Look for these award-winning books in our library!

As part of curating a library collection that appeals to reader interests, I make a point of following official results for my state’s reader’s choice award. These are books that won a popular vote among young people choosing their “favorites.” Among recent arrivals to SRCSA library, here are the winners, for 2026, of the California Young Reader Medal.
https://youtu.be/mcV9gfBpkQc

Cultural humility and a diverse library collection

Building and promoting a diverse library collection begins with materials selection. In an earlier writing I talked about the fact that communities served by libraries are increasingly diverse. “Race, ethnicity, language, physical and mental ability, socioeconomic status, gender expression, and sexual orientation are just a few ways diversity is reflected in [students’] lived experiences” (Hughes-Hassell, 2020, p. 21). My goal when building a library collection is to serve this increasingly diverse community by ensuring variety among the books in the library’s collection.

Building and promoting a diverse library collection

How effectively am I creating and marketing a balanced library collection that represents the variety among residents of our community? As part of my studies in librarianship this semester, I plan to explore this question.

SRCSA library : New arrivals in September and October 2025

Here is a slideshow featuring some new arrivals during September and October 2025. Each of the books featured in this slideshow was published under the auspices of the Own Voices, Own Stories Award. This award amplifies new and diverse perspectives among children’s picture-book manuscripts.This slideshow was created in Canva. The music is Funky House by Nver Avetyan.
https://youtu.be/ub-7V8V04LY

National Book Award ’25: Books in SRCSA library

The National Book Foundation has announced its finalists for the 2025 National Book Award. Among the books in SRCSA library, here are a couple of Longlist titles and a couple of finalists in the “Young People’s Literature” category.
https://youtu.be/Q_5_VkhTIUo

SRCSA library : New arrivals in August and September 2025

Here is a slideshow featuring some new arrivals during August and September 2025: including a winner and an Honor Book for the 2025 Coretta Scott King Book Awards, and nominees for the California Young Reader Medal, 2025-2026. This slideshow was created in Canva. The music is Funky House by Nver Avetyan.
https://youtu.be/jF2kcvhheho

CYRM: Winners in 2025

Winners have been announced in 2025 for the California Young Reader Medal. In the Primary, Intermediate, and Picture Books for Older Readers categories, here are Are You a Cheeseburger by Monica Arnaldo, New From Here by Kelly Yang, and The Gardener of Alcatraz by Emma Bland Smith. These books were the top vote-getters in their respective categories as decided by children in California.
https://youtu.be/GOAqK_k-hVA

National Book Award ’24: Books in SRCSA library

The National Book Foundation announced the winners of the 2024 National Book Award this week. Among the books in SRCSA library, here are a Longlist title, a finalist, and the winner of this year’s National Book Award in the “Young People’s Literature” category.
https://youtu.be/o46QC_YDa9k

UCM, LIS 5804 : Introducing myself

I am taking graduate courses in Library and Information Science through the online program at University of Central Missouri. For Spring 2023, I am taking LIS 5804, The Public Library. I made this video to introduce myself to classmates.

Board policies help justify diverse library collections

For Fall 2022, I have been taking a course in developing and managing library collections, LIS 5250, through the University of Central Missouri. The cumulative project for LIS 5250 is to create a collection development policy.

One of our recent prompts for the class asked about serving a diverse population. Was there a component in our library philosophy that mentioned that?

Variety of formats for library collection

Citing the American Library Association’s “Selection and Reconsideration Policy Toolkit for Public, School, and Academic Libraries,” Kerby (2019, p. 26) tells us that library collections must “Include a variety of resources in physical and virtual formats.” And among its shared foundations, the American Association of School Libraries (2018, p. 98) likewise emphasizes that “The school library provides a collection of resources and materials in all formats.”

Collection development and patron requests

As a paralibrarian working in a K-8 school library, I have been confronted from time to time with requests: that the library purchase “mentor texts” for a writing program. Does the library carry a particular book? A teacher’s students need biographies of people who exhibit a “growth mindset.”

E-books in libraries

In my readings for Week 4 in LIS 5250, I focused on electronic books, or e-books, in libraries.

What formats will library include?

In my ideal library, books will continue to have a place in the library collection. But even there, “books” are not limited to the physical-codex format: eBooks, audio books, read-along story videos — all can all fall within the auspices of a library collection, as can DVDs, CDs, and research databases.

Library collections reflect diversity

In its interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights, “Diversity in Collection Development,” the American Library Association states that “Library collections must represent the diversity of people and ideas in our society” (AASL, 2018, p. 247).

For whom is my library’s collection?

Among our readings this week, Kerby (2019) states that a library needs to know the population that it serves. Whatever its type, this is for whom my library will build its collection.

‘Diversity advocacy proposal’ for district libraries

For “Cultural Competence for Librarians,” the class I am taking this month through Library Juice Academy, I was tasked this week with authoring a “diversity advocacy proposal” that would help my organization become more culturally competent. My proposal is that my school district purchase award-winning books each year for each of its school libraries.

‘Library and Community Analysis’

This week, in my course through Library Juice Academy, I was tasked with creating a “Library and Community Analysis.” One aspect of that analysis was to describe services and resources that the library provides to meet the needs of diverse individuals.

Professional library associations

My studies this week for LIS 5100, “Foundations of Librarianship,” included an exploration of professional library associations. I shared the benefits I’ve derived from two association memberships, the American Library Association and the Association for Library Service to Children.

Exploring the ‘Diverse BookFinder’

Each year, the American Association of School Librarians highlights the “Best Digital Tools for Teaching & Learning,” which are recognized “for fostering qualities of Innovation/Creativity, Active Participation, Collaboration, User-Friendly, Encourages Exploration, and Information/Reference” (AASL, 2021). For my studies this week in LIS 5100, “Foundations of Librarianship,” I was tasked with describing one of these apps. I chose the “Diverse BookFinder.”