50+ Fandom Programs

Alessio, A. J., LaMantia, K., & Vinci, E. (2017). 50+ Fandom Programs: Planning Festivals and Events for Tweens, Teens, and Adults. Chicago, IL : ALA Editions.

 This book of ready-to-go programs and events will help public libraries give fans who are passionate about genres, characters, games, and book series plenty of reasons to return to the library again and again. Fandom programming can require planning across departments, tie-ins to collections and community partnerships, and targeted marketing. But the fun content cooked up by the three best-selling authors in this guide makes it easy to stay organized every step of way, with events broken down into components that streamline planning and facilitates coordination. Adaptable for a wide range of ages, this resource

• covers all the basics of how to host a fandom event, including prep time, length of program, number of patrons, budget, and supplies needed;
• suggests an age range (tweens, teens, millennials, older adults) for each program while also offering ways to tailor it to different groups;
• presents such imaginative and engaging programming ideas as 50 Shades of Hot Books, Old School Video Games, Women in Comics, Creating Steampunk Outfits, Superhero School, and many more;
• provides ideas for perennial fan favorites like Harry Potter, horror stories, and sports; and
• gives tips on how to stay current with what’s popular and ways to incorporate popular activities like cosplay, trivia, and movie-oke.

Filled with projects and ideas that can be used with a variety of fandoms and interests, this programming book will ensure both quick planning and great turnout.

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Teen Services Today

Joiner, S. K., & Swanzy, G. (2017). Teen Services Today: A practical Guide for Librarians. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.

Two authors with more than 20 years of combined experience share their practical experience serving teens in public libraries. Teen Services Today highlights best practices, including resources and references, to quickly implement programs and services to young adults.

Although teen services covers ages 12 to 18, a world of developmental changes and interest levels exist within those six short years. Teens offer a range of opportunities for public libraries, not simply as patrons, but also as advocates and volunteers.

Special features of the book include:

• Basic information on the fundamental services and programs for teens
• Reasons for providing services to teens
• Examples of successful teen programs, complete with lists of needed supplies and potential costs, that can generally be performed by one or two staff members
• Checklists and forms

Teen Services Today: A Practical Guide for Librarians gives all library staff the tools they need to work with teens. Whether you are the teen librarian, the clerk who’s been assigned to ‘do something’ about teens or the branch manager who sees an underserved population, this book will provide you with the building blocks to create successful relationships with the teens who use your library.

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Summer Matters: Making All Learning Count

McChesney, E. M., & Wunar, B. W. (2017). Summer Matters: Making All Learning Count. Chicago, IL : ALA Editions.

 Summer reading for children is a long standing and cherished tradition in public libraries across America, but today’s kids need to master new skills and competencies. Today’s summer programming needs to move beyond reading to engage children with hands-on activities, thus keeping their brains active even when school’s out. Here, a team of librarians and educators from the Chicago Public Library (CPL) and Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry present a guide based on their award-winning, STEAM-inspired approach. They outline practical steps for libraries and cultural institutions to partner in creating a sustainable summer learning program that’s both fun and educational. This book

• explains what STEAM is and why it’s important for libraries;
• provides evidence-based research on summer slide, the achievement gap, and 21st century learning skills;
• walks readers through building a cultural partnership, collaborating efficiently, and sustaining the relationship into the future;
• offers tips for managing institutional change;
• provides guidance for developing a new vision for summer at the library, with pointers on adding learning tracks to existing programs and addressing design challenges;
• details how CPL evaluates and assesses their program; and
• includes templates for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), mission statement, logic model, and sample Summer Learning Challenge evaluations.

Loaded with innovative program ideas, this resource will ensure that learning continues even while school is out.

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Reaching Reluctant Young Readers

Reid, R. (2017). Reaching Reluctant Readers. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.

 Reaching Reluctant Young Readers features 150 middle-grade books. Each profiled title has the potential to hook the reluctant reader and lure them to read the entire book. To specifically encourage elementary and middle-school-age reluctant children to read, there is first a pitch to get the reader’s attention. That is followed by a short reading passage to “set the hook” and encourage the young person to read the rest of the book on their own. Further, the book contains several hundred additional recommended titles.

The books selected for this collection were chosen following the criteria of reluctant reader books created by the Quick Picks committee sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association. While these guidelines were designed for young adult books, they also work well for middle-grade books. The criteria include:

• clear writing (no convoluted long sentences with sophisticated vocabulary),
• high interest “hook” in the first few pages,
• well-defined characters,
• interesting plot, and
• familiar themes.

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The Newbery and Caldecott Awards

Association for Library Services to Children, . (2017). The Newbery and Caldecott Awards: A Guide to the Medal and Honor Books (2017 ed.). Chicago, IL: American Library Association.

Updated with the 2017 award and honor books, this perennial favorite gathers together the books deemed most distinguished in American children’s literature and illustration since the inception of the renowned prizes. Librarians and teachers everywhere rely on this guidebook for quick reference and collection development and also as a resource for curriculum links and readers’ advisory. With an easy-to-use streamlined look and format, the 2017 guide features

• a new interview with four-time Caldecott winner Bryan Collier;
• explanations of criteria used to select the winners; and
• updated bibliographic citations and indexes for the award winners.

This resource for locating information about the best in children's books is valuable for every collection.

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