Alright my fellow youth librarians, brace yourselves for what you have been waiting for: a peek at the fantastic CSS sponsored programs you should attend at #NJLA18!

The NJLA Conference is a great way to connect with fellow librarians, bring back great new ideas to your library, and relax a bit before the madness of our summer reading programs begins...and perhaps also have a little fun at the slot machines!

Without further ado, here are some highlights of a few of the great Youth Services related programs on offer at #NJLA18:

Social Justice and Children's Rights in the Library

Wednesday, May 30 from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Children’s roles in activism and our society overall are unique, and libraries can help children learn and grow in this area while also correcting some of the power imbalances children experience due to their young age. Join your colleagues for a highly interactive panel discussion on this timely topic!

Do I Really Have to Talk to the Grown-Ups? Engaging Adults at Children's Events

Thursday, May 31 from 4:10-5:00 p.m.

Many Youth Services Librarians are comfortable working with children but find it takes a lot more effort to form relationships with the adults who bring those kids to our libraries. Learn strategies for connecting and communicating with parents and other caregivers who attend story times and other events for children.

School's Out for Summer...or is it? Homeschooling 101 for Libraries

Friday, June 1 from 11:30am - 12:20 p.m.

With over 44,000 kids and teens who are homeschooled in NJ, the library should be a paramount resource to the homeschooled and unschooled community. In this session, participants will learn the differences between homeschoolers and unschoolers; identify the needs of homeschoolers to provide excellent services tailored to this demographic; and acquire knowledge on how to identify the home schoolers in your area.

Kids' Summer Reading - Lose the Log!

Friday, June 1 from 2:30-3:20 p.m.

Are your patrons tired of writing down book titles? The State still needs your stats, and you still need to get your kids involved in the summer reading process -- so it's time to shake it up! Learn how to think outside the box (like making a summer reading game board!) and respond to your patrons' needs while also tailoring your program to the CSLP themes.

Discover ALSC's Notable (Outstanding! Distinguished! Just Plain Great!) Children’s Books

Friday, June 1 from 3:40-4:30 p.m.

Every year the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) selects notable books of “especially commendable quality” which “exhibit venturesome creativity.” This list includes fiction and nonfiction titles for birth through 14. This program will describe the process of developing the list and introduce our favorites on the 2018 list.

And don’t forget to sign up for the Garden State Book Awards Luncheon on Friday, June 1 from 12:30 – 2 PM (one of my favorite Conference events to attend)! This year’s guest speaker at the luncheon is Marc Tyler Nobleman, the author of 70+ children’s books, and his keynote will focus on his book Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman, which inspired a Hulu documentary and a TED talk. Marc recently screened his documentary Batman & Bill at the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) Conference in Phoenix, AZ this past November. Inspired by his book/film, New York City renamed a street for a superhero creator in December 2017. Be sure to attend the GSTBA Luncheon to hear him share his stories! 

Click here to see the full schedule of events co-sponsored by CSS at this year's Conference. 

See you in AC!

--Lynette Fucci and the 2018 NJLA Conference Committee