Lunar and Planetary Institute
The Lunar and Planetary Institute’s Explore program invites librarians to open doors to the universe to children – no prior experience in science is required! For each of eleven different Earth and space science and engineering topics, Explore provides step-by-step instructions for a selection of hands-on activities, as well as facilitator background information, correlating National Science Education Standards, and lists of related books, websites, handouts, and other resources. All materials can be accessed online — free for educational use! The activities are designed to be flexible and can be integrated into existing or new programs. The activities use inexpensive, easy-to-find materials — and, children can take their creations home with them. The activities are featured in free periodic in-person and online trainings for library professionals. The Explore program is funded by generous grants from NASA and the National Science Foundation.
Take Your Child to the Library Day
Take Your Child to the Library Day (TYCLD), a grassroots national initiative, encourages families everywhere to take their children to their local library. Launched in 2011 by Connecticut librarians Nadine Lipman and Caitlin Augusta with artist Nancy Elizabeth Wallace, TYCLD raises community awareness about the importance of the library in the life of a child, and promotes valuable free library services and programs for children and families. Participating libraries benefit from a nationally-recognized programming opportunity, online resources for collaboration and ideas, and free graphics to simplify outreach. TYCLD is completely customizable, enabling libraries to promote whatever programs and services they wish to highlight in accordance with their own goals and budget. Officially held on the first Saturday in February, local TYCLD celebrations may take place on any date(s) in February that suit the schedule and community of participating libraries. For more information, visit TakeYourChildtotheLibrary.org. TYCLD is a project of the Connecticut Library Consortium.
The United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY) is the U.S. national section of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY). The mission, to promote international understanding and good will through books for children and adolescents, is accomplished through activities such as promotion of International Children’s Book Day to inspire a love of reading, publication of an annual Outstanding International Books List, presentation of the Bridge to Understanding Award to acknowledge the work of adults who create programs that use children´s books to explore cultures around the world in order to promote international understanding among children, nomination of the United States candidates for the Hans Christian Andersen Award, and support and funding of worthy projects, both domestic and abroad including the Children in Crisis Fund and twinning efforts to assist national sections maintain membership in IBBY. USBBY’s patron organizations—the Children´s Book Council (CBC), the American Library Association (ALA), the International Reading Association (IRA), and the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).
The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) is a national association of librarians, library workers and advocates whose mission is to expand and strengthen library services for teens, aged 12-18. Through its member-driven advocacy, research, and professional development initiatives, YALSA builds the capacity of libraries and librarians to engage, serve and empower teens.
ALSC receives many requests to collaborate and we only select those collaboration requests that are most beneficial to our members and align with our mission. We do not consider requests to promote or advertise an organization or product.
If your organization is working on a national project that considers the needs of libraries beyond advertisement, and you are interested in collaborating with ALSC, please complete this online request form. All collaboration requests are vetted by the ALSC office and only those that best reflect the ALSC mission and within our limited resources will be considered by the ALSC Board at their next scheduled meeting. This process takes several months.