Children and YA Newsletter
January 2021
Welcome!

With a new year comes new initiatives. We are excited to launch the CSL DLD Children and YA Newsletter focused on the services, programs, and initiatives that serve our youngest generations. Stay tuned for this bi-monthly update on all things youth and libraries.
Kymberlee Powe | Children and YA Consultant
New!
Set the Stage

Set the Stage is an early literacy initiative program designed for any library staff member who works with or wishes to work with children ages birth to five and their families. Initiated and designed by children’s librarians Allison Murphy and Caitlin Augusta, Set the Stage is a partnership initiative with the Connecticut State Library Division of Library Development (CSL DLD). Facilitated by CSL DLD's Children and YA Consultant Kymberlee Powe, this year-long program will begin in January 2021 with ten core courses including Child Development, Storytime 101, and Collection Management. Students will also participate in Project Ready, an online initiative of the Institute of Museum and Library Services dedicated to improving knowledge about race and racism, racial equity, and culturally sustaining pedagogy.

A small group of participants have been chosen to complete the Set the Stage initiative, currently in its pilot year. CSL intends to open the program to interested librarians in 2022.

This project is made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the Connecticut State Library.
Transforming Teen Services (T3)

Teens are notoriously hard to please, and even harder to keep focused, especially these days. While there may be no one-size-fits-all solution, hopefully we can share some tools and approaches to engaging and providing for your teens, whether in a school or public library.

Transforming Teen Services (T3) is a series of trainings designed to help improve library services for teens across four basic content areas. Join us in February for our facilitation of Computational Thinking and learn:

  • Articulate core concepts of computational thinking
  • Begin designing activities for and with teens that connect to CT
  • Understand the value of integrating CT into activities for and with teens
  • Connect CT to pre-existing library activities and services.

Computational Thinking Program Dates:

  • Thursday, February 18 | 1 pm
  • Thursday, February 25 | 1 pm
  • Thursday, March 4 | 1 pm
  • Thursday, March 11 | 1 pm
  • Thursday, March 18 | 1 pm
Summer Reading
Summer Data Instructions

Update! There are several new questions on this year’s Summer Reading Report reflecting the new direction the Connecticut State Library is headed towards collecting outputs alongside outcome based data from public library summer reading programs. Not only will the questions on the form ask about the usual output data like program and attendance numbers, it will also include compiling the results of a survey for your summer reading participants.

More information and the video presentation discussing the importance of collecting and evaluating outcome based data can be found here.

We encourage library staff to utilize the program and activity form created by CSL's Statewide Data Coordinator to follow program and activity counting guidelines in line with the Annual Report.
Tri-State Summer Summit

Save the Dates! February 10 & 11

As the Connecticut Youth Consultant, I am pleased to share that I am teaming up with the Youth Consultants of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, April Mazza and Danielle Margarida, to bring you the Tri-State Summer Summit for Summer Reading Program Planners. Join us Wednesday afternoon on February, 10 for keynote speaker Abdul-Razak Zachariah, author of The Night is Yours, and Thursday, February 11 for individual sessions.
READSquared

Beginning in February, READSquared is running bi-weekly onboarding and training sessions open to all libraries, whether you are just starting or need a refresher on navigating the control room before summer reading. Each session's agenda includes:

  • Overview of features in control room to customize pre-packaged programs
  • How to Test Programs
  • Pulling statistics with READsquared Reports
  • Advanced Features 
  • Q&A

To join a webinar, simply follow the link in the button below on the date of your choosing. There is no need to register for these webinars.

  • Wednesday, February 3 | 11:30 am
  • Wednesday, February 17 | 2:00 pm
  • Wednesday, March 10 | 11:30 am
  • Wednesday, March 24 | 2:00 pm
  • Wednesday, April 7 | 11:30 am
  • Wednesday, April 21 | 2:00 pm
  • Wednesday, May 12 | 11:30 am
  • Wednesday, May 26 | 2:00 pm
Collaborative Summer Library Program Social Media Toolkit

Thanks to the Collaborative Summer Library Program’s Social Media ad-hoc committee, I am happy to share with you a Toolkit for Social Media around 2021’s Summer Library Program – “Tails & Tales!” Please feel free to schedule social media posts on your library’s social networks using the samples provided. Until you receive your digital manual you may use the images on the CSLP Facebook page. Please adhere to the timeline as listed by posting within the month noted, but not posting before a specified date.

#TailsAndTales and #CTKidsRead are the official hashtags for 2021!
Books!
Borrow a Book Bundle!

No time to browse our collection? We can do it for you and we've got bundles of options with new, foreign, and underrated titles!

  • Choose a book bundle with 15 middle grade titles.
  • Check out one of these specially curated book bundles to your public or school library for 90 days.
  • Have particular genres or titles in mind? Just drop us a note in the comment section of the booking system, and we will do our best to find what you need.

Can I let my patrons borrow them? Yes! And you have options, here's how:

  1. You can add them to your ILS system with temporary bar codes to be checked out with a library card.
  2. Follow these steps:
  • Pull out the index card tucked into each book.
  • Use the index card to record the students name, contact information, library card - whatever helps you find them.
  • You keep the card and the student borrows the book.
  • When the book comes back, tuck the index card back in the book.
  • Just remember to have them return the book in time for the whole bundle to be returned to us!
2020 Star Review Book Lists

The star book list were compiled from six different publications. All of the books listed received at least three starred reviews, special distinctions, or comparable honor.
Kymberlee Powe
Children and YA Consultant
kymberlee.powe@ct.gov | (860) 704-2207

Connecticut State Library | Division of Library Development
Middletown Library Service Center
86 South Main Street | Middletown, CT 06457