Recent Additions to the Great Websites for Kids List

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The American Library Association (ALA) announced that the Association of Library Services to Children (ALSC) has added eleven new websites to its list of Great Websites for Kids. These sites join the many sites already categorized by subject that have been selected, vetted, and are checked by the Great Websites for Kids Committee twice a year for accessibility, relevance, and appropriateness.

 These are the eleven new sites:

Ben's Guide to the U.S. Government - http://bensguide.gpo.gov/
Biz Kids - http://bizkids.com/
canTEEN - http://canteengirl.org/
DK Find Out! - http://www.dkfindout.com/us/
Exploratorium - http://www.exploratorium.edu/explore
Girls Communicating Career Connections - http://gc3.edc.org/
KidLit TV - http://kidlit.tv/
Oh Noah! - http://pbskids.org/noah/
Origami Yoda - http://origamiyoda.com/
Plum Landing - http://pbskids.org/plumlanding/
Sparticl - http://www.sparticl.org/

ALSC has also done parents, teachers, caregivers and librarians a favor by providing a wide selection of sites geared for them which can be accessed HERE. 

Learning from Others

Dana and Lindsey who blog at Jbrary consistently share quality songs, ideas and resources for librarians serving youth. Their July 13, 2016 post focuses on a list of the non-librarian bloggers that inspire them with ideas, practices, booklists, and hands-on activities. See it for yourself HERE.

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Send your suggestions for blogs that inspire your programs and services to Wisconsin youth and your community to Sarah at scournoyer (at) mwfls (dot) org for a future Youth Services Shout-out post.

Ideas and Free Literacy Kits

I'm always on the lookout for great ideas to implement at my library. Recently, I was reminded of a free resource called Curious City DPW. The folks at Curious City produce free KidLit programming guides, hold giveaways, produce a podcast, have a Facebook page, and have a mission to connect kids of all ages and literature.

Some highlights include a Quick, Little Monkey storytime kit, book club kits, community service project ideas, and more. It's worth exploring to see what you can glean and put to use whether you are serving the very young, school-agers, or teens and tweens.

When Tragedy Strikes

How can we in libraries respond to our families in the aftermath of a crushing and tragic blow - whether from gun violence or a natural disaster? Three and half years ago, after the Sandy Hook tragedy, we wrote on this blog (and hoped it would be for the last time):
"You might have some parents or kids looking for help in dealing with the stress, grief, fear, and other feelings that are roused by such a horrific event.  Here are a few tip sheets and bibliographies that might be useful to you as you try to sensitively answer those questions. A display might be a good way to get the information out there to people who don't want to ask."

Having resources at the ready to share with families  is vital.

Here are some links to help meet the needs of our communities:
Orange County Library System put up a page with information and resources

Betsy Bird shared resources in her SLJ Fuse 8 column

A Media Specialist's Guide to the Internet shares excellent resources to help children

South Central Library System (WI) shares bibliographies on helping children cope and teaching tolerance

Baby Talk Research and Resources

The Coalition of Infant/Toddler Educators (CITE) puts out a newsletter called Baby Talk that anyone can subscribe to, and we youth services librarians as infant and toddler educators and parent/caregiver information sources can certainly benefit from staying abreast of current research and resources in the field of baby and child development.

Check out the March issue here. Or find CITE on Facebook or Twitter.

Vetted apps to share

When I am asked about apps for kids, two of the resources I've shared with parents, grandparents and other interested adults are from these Wisconsin libraries who have put great lists together:

Darien Library Apps & Tech
Darien Library Early Literacy Apps
Madison Public Library Kids Apps (Carissa's picks include search options to target appropriate apps)

What resources do you use when acting as a media mentor?

Resources for Dealing with Crisis and Tragedy

All of us are reeling after the tragedy last Friday.  You might have some parents or kids looking for help in dealing with the stress, grief, fear, and other feelings that are roused by such a horrific event.  Here are a few tip sheets and bibliographies that might be useful to you as you try to sensitively answer those questions. A display might be a good way to get the information out there to people who don't want to ask.

Do you have other books or resources that you would recommend?


Bibliographies:

Bibliography from the Cooperative Children's Book Center, dealing with grief and loss 

South Central Library System set up a resource about helping kids deal with tragedy

Center for Children's Books Bibliography about coping with death

Boston Public Library Bibliography: Times of Grief and Sadness

Tip Sheets:

 Child Mind Institute:  Helping Your Child Deal with Frightening News

Child Mind Institute:  Going Back to School After a Tragedy

National Association of School Psychologists tip sheet

National Association of School Principals tip sheet (also in Spanish)

 

Love and Logic tip sheet for dealing with tragedy