Annual Youth Services Forum Features a "Battery" of Hot Topics

From programming on a budget to the latest in technology, the 2011 Youth Services Forum, "RechargingYour Batteries," on October 13, 2011, brought together a number of experts to discuss the hottest topics and issues of concern to the state's children & youth librarians.

Hosted by the Children's Services and Young Adult Sections of the New Jersey Library Association, the NJ State Library and the NJ Association of School Librarians at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, Manalapan, the day-long event focused on such topics as library advocacy, services for "post teens/new adults," empowering girls 8-12, and using rhymes to increase attention span.

In the Tech Gadget Garage, a SKYPE demonstration (photo above) featured a discussion with Nan Marino, author of Neil Armstrong is My Uncle, and Other Lies Muscle Man McGinty Told Me, from the Barnegat Public Library. In the photo, Sharon Rawlins, NJ State Library youth services consultant, asks Marino a question.

From left: Selena Davidson, young adult librarian at the South Brunswick Public Library, Laura Leonard, teen & reference librarian at the Hillsdale Public Library, Audra Osorio, head of youth services at the Mount Olive Public Library, and Ellen Pozzi, from SC&I at Rutgers, gave a presentation on promoting the Garden State Book Awards. They explained how books get on the nominee list for teens and children; when voting takes place; and gave tips on getting teens and children to read and vote for their favorite books. Winners are announced at the NJLA spring conference.

For more photos go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/njlibraryevents/sets/72157627930079434/