Tag Archives: Diversity

Beyond the Welcome Sign: Tailoring Immigrant Services for Success

May 11, 2017 live, and available as a recording later

“In this webinar, learn strategies from two LJ Movers & Shakers who help new immigrants feel welcomed by library and community.

There is much more to supporting immigrants and refugees than hanging out a “welcome” sign at your library. Successful programs and services are specifically tailored to meet the needs of the range of populations who may come through your doors. Hear from Movers & Shakers who work with communities to empower vulnerable and often underserved populations with a sense of belonging and self-reliance. Learn innovative approaches to identifying and celebrating immigrant leaders; how to foster networking between native-born and newcomer populations and between immigrant groups of varying national origins; how to highlight immigrant-positive narratives; and more. You’ll be sure to find practical ideas among the multi-pronged strategies that these librarians have used to ensure that new immigrants really do feel welcomed by the library and the community.

This webinar is part of a series highlighting the work of recent LJ Movers & Shakers and is hosted in collaboration with Library Journal.

Continue reading Beyond the Welcome Sign: Tailoring Immigrant Services for Success

Application open for USBBY Bridge to Understanding Award

Do you have a program that expands understanding of cultures/countries outside the US?
·      Consider applying for the Bridge to Understanding Award

 What is the Bridge to Understanding Award?

 This prestigious award was established in memory of Arlene Pillar, an educator who served USBBY as newsletter editor from 1984 until 1990.

The award recognizes a program that promotes reading as a way to expand understanding of one or more cultures or countries outside of the United States. Preference is given to programs that focus on contemporary life and culture.

Organizations eligible for this award include schools, libraries, scout troops, clubs and bookstores. The program may be a one-time event or an ongoing series that serves children ranging in age from kindergarten through tenth grade.

This award carries a monetary prize of $1,000 and a certificate.

How to apply for the Bridge to Understanding Award

Applications and criteria for the 2017 Bridge to Understanding Award are available at www.usbby.org or from the USBBY Secretariat at Secretariat@usbby.org. Phone: (224) 233-2030. To be considered the program must occur during the year 2017.

 Deadline for submissions is January 31, 2018.

USBBY, the United States National Section of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), is dedicated to promoting high quality literature for young people throughout the world.

Nancy L. Hadaway, Ph.D.

Professor Emerita, University of Texas at Arlington
hadaway@uta.edu
Co-author, Matching Books and Readers: Helping English Learners in Grades K-6, Guilford Press, 2010
Co-editor, Breaking Boundaries with Global Literature: Celebrating Diversity in K-12 Classrooms, International Reading Association, 2007
Co-editor, Supporting the Literacy Development of English Learners: Increasing Success in All Classrooms, International Reading Association, 2005
Co-author, What Teachers Should Know about English Language Learners, Allyn & Bacon Longman, 2004
Co-author, Literature-Based Instruction with English Language Learners, K-12, Allyn & Bacon Longman, 2001

Take the Reading Without Walls Challenge this April

“Reading Without Walls is happening now, and anyone can participate — teachers, librarians, book-sellers, and readers. Just find something new and different to read — and let books open up the world around you.

What can YOU do to read without walls?

Once you’ve finished reading, complete the challenge by challenging someone else! Use #ReadingWithoutWalls to tell all of your friends on social media what books you chose and challenge them to do the same.

About Reading Without Walls

National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Gene Luen Yang calls us all to READ WITHOUT WALLS, exploring books about characters who look or live differently than you, topics you haven’t discovered, or formats that you haven’t tried.

READING WITHOUT WALLS promotes diversity and opens readers’ eyes to new ideas and experiences. In this divided time in our nation’s history, READING WITHOUT WALLS is an inclusive way to spread appreciation and understanding for others — and to learn new and exciting things.”

ALA Diversity Research Grant available!

The American Library Association (ALA) Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services seeks proposals for the Diversity Research Grant program. Applications may address any diversity-related topic which addresses critical gaps in the knowledge of diversity, equity, and outreach issues within library and information science.

The application deadline has been extended to midnight central time on April 15, 2017.

The Diversity Research Grant consists of a one-time $2,500 award for original research. A jury of ALA members will evaluate proposals and select up to three awards. Grant recipients will be announced ahead of the 2017 ALA Annual Conference. Researchers are invited to present interim findings at the News You Can Use Diversity Research Grant Update held each ALA Midwinter Meeting and are asked to publish findings in a publication of their choosing within one year of completing their project.

Continue reading ALA Diversity Research Grant available!

More evidence on the importance of banned books

teen-city
Books help young people understand the world

Banned Books Week has come and gone – and we are looking forward to next year! But the issue of censorship regarding the books that young people are able to read continue all year long. This great article from boingboing.net shares that, “Some of the most frequently challenged books are the very books that young readers say are especially important and meaningful to them.”

Adults tend to worry about kids being exposed to ideas or beliefs that differ from their own. They also worry about allowing young people access to books that feature content such as sexuality, racial and ethnicity issues, violence, drugs, body image, and more. However, as the article claims, this controversial content can actually help kids and young people learn, empathize, and grow.

The authors of the article contacted eight writers including Lois Lowry, Chris Crutcher, and Rainbow Rowell to see if they would be willing to share messages they have received from young readers detailing the positive effects that have come from reading their often challenged books.

Read the article to see all of the responses, but some repeating themes are that young people feel less isolated, feel more connected to friends or family that may be facing challenges, are able to find the strength to remove themselves from harmful situations, and to begin to find a sense of self-acceptance.

While well-meaning (hopefully) adults may challenge books that feature tough issues like self-harm, abuse, and addiction, the young people that read these books are generally all too aware of these same issues already. Reading these books can help them not only work through and make sense of the issues, but show that they aren’t the only ones dealing with them.