to the work of ALA’s Young Adult Library Services Association. They are: • YALSA Discussion/Interest Group Evaluation Taskforce, Chair; • YALSA Past President’s Program Lecture Selection Committee; • YALSA Research Committee.
Jeff Huber, Melissa Johnston Participate in Library Media Specialists Kickoff Director Jeff Huber and Prof. Melissa Johnston participated in the Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS) kickoff meeting for school library media specialists on July 28. The event was held in the auditorium of Lexington Public Library’s (LPL) Central Library. Candy Zaluski (’85), FCPS Library Resource Specialist, who arranged the program, asked Jeff and Melissa to “talk about the vision you have for school library media specialists – the focus that they will need for the future to keep our profession strong and what UK plans for those getting accredited for their MSLS and what you expect your practicum students to experience.” In the morning, 58 school and agency library media specialists met the new LPL Executive Director, Ann Hammond, as well as the Youth Director, Toy Lancaster, and the Outreach Director, Kelly Dean (’96), to discuss partnership possibilities, such as the Spellbinders programs that come into schools once a month. In the afternoon, Jeff discussed the past and future of UK’s library and information science program, reminding those present that the loss of the faculty line devoted to the school library media program caused the School to suspend admission to the program fall semester 2010. He said it was gratifying that the UK Provost reinstated the position and that the School was receiving many applications for fall 2011 from people who wish to combine the ALA-accredited master’s program with certification to be media specialists. Melissa stressed the convenience of the School’s online program for the person who works full time and wants to complete the School’s MSLS program – the only ALAaccredited program at a Kentucky institution. UK SLIS, FCPS, and Kentucky Education Television (KET) have submitted a grant application that, Candy told the newsletter, “would partner UK, FCPS librarians and KET to work together training library media specialists in new technology applications and projects on a monthly basis.” The group included several SLIS students who are pursuing library media certification and are doing the required practicum at FCPS. Melissa talked with the group about what to expect from students who are placed in practicums, as well as what UK hopes the students will learn from FCPS media specialists during the students’ practicums. Following the day-long kickoff, Candy told the newsletter: “The feedback I received was full of excitement and gratitude that UK will continue the school library media program, especially since, if this year is any indication – we placed nine new library media specialists – as a profession Fall 2011
we really need graduates from an ALA-accredited program that will fill the needs of our students and schools in having media specialists who will be able to lead, train, and adapt to the technology advances that will come in the future.”
McConnell Literature Conference 2011 The 43rd McConnell Youth Literature Conference was held February 25-26, 2011, at Lexington’s Embassy Suites Hotel with the theme Diverse Directions in Youth Literature. Sharon M. Draper, Kentucky Bluegrass Award winner for Double Dutch and Coretta Scott King recipient for her works Forged by Fire and Copper Sun, delivered the Joy Terhune Lecture at the banquet on Friday night. In a talk filled with humor, Draper discussed the power of literacy and shared letters and thank you notes from her readers. Although Mrs. Terhune could not be with us this year, she was with us in thought, as was conference namesake, the late Anne McConnell. The banquet was atMcConnell Conference 2012 tended by several School faculty and The McConnell Conference School Director Dr. will be held March 23-24, Jeff Huber. We also welcomed the Dean of Embassy Suites Hotel. the College of Communications and Information Studies, Dr. H. Dan O’Hair, to his second McConnell Conference. On Friday afternoon, many aspects of youth literature and services were explored in breakout sessions. Children’s Librarian at the bilingual Village Branch of the Lexington Public Library Katie Cunningham presented “Serving Latino Families in Your Library” and spoke about ways to serve the growing population. Donna Ammerman, Adriana Silva, and Lise Tewes presented “¡Sí se puede! / Yes You Can! El Día de los Niños, El Día de los Libros / Day of the Child, Day of the Book at Your Library!” Master’s students in the School’s Critical Analysis of Children’s Literature course discussed the recipients of the 2011 Caldecott, Newbery, Printz and Morris awards. All sessions were repeated on Saturday. Illustrator Rafael López spoke about his award-winning works during the breakfast session Saturday morning, while Saturday’s lunch session featured the winner of multiple ALA-YALSA Best Books for Young Adults and ALAYALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers awards Matt de la Peña, who shared his story of becoming a writer. Mr. de la Peña has published short fiction in various literary journals, four young adult books, and a picture book, including Ball Don’t Lie, Mexican White Boy, We Were Here, I Will Save You, and his latest literary endeavor, Joe Louis: A Nation’s Hope (illustrated by Kadir Nelson). The Saturday schedule also included smaller breakout sessions with Draper, de la Peña, and López, and a repeat of Friday’s sessions. Children’s and Youth Services Librarian and UK graduate Sarah Flood Held and our own Dr. Stephanie D. Reynolds presented “Resources for AwarePage 5