Bits from Barb

Water Songs and Finger Play Resources

If librarians are looking for a last minute finger play or song about mermaids, sailors, or star fish they might find it on the list compiled for the fall SLP Workshop. The list is available on the YSS web page.

Materials Alternate Formats

Books in alternate formats are available through the Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library. Enid Gruszka developed the lists for the state based on work done by the CSLP Diversity Committee. The list is available at http://dpi.wi.gov/pld/slp.html.

Every system will be receiving a set of tactile graphics created for the 2010 theme at the Special Needs Meeting in May. These sets are available through the Wisconsin School for the Blind Outreach Office. They were created under the direction of Stacy Grant who is the Director of the Outreach Services Office. The sets cost $20 each.

CSLP Rules of Use

Please ask your librarians to review the newest Rules of Use regarding the CSLP clip art. One change mentioned at the Annual Meeting earlier this month was that there is more flexibility in terms of allowing outside vendors to use the CSLP art to create custom items that are not offered by CSLP. This means if a library wants a specific cloth bag with the sponsors on it, they may be able to get permission to have another vendor do the custom work for them. The item must be substantially different than what Upstart offers. The process involves asking Upstart to do the work first, they have the right of first refusal. There is a form to complete if a library wants to request permission to go to another vendor. The form is available on the CSLP web page. If anyone needs help finding the form or has questions, have them contact me.

Another change is that libraries may now sell CSLP items at a small profit if the profit supports the educational purposes of the organization. In the past Friends Groups and libraries could sell CSLP items only at cost.

Grants

Target Grant For Literacy and Youth

Through its 2010 Store Grant program, Target will provide direct support to K-12 schools and other nonprofit organizations that foster a love of reading and provide art experiences. In the Early Childhood Reading category, Target will fund programs that foster a love of reading and encourage young children, preschool through third grade, to read together with their families. Reading grants support programs such as library storytimes and family reading nights. In the Art and Culture in Schools category, Target will fund in-school arts programs that enhance student's classroom curriculum by bringing arts and cultural experiences such as in-school performances, artist-in-residency programs, and workshops to schools.

To be eligible, an applicant organization must be federally tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, a school, a library, or a public agency. Grants in the amount of $2,000 each will be made for programs taking place between September 1, 2010, and August 1, 2011.

Teen Read Week Mini Grants

YALSA launched its Teen Read Week 2010 Web site on April 15 (Support Teen Literature Day). In addition to free registration, visitors to the Teen Read Week Web site can find activity ideas relating to this year's theme, planning resources, publicity tools and applications for Teen Read Week Mini Grants.Teen Read Week will be celebrated Oct. 17-23, with a theme of Books with Beat @ your library, which encourages teens to read poetry, audiobooks, books about music and more, for the fun of it.

- Barbara Huntington, System Youth Services Liaison Posting, April/May 2010