This past October, ALSC announced an exciting partnership with The Pokémon Company International for youth services librarians to implement Pokémon Clubs at their own libraries! I am one of the librarians that applied for and received a kit to start this program. My program will start in the new year and in this post, I will share with you what each kit includes and how I am preparing to run this club as a Pokémon novice! What is included in each kit? I will start off by saying that I am incredibly grateful for and impressed by the amount of materials in each kit! Each kit includes the following: Preparation for the Program The most important components of my program will be the trading card game (TCG) and crafts (more on that later!). While excited to start this club, I will admit that I was a tad nervous about learning... The post Get Ready with Me!: Pokémon Club Edition appeared first on ALSC Blog.

Explore how to light the way for your community with the ALSC/Candlewick "Light the Way" Grant. Apply now to make a difference.

Thinking Money for Kids: Cents-ational Reads to Teach Young People About Money helps libraries build financial education collections and offers an assortment of programming ideas to transform learning...

As the chill of winter approaches, so does the warmth of many gift-giving holidays in the communities we serve. Since even your youngest patrons are likely to get new digital gadgets–much to their caregivers’ joy or frustration–you have a great opportunity to empower those adults with the knowledge and tools they need to make informed decisions. The vast landscape of research on screen time, the benefits of educational apps, and the best digital entertainment is daunting, but ALSC’s Children and Technology Committee has your back with the Digital Media Resources page.  Developed and maintained by the Children and Technology Committee, the Digital Media Resources page features links to reliable, accurate, easy to understand articles intended for both librarians and the diverse families we serve. Included are voices from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), The New York Times, and our friends at the Brooklyn Public Library; a comprehensive range of... The post Spotlight on ALSC Professional Tools: Digital Media Resources appeared first on ALSC Blog.

Bonjour, ALSC friends! In September, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend and present at the Sixteenth International Conference on the Image at Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne in Paris, France. A conference in the City of Light—lucky me! As a professor of children’s literature who studied under Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop, I am passionate about African American children’s literature and its history. I am particularly fascinated with The Brownies’ Book, one of the first magazines created primarily for Black children, or “children of the sun,” as the periodical referred to them. I learned about the magazine while taking Dr. Bishop’s course on the history and development of African American children’s literature. The Brownies’ Book was spearheaded by Jessie Redmon Fauset, W. E. B. Du Bois, and Augustus Granville Dill. Published monthly from January 1920 through December 1921, the cost was 15¢ per issue or $1.50 for a yearlong subscription. The... The post My Visit to the American Library in Paris—and Other Delightful Places! appeared first on ALSC Blog.

Read on to learn how a local independent bookseller works together and advocates for their public library. The post Interviewing Library Advocates: Ashley Mireles-Guerrero, Judging by the Cover appeared first on ALSC Blog.

At the ALSC Digital Strategies Europe conference, industry leaders are set to discuss the latest in AI, data integration, and supply chain visibility. Follow

Need evidence to support the importance of “conversational duets” between caregivers and infants in language development? Curious about how young children build executive function skills through play? The ALSC Early and Family Literacy Committee can help you find the answers you need in our Fall 2025 Research Roundup and Early and Family Literacy Database! Sounds great! But what is the Early and Family Literacy Committee? The ALSC Early and Family Literacy (EFL) Committee’s main objective is to “identify, synthesize, and disseminate current research findings relevant to early and family literacy issues from library schools, scholars of education, and other advocacy sources to libraries, childcare providers, and community agencies serving young children (birth through age 8).” In other words, we keep track of the latest early and family literacy research and find ways to share it! This has taken various forms in the past, such as our 2024 ALSC Blog series... The post Early and Family Literacy Fall 2025 Research Roundup appeared first on ALSC Blog.

Learn how to nominate an outstanding individual for the ALSC Distinguished Service Award and recognize their vital contributions.

Connection

The 2026 National Día Program Registry is now open, and ALSC invites libraries, schools, and community organizations to register their upcoming programs and events. By using the national registry, program planners help build a searchable database that showcases all types and sizes of programs that highlight El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day) and Diversity In Action. The program registry is a great way for planners to share diversity programming ideas and best practices with colleagues nationwide. As participants share their events to the database, the searchable Día program map and data table grow! Use this form to enter your programs. Why Celebrate Día? Día is a nationally recognized initiative that champions the importance of literacy for all children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds. It’s a daily commitment to linking children and families to diverse books, languages, and cultures. Free Resources To help participants... The post 2026 National Día Program Registry Open appeared first on ALSC Blog.

November is often looked at as the perfect time to reflect on what we are thankful for, and what better way to celebrate than to honor an influential colleague with a nomination for ASLC’s 2026 Distinguished Service Award! Let your colleagues know the impact they have made on your life as a library professional, as well as the lives of others in the field. The Distinguished Service Award is given to an individual member of ALSC who has made significant contributions to, and made an impact on, library service to children and/or ALSC. The recipient receives $2,000 and an engraved pin at the ALSC Membership Meeting during ALA Annual Conference. You can learn more about the most recent DSA winner, Judy Zuckerman, as well as all the other individuals who have won the award since 1991, on the award’s website. Ready to nominate? The ALSC Professional Recognition and Scholarships Committee... The post Apply for the ALSC Distinguished Service Award! appeared first on ALSC Blog.

When we select books for story times and other programs, we consider the race and ethnicity of the characters, their dis/ability, gender identities and other factors so that our programs are represent...

By Blogger Joannie Lauria Executive Function Skills: A Better Approach to Library Behavior Management November 5, 2025| Joannie Lauria As I’m sure many of us have experienced, managing behavior can often be a challenge in the library. It can sometimes feel like an uphill battle to encourage positive behavior in our spaces and programs. I recently attended a workshop on Executive Function skills focused on reframing behavior management and strategies to support today’s children.