The Louise Seaman Bechtel Fellowship provides a grant up to $7,500 to a qualified children’s librarian to spend up to four weeks reading and studying at the Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature. Learn how you can apply on the ALSC blog. #skybrarians #kidlit

". . . receiving feedback from my team was ultimately a positive and transformative experience. The survey sparked meaningful conversations, strengthened relationships, and made me more aware of my team’s needs." Pat Bashir shares her experience gathering feedback from employees on the ALSC blog.

Anna Melvin shares their experience at the 25th annual Library of Congress National Book Festival on the ALSC blog. #kidlit

The deadline to submit your program or poster proposal for #alaac26 is THIS MONDAY, September 22! Learn more and submit your proposal here: https://2026.alaannual.org/call-proposals

Maria Trivisonno shares how her library's Family Advisory Committee held a toy and clothing exchange for back-to-school on the ALSC blog. #libraries #librarians

"Text talks allow for choice in what is read and the words taught. This makes the text talk approach to direct vocabulary instruction easy to integrate into existing story time programming."

Join ALSC's Managing Children's Services Committee for a We Are ALSC Chat on November 5! As always, this We Are ALSC Chat is open to ALSC members and non-members. Register at: https://ala-events.zoom.us/meeting/register/Pp33A6iZSOWvBJVBDoMLYA#/registration

". . . school-age children reading middle grade novels can also benefit from novels that focus on school, from being a new kid in school to being an advocate for change at a young age." Ariel Barreras shares their favorite back-to-school middle grade novels on the ALSC blog. #kidlit

Kary Henry shares how her library is celebrating #InternationalDotDay throughout September on the ALSC blog. #libraries #librarians

"Authors are living, breathing people, and interviews like these can help our reluctant or less-engaged readers feel more connected to a book." Aryssa Damron explores how to use author interviews - like those in "Children and Libraries" - to engage reluctant readers on the ALSC blog.

Erika Hogan shares some of their favorite picture books that address youth tech and media literacy on the ALSC blog. #kidlit

The members of the 2026 John Newbery Award Selection Committee would like to know which books are rising to the top of your list for children’s books published in 2025! Learn more about submitting your suggestions on the ALSC blog. #kidlit

Submit your suggestion for the 2026 Sibert Medal! This recognizes the most distinguished informational book for children published in the United States in English during the preceding year. Learn more on the ALSC blog.

Don't forget to submit your program or poster proposal for #ALAAC26! Deadline is September 22. Learn more: 2026.alaannual.org/call-proposals #libraries #librarians

Don't forget to submit your program or poster proposal for hashtag#ALAAC26! Deadline is September 22. Learn more: 2026.alaannual.org/call-proposals #libraries #librarians

Judy Ehrenstein reflects on Mahmoud vs Taylor and the challenges it poses on the ALSC blog. #libraries #librarians #bookbans

"While it may seem daunting at first, presenting an area of expertise at an event such as ALSC’s National Institute or ALA Annual can help you build confidence, bolster your CV, and make connections." Learn more about submitting your proposal for a conference program on the ALSC blog.

Aryssa Damron, ALSC's 2025 Bechtel Fellow, shares her exploration of the 1940s children's magazine "Wide Awake" on the ALSC blog. #kidlit

ALA invites library users across America to submit nominations for the I Love My Librarian Award through December 15, 2025! Ten outstanding librarians will receive $5,000 and the honor of a lifetime. Submit your nominations at https://ilovelibraries.org/love-my-librarian/

"These seven items might seem small, but they make a huge difference in a day that can change by the minute. They keep me prepared, creative, and a little happier, even when the unexpected pops up." Jessica Tarnowski shares what she keeps at her desk on the ALSC blog. #libraries #librarians

Join ALA's policy office and experienced library advocates next week on Thursday, September 9 for a FREE webinar! Learn how you can bring Congress to your community to highlight the work of your library. Register at: https://elearning.ala.org/local/catalog/view/product.php?productid=1547

"Built to meet families where they are, [the Pop In Play] program directly addresses community needs." Jaime Eastman shares how her library launched their "Pop In Play" series, a meaningful, flexible, and inclusive play-based program for children and their caregivers, on the ALSC blog.

"[#NameTheTranslator] grew out of movements in the twenty-teens, the early twenty twenties, and beyond to make translator crediting standard practice." Avery Fischer Udagawa discusses the importance of #NameTheTranslator in the age of AI on the ALSC blog. #kidlit

Learn how to submit your suggestion for the 2026 Geisel Award - awarding the most distinguished contribution to the body of American children’s literature that encourages and supports the beginning reader - on the ALSC blog.

The 2026 Batchelder Committee is looking for your suggestions for the Batchelder Award! Learn how to submit your suggestions on the ALSC blog. #kidlit

I had the utmost honor of being on the inaugural committee when this award transformed from Great Websites for Kids back in the early 2010s. Submit your suggestion today! More info ⬇️

"While we were still extremely busy at the desk, we did not feel resentful of the [Summer Reading] program for the first time in years." Olivia McElwain shares the results of her library changing up their Summer Reading programming to better support staff on the ALSC blog. #libraries

The 2026 Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media Award Committee is seeking suggestions for the most distinguished digital media created for an early learning audience - learn more about submitting your suggestion on the ALSC blog.

September is #DeafAwarenessMonth. Here’s a throwback to my @wearealsc.bsky.social post from way back in 2018 talking an amazing all-ages partnership program I had the honor of working on with Metro Deaf School in St. Paul, MN for Dakota County Library 🤟 www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2018/10...

"There are many ways to connect with families and educators in your community this school year. Some of these are tried and true, and some might be of your own invention." Blogger Anna Melvin shares tips for #BackToSchool outreach on the ALSC blog. #libraries #librarians

Read an interview with Alizdair Ray, Student Library Ambassador, on the ALSC blog! #libraries #advocacy

September is #WorldKidLitMonth: a month for everyone of any age to explore the world through international children’s books, organized by @worldkidlit.bsky.social!#WorldKidLitMonth Learn more: worldkidlit.org/what-is-world-kid-lit-month/

"I was about to take a group of middle school patrons into an escape room when one of them asked me a question. 'Hey Ms. Ann, will there be any actors in this?'" Ann Baillie shares how she created a mystery program at her library on the ALSC blog. #libraries #librarians

Join ALSC for our first webinar of the fall on 9/18 - "Should It Stay or Should It Go?" Learn to evaluate program effectiveness and consider whether or not your program resources can be better utilized. Register here: https://elearning.ala.org/local/catalog/view/product.php?productid=1533

Kelley Taksier explores ways libraries can support multilingual children on the ALSC blog. #libraries #librarians

". . . the truth is that public librarians are not reading specialists or teachers. . . However, librarians DO support best practices in literacy." Joannie Lauria examines where libraries fit in with #ScienceofReading on the ALSC blog. #libraries #librarians

"By far, my favorite part of the experience was the connection I made with my Emerging Leaders cohort—in participating in this program, I have a new network of colleagues and friends that I see myself staying in contact with for years to come." #libraries #librarians

"When libraries reopened, families let us know they wanted virtual tutoring to continue . . . having all our tutors available virtually means that even if the precalculus student and tutor live across the county, they can still meet together."

"Last summer, my team asked if they could take an hour after the Summer Reading Program wrapped up to grab Starbucks and enjoy some social time together. It was an easy 'yes!'" Sarah Flathman shares tips for celebrating successes on the ALSC blog. #libraries #librarians

"Most of us, if not all of us, have a program or two fail. It’s okay. It does not mean we are not doing the best we can. It just means that we are human too." Ariel Barreras reflects on learning from an underwhelming kindergarten-readiness program on the ALSC blog. #libraries #librarians

Maria Trivisonno shares her recommendations for Back-To-School picture books on the ALSC blog! #kidlit #libraries

"Many reluctant readers . . . don’t connect with perfect protagonists. But give them a character who plays harmless pranks, breaks a few rules, or causes a little chaos for a good cause, and you’ve got their attention." Hina Nauman shares tips for engaging reluctant readers on the ALSC blog.

Mark your calendars! We’re kicking off #ALAAC26 with the call for program and poster programs, opening Monday, August 18. We’ll reflect on 150 years and look ahead to the future of libraries—and it starts with you. Learn more. https://bit.ly/4mGqdS0

"But as children begin to age out of some public library programs, it’s vital (and fun) to plan transitional activities oriented toward tweens." Erika Hogan shares approaches for creating tween programming on the ALSC blog. #libraries #librarians

Take 20% off everything on the ALA Library Gift Shop, including ALSC merch! Sale runs today, August 14 through Monday, August 18. librarygiftshop.org

". . . by the end of my first week, I had unearthed a secret undertone of my project that made me feel like a storytelling saver, not just an avid researcher and reader." Hear from 2025 ALSC Bechtel Fellow Aryssa Damron about her first week of research at the Baldwin Library on the ALSC blog.

ALSC is offering a variety of eLearning opportunities this Fall - learn more on the ALSC blog. #libraries #librarians

Announcing ALSC's Bound to Stay Bound and Melcher Scholarship recipients for 2025-26! Each award provides $8,000 in scholarship aid for MLIS students during the 2025-2026 academic year. Learn more about the recipients in our press release.

"Instead of letting those [low attendance] moments get us down, what if we saw them as chances to rethink what success really means?" Jessica Tarnowski reflects on redefining programming success on the ALSC blog. #librarians #libraries

Register now for "Bilingual Storytime Beyond the Basics" with Sheridan Jay Cazarez! This 6-week course will show you how to create and market high-quality bilingual storytime programs that are relevant to Latinxs and Spanish speakers. #libraries #lbirarians