New group on ALA Connect

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I have been a member of USBBY (The US Board on Books for Youth) for some several years. I served as YALSA’s liaison to the Board and now serve as the NCTE rep. It is the American arm of IBBY (The International Board on Books for Youth). The focus of USBBY and IBBY is to bring attention to literacy throughout the world and to celebrate literature from other countries. Each year, USBBY sponsors lists that include books for children with disabilities and outstanding international books. You can read more about the organization at its web site (www.usbby.org).

You are invited to join a new Community on ALA Connect open to people interested in promoting international understanding and good will through books and literacy services to children and teenagers. Once you join the
community (you don’t need to be an ALA member) you can post pertinent information, register information about upcoming conferences of interest to the community on the calendar, post documents or open online discussions and chats.

Hope you will check it out at:
http://connect.ala.org/node/94955

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