Recently in youth services Category

A recent study done by Keith Curry Lance and Robbie Bravman Marks published in the September 2008 “School Library Journal” observes that the factors affecting children’s reading scores are complex. However, data about reading scores and children’s services in public libraries supports the widespread belief that the efforts of public libraries to promote early literacy pays off in terms of higher reading scores during elementary school. There is a positive and statistically significant relationship between children’s services in public libraries and early reading success.
 
Since 1990, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) has been collaborating with the 50 states and the District of Columbia to compile basic statistics about public libraries, including the circulation of children’s materials and attendance at children’s programs. According to the Lance/Marks study, comparison of the reading scores (fourth-grade NAEP reading scores) with children’s circulation statistics shows “a strong, positive link, while comparison of the same reading scores with attendance at children’s programs demonstrates a positive, if somewhat weaker, link.”
 
Of states ranking in the top half of all states on reading scores, 82 percent also ranked in the top half on circulation of children’s materials per capita. Conversely, four out of five states in the bottom half on reading scores also rank in the bottom half on children’s circulation. Of states ranking in the top half on reading scores, 70 percent ranked in the top half on attendance at children’s programs per capita. Seventy-one percent in the bottom half on reading scores also rank in the bottom half on children’s program attendance.
 
Wisconsin ranks in the top half of all states on the reading scores, and also ranks in the top half for attendance at children’s programs and children’s circulation.
 
These findings support the position that public library children’s services make a significant, measurable difference in early reading success.
 
To read the complete article, go to http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6590044.html.

> from Channel Weekly, Vol.11, No. 8, October 30, 2008 - posted with permission

As Teen Read Week 2008 approaches, the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) offers several tools aimed at helping librarians, booksellers, educators, and others promote events in their libraries, stores, schools, and communities. Teen Read Week will be celebrated Oct. 12–18 by nearly 5,000 libraries across the United States, with a theme of Books with Bite @ your library®.
 
YALSA offers several publicity tools on the Teen Read Week Web site, including sample press releases, proclamations and letters to the editor to encourage support for Teen Read Week. YALSA also offers scripts for public service announcements (PSAs) in both Spanish and English, which can be read during school announcements or given to the community radio station to be read on air. In addition, Nancy Cartwright, who plays Bart on “The Simpsons,” recorded three PSAs, which can be downloaded. All of these excellent tools, plus a podcast on tips to use them, are available by visiting http://www.ala.org/teenread and clicking “Get Publicity.”
 
Teen Read Week is a national literacy initiative aimed at teens, their parents, librarians, educators, booksellers and other concerned adults. The purpose of the event is to increase the number of teens who are regular readers and library users. It began in 1998 and is celebrated the third week in October. For more information or to register, visit the Teen Read Week Web site at http://www.ala.org/teenread.

> from Channel Weekly, Vol. 11, No. 4, October 4, 2008 - posted with permission

New highlights on the Family Reads page on InfoSoup include Fall booklists, the October selections from the Read On Wisconsin book club, and a plug for the Meet the Illustrator offerings from Bookletters.  A new Meet the Illustrator feature is posted on the 26th of each month. These are clever graphical interviews with talented children's book Illustrators/Authors.  I find them a lot of fun and a great way to learn about new (and old) picture books.

> contributed by Evan

Don't forget to sign up for our next continuing education workshop on September 16th at the Ripon Public Library! Sue McCleaf Nespeca, nationally-known speaker and author, will be presenting "Raising Literate Children Begins at Birth: Books and Literacy Experiences for Babies and Toddlers" and "Every Child Ready to Read." More information about the workshops and a link to register are available on the CE Workshops page on OWLSweb.

> contributed by Beth