|
|
 |
|
|
September
2025 | |
|
 |
Youth Services Notes |
|
|
From the Library of Virginia
|
|
|
Nature Backpacks
The State Park parking passes for the Discovery backpacks are expiring at the end of this year (2025). We have received the updated passes that are good until December 2028. Look for an upcoming survey that will ask who coordinates the backpacks at your library system, how many backpacks you have, and your mailing address.
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. |
|
|
|
Strong Men & Women in Virginia History Student Contest
The Library of Virginia’s Creative Expressions contest, sponsored by Dominion Energy, is now open!
|
|
|
High school students in Virginia are invited to honor outstanding African Americans by participating in Dominion Energy and the Library of Virginia’s Strong Men & Women in Virginia History student contest. This year’s contest is built around the inquiry process of project-based learning and is designed to hit grade-specific standards through a multidisciplinary approach.
Encourage high school students to enter for a chance to win an Apple MacBook Air and $1,000 for their school. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sign-ups for 2026 Collaborative Summer Library Program Committees are open until October 15. This is a wonderful professional participation opportunity that will have you networking and co-creating national summer resources with other library workers from around the USA.
While the duties vary, CSLP committee obligations generally run for one calendar year. All committee work is done virtually, either through email, or through phone or online meetings. You are welcome to apply for more than one committee if your time allows. Each committee has different size and participation criteria. To help you decide which committee to volunteer for, visit the Committees page of the CSLP website to review the responsibilities of each committee. Most CSLP committees are open to all; however, some have limited seats or require previous CSLP experience.
Learn more and apply here! The sign-up period is open through October 15. |
|
|
|
|
Come hear keynote speaker Dan Santat and attend breakout sessions about the manual, learning to decorate a space, and dinosaur programming to use in your library. This event is made possible at no cost to attendees.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acts of Science - Make Every Program Count This April
October 15, 2025, 3:00 pm ET
Ready to bring real science to your community? Join Citizen Science for an interactive webinar designed for event facilitators, educators, and library and museum staff looking to engage audiences through Acts of Science—real-world, accessible citizen and community science activities. |
|
|
We’ll unveil new program planning tools and resources that make it easy to host science experiences focused on weather, space, environmental monitoring, and public health. Whether you’re planning a one-time event or a full month of activities, this webinar will help you make your Acts of Science count this April—when communities across the country are activating citizen science in celebration of science and Earth Month.
You’ll explore featured projects, get plug-and-play materials, and leave ready to lead meaningful science experiences that connect your audience to real research. |
|
|
|
Celebrate Lights On Afterschool on October 23!
The Afterschool Alliance's Lights On Afterschool is the only nationwide event celebrating afterschool programs and their important role in the lives of children, families, and communities. Libraries are a big part of the afterschool universe. |
|
|
Join Afterschool Alliance in celebrating the 26th annual Lights On Afterschool and show how quality afterschool programs keep kids safe, help working families, inspire learning, and provide opportunities to help young people develop into successful adults.
Lights On Afterschool events can take any form. You can find hundreds of ideas in the searchable events database. Get inspiration from other Lights On Afterschool celebrations and search by theme, event type, and difficulty, or check out what other afterschool programs in your area have done in previous years. |
|
|
|
2025 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature Longlist
The National Book Foundation has announced the Longlist for the 2025 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. The list includes four past finalists: Derrick Barnes, Kyle Lukoff, Amanda McBride, and Ibi Zoboi.
The 2025 Longlist for the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature:
María Dolores Águila, A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez. Roaring Brook Press/Macmillan Publishers
K. Ancrum, The Corruption of Hollis Brown. HarperCollins/HarperCollins Publishers
Derrick Barnes, The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze. Viking Books for Young Readers/Penguin Random House
Mahogany L. Browne, A Bird in the Air Means We Can Still Breathe. Crown Books for Young Readers/Penguin Random House
Kyle Lukoff, A World Worth Saving. Dial Books for Young Readers/Penguin Random House
Amber McBride, The Leaving Room. Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan Publishers
Daniel Nayeri, The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story. Levine Querido
Hannah V. Sawyerr, Truth Is. Amulet Books/Abrams
Maria van Lieshout, Song of a Blackbird. First Second /Macmillan Publishers
Ibi Zoboi, (S)Kin. Versify/HarperCollins Publishers
The five finalists will be revealed on Tuesday, October 7. Winners will be announced at the 76th National Book Awards Ceremony & Benefit Dinner on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. Publishers submitted 325 books for the award. The judges are Cathy Berner, David Bowles (Chair), Candice Iloh, Jung Kim, and Maulik Pancholy. |
|
|
|
|
Your library program can be featured here!
Please submit a photo and description of your favorite program!
|
|
|
|
|
Upcoming Important Dates & Celebrations
|
|
|
National and State Conferences 2025 October 1-3: VLA Annual Conference (Richmond) November 5-7: VAASL Annual Conference (Williamsburg)
November 19-22: NAEYC (Orlando, FL)
|
|
|
|