March
 2026

Little Child Choosing Books From A Library Shelf With Colorful Books Nearby

Youth Services Notes

From the Library of Virginia

Day by Day Virginia and Day by Day Virginia (Spanish) have been taken down while we review accessibility and content. We are evaluating the early literacy resources the Library of Virginia offers and considering alternative projects.

Dial a Story 

Every Wednesday, a new story will be shared with listeners across the Commonwealth. From recent picture books and timeless fairy tales to inspiring folk tales and stories that celebrate equity, diversity, and inclusion, there’s always something magical to discover. Our volunteer readers are the heart of this program that offers a unique blend of picture books and telephone technology to boost reading readiness.

Dial a Story Books: April 2026


04/01/2026

A Bad Case of Stripes / Un caso grave de rayas by David Shannon

 Readers: Kristina King and Veronica Terry 


04/08/2026

Tio Ricky Doesn’t Speak English / Tio Ricky no habla ingles by Maritere R. Bellas

Reader: Lynde Roberts


04/15/2026

Carmela Full of Wishes / Los deseos de Carmela by Matt de la Peña

Readers: Dana Bomba and Tanny Rourke


04/22/2026

Lola Plants a Garden / Lola planta un jardin by Anna McQuinn

Readers: Lynn Jacobs and Lynde Roberts


04/29/2026

Go, Dog. Go! / Ve, Perro. Ve! by P.D. Eastman

Readers: Alicia Phinney and Celeste Simon


REMINDER: Nature Backpacks

The updated State Park parking passes (good through December 2028) for the Discovery backpacks are available!   A survey was sent to all public library directors to order new passes.  If you haven't ordered yet, please contact me for the survey link.  


Nearly all Virginia State Parks charge a per car parking fee for entrance. Two parks charge a per person fee: Natural Bridge and Southwest Virginia Museum state parks.  Annual Passes include admission for up to 4 at Natural Bridge and Southwest Virginia Museum state parks.

Beanstack

Wednesday, April 29, 2pm ET
Beanstack Data Training for Virginia Libraries

https://zoobean.zoom.us/meeting/register/SFYs0qA2SLm8DX6Q70Cjgw
Learn the ins-and-outs of Reports and Insights so you can make the most of your data this summer. You'll leave this training with bookmarked reports, data best practices, and tips and tricks to help showcase your library's summer impact. This hands-on session is designed for library staff who manage and track Beanstack data for their library.

CSLP Updates

Do you adore wordsmithing words and phrases? Do you love word play?

Staff from member libraries are welcome to join the Theme & Slogan Committee for a deep dive into developing the short list of slogan options for 2029's Nature theme. Join us and share your thoughts!


We're offering two Zoom sessions to try and get input from as many libraries as possible:

Register for Wednesday, April 8 at 10am PST/11 am MST/12pm CST/1pm EST

VLA Youth Services Forum

Grants and Opportunties

Each Story Matters Every Child Count Dia

2026 Día Reading Lists for Free Download!

Check out the 2026 Día Reading Lists!  A great resource for readers' advisory.

Celebrate Día this year with engaging stories for children representing a variety of cultures and backgrounds. 

This year's Día reading lists are available in English AND Spanish and free to download and distribute to your patrons to share the #bookjoy!

The lists are a great supplement to Día programming and stand on their own as a trusted guide for families looking for diverse books.


El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children's Day/Book Day), commonly known as Día, is a celebration every day of children, families, and reading that culminates yearly on April 30.  Don't forget the National Día Program Registry. Tell us about your programs and promote them on the registry.

Celebrate the 16th Annual National Kids to Parks Day on Saturday, May 16th!


National Park Trust is excited to celebrate the National Kids to Parks Day with your community! You are part of a nationwide network of hundreds of Kids to Parks Day partners who are encouraging their communities to get outside on May 16th.

Kids to Parks Day is a national day of outdoor play celebrated by parks, cities, and towns across the country. Proclaim the day, register an event, or just share with your community!

Photo of two boys with fish

Book News

Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People image

Notable Social Studies Book Award Lists

The Notable Social Studies Trade Book Awards are an annual project of the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) and the Children's Book Council, running since 1972. This award list features K-12 annotated titles published in the previous calendar year that are exceptional books for use in social studies classrooms, selected by social studies educators.


Click here to see the downloadable lists.

Featured Programs

Your library program can be featured here! 
Please submit a photo and description of your favorite program!

Self-Care Corner

Upcoming Important Dates & Celebrations


National and State Conferences 2026

April 1-3: Public Library Association (Minneapolis)

October 1-3:  ALSC National Institute (Buffalo NY)

October 18-20: Virginia Library Association (Norfolk)                         

November 19-22: NAEYC (Orlando, FL)

Library of Virginia: Library Development
800 E. Broad St., Richmond, Virginia 23219
804-692-3610

https://vpl.lib.va.us