Upcoming Opportunities
These opportunities are available for free unless otherwise noted. Descriptions are provided by host organizations.
Southeast Collaborative Online Conference
March 14-16, 2023
The 2023 Southeast Collaborative Online Conference is a collective effort by the Georgia Public Library Service, State Library of North Carolina, South Carolina State Library, Tennessee State Library and Archives, and The Library of Virginia to offer innovative and useful online learning experiences for library staff at all levels through a convenient online conference. For more information, visit the event website.
Connected Lib FEST
March 15-16, 2023 | Online
Do you work in a small or rural library? Do you work with small or rural library staff? Have you thought about how connected learning and small and rural libraries are a match made in heaven? Do you want to learn more about connected learning and small and rural libraries and communities? If you answered yes to any of these questions then ConnectedLibFEST is for you! Each day brings together library staff, researchers, and community members to learn from and with each other about bringing Connected Learning to small and rural library settings. Small and rural libraries are already using the principles of connected learning in their work. They do this by building relationships with youth, community members, and stakeholders; fostering interests of teens through library services; and creating opportunities for academic and life success. For more information visit the event website.
TeenBookCon
March 25, 2023 | Davis, TX | Aldine ISD
March or April each year is designed to be a fantastic opportunity for teens from the greater Houston area and beyond to meet their favorite authors and discover new authors. This con is run by a committee of volunteers made up of librarians, teachers, and other lovers of young adult literature. For more information, visit the event website.
National Poetry Month
April (repeats annually)
Launched by the Academy of American Poets in April 1996, National Poetry Month is a special occasion that celebrates poets’ integral role in our culture and that poetry matters. Over the years, it has become the largest literary celebration in the world, with tens of millions of readers, students, K–12 teachers, librarians, booksellers, literary events curators, publishers, families, and—of course—poets, marking poetry’s important place in our lives. Thanks in part to our National Poetry Month partners and sponsors, each April the Academy is able to offer activities, initiatives, and resources so that anyone can join the celebration. For more information, visit the event website.
School Library Month | School Libraries
April (repeats annually)
School Library Month (SLM) is the American Association of School Librarians’ (AASL) celebration of school librarians and their programs. First celebrated in 1985 (as School Library Media Month; the name was changed to School Library Month in 2010), every April school librarians are encouraged to create activities to help their school and local community celebrate the essential role that strong school library programs play in a student’s educational career. For more information visit the event website.
Drop Everything and Read (D.E.A.R)
April (repeats annually)
D.E.A.R. stands for “Drop Everything and Read,” a national month-long celebration of reading designed to remind folks of all ages to make reading a priority activity in their lives. You may remember that Beverly Cleary wrote about D.E.A.R. in Ramona Quimby, Age 8. Since then, “Drop Everything and Read” programs have been held nationwide on April 12th in honor of Mrs. Cleary’s birthday. We figured, why not “drop” the “day” and celebrate our beloved author, her timeless stories, and the joy of reading for the full month. So, “drop” by this website all month long in April and anytime you want to make reading a priority! D.E.A.R. is sponsored by the National Education Association (NEA); Parent Teacher Association (PTA); ALA’s Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC, a division of the American Library Association); Reading Rockets; The General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC); the American Press Institute; First Book; HarperCollins Children’s Books; Read Kiddo Read; Walden Media and Ramona Quimby. For more information, visit the Reading Rockets event page.
Promoting Community Health with the Relationship-Driven Library, Conversation Series
April 2-23, 2023
Let’s Move in Libraries is an international initiative to get people of all ages and abilities on the path to health. During the month of April, Let’s Move in Libraries will host a series of online conversations on community collaboration and community health. Each conversation features 2-4 librarians sharing their experiences working collaboratively with others to promote community health. After the discussion, you’re invited to stay in the room for a half-hour open conversation about that week’s topic. These online conversations will take place each Thursday in April, 2023. The goal of this event is to continue to build momentum and knowledge around the critical topic of community collaboration. For more information about the various sessions, participating library workers, and event registration, visit the event website.
Money Smart Week®
April 15-21, 2023
The American Library Association (ALA) joined in a partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago to make Money Smart Week® @ your library a national initiative, which was first held April 2-9, 2011. Celebrating its 15th year in 2016 (and its sixth as a national ALA initiative), Money Smart Week® is a public awareness campaign designed to help consumers better manage their personal finances. This is achieved through the collaboration and coordinated effort of hundreds of organizations across the country including businesses, financial institutions, schools, libraries, not-for-profits, government agencies and the media. These groups come together once a year to stress the importance of financial literacy, inform consumers about where they can get help and provide free educational seminars and activities throughout the week. Programming is offered to all demographics and income levels and covers all facets of personal finance from establishing a budget to first time home buying to estate planning. For more information, visit the event website.
National Library Week
April 23-29, 2023
First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April. It is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation’s libraries and librarians and to promote library use and support. All types of libraries—school, public, academic and special—participate. This year’s theme, “There’s More to the Story,” is shared with National Library Week. Contact ALA’s American Association of School Librarians (AASL, a division of ALA) with questions. For information about this year’s theme, days celebrated during the week, and free tools visit the event website.
Children’s Day/Book Day – El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Día)
April 30
Children’s Day/Book Day, also known as El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Día), is a celebration of children, families, and reading and held annually on April 30. The celebration emphasizes the importance of advocating literacy for every child regardless of linguistic and cultural background. Through several grants from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, ALA’s Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC, a division of ALA) continues to increase public awareness of the event in libraries throughout the country. ALSC is collaborating on this effort with the Founding Partner of Día, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking (REFORMA). Día is an enhancement of Children’s Day, which began in 1925. Children’s Day was designated as a day to bring attention to the importance and well-being of children. In 1996, nationally acclaimed children’s book author Pat Mora proposed linking the celebration of childhood and children with literacy to found El día de los niños/El día de los libros. For more information, visit the event website.
El 30 de abril es una fecha muy significativa para los niños. Se celebra el día de los niños y de los libros. Esta celebración se conoce como El día de los niños/ El día de los libros, y celebra la alegría y las maravillas de la infancia y la importancia de los libros en nuestra vida. Póngase en contacto REFORMA con preguntas.
Ongoing Tools
These tools are available for free unless otherwise noted. Descriptions are provided by host organizations.
Applied Digital Skills
Google for Education’s Applied Digital Skills program is an online digital skills curriculum that is free of charge. Lessons and materials are appropriate for a wide range of learners, from middle school to college, and beyond. The curriculum uses a series of videos to guide learners through creating a project from scratch. This means that learners who complete a lesson leave with a useful project, such as a resume, a college planning sheet, or an interactive story. The Applied Digital Skills curriculum has earned recognition for being awarded the ISTE Seal of Alignment. For more information, visit the curriculum site.
But Why: A podcast for Curious Kids
But Why is a show led by kids! They ask the questions and we find the answers. It’s a big interesting world out there. On But Why, we tackle topics large and small, about nature, words, even the end of the world. Have a question? Send it to us! Adults, use your smartphone’s memo function or an audio app to record your kid’s question (get up nice and close so we can hear). Be sure to include: your child’s first name, age and town. And then email the audio file to questions@butwhykids.org. For more information, visit the podcast’s website.
Mission: Write with Stuart Gibbs
Stuart Gibbs is a New York Times bestselling author of series including Spy School, FunJungle, Charlie Thorne, and Once Upon a Tim. With the help of educators, Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers has created a free creative writing video series that focuses on providing real world tips from Stuart Gibbs for aspiring young writers. For more information visit the program website.
Once Upon a Meadow
Once Upon a Meadow features fictional stories about a community of creatures who must find ways to live in harmony, despite their differences. Geared toward 4- to 9-year-olds, the podcast explores themes of environmental and social justice. Each story is interwoven with original music, and episodes end with young listeners sharing their thoughts about the story’s message. For more information, visit the podcast’s website.
StarDate Online
StarDate is the public education and outreach arm of the University of Texas McDonald Observatory. The radio program airs daily on more than 300 stations, and the popular bimonthly astronomy magazine is the perfect skywatching companion for amateur astronomers or anyone interested in celestial events and space exploration. StarDate also offers astronomy resources to teachers, the media, and the public. For more information, visit the online archive.
Star Gazers
Star Gazers is the world’s only weekly television series on naked eye astronomy. Each weekly episode features selected objects for naked eye viewing during the following week. For more information, visit the program website.
StoryCorps
Stories of the human heart. A candid, unscripted conversation between two people about what’s really important in life: love, loss, family, friendship. When the world seems out of hand, tune in to StoryCorps and be reminded of the things that matter most. For more information, visit the StoryCorps 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.
