Category: Services - Youth Services - Teens    

Here’s a link to the site for evanced: evancedsolutions.com

The Office of Commonwealth Libraries purchased this web based application for public libraries across PA.
Learn a little about it in advance of the training and start to brainstorm how you might best find innovative ways to use it to attract new audiences and find efficient ways to serve current users. There’s much to consider when incorporating a new technology.
How can you best implement this one to make your programs more efficient and simultaneously more exciting?
How can you market your program to schools?
Should you begin summer program registration early so that students can sign up while they have access to their school’s technology?
How will you encourage users to log their reading online?

Looking at the pdf flyer for the software, it looks like there are many possibilities to explore. Summer Reader

Once you get interested, sign up for the workshop. For those who can’t attend the workshop, or just want to learn independently, the complete user based manual for the 2008 version of the software is online too: Summer Reader Manual

Note for district interest: As district consultant, I plan to attend the training because the Office of Commonwealth Libraries has asked consultants to try to serve as another contact point for questions. The youth services manager at DCLS, Linda, will also be a great contact.

The ALSC/BWI Reading Program Grant is designed to encourage reading programs for children in a public library by providing financial assistance of $3,000, while recognizing ALSC members for outstanding program development.

The applicant must plan and present an outline for a theme-based summer reading program in a public library. The Committee encourages proposals with innovative ways to encourage involvement of children with physical or mental disabilities.

ALSC/BWI Reading Program Grant Opportunity

The Distinguished Service Award honors an individual member of the Association for Library Service to Children who has made significant contributions to, and an impact on, library services to children and/or ALSC. The recipient receives $1,000 and an engraved pin at the ALSC Membership Meeting during the ALA Annual Conference.

Individuals nominated may be chosen from any facet of library services to children. The designee may be a practicing librarian in a public or school library, a library or information science educator, a member of the library press, or an editor or other employee of a publishing house. The individual may be active or retired or retired and active!

Visit the following link for additional information and nomination form:
Distinguished Service Award

The deadline for receipt of the nominations is December 3rd.

Feel free to contact Steven Herb, Distinguished Service Award Committee Chair, with any questions.  He can be reached by phone: 814.863.2141 or email: slh18@psu.edu, sherb@dom.edu.

We need your Best Practices Award entries.
Why? Because we want to have solid proof that Pennsylvania libraries are excelling at early learning programming and making a difference for the future of Pennsylvania. And that because of your impact you are deserving of continued and increased funding at all levels. Now is the time to share your Best Practices.

The PaLA Best Practices Awards are due by Thursday, November 1, 2007.

Please view the following document for additional information and the awards application:
Best Practices Awards

Please send all email applications to:
Natonia Palladino at npalladino@pposinc.com.

Please send all hard copy applications to:
Natonia Palladino
PPO&S
122 State Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101

If you have any questions, please call or e-mail me:
Paula Gilbert
PaLA Public Relations/Marketing Chairman
pgilbert@yorklibraries.org

Do you have any Summer Reading Success Stories you would like to share!  Send me information, pictures, quotes, etc. regarding the fun you had at your library this summer. Stories of both your children’s and teen SRC are welcome.

Please email me with your SRC tales and any questions you may have regarding the Youth Services Division of PaLA.

*Please note, if you do send pictures, please include the names of all individuals pictured in the photo.

Ingrid Kalchthaler
Bethel Park Public Library
kalchthaleri@einetwork.net

Check out this article about how libraries can bridge the gap by providing technology instruction and games for everyone.  http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-sun_gap0812aug12,0,4588609.story

More than 80 percent of U.S. libraries allow patrons to use their computers to play games, a survey found, and more than 40 percent run programs promoting games.