{"id":32817,"date":"2025-01-17T13:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-17T19:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/?p=32817"},"modified":"2025-01-17T12:18:46","modified_gmt":"2025-01-17T18:18:46","slug":"youth-services-update-january-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/2025\/01\/17\/youth-services-update-january-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Youth Services Update: January 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"3<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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I hope you all were able to rest over your holiday season. May 2025 be kind to us all. This update has a lot of great information!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upcoming Opportunities<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Take Your Child to the Library Day in February<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Take<\/figure>
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By registering your library to celebrate TYCLD<\/a>, you can use the beautiful graphics by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace, promotional videos, and great information on the importance of libraries as a campaign in your community to bring more people through your door.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Funding Opportunities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Dollar General Literacy Grant<\/strong> \u2013 Dollar General awards grants for Adult, Family, and Summer Reading literacy activities. Applications are open through February 6th<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smokey Bear Reading Challenge Surplus Materials<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The USDA Forest Service<\/a> has surplus stamps and stickers from the Smokey Bear Reading Challenge<\/a>. Reach out to sm.fs.symbols@usda.gov<\/a> with your mailing address and how many of each item you would like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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January is Braille Literacy Month<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Texas Talking Book Program offers library service to people of any age that have a print related disability. This includes visual, physical, and reading disabilities. They offer materials in Braille<\/a> and Large Print, downloadable issues of magazines, special programming, Braille games<\/a>, and many other services. Make sure to know about this important resource and how to promote it in your community<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Decorative<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Professional Development Opportunities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Color Our World with Citizen Science: From Space to Sea<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Join SciStarter<\/a>, STAR Net<\/a>, and the Collaborative Summer Reading Program<\/a> for an engaging webinar that explores how libraries can bring the 2024 Summer Reading Theme, Color Our World, to life through Citizen Science<\/a>. Discover hands-on STEM activities for all ages, from exploring the wonders of space to uncovering the mysteries of the deep sea. Learn how these activities align with the theme and provide opportunities for library users to contribute to real-world scientific research. Gain valuable resources and ideas to integrate citizen science into your library\u2019s programming, inspiring curiosity and creativity in your community! Register to attend<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building Community-Based Summers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Building Community-Based Summers<\/strong><\/a> is a CSLP-sponsored four-session interactive discussion series held over the course of two months (March-April 2025). BCBS is designed to help libraries build strategies to engage community voices and provide summer services for all members of their communities. Learn more about the schedule<\/a> and apply to participate<\/a> in the learning cohort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Artful Connections with Stephanie Haines<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you were not able to attend this professional development opportunity live, the webinar slides and recording are now available<\/a>. We learned about the fundamentals of accessibility through the lens of creative arts activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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News You Can Use<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

This will be a roundup of information you might find useful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Early Literacy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Brain-Building Through Play: Activities for Infants, Toddlers, and Children<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University provides handouts in English and Spanish on the best way to encourage play with different developmental stages. Print and make these available to your caregivers at storytimes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best early literacy books of 2024<\/a>,<\/strong> according to Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy (CLEL).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Spanish CLEL Bell Awards seek new members for the 2025 Selection Committee<\/strong>. Aplicaci\u00f3n para integrar el Comit\u00e9 de Selecci\u00f3n de los Premios CLEL Bell en espa\u00f1ol 2025<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

School Age<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Letters About Literature Texas<\/strong> \u2013 Texas 4th-12th graders are invited to participate in Letters About Literature, an annual writing competition administered by the Texas Center for the Book. Students read a book or poem and write a letter to an author\u2014living or dead\u2014explaining how his or her work changed their view of themselves or the world. Learn more about how to participate<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Create a Reading Culture with the Texas Bluebonnet Award<\/strong><\/a> by Michele Chan Santos of the Texas Center for the Book<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every Child Ready to Click, Ready to Scroll<\/a>,<\/strong> Using High-Quality Apps to Support Literacy Development – The Urban Libraries Council partners with Google Play to curate a collection of high-quality Teacher Approved apps designed to enrich children\u2019s lives while keeping their safety and learning top of mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tween<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Good Grief: Middle Grade Authors Normalize Loss<\/strong><\/a>. School Library Journals offers a series of interviews with authors on grief and loss in middle grade books<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

School Library Journal’s Most Anticipated Middle Grade of 2025<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teen<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Creating a sense of belonging is key in positive youth development<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Talking Teen Services<\/strong> \u2013 The Colorado State Library is launching a new series of virtual learning opportunities called Talking Teen Services<\/strong><\/a>. The first is on Tuesday, February 25, called Working with Teen Volunteers Panel<\/a>. Mind the time zone difference!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Texas Teens in Public Libraries Meet Up<\/strong> \u2013 A monthly virtual meet up dedicated to teen services in Texas public libraries is starting up this month! Let these teen librarians know<\/a> you are interested in getting meeting details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Free Test Prep for Families<\/strong> \u2013 Prep Accelerator provides free virtual ACT-SAT-PSA prep webinar for caregivers of middle and high schoolers. Learn more<\/a> and pass this on to any interested patrons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Six Months From Now…<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It may be January right now, but those of us working with youth always are planning for the future. Six months from now it will be June and you will be kicking off summer! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accordion Fans on Watercolor Paper<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This is an activity you will find in the Summer 2025 Program Manuals that you should now have access to! Email Youth Services Consultant Katelyn Patterson<\/a> if you missed getting the access code in the Summer Library Program Newsletter. You will find this activity on page 11 of the Program Manual, Chapter 5, which is all about 3D Art and Decor for all ages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Circular<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Image credit: https:\/\/thesuperheroteacher.com\/2021\/10\/diy-classroom-decor-paper-fans-using-ooly.html<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only is this a fun way to explore color science with younger children (not to mention folding the paper is great for fine motor skills), but I would do this activity with teens, specifically with a Teen Advisory Board. Not only is it something they can do while socializing, but they can crank out tons of them you can use to decorate your children\u2019s space for great Color Our World vibes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Summer 2025<\/h1>\n\n\n
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\"Collaborative<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Upcoming Themes and Slogans<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Collaborative Summer Library Program<\/a> is currently collecting ideas for the summer 2028 slogan (theme: Mythical Creatures) and the summer 2029 theme (to be determined… by YOU!<\/strong>). Please complete the survey by Sunday, February 2nd and make your voice heard<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Summer 2025 Program Manual Access<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The code to access the program manual was shared in TSLAC’s Summer Library Program Newsletter. Subscribe<\/a> to get that newsletter in your inbox as it is the primary way<\/strong> of sharing important updates about everything Summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Subscribing now does not prompt it to resend, but Youth Services Consultant Katelyn Patterson<\/a> can provide you with the access code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thank you!<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Thanks for your dedication to the youth of Texas. Subscribe to the Library Developments<\/em> blog<\/a> and the Summer Library Program newsletter<\/a>, and book some time to meet with the Youth Services Consultant<\/a> for additional support.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I hope you all were able to rest over your holiday season. May 2025 be kind to us all. This update has a lot of great information! Upcoming Opportunities Take Your Child to the Library Day in February By registering your library to celebrate TYCLD, you can use the beautiful graphics by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67,"featured_media":30767,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,12,59,733],"tags":[567,802,358,910],"class_list":["post-32817","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-continuing-education","category-general-announcements","category-public-libraries","category-youth-services","tag-public-libraries","tag-summer-library-program","tag-youth-services","tag-youth-services-update"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32817","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/67"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32817"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32817\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32849,"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32817\/revisions\/32849"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30767"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32817"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32817"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32817"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}