Courtney Young Needs Your Vote!

It’s election time for members of the American Library Association. Even if you’re not a member, I think you’ll enjoy hearing from Courtney Young, a candidate for ALA president. Courtney wrote the following to share with you what librarians can do through the ALA to serve our communities.

If you’re not a librarian, continue reading to know what to expect of your local school, public or academic library. If you are a librarian, read to know what a vote for Courtney will mean for the ALA. Voting in the 2013 ALA election began at 9:00 a.m. Central Time (US) on March 19, 2013. Ballots close at 11:59 p.m. on April 26, 2013.

The future of libraries is brighter than ever!

My name is Courtney Young and I ask for your vote for ALA President.

My platform focuses on the value of membership in the association. ALA exists for members in practical, relevant ways. In a time when we are faced with fiscal uncertainties, a growing impact of technology on core library collections and services, and staffing challenges, the library community needs to know that ALA is there for them. I am prepared to continue my service to the library community as President of the American Library Association, by advancing what I believe are three issues affecting all of us: Diversity, Career Development, and Engagement and Outreach.

Library services are strengthened when the diversity of the profession represents the diversity of the communities we serve. Likewise, our association is strong because of the diversity of the types of libraries we serve. ALA empowers our diverse voices.

Keeping all library employees current and equipped to serve their communities is one of the key roles of the association. By supporting substantive interactions, including professional networking, collaboration, and continuing education, ALA ensures that library and information professionals well-equipped with skills and training, well-informed of the issues that impact libraries and our profession, and well-connected to the changing world around us. ALA is the central thread that connects all of us.

Libraries are nimble and responsive to the changing information and service needs of our communities. They empower users and foster participation in the larger community providing access to information, by supporting use of networks and social media, and by advocating for users’ rights to information. ALA truly builds communities.

As ALA heads into strategic planning for 2020, I will work to keep these initiatives and the association valuable to member needs.

Thank you in advance for your support! To learn about my campaign and active leadership in ALA, please visit http://courtneyyoung.org.

Sincerely,

Courtney L. Young
Head Librarian, Penn State Greater Allegheny

Its *THAT* Monday in January

Rainy days and Mondays get us down, and rainy Mondays?? Nothing to it, but to do it! Especially with the rainy Monday is Midwinter Monday and the Youth Media Awards are announced.

I have to begin with an earlier award that was announced at ALA Midwinter.  The following middle grade and young adult books are recognized  by the United States Board on Books For Young People as Outstanding International Books 2013.

Ellis, Deborah. Kids of Kabul: Living Bravely Through aNever-Ending War. Groundwood. (Canada)

Master, Irfan. A Beautiful Lie. Albert Whitman.(Great Britain)

Wein, Elizabeth. Code Name Verity. Disney/Hyperion.(Great Britain)

Abirached, Zeina. A Game for Swallows: To Die, To Leave,

To Return. Tr. By Edward Gauvin. Graphic Universe/Lerner. (France)

Chadda, Sarwat. The Savage Fortress. Levine/Scholastic.(Great Britain)

de Graaf, Anne. Son of a Gun. Eerdmans. (Netherlands)

Doyle, Roddy. A Greyhound of a Girl. Amulet/Abrams.(Great Britain)

Ellis, Deborah. My Name is Parvana. Groundwood.(Canada)

Gleitzman, Morris. Now. Holt. (Australia)

Serrano, Francisco. La Malinche: The Princess Who Helped Cortés Conquer the Aztec Empire.Tr.bySusanOuriou. Illus. by Pablo Serrano. Groundwood. (France)

Tanaka, Shelley. Nobody Knows. Groundwood. (Canada)

Awards announced this morning included:

Coretta Scott King Award:

Illustrator award: Brian Collier (I Too, Am America)

(no John Steptoe Award again this year.)

Honors: Jacqueline Woodson (Each Kindness); Vaunda Michaux Nelson: No Crystal Stair

Winner: Andrea Davis Pinkney (Hand in Hand 10 Black Men Who Changed America)

The Printz Award:

honor book: The Round House by Louise Erdrich

winner: In Darkness by Nick Lake (my review)

The most recognized book of the day: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. And, it is quite deserving of each of these awards and more. (my review) Printz Honor Book; Stonewall Award; Pura Belpré Author Award.

Congratulations to all the winners!

ALA Diversity Research Grant

The Diversity Research Grant consists of a one-time $2000 annual award for original research and a $500 travel grant to attend and present at ALA Annual Conference. A jury of ALA members will evaluate proposals and is encouraged to award a total of three awards. Grant recipients will be expected to compile the results of their research into a paper and will be asked to present and publish the final product in conjunction with the American Library Association. Grant proposals may address any diversity topic that speaks to critical gaps in the knowledge of diversity issues within library and information science. Grant applicants may also email diversity@ala.org to request a list of proposal topic suggestions. For submission guidelines and proposal evaluation criteria visit theALA website .

Deadline: 30 April

From Others, To Others

I hope you enjoyed my post about my weekend with IBLN. I am still thinking about all that I got out of attending that conference and spinning the information into new ideas.

I have to renew my BCALA membership. Anyone can join BCLALA, you don’t have to be a member. Did I say anyone  can join? Why stop there? Why not join/support  Chinese American Librarian Association, Asia Pacific American Library Association, American Indians in Childrens Literature, American Indian Librarians Association, and REFORMA? I used to applaud that ALA had venues for so many groups to be able to address their unique needs but now I question why ALA has to have separate groups. Why the need to pull out to be recognized? Nonetheless, these groups to exist to give voice where it would not otherwise exist. I can (and will) join them and support their cause regardless of my own ethnicity. And, I’ll be at the Joint Conference of Librarians of Color in September.

Does anyone know if any of the ALA caucus groups maintain listservs?

We don’t just divide ourselves ethnically. Geographic is another way. While I belong to local listserv groups, I also belong to those in other states. I’m amazed at the literacy and technology resources I find from the KYMS  (Kentucky Media Specialist) listserv! Just recently, this video posted to KET which is giving me many ideas on using technology in my school and resources I should be looking for in my state.

Pirate Tree recently ran a request for books and DVDs to be donated for women in Afghanistan.  I love this blog which focuses on social justice and children’s literature.

I like these ways of reaching out, the give and take of real growth and learning.