It's the time of the season for Youth Services! NJLA Youth Services Forum returns this year on November 20th 2024. This year’s NJLA Youth Services Forum embraces the theme 'Season’s Readings.' Expect an unconference style experience that’s unscripted, engaging and full of insights you won't be-leaf!
This year’s YSF will include a Banned Book Buzz with insight/keynote from Chair of the Intellectual Freedom Subcommittee, Eileen Palmer.
Don't miss out on the chance to ‘branch out’ and connect with fellow youth services enthusiasts! Breakfast and Lunch are included. Shop at the NJLA store for year-round special occasions!
The deadline to register is Monday, November 8th. There will be no on-site registrations permitted.
Cancellation Policy
Registration reflects a commitment to pay regardless of attendance and we hope that everyone who registers will make every effort to attend. However, we understand unforeseen circumstances do occur and full refunds will be permitted if registration is canceled prior to November 8th. Registrants canceling on or after November 8th will not receive a refund. To cancel your registration send an email to [email protected].
Program Schedule
Breakfast in Bloom | 8:45 am - 9:30 am
Enjoy breakfast, coffee, and networking with your youth services library worker colleagues.
Springing Into Action | 9:30 am - 9:45 am
Opening remarks from CSS Past-President Heather Kristian & YASS Past-President Emily Mazzoni and an NJLA Conference Bulletin from Aaron Pickett.
Keynote Presentation | 10:00 am - 10:15 am
NJLA President Jeff Cupo
Session 1 Discussion Topics (10:30 am - 11:00 am)
Empathy, not just a spring fling!
Empathy is something we need to work on year round with coworkers, patrons, bosses and ourselves. We will discuss what kinds of things work/don't work in your library and what we can do to make things easier for ourselves and those around us to exist harmoniously in any season.
Discussion host: Melaina Squicciarini
Welcoming Every Flower
We will talk about our recent collaboration with an occupational therapy doctoral student who guided us in making some changes to our library space and our programming to make it welcoming to all children and their caregivers.
Discussion hosts: Ellen Ryan and Anne O'Gorman
Session 2 Discussion Topics (11:05 am - 11:35 am)
Year 'Round Literacy Programming
Summer isn't the only time youth and families might want to engage in activities and programming that promotes literacy. Rethink why and how you might want to offer these activities all year long by encouraging the youth and community members to co-design/co-lead them with you.
Discussion host: Sharon Rawlins
Imposter Syndrome: When Will I Feel Like a "Seasoned" Librarian?
Let's reassure one another that we are all doing the best we can, and that the impact can't always be quantified. We'll delve into why Teen Services are ever changing, and therefore can't be judged year to year or month to month based on stats alone. YA and YS librarians always feel like they do too much, or not enough. Does that imposter syndrome go away? When? five years, ten years, ever?
Discussion host: Emily Mazzoni
Session 3 Discussion Topics (11:40 am - 12:10 pm)
Don't Sweat It: Tips and Tricks for Developing a Manga Collection
Librarians not familiar with manga may dread the process of developing a good manga collection. "Do I have to buy all these volumes? What does Shojo mean? How can I tell what's popular so I don't waste my shelf space on series that won't circulate? How can I help patrons with questions about manga?" The mystery surrounding manga may make it hard to even find a place to start, but you don't have to be a manga reader to learn how to manage a collection. During this session, we'll share our practical and theoretical advice on making your otaku patrons proud!
Discussion host: Dana Vocht
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall: Dramatic Play for One and All
Since the pandemic, we've all been trying to get patrons back into the library. We know that play is the number one way small children learn. Also, the longer our patrons stay, and the deeper the relationships we build, the more program attendance and circulation we get. At the Margaret E. Heggan Free Public Library, we've been experimenting with dramatic play early learning centers over the past two years. Some of our ideas have been a hit and some have been a big ol' mess. We were inspired recently by the article "Practice the Practices: Kids Learn Big in Dramatic Play Areas" by Terry Ehle in "Children & Libraries" Vol. 22 No. 3 (Fall 2024) to look at what other dramatic play areas libraries are setting up. With a limited budget and limited staff, we'd love to share our ideas and find out what has been working- and what hasn't- around the state.
Discussion hosts: Sara Figueroa and Stephanie Middleton
Afternoon Events
Lunchtime | 12:15 - 1:15
Fresh Air & Fare
Speaker | 1:20 - 1:50
TBD
Let’s Grow! LibraryLinkNJ and MentorNJ | 2:00 pm - 2:20 pm
MentorNJ is a service for New Jersey libraries that serves as a gateway to librarians and paraprofessionals new to the profession or the state. As part of this service, there will also be a mentor network, both virtual and in-person, available to librarians or paraprofessionals.
Speaker: Darby Malvey
The Freedom to Read Act and Book Challenges | 2:30 - 3:15
Get the most up to date information on the Freedom to Read Bill’s progress and join in a Q&A session on book challenges, bans, and best practices around the conversations. Anonymous questions will be welcome via a Google Form, and tipsheets will be available to take home.
Discussion hosts: NJLA Intellectual Freedom SubCommittee Chair and Retired LMXAC Director Eileen Palmer, Emily Mazzoni and Sara Figueroa
Questions? Get in touch with Lynnette at [email protected]
YS Forum Planning Team Co-chairs: Lynnette Fucci, Youth Services Coordinator, Monroe Township Public Library; Dana Vocht, Youth Services Librarian, East Brunswick Public Library; Emilly Mazzoni, Teen Services Librarian, Monroe Township Public Library.
Link to this page: njla.org/youth-services-forum
