Use this page to scan recent stories from Ala, see the themes that keep appearing, and jump into complete story briefs.
With over 40 years of singing and entertaining kids and families, Jim Gill is just as energetic as ever. His humorous songwriting blended with interactive play was not only revolutionary for the genre, but has had staying power with librarians, educators, and caregivers for generations. I was able to catch up with Jim
Now that Summer Reading is over, we can take the time to reflect on what worked, what didn’t work, and how to improve our services for future years. Given larger-scale concerns about screen time and technology usage, it’s timely to evaluate the format of summer reading logs at the library: should we use physical logs o
In the spirit of reunification and the inclusion of teens into the charge of the Library Services to Underserved Children and their Caregivers Committee: Many years ago, when I was regularly doing outreach to juvenile detention centers as a teen librarian, I arranged a summer schedule with an intake center nearby. The
This summer, I took a break from Pokémon Club at my library to host a creative writing class for middle-grade children. While they had a blast with the writing class, one question kept popping up over the course of the summer: “When does Pokémon Club come back?” They were excited to hear that I was bringing it back thi
What luck when a friend asked me for picture books tips for family readings with two different aged children. With no child in sight and very few guidelines, I had a realization. For the days I’m not sure what to read to a group or what kind of book might capture the imagination of a young reader. For the days I second
Before I accepted the position of full-time Children’s Librarian at Lake Region Public Library (LRPL), the position at our library was only part-time. I couldn’t wait to dive in and expand on the legacy that our previous Children’s Librarian built here. I wanted our collection to better represent the youth of the Lake
I’ll admit it: I love a Youth Services department that looks like children actually spend time there. Give me colorful bulletin boards, giant cardboard creations, characters peeking out from bookshelves, seasonal decorations, interactive displays, and something slightly ridiculous made out of butcher paper. Maybe it’s
Do not misconstrue this – I loved my time in the University at Buffalo’s M.S. Information & Library Science program. My professors and academic advisor were a wealth of knowledge, my classmates were equally as passionate about the field as I am, and the remote format of the program allowed me to have the flexibility to
September is a perfect time to start celebrating the bounty of Fall. Here are some delicious reads that you can feature in a fun food themed storytime perfect for young readers ages two to five years old. If possible, invite a local farmer or grower to bring some of their crops in for a demonstration so little ones can
Do you have a great idea for serving children, teens, or families? Here’s your chance to share it with the greater library community in New Orleans next June! The Call for Program and Poster Proposals for the ALA 2027 Annual Conference is now open. Your stories, successes, lessons learned, research, and practical strat
You are caught up for now.
Open the app view when you want faster scanning, saved stories, and source-focused reading in one place.