Google+ Hangout on Bullying Prevention
The New York Public Library is hosting a special Google+ Hangout on overcoming bullying, how books can help, and aspiring to do more on Monday, November 4, at 3:00 p.m. Sign up now to hear a panel of authors and artists share their own personal struggles with bullies and ways they learned to cope; guests include Tim Federle, Eric Kahn Gale, and Laura Vaccaro Seeger. The event will be moderated by NYPL librarian and SLJ blogger Elizabeth Bird.
Scholastic Book Fairs app
Scholastic has announced the launch of its free Scholastic Book Fair App, designed to help parents and teachers quickly find the right book for their child/student. The app allows users to scan a book’s cover or barcode, which immediate produces the book’s reading levels, age range, videos, summary and “similar titles.” Scholastic’s database for the app features more than 4,000 titles. The app also allows users to find free podcasts, author video interviews, “Reading Counts” quizzes on individual books, and “book talks,” featuring peer reviews from kids.
Capital One Bank’s Book by Book Program
Capital One Bank, in partnership with The Heart of America Foundation and Communities in Schools, announced that is has again launched Book by Book, a digital campaign to engage the public in helping donate up to 50,000 books to US schools and homes. Now in its second year, the program will run from October 28 to November 25, 2013. During that time, Capital One Bank will donate a book for every new “Like” on the Capital One Investing for Good Facebook Page, up to 50,000. Book lovers also can enter for a chance to win a custom children’s home library or reading nook in their own home, valued at over $17,000, from designer and television host Taniya Nayak. The prize includes 150 age-appropriate books. Entrants can also win one of four weekly Library-in-a-Box prize packages, which contain two sets of books, one for the winner to keep and one to donate to a local school or youth organization.
Call for proposals on Latino Kid Lit
The University of Alabama’s School of Library and Information Studies has announced its 2014 National Latino Children’s Literature Conference will be held in Tuscaloosa, AL, on March 13–14, 2014. The event was created to promote high-quality children’s and young adult books about the Latino cultures, and to offer a forum for librarians, educators, researchers, and students to discuss strategies for meeting the needs of Latino children and their families. In keeping with the theme of “Connecting Cultures & Celebrating Cuentos,” the organizers are calling for poster and program proposals that contribute to and extend existing knowledge in key areas. The submission deadline is December 9, 2013.
Teen Filmaker Festival (Kalamazoo Public Library)
The Kalamazoo (MI) Public Library is seeking submissions from Michigan teens ages 12–19 for its 11th Annual Teen Filmmaker Festival. Prizes will be awarded for the best films in nine categories: Best Animation, Best Experimental Film, Best Music Video, Best Short Film, Best Technical Merit, Best Cinematic Merit, Judge’s Choice, People’s Choice, and Grand Prize for Best Film. People’s Choice will be chosen at the Teen Filmmaker Festival by the audience members. Submissions are due January 18, 2014. Entrants must reside in Michigan. Films can be submitted by groups, and teens can submit more than one film. Festival finalists will be screened on Sunday, February 23, 2014.