School Age Programs and Services Committee: Out of School Time: Inspiring Engagement in Children’s Programming

Programming for school age children has experienced a radical shift in the last year due to the pandemic. Out-of-school time or “after school” has taken on a different tone as some children learn at home and some are back at school.And yet, with virtual programming libraries continue to provide a bridge between home and school. Children’s librarians are digging deeper into the well of programming ideas to provide engaging library related activities. In our first column, we offer some concrete program ideas that can be utilized throughout the year when school is in session or during summer reading programming.

Research Roundup, Student Edition: Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and Early Childhood

This list features freely accessible links to research and resources on social-emotional learning (SEL) in early childhood. The resources can help children’s librarians and early childhood practitioners expand their knowledge and equip them with practical skills to promote SEL practices at libraries and/or other childcare settings.

Research Roundup: Paley’s Practice: Storytelling, Story Acting, and Early Learning

In the early years, children’s librarians traditionally lit a candle at the beginning of each storytime. The altered atmosphere helped transport children mentally to a land of stories. The candle was blown out at the end of the session, bringing them back to the library. Although this tradition has not endured (due perhaps to the invention of smoke alarms), storytelling remains an effective tool that can be used by librarians.

Move, Play, Read!

When the pandemic shut down many libraries in spring 2020, children’s librarians had to be creative to fill the void when most in-person programming stopped. In this collection of articles, librarians used everything from outside activities (like storywalks) to motion and movement programs to engage children. See how they helped students move, play, and read!—Editor

Early and Family Literacy Committee: Sharing the EFL’s Research and Links

Serving on an ALSC committee is a great way to meet other children’s librarians and to work on issues that interest you. Committees create or sponsor programs for conferences, discuss current issues and trends, brainstorm new ideas, participate in national projects, work as a team to review all sorts of media and present national awards, promote intellectual freedom, and more. Committee work enables you to share ideas and help shape the world of children’s librarianship. In fact, this column was envisioned and created by Dr. Tess Prendergast, while she was serving on the Children and Libraries Editorial Advisory Committee.Earlier this year, co-chairs of the ALSC Early and Family Literacy (EFL) Committee expressed a desire to write about some current research resources.

Every? Child Ready to Read: A Model of Successful Programming for Deaf Children

Children’s librarians are challenged to provide inclusive programming in today’s public libraries. Sensory and American Sign Language (ASL) storytimes are often common offerings.

Programming in Time of Pandemic: The Year Libraries Went Touchless

From virtual storytimes to contactless pickups, libraries truly had a challenge to remain relevant in spring 2020. When COVID-19 fears caused many nationwide libraries to close in March and April, librarians—especially children’s librarians—had to shift gears to reach patrons who could no longer walk through their doors.

Storytime, Three Ways: From Razzle-Dazzle to Library Giants

Once upon a time, I worked in adult services at my large urban library. I thought about library storytime as most adult services librarians do—which is to say (1) not very often and (2) mostly something done to entertain wiggly kids I rarely interacted with.I had vague notions that storytimes involved children’s librarians as circus ringmasters of sorts, singing and reading stories and doing skits with puppets. In other words, I had a one-dimensional conception of storytime, or what I’m calling Storytime Number One—a razzle-dazzle good time for children that involves songs and reading books. I also vaguely remembered seeing children’s librarians lugging puppets and craft supplies and, once, a tub of animal crackers, into the storytime room.

Welcoming to All: Latinx Culture and Programming: Notes from Latinx Librarians

ALSC prioritizes children’s services and programming to diverse communities. And while ALSC provides guidelines and tangible resources, children’s librarians are still often confronted with not only actualizing library services that support our most vulnerable communities, but also ensuring that our efforts empower our communities and do not result in perpetuating recursive barriers to access.