ALA Underserved Teen Book Club Grant Available

ALA invites library workers to apply for “Imagining Tomorrow: Building Inclusive Futures.” This brand-new series in ALA’s Great Stories Club will feature science fiction books that explore questions of equity, identity and alternate futures.

• Visit the project guidelines and apply online by May 10, 2023
• 35 libraries will be selected
• Applications will be accepted from all types of libraries (public, school, academic, special, etc.) in the United States
• Participating libraries must work in partnership with, or be located within, an organization that reaches underserved teens (e.g., alternative high school, juvenile justice facilities, tribal library, drug/alcohol rehabilitation centers, nonprofits serving teen parents, alternative high schools, agencies serving teenaged foster children and shelters serving young adults and families experiencing homelessness).
• Selected libraries will receive 11 paperback copies of theme-related books to use in the reading and discussion groups as well as a $500 programming stipend, online training, an array of program resources and support throughout the grant term.

Read more about this grant at https://www.ala.org/tools/programming/greatstories/resources/future/guidelines.

Sometimes You Just Don't Know!

While reading Tasha Saecker's delightful Waking Brian Cells blog recently, I stumbled upon the news that there is a science fiction notables list for youth that has been in existence since the 1990's!

Wha?!?!?! Where have I been?!?!  Just in case you haven't heard of this cool list, here's the scoop.

The notables list, developed by the American Library Association's Library & Information Technology Association (LITA), focuses on books for preschool through teen. According to their website, "The LITA Committee Recognizing Excellence in Children’s and Young Adult Science Fiction is charged with selecting, annotating, and presenting for publication, annually a list of notable children’s and young adult science fiction of the preceding calendar year.  The Committee meets extensively during the year and at the ALA Midwinter Meeting announces the Lists of those titles they believe to be notable.  The Lists are intended to assist children, their parents, and librarians in selecting books to read and to encourage them to seek out those that are considered notable among the many books available in bookstores and libraries.  While it is not expected that every library of all sizes and types will necessarily select all of the books listed, it is hoped that children will find these books to be accessible." 

The 2019 list is out and features great ideas for our science fiction collection for kids. To read the entire annotated list and explore past recommended book lists (from 1992 to the present plus additional recommendations for years preceding the awards), click here.