This Week in Online Literacies

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Posted by Linda W. Braun

This is the third, and next to last, week in the online literacies class. The theme for the week is gaming. It was interesting putting the materials for the week together because there was so much information about the positive impact of gaming on learning and literacy. That’s not a bad thing but we had to really think about exactly what met the needs of the class.

As students are reading about and playing games as a part of the class they are being asked to think about the literacy and library implications of what they read and play. I’ve noticed that over the last year many libraries have been adding games to their collections and hosting gaming events at the library. Some of the resources we listed for students use in order to learn more about libraries and gaming include:

Volunteer Opportunities at ALA’s Conference

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Posted by Beth Yoke:

Volunteer Opportunities: ALA has been in contact with libraries in the New Orleans area, as well as Habitat for Humanity and other organizations to determine the types of volunteer activities that will be available on Fri. June 23 and Tues. June 27. ALA will conduct a site visit in March to finalize activities, and will notify people in early April of the various volunteer options. Volunteers will be able to select their top choices for projects, and ALA will do its best to accommodate requests. The plans are currently to have full day projects to offer as much help to each site as possible. To participate, you can register through the regular ALA Annual registration form by entering event code AL1 (Friday) or AL2 (Tuesday) under the ‘Events Add On’ Section. There is a $10 fee to register for these two events, but proceeds go to the Katrina Relief Fund. If you have any questions please contact ALA at cro@ala.org

Diversions Tour: ALA’s Office for Diversity will devote its normally scheduled “Diversions Tour,” held on the Monday of every Annual Conference, to touring the most afflicted New Orleans neighborhoods and later, performing a hands-on service project at NOPL’s Alvar Branch. You may sign up for this ticketed event when registering for Annual Conference. In exchange for a purchased ticket, participants will receive a T-shirt, lunch, and an opportunity to contribute to the rebuilding of a vital library and library collection. Any proceeds from ticket sales support the Spectrum Scholarship as well as a monetary donation to the New Orleans Public Library. NOPL’s Alvar Branch Library serves a traditionally African American and a burgeoning GLBT community. It was severely affected by Katrina and requires extensive renovation (see: www.nutrias.org/~nopl/alv/alvarphotographs.htm ). We will be working with Geraldine Harris, Assistant City Librarian of NOPL, to determine the exact nature of the project we will perform, be it painting and sheet-rocking or landscaping services. Questions about the Diversions Tour can be directed to diversity@ala.org.

Scholarship Bash: At ALA’s Midwinter Meeting last month the ALA Executive Board voted that all net proceeds from the 2006 Scholarship Bash over $60,000 be designated as a one-time addition to the Hurricane Relief Fund. Here are the details that are available: ALA/ProQuest Scholarship and Library Relief Event Saturday, June 24, 2006, 8:00 – 11:00 pm Convention Center Auditorium Tickets: $35 The Scholarship Bash is held to provide scholarships for graduate students in library and information studies. ALA hasn’t yet announced the entertainment for this event, but you can check back on www.ala.org/scholarshipbash because it will be posted there when it’s finalized. Questions about the Bash can be directed to Amy McGuigan at amcguigan@ala.org.

Donate Books Now: The New Orleans Public Library needs help in rebuilding the African American, Vietnamese and GLBT collections at Alvar. She is especially seeking new or “like new” books that have been Stonewall, Coretta Scott King, BCALA Literary or other appropriate award winners, as well as canonical and popular titles in these collection areas. Send book donations to: New Orleans Public Library 219 Loyola, New Orleans, LA 70112, Attention Rica Trigs. Geraldine states: DO NOT SEND anything by US mail unless it is first-class. NOPL does not receive anything that is not first class. We can receive packages via FedEx, UPS, and DHL.

Get Ready to Read with Your Ears

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YALSA’s Preconference in New Orleans is entitled Read with Your Ears, and is focusing on Audiobooks for Teens. Throughout the day, there will be panels of both reviewers and producers of Young adult audiobooks. There will also be a presentation about tying Audiobooks into the curriculum. Enjoy a relaxing lunch with guest speaker Tamora Pierce, and return for more, including a wrap-up discussing trends, marketing, and more.

Stay tuned to the YALSA blog for information on a VERY exciting contest for pre-conference attendees.
Register Now for the Preconference!

Posted by Jamie Watson

Some recognition for the Printz

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It has been disappointing to see the Printz Award virtually ignored by the media who manages to cover the Newbery and Caldecott. I did note that USA Today and some other papers at least noted the winner of the Printz, but nowhere I have I seen interviews with John Green about LOOKING FOR ALASKA.

I wonder how to catch the interest of the media. After all, they seem to focus only on the recent spate of censorship cases. Why not a focus on the great new award winning books and the readers that are being nurtured by their availability? I wonder if ALSC could assist YALSA here and request that the Printz winner be included in the press events? I know we are the new kids on the block, but the Printz deserves some more recognition.

BTW, thanks to the hardy YA folks who stood outside the Today Show window and waved copies of ALASKA! Maybe more of us can plan a trip to the Big Apple for next year?

Posted by Teri Lesesne

Technology Questions for VP/Pres Candidates

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Posted by YALSA Member Michele Gorman:

Here is a question for the VP/President Candidates:

What’s your favorite emerging technology and how do you see that kind of technology impacting service to teens in the future? How should YALSA address the training issues related to teen services librarians and new technologies in a sustainable, ongoing way?

I think this is a very important topic because we are dealing with a new generation of learners who have been raised in a digital world. I want to know how the YALSA president is going to address this shift so that we, as an association, are leading our profession in terms of meeting the technological needs of our teen patrons.

Member Issue Questions for VP/President Candidates

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Posted by Amy Alessio

Paula & Allen:

Here are a few more questions on member issues, then a fun one about your YA interests:

What services do you feel YALSA provides that are the most valuable for new members? Long-term members? Do you have further ideas on how to reach those groups of members?

How would you help a director find a way to support someone wanting to work with YALSA? (I thinking of all the members who cannot afford to come to conference, which is the case in most of Illinois, my home state.)

What are some of your favorite YA books/authors? Movies?

Professional Development

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There has been some considerable discussion on the listservs about the lack of professional conferences for YA folks. Our state library association does a good job of bringing in people for the annual conference, but I wonder how many people know that YALSA is offering online PD?

There are other opportunities as well with organizations outside of ALA: SIGNAL (International Reading Associations YA group) and ALAN (National Council of Teachers of English YA group). ALAN does not require membership in NCTE nor does SIGNAL require IRA membership. ALAN folks can go to the workshop without registering for the larger and more expensive NCTE conference, too.

The PD page at YALSA has links and info about many of these PD opportunities.

Posted by Teri Lesesne

Futher Questions for VP Candidates

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From Amy Alessio:

Allen & Paula:
Here are a few more questions:

What training or mentoring have you done to spread the YA word to other professionals? Who has mentored or made a difference with you?

You both know I’m especially interested in YALSA Finances. We need increased revenue to bring new services. Please suggest ways both of these things could be accomplished during your term.

Online Literacies Course Week Two

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Posted by Linda W. Braun

This week in the course we are talking about creation and participation technologies. Things like Wikis, Tagging, Blogs, RSS, and Podcasts. One thing I was just thinking about in relation to these technologies is how wonderful it would be if librarians in different communities used the technology to bring teens together. Perhaps a group of teens from distant communities could create a wiki together on a topic of interest. Or maybe teens could interview each other for a series of podcasts on teens and libraries. I’ve been thinking a lot about the implications of these technologies in teen lives in particular. But, it’s time to also think about how libraries can connect teens around the country through these technologies.