National Poetry Day!

Here is a great article - an interview with a children's librarian - on why it's important to share poetry with children: http://www.pbs.org/parents/readinglanguage/articles/poetry/librarian_interview.html

Best Practices

We need your Best Practices Award entries. Why? Because now more than ever it is so important to remind everyone how valuable libraries are to the communities they serve. So please share your best practices so that we can recognize public libraries from across the state that have innovative and successful programs in place for children, families and caregivers.

The deadline for applications is October 30. Remember, you can enter in more than one category. Mark your calendars now for the Best Practices Awards application deadline. *NEW FOR 2010 – BONUS POINTS WILL BE AWARDED TO FIRST TIME APPLICANTS*

Week of September 7, 2009 – PaLA Best Practices Award applications issued
October 30, 2009 – PaLA Best Practices Award entries due
April 14, 2010 – PaLA Early Learning Forum and Best Practices Awards luncheon,
Hilton Harrisburg

Again, PaLA will distribute the Best Practices in Early Learning booklets featuring the Best Practices award winners and their library programs at the PaLA Early Learning Forum and Best Practices Awards luncheon on April 14 in Harrisburg. In order to have those booklets ready for distribution at that event, the deadline for applications is October 30.

This year’s awards program again includes a category for innovative programs conducted in conjunction with the One Book, Every Young Child program utilizing the selected 2009 book, If You Were A Penguin.

Attendees at the Early Learning Forum and Best Practices Awards luncheon will have an opportunity to learn from and meet Jane and Will Hillenbrand, the author and illustrator of the 2010 One Book, Every Young Child selection, What a Treasure. Other leaders in the field of early learning also will be speaking. All Best Practices Award winners will receive their awards from the Hillenbrands, and their stories will be part of the Best Practices in Early Learning booklet distributed that day and shared with elected officials and policy-makers. You do not have to be an award winner to attend this FREE day of learning and fun and may bring an unlimited number of guests such as library staff, board members, major funders, etc.

Don’t forget to submit your application by Friday, October 30, 2009. Please email your completed application to Teri Hurst at thurst@pposinc.com or send to:

Teri Hurst
PPO&S
122 State Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101

We look forward to sharing your award-winning innovative programming across the state!