Children are the future, and as a children's librarian, YOU are directly involved in shaping that future! With more than 750 student members and 4,200 professional members, the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) is your outlet for growing professionally, developing a network, and learning from your peers.
Student members get all of the benefits of professional ALSC membership but for a fraction of the cost. Student members pay only $18 a year, in addition to their ALA student membership. To learn more about the benefits of ALSC membership or to become a member, visit our membership page.
Interact, network and learn virtually through ALSC Student Sessions! These FREE one-hour Webinars give participants the opportunity to learn first-hand about hot library issues from ALSC members across the country. Not only are sessions informative, but because Webinars offer virtual interaction, participants are able to network with members and peers without having to leave the comforts of home. Sessions are scheduled with ample time for questions at the end of the presentation, and although these sessions were designed with students in mind, you do not need to be a student member to attend.
View a printable version of the ALSC Student Session Schedule to save-the-date or share with colleagues!
Questions? Contact Jenny Najduch at jnajduch@ala.org.
Current sessions include:
Hosting a Mock Newbery @ your library
Kiera Parrott & Anna McKay, Darien Library
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
6 p.m. CST
Every year you wait anxiously for that magic moment when you hear, "The winner of this year's Newbery Award is..." This year, let the kids at your library decide who they think the winner of the Newbery Award might be! Join librarians Kiera Parrott and Anna McKay as they discuss the details of hosting a mock Newbery program, from how to provide a reading list to leading discussions about the books. Afterwards, you won't be the only person at your library excited for this year's big news!
You can view a recording of this session through the OPAL Archives.
Marketing Your Library on the Web
Jill Bickford, West Bloomfield Township Public Library
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
6 p.m. CST
Where is the first place you go when you want information? The Internet of course! Join us for an enlightening discussion about how to market your library programs electronically, getting parents and caregivers the information they need through a medium they are already comfortable with. Learn about cool new tools on the Web, as well as how to use these tools to their fullest.
You can view a recording of this session through the OPAL Archives.
Connecting Kids with Great Web Sites
Meagan Albright & Sharon Haupt
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
7 p.m. CST
Learn how to find, evaluate and use Web sites for kids! This presentation features the chairs of the ALSC Great Web Sites for Kids committee, which evaluates 100s of sites every year to find find and educational tools for children and families. They'll show you what the committee does to come up with their widely used "Great Web Sites for Kids" list and how you can incorporate these resources into your library programming.
Program documents:
Great Web Sites for Kids Criteria Worksheet
Great Web Sites for Kids Evaluation Rubric
You can view a recording of this session through the OPAL Archives.
Easy User Experience Strategies
Jeannie Chen & Lindsay Klick
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
6 p.m. CST
Help your patrons get the most out of their library visit! Join ALSC to learn about basic methods to meet user needs through usability testing. Hear about inexpensive strategies that can be easily employed, such as using index cards for paper prototyping. Make usability a part of designing your services, and soon you'll be building better library experiences.
Program documents:
Easy User Experience Strategies Bibliography
You can view a recording of this session through the OPAL Archives.
Getting Your First Library Job: Tips from Library Directors
Therese Bigelow, Chesapeake (VA) Public Library &
Gene Nelson, Provo (Utah) City Library
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
6 p.m. CST
With today's economy, you'll need an extra edge to land that first library job. Let ALSC help. Join us for a discussion about the skills that make new librarians more marketable, new technologies that directors will hope you know how to use and most importantly, how you can stand out in a sea of new graduates. Session will include ample time for Q&A.
Tech Tools for Parents and Caregivers
Gretchen Caserotti & Kelley Beeson
This session has been postponed until a later date,
please check back for more information.
21st Century parenting requires 21st Century technology skills. Learn how you can adopt the "23 Things" program for your staff and community during this technology focused session. Originally created by Helene Blowers during her time at the Public Library at Charlotte Mecklenburg County, the "23 Things" program is a series of short, weekly exercises designed to increase familiarity with a variety of Web 2.0 tools such as blogs and wikis. Session will include ample time for Q&A.