DASL UPDATE
February 2025
MLA/DLA Conference
DASL members are welcome to join us in Ocean City for the MD/DE annual conference for librarians from May7-9. This year, the president of the American Association of School Libraries is coming to speak to us! There will also be several other presentation choices for school librarians. Public librarians will be at this conference as well so it is a great networking opportunity. Stay in an oceanfront hotel or commute from a beach house if you prefer! Join new friends for pub trivia or dinner- Check out this link for more information and registration: conference website Discount codes: DLA (for full conference) or DLA-1 (for just one day)
Early bird registration rates expire on March 24th.
New ALA Initiative Asks Advocates to "Show Up for Our Libraries"
Washington – Today the American Library Association (ALA) launched Show Up for Our Libraries, a campaign to harness the collective power of library advocates to influence elected leaders and policymakers.
ALA President Cindy Hohl said, "Many library advocates are rightfully concerned about what the next four years holds for our nation's libraries. Libraries – and many people we serve – are facing unprecedented challenges and uncertainty.
"The Show Up for Our Libraries campaign is a deliberate and well-thought-out plan that calls us to move from awareness to action. Our call is not a knee-jerk response to imminent threats. We must face whatever threats come our way by showing up together – library workers and public supporters in our communities – to advocate for our patrons, our profession and our core values."
ALA kicked off the campaign with a proactive call for library advocates to get their elected leaders on the record about how they plan to protect the freedom to read and how they will support federal funding for libraries. An email from ALA's Public Policy and Advocacy Office urged advocates to personalize their communications with legislators, noting "Research shows that individualized messages are five times more likely than commonly used templates to influence a legislator's decision."
Show Up for Our Libraries was launched on the heels of new leadership in the White House and the start of the 119th Congress. President Trump has already issued numerous executive orders, including those related to DEI, such as "Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing." ALA is analyzing them for possible action, preferably in conjunction with national partners. While the president has wide latitude in issuing these orders, many already are being challenged in the courts, and others may require Congressional action.
Hohl said, "ALA is actively working directly and in coalition to focus on the most significant threats where we might have influence and impact. Showing up as a united front and engaging strategically with Congress is the best way to protect libraries and library workers."
In the first Trump Administration (2017-2021), libraries faced four consecutive attempts to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services and funding for the Library Services and Technology Act, the only library-specific funding in the U.S. government. Library advocates overcame four consecutive attempts to eliminate the agency, and Congress increased funding for IMLS by $26 million.
"If libraries learned anything from gains made during the first Trump Administration, it's that library advocacy works," said Hohl. "But we are in a different environment now, and Congressmembers on both sides of the aisle are feeling pressure from a vocal minority of citizens who want control over what's available for everyone in their communities to read.
"The good news is that millions of Americans love their libraries, and every one of them can be an advocate. Just ask anyone who uses a library, such as parents in every corner of the nation who depend on our reading programs to make lifelong learners of their children. Just ask learners of all ages, who rely on school and college libraries to identify credible sources of information, develop research skills and even find community."
With an emphasis on storytelling, the Show Up landing page includes a template for telling a library story and a form to submit library stories to ALA for use in publications and for other purposes, including referrals to journalists. The campaign offers a range of other free resources for advocates, from social media assets (hashtag #ForOurLibraries) to a guide for setting up a congressional tour of a library as well as ALA member-exclusive videos on advocacy best practices.
Contact:
Shawnda Hines
Deputy Director, Communications
American Library Association
Public Policy & Advocacy Office
Youth Media Awards
This year’s Youth Media Awards were presented on Monday in Phoenix, Arizona. Committee members cheered to see their picks announced to the world - congratulations to Delaware’s Erin Entrada Kelly for her SECOND Newbery win! The Printz Medal went to Brownstone and the Caldecott Committee selected Chooch Helped along with four Honor books. Read about the rest of the awards here: Youth Media Awards 2025
For the inside scoop on how to get active in ALSC so that you have a chance to serve on an awards committee, come to the MD/DE conference in May and learn about the process at my session: “All About the Caldecott Committee”.
News Literacy Week Feb. 3-7
News literacy is the ability to determine the credibility of news and other information and to recognize the standards of fact-based journalism to know what to trust, share and act on.
Black History Month Resources
Resources for Black History Month
It would be AWESOME to see what different libraries are doing for Black History Month around the state and sent to our Instagram:
@DelawareSchoolLibrarians
