Teen Summit is an entirely online and entirely free professional development conference for library staff who work with teens.

All sessions will be recorded and shared after the event, so even if you can’t attend the whole day live you can benefit from the event.

View the final program. This document will be your key to the summit! Use this document to move in and out of the Zoom rooms and access our virtual tote bag on the day of the event!

Building Equity Based Summers Through Libraries & Communities (BEBS) is an IMLS Grant program that the CT State Library is a part of along with five other state libraries (ID, MD, OH, RI, WA). 

The CT State Library is looking for five Connecticut public libraries to participate in the first year of this three-year initiative. Through training and codesign, year one participants will work with their state consultant and the project teams to learn to build library staff skills and summer library programs and services that are equitable across a community.

BEBS will build upon the work of the California Library Association and the California State Library in developing a shared language of equity and a set of tools and resources for library staff to create community-centered, equitable summer programs and services. As the United States moves beyond the pandemic, where equity concerns were front and center, it’s imperative that libraries and communities work together to build services that support equitable opportunities for non-dominant youth and families.

Year one participants will work to evaluate:

Participation in the BEBS initiative will require of all team members: 

Create optimal learning environments that nurture young children and their parents. Learn how early learning programs can be translated into virtual programs, pinpoint popular elements to repeat regularly, and explore recommended activities and developmental tips.

Betsy Diamant-Cohen, creator of Mother Goose on the Loose, holds a BA from Brandeis University, an MLS from Rutgers University, and a DCD (Doctorate of Communications Design) from the University of Baltimore. In 2004, Betsy was selected by Library Journal as a “re-inventor” and chosen as one of the “Movers and Shakers: people who are shaping the future of libraries” largely due to the success of Mother Goose on the Loose. Based on that, Neal Shuman publishing company invited her to write a book on Mother Goose on the Loose. Betsy has been giving training workshops around the country ever since.

Recording & Slides: This program is being recorded and the recording and slides will be made available only to those who registered and attended in a follow-up email.

Who should come? Perfect for anyone who works with young kids and families including children and youth librarians and educators.​​​​

Accessibility: This webinar will be captioned. If you require another access service to participate fully, please use the Accommodation Request Form at least 7 days prior to the event.

All new and renewed Girls Who Code Clubs are automatically eligible to receive $500 through a wish list process once they have 3 or more students in their Club - no raffling required! Each facilitator is directly contacted once their Club is populated by 3 or more students. We hope all current and future Clubs under the Community Partnership take advantage of this fund!

If you are not sure how to access your fund, please reach out to clubs@girlswhocode.com, where the Girls Who Code team can help!

Living with Viola by Rosena Fung

Barakah Beats by Maleeha Siddiqui

How to Find What You're Not Looking For by Veera Hiranandani

The Leak by Kate Reed Petty and Andrea Bell

Hollow Fires by Samira Ahmed

All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir

In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys

The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton

Radiant Fugitives by Nawaaz Ahmed

When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill

Olga Dies Dreaming by Xchitl Gonzalez

More coming in January 2023! While the website may look a bit barebones for now, there will be more – stay tuned! There will be rich book and author wraparound resources for each title including engagement resources like discussion questions, author videos, book reviews, and more. Come January 2023, we will have book discussion sets of all 12 titles available to borrow from the Middletown Library Service Center.

Join us for an extra-special virtual launch with the authors of the 2023 All CT Reads primary selections. Each author will discuss their work and answer questions from our community.

Recording & Slides: Recordings will be available on the All CT Reads website.

Who should come: Everyone! Please share this with your patrons - they're invited to join the event too! You can add it to your library calendar and newsletter.

Accessibility: This webinar will be captioned. If you require another access service to participate fully, please use the Accommodation Request Form at least 7 days prior to the event.

Find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with #AllCTReads!

All CT Reads is a year-long initiative to promote lifelong reading, learning, and connection that uses a rotating community committee structure to select one main book title and 3 shortlist book titles, each calendar year for three age groups: children (ages 8-12), teens (ages 13-18), and adults. In addition to the books, All CT Reads provides a supported programmatic structure built around the titles with room for individuality and creativity.

All CT Reads is an initiative of the Connecticut State Library Division of Library Development and partners with the Connecticut Library Consortium (CLC) and the Connecticut Association for School Librarians (CASL).

All CT Reads is supported by a generous grant from EBSCO Information Services to the Connecticut Heritage Foundation.

Growing Equitable Library Services (GELS) is a workshop series that strives to provide the trainings that help libraries become strength-based, trauma informed, antiracist, social and emotionally conscious community institutions.

Visit the GELS LibGuide for video recordings, presentation slides, resources and more.