After all the build-up and excitement of the 2009 American Library Association Annual Conference in Chicago, it’s now over. Attendees are heading back to their respective positions to implement new new programs, develop new strategies, and apply new techniques to the field. And, of course, share all the exciting news with colleagues.

But what if you’ve forgotten that pithy quote, the moment of wit, the sharp phrase? Well, thanks to Twitter and hashtags, you can quickly search for your favorite ALA moments.

The official YALSA hashtag for Annual 09 is #yalsaac09, so head over to Twitter.com, sign in, and start searching with that one. Then it’s time to start with the other variations, #yalsa, #ala2009, #yalsa09, #yalsaprez, and #printz. If you’ve been curious about the BBYA discussion, a quick search for #BBYA will bring up those threads of discussion. If, like me, you love Neil Gaiman, but weren’t able to make it to the Newbery Award event, you can get some amazing quotes and fan gushing through #newbery, and #neilgaiman.

The amazing thing about hashtags is that even though there are the standardized ones, people are free to add their own ways of classifying things. What are some of the ones that you used this conference, and what might you suggest for Midwinter?

Anti-Prom 2009: \”Vam-Prom,\” Episode 1

So, teens and fashion. They go together pretty well, right? Teens take clothes, modify them to suit their mood, personality, and taste. They share accessories (no matter what adults might say about hygiene), share shirts, and even swap pants in the middle of the day. Now, imagine pairing teens’ natural interest in fashion with the resources of a library. Still with me? Okay, now imagine that you can put together teens, fashion, and Tim Gunn. Now I’ve lost you, right? But this is exactly what we were able to do for Project Library, where fashion focused teens worked with Tim Gunn to sketch an outfit that could appear at the 5th Annual Anti-Prom : Vam-Prom at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building of The New York Public Library.

I’m hoping you’ll keep reading and not write this off completely. I can see where it would be easy to dismiss as something that would never be possible for a library not in New York City, but bear with me. I have some ideas that you might be able to use.

Yes, we were able to bring Tim Gunn in to provide our teen participants with individual feedback on their fashion sketches and their ideas. Yes, we have the wealth of the research collections to draw on to find material. Yes, we have the picture collection, which has decade’s worth of images. But all libraries have fashion resources somewhere in the collection.

There’s the stack of Vogue and Cosmo magazines in the back, waiting to be discarded or claimed. There’s the book on costumes that get used once a year for school projects. You could even set aside the damaged drawing books or begin to cut up some of the knitting books that have the best styles of the 1970’s that you’ve just withdrawn. Art textbooks usual have some high quality prints in them, and if someone’s already started cutting images out, then you can too!

Your teens probably know how to use Google Image search, but this wouldn’t be a bad time to demonstrate it. You can also use newspaper databases to search for fashion, especially designer names, and see what pops up. Art auction records, museum websites, and even IMDB could serve as starting points for inspiration.

Somewhere in your community, there’s probably someone who loves fashion. You can check with a nearby college and find out if there is an art, design, fashion, or textile person who might be willing to come and talk about the history of clothing, design, and more. If the professor is unable or unwilling, you could try getting one of their students to work with you. There’s probably a photographer or two in town, and they might have experience working with clothes and models and be able to provide advice.

You can display the sketches or color boards in your library’s teen center or in the front display case. Use all the images you’ve saved and cut to make a collage outfit for an event. People can stop by and vote on their favorite styles in a Project Library competition. Some of your industrious users may even go so far as to manufacture an actual garment or create the perfect accessory for the look.

Fashion makes the library a cool place, gets teens involved with all sorts of library collections and resources, encourages literacy skills, and allows everyone find their inner Marc Jacobs, Diane von Furstenburg, or Tom Ford. In the words of Tim Gunn, we can “make it work.”

Jump on board Twitter now and start following “America’s Next Top Booktalker” before the competition begins.

Hear new sample booktalks, get title suggestions, and more!

Check out ANTB1 on Twitter.

What are your Friday night plans in the Mile High City? Lisa, Beth, Erin, and I are all going to be at the YALSA Tech Playground, showing off all sorts of applications, gadgets, and programs that you could use to connect with your teens. But beyond gizmos, we’re also going to be having a little challenge!

It’s time to break out your inner competitor for a chance to win the title of America’s Next Top Booktalker! Pick your favorite title, hop up on stage, and show off your booktalking prowess. See tips and tricks, feedback and suggestions come in via Twitter.

If you’ve never used Twitter, we can also show you how to sign up and start tweeting. Twitter is a short messaging service that asks “What are you doing?” in 140 chracters or less. Follow friends, family, publishers, news sources, and more all at Twitter.com

Send an e-mail to Chris Shoemaker at Christopher_Shoemaker{at}nypl.org with your name and the title of the book you’re thinking about presenting. If you want to write an on-the-spot talk, we’ll have some of the hottest titles on hand for you to select. We also have surprise super-star booktalking guests!

Get more information at the YALSA Mixer and Tech Playground wiki page.

And, as an added bonus, here’s a sample booktalk for Sara Ryan’s amazing novel, Empress of the World. empressoftheworld.mp3

So, you’re working hard to connect teens with poetry. You’ve tried the Dickens and the Frost and the Angelou and the entire 811 section. The teens are sitting there looking at you bored out of their mind.

Well, have you tried the Beat poets? They’re all about rebellion and individualism, two themes towards which teens will feel a natural affinity. Working with Urban Word NYC and the Precision Poetry Drill Team, The New York Public Library sponsored “Bring the Beat back” at the Bronx Library Center. Performing works from such an influential movement in literature, the members of the Precision Poetry Drill Team inspired several teens to get up and present their own creations at the end of the session. One of the most memorable moments was their adaptation of Alan Ginsberg’s famous “Howl,” which the group decided to perform on top of one of the tables in the Teen Center. If you check out the video link, you can see the opening lines from “Howl” on the scrolling marquee as well. Check out that video (and more):


If you’re looking to explore your own poetry programs, here are a few helpful suggestions:

• Have the event on the main floor, or in a space where people can spend a few minutes listening before deciding to join you or continue browsing the collection. Many curious individuals stopped by after seeing people on top of the furniture in the library.
• Try to add a unique element to the setup. “Bring the Beat back” started with the traditional podium and rows of chairs, but quickly morphed to accompany the movement of the performers and the teens.
• Whether from a DJ or a simple mixed cd, music helps to serve as a bridge from one piece to the next and also helps to stimulate the audience, especially during the transitions from one poet to another.

Finally, here are some helpful journal articles related to adolescent development, poetry, and young adult literature, which might be helpful if you need to build support for poetry related programs in your library:

Glaeser, Chuck. “Why Be Normal? The Search for Identity and Acceptance
in the Gifted Adolescent.” The English Journal 92.4 (2003): 33-41. JSTOR. 18 June 2008. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3650454.

Poetry encourages teens to explore their identity, especially as they experience
greater social pressure to conform. Whether in free form, haiku, or sonnet,
the diverse forms of poetry allow teens a wide range of creative freedom.

Morrell, Ernest. “Toward a critical pedagogy of popular culture: literacy development among urban youth. (Media Literacy).” Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy 46.1 (Sept 2002): 72(6). Expanded Academic ASAP. Gale. 18 June 2008 http://find.galegroup.com/itx/start.do?prodId=EAIM

Pop culture and poetry combined form a powerful tool for exploring media and self identity. Teens who feel disconnected from mainstream culture are more willing to participate in discussions about that same culture.

Wissman, Kelly K. “‘Making a way’: young women using literacy and language to resist the politics of silencing.(Essay).” Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy 51.4 (Dec 2007): 340(10). Expanded Academic ASAP. Gale. 18 June 2008 http://find.galegroup.com/itx/start.do?prodId=EAIM.

Poetry can be used to create a safe space for teens to openly discuss issues that they may not feel comfortable revealing in open settings. The camaraderie generated through such interaction creates stronger interpersonal ties and helps form a stronger support network for teens as well.

Zitlow, Connie. “Young Adult Literature: Did Patty Bergen Write This Poem? : Connecting Poetry and Young Adult Literature.” The English Journal 84.1 (1995): 110-113. JSTOR. 18 June 2008. http://www.jstor.org/stable/820491.

Poetry encourages discussions, especially when focused on particular themes. Reluctant readers can get a snapshot of character development, emotional resonance, and genre experience without reading through an entire book.