Children's Services News

Would you like to receive more than 1,000 children's books, videos, audio books and recordings for your library collection? Than look no further! Every year the Bookapalooza program, administered by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), gives more than 3,000 newly published children’s materials to three libraries. These collections (estimated to be worth $10,000 each) are given to the winning libraries to be used in a way that creatively enhances library service to children and families.

Personal ALSC members are encouraged to submit an application by the December 1, 2008 deadline. For more information about requirements, criteria, and applying, please visit the ALSC Web site.

Questions? Contact Aimee Strittmatter, ALSC Deputy Director, at astrittmatter@ala.org

We all know how popular the CCBC Choices workshops are and how we love to hear Megan and her colleagues book talk their latest picks for young readers. Now you can follow their picks almost as soon as they read them. I've added it to my reader so that any new postings come to me. I find that it is a good way to keep current with minimal time constraints.

CCBC podcasts offer weekly glimpses of what's happening at the CCBC. We hope you’ll enjoy the latest way of connecting with us and also find out something new about what we do here. Hosted by librarian Tessa Michaelson, the goal of each program is to share stories, suggestions, and sound bytes that will enrich teaching, learning and research related to children’s and young adult literature. Simply click here to listen on your computer or download the MP3 file and import to your portable listening device. We welcome your comments and suggestions. Happy listening!

The CCBC has also published a beautiful new full-color brochure that highlights its services. This new brochure would be a great gift in a welcome pack for a new educator in your community. I'll try to have some available at the Nov. 21 brown bag meeting.

Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic and would like to partner together with libraries to create a reading program: Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic: A Fairytale Reading Program

Read 5 books to join the celebration as 65 of Disney's unforgettable characters from 18 beloved stories come to life in Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic! Join the one and only Mickey Mouse, the irresistible Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, Jiminy Cricket, Pinocchio, and all the Disney Princesses in a skating spectacular you’ll remember forever.

Program Summary:
The Outagamie Waupaca Library System and Disney On Ice will partner together to encourage reading among pre-school and elementary age children. This six week long reading program will be offered at the libraries of the Outagamie Waupaca Library System. The program will last from December 18th 2008 until January 25th, 2009. During these 7 weeks children will be invited to participate in the reading program by checking out books at their local library. When a child reads five books they will receive a free ticket voucher to see the February 12th performance of Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic playing at the Resch Center, February 12th-15th 2009.

The program information, ticket information and reading checklist will be located on the back of an 8 ½ by 11 flyer. All the participating librarian has to do is verify the child has completed the program. The books for the program are selected by the librarian. This program is a turnkey, effective way to use the Disney On Ice brand to increase readership at your local libraries!

Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic Provides:
• Window Cards with promotional information (3 per library)
• 8 ½ by 11 Flyers with program information, ticket information, and reading checklist (150 per library)
• Complimentary ticket vouchers which can be redeemed for weekday performances.

Participating libraries will provide:
• Location for participants to sign up for the program
• Locations for the window cards and flyers
• Create a display highlighting books magic, heroes, traditions, and fairytales
• Distribute ticket vouchers to successful program participants.

If you are interested in participating, please email Sue for Disney on Ice contact information.

If you want to receive your CSLP materials by March 1st, 2009, you need to place your order with Upstart by December 1st, 2008.

Barb Huntington also sent a reminder that under CSLP copyright guidelines all 2008 SLP artwork needs to be removed from our web pages by now. The good news is that now that we have the 2009 manuals, we can put up the new artwork instead. Don't forget that the CSLP copyright must appear on the page.

Up until this year, partnering agencies, including schools, were not allowed to use the CSLP art work on their web pages at all, but that will change in 2009. A recent decision by the CSLP Board has now made four art images available for libraries to offer to their partnering agencies (schools, social service agencies, business partners, etc.) for use on their web pages. These four images, two black and white and two in color, can be used on the web pages of partnering agencies. You can find these images on the DLTCL SLP web page. Look at the bottom of the box on the right with the title "CSLP Information."

In the 21st century, libraries are about much more than books. On Saturday, November 15, 2008, hundreds of libraries throughout the country will showcase gaming programs and services in support of National Gaming Day @ your library (NGD). Gaming of all types at the library encourages young patrons to interact with a diverse group of peers, share their expertise with others (including adults), and develop new strategies for gaming and learning. Plus, it's a way for traditionally underserved groups to have fun in the library and interact with other members of the community.

ALA is coordinating two parallel activities for National Gaming Day. The first is a national videogame tournament. You'll be able to organize a tournament at your library during which your kids can compete against kids at other libraries for national bragging rights!

In addition, ALA has arranged a donation of the game Pictureka! to every public library branch in the U.S. Also included in the package will be a free copy of the game Top Trumps, which we encourage you to use on Gaming Day. This is a major effort from Hasbro.