hosted. Through the lens of "social connector," we will explore how libraries can invite the community in with intention, build relationships that enhance social infrastructure, put community at the center of the library, and demonstrate the library’s impact.


For full details and to register - click here


Spring Youth Book Preview


Thursday, December 7, 12noon MT

What new titles do your favorite publishers have in store this spring? Find out during Booklist’s Spring Youth Preview on Thursday, December 7 at 12noon MT. Learn about upcoming picture book, middle grade, and YA titles coming to a shelf near you from Bloomsbury, Norton Young Readers, and Abrams Children’s Books.


For full details and to register - here.




These are free workshops to train YOU on the subject matter, so you can then conduct the program at your library. For virtual programs the first 20 registrants receive mailed kits of supplies.





Intro to Micro:bits

Saturday, January 20, 10 am - 12 pm @ Explora

Want to get into computer science and coding? In this workshop, you will learn how to use simple, common materials with micro:bit microcontrollers in creative ways. This an introduction with no previous coding experience required!


Full details and to register


Easy Breezy!

Thursday, January 25, 2024, 2 pm - 4 pm (Virtual) Zoom link sent day before.

“Catch” air to see that it takes up space, use air to do work, and learn about the power of air pressure.


Full details and to register



Looking Ahead: Professional Conferences

There are many general and specialized conferences for library staff. Plan ahead to attend! Remember: LSTA funds can be used to send library staff to professional conferences.


ALA Lib Learn X - January 19-22, 2024, Baltimore, MD

2024 Power Up - March 21-22, 2024, Madison, WI

Public Library Association - April 3-5, 2024, Columbus, OH

ALA Annual Conference - June 27-July 2, 2024, San Diego, CA

ALSC (Assoc. Library Service to Children) - Sept 19-21, 2024, Denver, CO

Compiled by Kelly McCabe, Youth Services Coordinator

New Mexico State Library

Email: [email protected]


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