Upcoming Opportunities
These opportunities are available for free unless otherwise noted. Descriptions are provided by host organizations.
Call for Presenters: Read Across America | School Libraries
Applications Open
In celebration of Read Across America 2023, the American Library Association Committee on Literacy is seeking to host two webinars highlighting the work of librarians who are facilitating creative, inclusive, innovative programs and projects for Read Across America. Each webinar panel will be composed of 3 or 4 librarians who will share visual stories and answer questions. Panels will have representation from both school and public libraries; in fact, school-public collaboration is ideal!
Programs should demonstrate representation of diverse experiences and backgrounds in ways that humanize people, stories, and experiences across cultures, class, religions, abilities, gender, etc. Possible types of programs include collaboration between school and public libraries, intergenerational literacy sharing opportunities, and family and community literacy projects. As many speakers as possible will be selected beginning January 15, 2023, but the committee will continue accepting submissions until all panel spots have been filled. For more information contact Elizabeth Nebeker at elizabeth.d.nebeker@lonestar.edu
For more information visit the event website.
Solar Eclipse Programming Workshops
February 13-17, 2023
Partners Library Action Network (PLAN) is hosting FREE in-person workshops on providing solar and space science programs. Attention will be given to the annular solar eclipse on October 14, 2023 that will pass over Midland across to Corpus Christi and the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024 that will pass over Leakey across to Sulfur Springs. Attendees will receive five continuing education hours, and lunch will be provided. Libraries are encouraged to send two attendees, if possible. For more information, visit PLAN’s Workshops and Events webpage.
Central Texas Teen & Kids Comic Con
February 18, 2023 | 10:00 – 3:30 PM
Central Texas Teen & Kids Comic Con, presented by Round Rock Independent School District’s Library Services department, debuted on December 2, 2017 and now draws over 5,000 participants for the festivities. This FREE EVENT is a graphic novel and comic convention aimed at offering teens, kids, and educators the chance to interact with popular authors and illustrators, participate in workshops, and showcase their creativity. The con features a fantastic line-up of creators and workshop presenters, and students have the opportunity to enter the art contest and cosplay contest. For more information, visit https://ctxkidscc.org/
Are You Ready for Summer? | 2023 Seminar
February 23-24, 2023 | 1:00-3:00 PM CT
Designing your Summer programming to meet the unique and changing needs of your community can be a difficult feat, but the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) and the Partners Library Action Network (PLAN) are here to lend a hand. Join Christina Taylor and Raquel Reyna—Youth Services Consultants for TSLAC and PLAN respectively—for this two-day mini conference where libraries from around our state share their learning in targeted brainstorms, anchored by sessions focused on serving patrons of all ages – early childhood, school age, tween, teen, emerging adult, and adult. For more information, visit the event website.
North Texas Teen Book Festival
March 3-4, 2023
The North Texas Teen Book Festival (NTTBF) is a free one-day festival that promotes reading and celebrates both middle grade and young adult literature. It is hosted by the Irving Public Library and its partners, Barnes & Nobel, Friends of the Irving Public Library, local school districts, museums, other local libraries, and the DFW chapter of the Forever YA Book Club. This event strives to connect the reading community, adding dimension to the reading experience through diverse author panels and dynamic discussions in a safe and fun environment. For more information, visit the event website.
Will Eisner Week 2023
March (recurs annually)
Will Eisner (1917-2005) was a highly innovative and creative artist and writer who pioneered in the field of comics and graphic novels. For decades he strongly advocated for the inclusion of graphic novels in library collections and sequential art on museum walls. Because of Will Eisner’s unparalleled contributions, Will Eisner Week is now celebrated every March around the world. You and your library are invited to join in by hosting an in-person or virtual Will Eisner Week event or by creating a graphic novel display. For more information including videos and downloadable resources, visit the event website.
Gift of Books Program | School Libraries
April 30, 2023
Mary Pope Osborne and First Book are celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of the Magic Tree House series with free books! Mary Pope Osborne’s Magic Tree House series has sold over 143 million books worldwide, includes over one hundred titles, and has captured the imaginative hearts of countless children, teachers, and families for thirty years. First Book and Mary Pope Osborne are celebrating this milestone by making free books available through the Gift of Books program – a collaborative effort they developed together in support of educators working in low-income schools and communities. Teachers and care providers working in eligible schools or programs are invited to apply. For more information, visit the program website.
Ongoing Tools
These tools are available for free unless otherwise noted. Descriptions are provided by host organizations.
NASA STEM Engagement
NASA STEM Engagement strives to increase K-12 involvement in NASA projects, enhance higher education, support underrepresented communities, strengthen online education, and boost NASA’s contribution to informal education. The intended outcome is a generation prepared to code, calculate, design, and discover its way to a new era of American innovation.
The scope of STEM Engagement comprises all endeavors to attract, engage, and educate students and to support educators and educational institutions. The STEM engagement portfolio consists of a diverse set of opportunities, activities and products, encompassing internships; fellowships; student learning opportunities (challenges, competitions and other experiences); informal education and out-of-school learning activities; educational products, tools and platforms; educator support; competitive awards to educational institutions for research and development and institutional support. For more information, visit the program website.
National Geographic’s Education Resources
National Geographic is where education meets exploration. They are transforming the learning experience for young people and the educators who reach them with the tools, resources, and support they need to feed their curiosity and become the explorers of tomorrow. Through immersive experiences, interactive lesson plans, maps, and other free resources – there are endless ways to learn with National Geographic. For more information, visit the National Geographic’s Education Resources webpage.
Penguin Classroom
The School and Library Marketing team for Penguin Young Readers features videos to share in the library. Get author videos, book trailers, book buzzes, and more. For more information, visit the Penguin Classroom Vimeo page.
Read Across America
Launched in 1998 by the National Education Association (NEA) and guided by a committee of educators, NEA’s Read Across America is the nation’s largest celebration of reading. This year-round program focuses on motivating children and teens to read through events, partnerships, and reading resources that are about everyone, for everyone.The titles and resources featured by NEA’s Read Across America include books that students can see themselves reflected in, as well as books that allow readers to see a world or a character that might be different than them. For more information, visit the Read Across America website.
Need more support?
Resource Archive
Wish you had access to a repository of all the tools that have been featured in the monthly Youth Services Updates? Check out our Resource Archive for more information.
Training Catalog
In addition, be sure to peruse our Training Catalog for webinars that focus on Youth Services. Our holdings are constantly updated, so check back often.
Questions?
For more information, visit our youth services page, contact Christina Taylor at ld@tsl.texas.gov, or call 512-463-5465.
