April: ALSC (Association for Library Service to children) online courses

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) encourages participants for the spring 2013 ALSC online courses to register soon. Registration is open for all courses. Classes begin Monday, April 8, 2013. The schedule includes courses which are eligible for continuing education units (CEUs), certified by the International Association of Continuing Education and Training (IACET).

ALSC online courses are designed to fit the needs of working professionals. Courses are taught by experienced librarians and academics. As participants frequently noted in post-course surveys, ALSC stresses quality and caring in its online education options.

Connecting with Tween Readers (4 weeks, April 8 - May 3, 2013). Marketers and publishers define tweens as children who range in age from 8 to 14. For the purposes of this course, tweens are 10-12 year olds, children who are in the double-digit club but not yet teens. This course will examine the characteristics that make this age group unique; developmental needs and abilities; why children of this age group are particularly vulnerable to illiteracy; and unique activities and programs (including the utilization of currently popular technologies) libraries can offer to keep these children on the path to becoming lifelong readers. A primary focus of the course will be surveying the large body of quality literature available that has particular appeal for this age group. Taught by Edward T. Sullivan, Rogue Librarian/Writer.

Graphic Novels 101: Selection, Evaluation and Programming for Children (6 weeks, April 8 - May 17, 2013). Graphic novels are one of the best tools for motivating kids to read, and have become an essential component of many youth library collections.  Learn about the emerging trends in this genre, resources available to make quality selections, evaluating graphic novels for young patrons, and developing or building a collection.  In addition to book selection, participants will gain the skills needed to successfully market the collection and provide programming.  Participants will come away from this course excited about using graphic novels in their library, and equipped with the tools needed to provide reader’s advisory and fun children’s programs. Taught by Janet Weber, Youth Services Librarian, Tigard (Ore.) Public Library.

Integrating New Technologies into Your Collections (4 weeks, April 8 - May 3, 2013). Are you looking for practical ways to integrate new technologies into your collections? Are you wondering how to balance your physical and digital holdings to maximize your offerings to your users, successfully engage them, and meet their needs? We will examine: - Collection development and management - How to successfully blend physical and digital collections - Digital devices: selection, management, and providing access - Staff Training and development All course participants will complete a course project focusing on a specific aspect of collection development of interest to them. Course participants will leave this course with a wealth of practical knowledge and will be able to confidently, easily, and successfully integrate a wide variety of new technologies and digital tools into their collections. Taught by Bonnie Roalsen, Head of Children's Services, Dover Town (Mass.) Public Library.

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Programs Made Easy (4 weeks, April 8 - May 3, 2013, CEU Certified Course, 1.2 CEUs). Our children are lagging behind in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).  Schools have begun to concentrate on providing better education in these areas and now libraries are being asked to provide the same.  Learn how to provide educational programs using STEM without going to school to become a scientist.  Children’s librarians and associates will learn to present and adapt programs for multiple ages. Taught by Angela Young, Youth Services Librarian, Lorain Public Library System.

Information Literacy - From Preschool to High School (6 weeks, April 8 - May 17, 2013, CEU Certified Course, 3 CEUs). Learn how to conduct information literacy instruction for all ages from preschool to elementary school to middle school and beyond.  Participants will be encouraged to examine their local schools’ and state’s requirements pertaining to library skills, and to develop methods of using the library to complement those requirements.  Participants will learn about examples of successful programs, appropriate skills for appropriate ages, creation and presentation of programs as well as marketing of those programs; also, participants will discuss ways that information literacy instruction can be a useful “outreach” tool to increase library and database usage and develop their own information literacy instruction program. Taught by Maryann Mori, Director, Waukee Public Library.

Series Programming for the Elementary School Age (4 weeks, April 8 - May 3, 2013, CEU Certified Course, 1.2 CEUs). Children love series books. Lots of libraries have one-shot series parties or events. This course expands on the one-shot idea and provides the tools necessary to establish series clubs at the library so that more children will read and use the library more often. Using trivia, games, music and reading, children will clamor to come back to the library each week. Series such as Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Magic Tree House, Spiderwick, Fancy Nancy, Froggy, Curious George, and American Girl will be discussed. Taught by Lisa M. Shaia, Children’s Librarian, Oliver Wolcott Library.

Detailed descriptions and registration information is available on the ALSC website at www.ala.org/alsced. For a complete list of classes, please visit: http://www.ala.org/alsc/edcareeers/profdevelopment/alscweb. Fees are $115 for personal ALSC members; $165 for personal ALA members; and $185 for non-members. Questions? Please contact ALSC Program Officer Jenny Najduch at jnajduch@ala.org or 1-800-545-2433 ext. 4026.