Taking Care of Yourself When Your Library Is a Second Responder

I read a short piece in the Atlantic about how public libraries often act as Second Responders.  Like when there is a natural disaster, and the library provides resources to help folks figure out where to look for help, or goes to a shelter to provide storytimes or...

Spoilers! Game

I found out about this game, Spoilers!, from an ALSC listserv.  It was developed by Kendra Wright, formerly at the Sno-Isle Library System in the state of Washington.  Though this game requires library staff to commit to reading a lot of middle-grade books, it sure...

Laundromat Storytimes and Services

Image by Wokandapix from Pixabay Do you advertise your library programs and services in the laundromat?  It’s a place where people, often families, spend a fair amount of time waiting.  If you aren’t already advertising your...

The Cardigan Newsletter

Image by emmabeyjd from Pixabay The Cardigan Newsletter is a monthly e-newsletter for children’s librarians, written by Allie Barton and Katherine Hickey, two youth services librarians from Oklahoma.  Each issue has sections...

Diversity Audits

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay I’ve been hearing a lot about Diversity Audits as a way of critically examining a collection to determine how well it represents typically under-represented groups.  Karen Jensen at the Teen Librarian’s Toolbox has some...

Service Club Collaboration in Hudson

Kids participate in clean-up effortsShelley Tougas from Hudson joined the Kiwanis Club as part of the library’s outreach into the community.  When there, she discovered that Kiwanis has service club opportunities for young people, as well.  Many high...

We Are Kid Lit Summer Reading List 2019

The We Are Kid Lit Collective is dedicated to promoting high quality literature for kids that recognize and celebrate the humanity of Indigenous and People of Color (IPOC).  They created a summer reading list that celebrates diversity, inclusivity, and social...

Coding Resources to the Rescue!

I Image credit:  Pixabay If you are like me, you totally get the importance and excitement about coding, but are a little intimidated at the idea of rolling out a coding program in your library.  There are a couple of resources created in Wisconsin to help you with...

Adulting in Hudson

There are so many parts of becoming an adult that are intimidating or overwhelming, and without support it can feel downright impossible to figure out.  Enter:  the Hudson library!  They’re in the middle of a 4-session series, bringing in...

More on Screen Time

Photo by bruce mars from PexelsThere is an excellent article in The Hill by Dr. Jenny Radesky, a pediatrician who helped to write the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines about screen time and media use.  The World Health Organization...