Someone told me a few weeks ago that the average 16 year old was born the year I graduated high school. Then, I got a Facebook invitation reminding me that I have been out of graduate school for ten years. Wow! Where has all the time gone? And how do I keep up with today’s youth, and the chasm of years between myself and them continues to grow?
One great tool is the Beloit College Mindset List…
A little while ago my Twitter friend grdnldy wrote a post that said, “How did I miss this, digital drugs http://tinyurl.com/69tsex“ I wrote back and said, “Perhaps because the hype is more than the reality. Perhaps a bit of breeding hysteria for something that might not really be a real issue.” But, actually, before I wrote that reply, I did a quick Google search and found that several media outlets had recently run a story on digital drugs. (more…)
The Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) has put together a toolkit for libraries called Library Accessiblity - What You Need to Know. There are fifteen specific tipsheets, covering areas from patrons with cognitive, mental, or emotional illnesses to patrons who need assistive technologies and patrons with physical disabilities.
Many, if not all, the tips apply to Teen Services. For example, instead of asking the age or grade of a patron, ask for the name of a favorite book to determine reading level. Encourage teens with disabilities to volunteer. Reach out to teens who are homebound or are in institutions.
There’s still time to register for the first ever YALSA Young Adult Literature Symposium. Check out YALSA’s new video ad for the event and find out from members why it’s worth attending.
As I went through the newspaper over breakfast on Sunday, pulling out the coupon and ad sections to look at, I saw the circulars for the big box stores advertising back to school supplies, backpacks and school clothes. I snapped out of my sleepy, carefree morning bliss. Is it back to school time already?
Though it feels like the middle of the summer outside, with the humidity and temperatures sweltering in most parts of the country, the reality is that the new school year is approaching quickly. It’s time to prepare. And as you prepare your calendars with programming and events for the upcoming school year, don’t forget to include planning for Teen Read Week 2008-Books With Bite. Now is a great time to get a jump on your planning and organizing. Be sure to register for TRW to receive free promotional materials. Registration closes Sept. 12 and the first 1,000 people who register in between Sept. 1 -12 will receive a free Secret Life of Bees poster from Fox Searchlight.
Once you’ve signed up, poke around the other areas of the Teen Read Week website and the Teen Read Week Wiki for more resources and information. Find inspiration and ideas for your library’s uniqiue celebration. What gets you excited about Teen Read Week 2008?
As I explained in my last post, the audiobook program run by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) is called the Talking Book program.
Lindsey Dunn broke the news about how the Digital Talking Books and System is moving forward — in a nutshell, switching from cassette books and players to digital books available on cartridge or via download and listened to on digital players.
I’m happy to share with you the Press Release from NLS which provides more details on the program, available at NLS Flash. It includes a photo of a NLS customer using the new digital player. Once more information becomes available, I’ll post that, also. In the meanwhile, if you have questions about the program or the new player or the download program, let me know!
Also, as a reminder, Talking Books is a free library service that is open to all people whose low vision, blindness, or physical handicap makes it difficult to read a standard printed page. The service includes the loan of the player.
Today’s Columbus (OH) Dispatch newspaper has a great feature story on video gaming in the library, mentioning the Columbus Metropolitan Library, Upper Arlington Library, Westerville Public Library. A big congratulations shout-out to Julie Scordato, Kate Hastings, and Gordon Gavin for being quoted in the article !
The story is available online.
~ Mary Burkey
According to Newsarama, Stan Lee made a surprise guest appearance at the San Diego Comic-Con’s “LGBT Portrayals in Comics” panel to announce a budding partnership with Perry Moore, the author of Hero. What that partnership actually entails is still up for spectulation (do I smell a movie?).
Hero gained a great following for its epic portrayal of superheroics through the eyes of gay teenager Thom Creed. Thom must navigate both his budding sexuality and superpowers while under the watchful eye of his disapproving, ex-hero father–all while an unseen assailent is murdering the world’s superheroes. While plots and mysteries abounded, Perry Moore managed to keep the book grounded in the characters. It was an altogether exceptional debut. (more…)
This year’s Membership Meeting and President’s Program left me feeling really energized. Now I have all of these great ideas percolating…
For those who were unable to attend the conference or this particular session, there was a ton of information about what we’ve accomplished as a division. Here is my attempt to give you the highlights. (Any mistakes here are my own as I just tried to type all of this in and keep up!)
President Paula Brehm-Heeger gave a great overview of all the work done by YALSA during the 2007-2008 year. Some accomplishments she mentioned include: (more…)
Welcome to the return of the weekly YALSA Update, in which you’ll find the latest news from the YALSA Office.
Coming to Anaheim? YALSA will keep you busy! For a complete schedule and full descriptions, visit the YALSA Annual Wiki; a complete schedule of YALSA’s programs with times and room numbers is available as a PDF.
See YALSA in the Exhibits! Stop by the exhibits booth in the ALA Pavilion (#1839-#1940) and pick up your YALSA ribbons, your free 25-pack of Books with Bite pamphlets, and a YALSA Passport to Teen Read Week™. Then, take your passport to TRW Corporate Sponsor Mirrorstone Books (#2660) and the Promotional Partners listed in the packet and ask for a stamp. Bring your completed passport to the booth, and you’ll be entered in a drawing for one of two Flip Video cameras or a second prize of a Teen Read Week Products Pack from ALA Graphics, a TRW Promotional Partner. Everyone who completes a passport will receive a FREE Teen Read Week Manual. (more…)
