Support

The Association for Library Services to Children - ALSC is a division of the American Library Association offering a wide variety of resources for anyone interested in library services for children. Visit the Professional Tools section for resources by subject area.

The Wisconsin Youth and Special Services for Libraries - The Wisconsin Youth and Special Services for Libraries section of the Division for Libraries, Technology and Community Learning includes:

Cooperative Childrens Book Center - CCBC is a Wisconsin research service committed to identifying excellent literature for all levels of reading. CCBC offers assistance with reference, book challenges, and book recommendations related to literature for youth.

Early Learning Initiative for Wisconsin Public Libraries - DPI early learning resources include tips and strategies for early childhood development and library literacy programs.

Northwoods Children’s Book Conference - NCBC is the regional children's literature and programming conference. 

Young Adult Library Services Association - YALSA is a division of American Library Association offering useful information for anyone interested in library services for teens.

  • Young Adult Services Guidelines - Offers tips on providing and promoting information and resources appropriate to the unique developmental characteristics and life circumstances of youth between ages 12 and 18.

Reading Incentives

Awards

Caldecott Medal - awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.

Golden Archer Awards - award-winning children’s literature sponsored by the Wisconsin Educational Media Association.

Newbery Medal - awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.
 
Reading Rockets - This national literacy initiative provides lists of award winning books, notable awards, "best of" lists.
 
Recommendations


Children’s Book Council - the national nonprofit trade association for children’s trade book publishers. The CBC website provides resources such as reading lists, links to websites of authors and illustrators, articles on children’s literature, information about getting a children’s book published and more.

Cooperative Children’s Book Center - Wisconsin’s leading source of information about children’s literature. Includes reading lists, articles and a discussion list. A primary source of assistance when dealing with book challenges.

Children’s Reading Lists - a subject arrangement of recommended reading lists for children created by the staff of the Seattle Public Library.

World of Reading - offers a place for children and teens to post book reviews or read thereviews of others. A service of Michigan’s Ann Arbor Public Library.
 
Teen Reads - commentary, news, interviews and reviews from leading authors for teen readers.
 
Juvenile Series and Sequels - lists for dozens of children’s book series compiled by the Mid-Continent Public Library in Independence, Missouri. 
 
Authors and Illustrators on the Web - a Canadian site providing links to personal and fan websites of dozens of popular authors of childrens’ and young adult books. 

Book Discussions
 
Book Discussion Groups for Kids - gives students in grades K-12 an opportunity to join an online book discussion or post a review of a book.

CCBC Book Discussion Guidelines - offers nine general rules for leading a book discussion.

Guys Read - author Jon Scieszka, dedicated to promoting literacy in boys, offers suggestions for promoting book discussions for boys.
 
DogEared - An online book club for kids with a blog all about a wide assortment of books; good books, funny books, adventure books, books about animals, friendship, pirates, faraway places, etc. 

Programming Resources

Discovery Education -  Recommended online resources for youth, including a subject guide, browsers, and resources for adults working with youth.

Teen Librarian's Toolbox - A Young Adult Services Librarian shares ready made resources to use with teen patrons.

Movie Programming - Movie Licensing USA offers ideas for using movies for exciting library events and a tool for searching movies by Title, Actor, Director, rating, or genre.

Environmental Science Activities - Kid's Pages of songs, lessons, games and coloring pages provided by The National Institute of Environmental Health Services section for youth.