Teen Suicide Pathfinder

Suicide is the third leading cause of death in teenagers (New, 2010). Teenagers are more likely to contemplate suicide when a mental disorder is present, such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. Family members and friends need to pay attention for warning signs, including talk of death and giving away their person personal possessions. The risk of suicide increases when external circumstances overwhelm the teenager and causes them to view suicide as the only option available (APA). Risk factors for suicide include mental illness, family stress, environmental risks, and traumatic situations (NASP). Resiliency factors are factors in the environment that supports the teen and lessens their suicidal risk factors. These factors include familial and religious support, psychological care, and learning problem-solving skills. Teens that are feeling suicidal should not be isolated; they need a support group of friends and family to help them through their emotional crisis (Mayo Clinic, 2013). Treatment should be considered, whether it is therapy or medication.

If you are looking for information about suicide, whether your goal is to prevent it or to learn about it, they should try checking for books in their local library. Libraries are often well-stocked with books about medical disorders and mental illnesses. For information about suicide in a public library, the Dewey Decimal number that would help you to locate a book is 362.28. The Dewey Decimal number specifically for teen suicide is 362.280835. If you are looking for information in a college or school library, the Library of Congress Number is HV6546.  The library recognized subject heading for the topic of teen suicide is “Teenagers—Suicidal Behavior” (Library of Congress). Acceptable variants are “teen suicide” and “teenage suicide.”

The librarians are available for more than the helping people locate books. If you need to talk to someone about rough situations in your life, your librarian would take the time to listen if you simply asked for help. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to your librarian, then you should find someone that you can talk to comfortably. You can find help at the library, whether it is the opportunity to escape into the world of books or the friendship available there. Programs are offered at the library for teenagers and one benefit of attending such a program is finding new friends.

If you are doing research on teen suicide, I suggest starting with the materials on this list. Sites for medical organizations are usually trustworthy and give the information needed concisely. When searching for information on a topic, make sure that the site that you choose has the resources used listed.

Resources

APA. (n.d.). Teen suicide is preventable. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/research/action/suicide.aspx

Library of Congress. (n.d.). Teenagers--suicidal behavior. Retrieved from http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh91005161.html

Mayo Clinic. (2013, April 24). Teen suicide: What parents need to know. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/teen-suicide/MY02347

NASP. (n.d.). Preventing youth suicide--tips for parents and educators. Retrieved from http://www.nasponline.org/resources/crisis_safety/suicideprevention.aspx

New, M. (2010, January). About teen suicide. Retrieved from http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/suicide.html

Teen Suicide Digital Pathfinder Websites and Books

Websites

American Psychological Association: Teen Suicide is Preventable

http://www.apa.org/research/action/suicide.aspx

This site is a reliable source of information about teen suicide. It contains information about statistics relating to teen suicide and the signs that a person is contemplating suicide. It also lists what a friend can do to help, such as telling an adult or having their friend call a suicide crisis hotline.

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance: Preparing for a Crisis

http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=urgent_preparing_for_crisis&gclid=CKzOzpDQv7kCFZKk4AodHSsAzQ

This site is important because it states what a teen should do if he or she is feeling suicidal. There are suggested steps to take to get through the suicidal thoughts and depression. It also suggests how you should prepare for a future crisis. There is information about how to talk to someone that is experiencing a suicidal crisis.

KidsHealth: About Teen Suicide

http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/suicide.html

This page is meant to inform parents about teen suicide, but is useful for teenagers as well. It lists statistics for teen suicide and contains information about the difference in attempts between boys and girls. The site lists risks that cause a teen to be more likely to contemplate suicide. It lists warning signs and what family members can do to help.

National Alliance on Mental Illness: Teenage Suicide

http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline1/Teenage_Suicide.htm

According to this site, most people who consider committing suicide have a diagnosable mental disorder. It provides facts about teen suicide and the treatments available. It also offers suggestions of how friends and family members can help their loved one overcome their suicidal tendencies.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

This whole website is an important resource when researching suicide. There is information about getting help for yourself or someone that you know. There are pages about bullying, mental health, and coping techniques. Several fact sheets are available here from different organizations about suicide.

Preventing Youth Suicide—Tips for Parents and Educators

http://www.nasponline.org/resources/crisis_safety/suicideprevention.aspx

This resource states the role of the school environment in suicide prevention and the importance of keeping parents informed about their teen’s suicidal thoughts.  It also lists risks factors, warning signs, resiliency factors, and what to do to help a teen who has suicidal thoughts.

Teen Suicide: What Parents Need to Know

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/teen-suicide/MY02347

Though the title of the page says that it is for parents, the information is beneficial for teenagers as well. The site addresses what makes teens consider suicide and what can be done to help. It includes the role that medication, such as antidepressants, can play in helping suicidal teens.

Web MD: Preventing Teen Suicide

http://teens.webmd.com/preventing-teen-suicide

Web MD explores the relationship between depression and suicidal thoughts or actions in teenagers. It also addresses the importance of reducing an at-risk teen’s exposure to suicidal methods. The site states what to do if someone that you know threatens to commit suicide and what factors reduce the risk of suicide.

Yellow Ribbon: Suicide Prevention Program

http://www.yellowribbon.org/

While I listed the main link for the Yellow Ribbon site, I would really like to point out the page titled “For Teens.” The page addresses what to do if a teenager is considering suicide. There are links to helpful sites, such as TeenHelp.org, where teens can discuss their problems and concerns in a forum and can seek help anonymously. There are also suggested coping strategies that you can perform if you are experiencing suicidal thoughts.

Books

One in Thirteen: The Silent Epidemic of Teen Suicide by Jessica Portner

In this book, Jessica Portner addresses the statistics relating to suicide and how it can be prevented. She points out the relationship between environmental stressors, mental disorders, and suicide rates. Portner discusses the reasons and methods of suicide and gives the stories of people who have attempted suicide or who succeeded in committing suicide in the past. She warns of the importance of preparing for a suicidal crisis in the home, the schools, and the community. The Dewey Decimal call number is 362.28.

Teen Suicide, edited by Tamara L. Roleff (At Issue series)

The various authors that compiled this book list the risk factors that may lead to suicidal thoughts in teens and address the relationship between homosexuality, bullying, and suicide. They point out that the availability of the methods of suicide, such as guns, can encourage a teenager to attempt suicide. The authors also point out the correlation between suicide and other at-risk behaviors, such as substance abuse and abortion.  This book is a compilation of essays that show opposing viewpoints about the risk factors of suicide.  The Dewey Decimal call number is 362.28.

When Nothing Matters Anymore: A Survival Guide for Depressed Teens by Bev Cobain

Cobain explains how teenage depression can lead to suicide and gives a list of symptoms so that teens may recognize depression in themselves. She mentions self-help, therapy, and medications that can help a teen overcome their depression and suicidal thoughts. The Dewey Decimal call number for this book is 616.8527.

Teen Suicide Digital Pathfinder Blogs and Videos

Blogs

Awareness: Bullying and Teen Suicide

http://tyljmor.wordpress.com/2013/09/13/awareness-bullying-and-teen-suicide/

The author of this blog post discusses the relationship between bullying and teen suicide. They encourage an anti-bullying program that would potentially lead to lower suicide rates. Tyljmor offers suggestions for how to find help, including the listing of a suicide prevention hotline.

For Suicide Prevention Day: Alone in the Dark

http://mindincolor.wordpress.com/2013/09/12/for-suicide-prevention-day-alone-in-the-dark/

Bipolargen lists statistics for suicide and points out recent news dealing with bullying and suicide worldwide. The author mentions their own experiences with mental illness and suicidal thoughts and encourages teens to seek help. They give suggestions of how the community, friends, and family members can help when someone they know is having suicidal thoughts. This is an important tool because it can give teens an idea of how to help those around them who are suicidal.

Suicidal Teens Reach Out Through Social Media

http://nmgrads.wordpress.com/2013/09/12/suicidal-teens-reach-out-through-social-media/

The author, New Mexico Grads, states that research shows that teens often mention their suicidal thoughts online. They list suggestions of what to do if someone that you know mentions suicide on a social networking site, such as Facebook. Several social media sites have safety teams that a person can contact anonymously and methods to contact those safety teams are helpfully listed in this blog entry.

Videos

For Those Considering Suicide

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqqIV8x82Qc

This video offers suggestions of how to deal with the negative emotions that may lead teenagers to consider suicide. It states that talking to others, someone that you trust, can help and alerts others that you are on a dangerous path. It states that another disorder that led to the suicidal thoughts may be present and lists statistics of the likelihood of coexisting disorders. This video targets those that are thinking about suicide and works to change their minds. It also lists resources for information and how to find help.

Teen Suicide Prevention

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BByqa7bhto

This video would be beneficial for anyone who is considering suicide. It offers other options while addressing the parents and the friends of the depressed teenager. The teenagers in the video list the warning signs of someone who is thinking about committing suicide and offers suggestions of how to reach the person.

The Vampire Stalker by Allison Van Diepen

The Vampire Stalker, by Allison Van Diepen, was one of those books that gets better the further you get into the book. In this book, the characters of the popular book series, Otherworld by Elizabeth Howard, manage to come to modern day Chicago. Amy, who loves the main character of the series, Alexander Banks, is attacked by the evil vampire Vigo while on her way home from a school dance. When Alexander saves her, she is sure that he is just a fan dressing up as the character. She believes his story when he shows her the scars that are mentioned in the book series.

When Amy introduces Alexander to the book series, he is upset that someone was able to write about his world well enough that they could even describe his thoughts. But, in reading the series, Alexander learns some information about Vigo that is new to him. When Alexander begins to fall in love with Amy, she becomes a target of Vigo's, who will do anything to be rid of the vampire hunter.

At the beginning of the book, I was not sure if I really wanted to read it. Amy's obsession with Alexander was a little over the top to me. I prefer to have awesome heroines that can fight their own battles. Later in the book, Amy begins to hunt Vigo as well in order to protect Alexander. I was interested in the way the Otherworld characters adapted to modern day Chicago and how they reacted to learning that in this world they are believed to be fictional characters.  I have read several great reviews for this book and I am sure that those who like vampire books would enjoy this book.  Though, as I have stated, this is one in which the vampire is the villain.

Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Last night I finished reading Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout, the first book in the Lux series. I really enjoyed this one and would recommend it for anyone who likes to read young adult paranormal romance.

This book starts off with the lead female character, Katy Swartz moves to West Virginia at the beginning of her senior year of high school. When her mother convinces her to ask the teenagers next door where the local grocery store is, she meets Daemon Black, a guy she deems hot, but infuriating. While at the store, she meets his twin sister, Dee Black, who desperately wants to be friends with her. Even though Daemon continues to try to scare her off, Katy is determined to keep him from ruining this friendship. Then, she finds out the reason behind his desperate attempt to make her leave his sister alone. The two are aliens, beings of light that must keep under the radar of the United States government while also using their powers to keep their enemy, the Arum, from killing them.

I liked Katy's ability to stand up for herself and enjoyed the constant banter between her and Daemon. I was quickly won over by Katy's wittiness and love of books. This made me want to defend her when Daemon said some awful things to drive her away. I'm sure those of you out there who enjoy this genre will love the book as much as I did.

The Lux Series:

1. Obsidian
2. Onyx
3. Opal

Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson

Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson is a great book and the second in the Shades of London series.  The first book in this series was The Name of the Star and introduced the audience to Rory Deveaux, the main character of the book.  The series is about how Rory moves from Louisiana to the UK where she attends high school at Wexford.  At the time that she moves there, there is a Ripper copycat attacking women in London, striking on the same days and in the same areas that the original Ripper murdered at.  Rory has a near death experience and develops the ability to see ghosts, which leads her to meet the Shades of London, a sort of ghost police.  They decide to hunt down the Ripper copycat, who they believe is a ghost.

SPOILER ALERT:  In the second book, Rory is recovering from her stabbing at her parent’s home in Bristol.  When her therapist suggests that she return to Wexford, she leaps at the chance.  When she gets there, she finds out that two days after the Ripper copycat died, another murder occurred, one that is unrelated.  Rory convinces the Shades of London to investigate it when she develops a theory that the murder was done by a ghost. END SPOILER ALERT.

This is a great series that I would recommend to anyone.  It has suspense and fantasy elements, though the fantasy part, seeing ghosts, is explained in a relatively scientific way.  Also, Rory has a great sense of humor, so the book will make you snort in laughter pretty often.

Book 1:  The Name of the Star

Book 2: Madness Underneath

While there are no upcoming books listed on Fantastic Fiction (www.fantasticfiction.co.uk), the end of the second book can pretty much assure you that there will be a third.

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Okay, so last Saturday I finished reading Sweet Evil, a teen book by Wendy Higgins.  I would really recommend this book, particularly for those who like the young adult paranormal romance.  This book starts with the birth of the main character, Anna Whitt, who is born in a covenant.  She is the child of a fallen angel (demon) and a guardian angel, who dies in child birth.  When her father is arrested moments after her birth, she is left in the care of a human, Patti, who does not tell her about her heritage until she is in her teens.  She meets Kaidan Rowe, the son of the demon Duke of Lust.  She travels with him across the country to meet her father in prison and to meet the woman who helped her mother give birth.  On the way there, Anna learns much about the Nephilim, children of fallen angels, and begins to fall in love with Kaidan.

I enjoyed this book immensely.  Yes, there is still the guy that basically runs away from the girl that loves him, like in Twilight.  However, in this book it is kind of not for the girl’s safety, but rather for the boy’s safety.  Kaidan fears his father’s finding out about him liking one girl, so he insults Anna and leaves her.  Still, the book is definitely a good one.  It is unique and gives you a different idea of the angels versus demons situation.

The next book, Sweet Peril, comes out this year.  I think in April.  The series will be a trilogy.

New Reason to Blog

Okay, so since the class that I created this blog for has passed, I am going to change the blog.  I would like to post book reviews on this blog.  I say that I would like to because I know of my own ability to keep up with something such as this.  We'll see how this goes! :)

Job Description and Assessment

Professional Toolkit Assignment

Job Description and Assessment

Children's Librarian - College Hill Branch

Tracking Code

699-133

Job Description

- Plans and conducts programs for children to encourage reading, viewing, and listening of library materials in an effort to create lifelong readers.
- As second in command, assists with supervision and training of staff and assumes responsibility in absence of Branch Manager.
- Performs reference and reader's advisory services in person, by telephone and by e-mail, using materials in a variety of formats.
- Provides service to the community and schools through programming, teacher collection services, and other Library services.
- Maintains knowledge of circulation system in order to assist at circulation desk.
- Uses computers and the Internet effectively for providing Library service.
- Identifies reading trends among juvenile patrons.
- Other duties as assigned.

Required Skills

- Strong Customer service skills.
- Experience working with children and children's programming preferred.
- Knowledge of children's literature preferred.
- Must be able to work evenings and weekends.
- Knowledge of the Library's policies and procedures.
- Analytical abilities sufficient to perform reference searches quickly and accurately with material at the appropriate age level.
- Is self-motivated.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including building and enhancing diverse relationships.

Job Location

Cincinnati, , United States

Position Type

Full-Time/Regular

Salary

39,894.40 - 59,800.00 USD

Education

Master’s Degree in Library Science from an ALA-accredited school.

Hours

40 hours per week

Salary

Grade M: $39,894.40 - $59,800.00

Deadline

February 12, 2013

Children's librarian - college hill branch. (2013). Retrieved from https://cincinnatilibrary.silkroad.com/epostings/index.cfm?fuseaction=app.dspjob&jobid=699&company_id=16133&version=1&jobBoardId=1112

I have strengths and weaknesses in the required skills list and job description for a Children’s Services Librarian.  I have no experience planning children’s programs, but can learn how to do so by attending professional development classes, graduate classes, and by observing at other libraries.  I have not supervised staff members before, though I often supervise volunteers in my current position.  I have taken a class in management and can use the information and skills learned to manage staff members.  With time, I can easily learn the circulation system in place since I have had experience in a circulation department of a library in the past.

I have great customer service skills because I like to help and work with patrons.  I will do whatever is necessary, within reason, to find the patron what he or she is looking for.  I am cheerful, friendly, and patient with patrons and coworkers.  I enjoy interacting with patrons and think that I have great interpersonal skills. 

I have experience working with children and children’s programming.  I have worked in a public library for four years and often work with children, occasionally performing reader’s advisory services.  While I have performed in children’s programs before, usually story time, I have not created a program from scratch before.  The story time programs and crafts are usually thought out ahead of time at the library that I have experience at.  I host story time when the director, who usually does story time, is sick or unavailable.  During story time, I animatedly read three or four books to the children and then we have a craft to make.  This requires positive interaction with the children, patience, and understanding of what motivates the child to do what he or she does.  I have some problems with reading aloud, but I am overcoming those difficulties with practice.  The issue that I have when reading aloud is that I will sometimes become so focused on reading the words that my voice becomes flat and monotone and I enunciate each word individually, which can make the sentence sound disjointed and odd.  As I mentioned, I am practicing reading aloud and am overcoming this difficulty.

I have a growing knowledge of children’s literature.  In my undergraduate schooling, I took a class on children’s literature, in which we read books for different age groups.  I tend to like the simplicity and adventure in children’s books and will often read them in my spare time.  I find that this helps with reader’s advisory services because I can tell a child, from experience, how good this particular book is.  To prepare for work in this area of service, I will continue to read an array of children’s books in order to extend my knowledge of them. 

I am available at any time, so I can work evenings and weekends.  Actually, for the job that I currently have, I mostly work evenings and every other weekend, so I could easily continue to do so.  I have a general knowledge of library policies and procedures, though I suspect that the location specific ones will be quickly learned once I am on the job.

Having worked in a public library before and with the fact that I am currently working on obtaining my degree in library services, I have an understanding of how to conduct a reference search.  The two experiences combined have gifted me with an apt knowledge of how to find the information that I am searching for.  I believe that I am self-motivated, which is a trait that is necessary when taking classes online like I am currently doing.  Another necessary trait in taking classes online that can be used in this position is the knowledge of internet and computer services. 

In order to better prepare myself for working as a Children’s Services Librarian, I will volunteer at other libraries so I can gain a broader knowledge of how programs are conducted in different locations.   I will take graduate classes and professional development opportunities when available. 

Professional Development

Professional Toolkit Assignment

Professional Development

I can use the professional tools and online learning tools available through ALSC and YALSA to develop myself professionally.  I could attend the ALSC National Institute, though the dates for the current year are not set.  The ALSC National Institute in 2012 took place in Indianapolis from September 20 to 22. 

Through the Virginia Library Association, I could attend the professional conference or the paraprofessional conference, though the costs are not listed for either of them.  The paraprofessional conference is May 19 to 21 and the professional conference is September 25 to 27. 

I could attend the 26^th Annual Conference on Children’s Literature, which takes place April 26 in Florida.  The only cost that I can see is the one of traveling to Florida and the parking fee, which is $1.25 per hour.  No conference fee is listed. 

Other resources that would help me in my professional development are webinars offered by the organizations mentioned, graduate classes, volunteer experiences, and web tutorials.  The technology available today allows individuals to learn anything they wish to from the internet.  They simply have to know how to find the resources available.

 

ALSC. (n.d.). Online learning. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/alsc/onlineeducation

ALSC. (n.d.). Professional tools. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/alsc/professional-tools

Broward County Public Library. (n.d.). 26th annual conference on children's literature registration. Retrieved from http://www.broward.org/Library/EventsClasses/Pages/ChildrensLiterature.aspx

YALSA. (n.d.). Online learning. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/yalsa/onlinelearning

YALSA. (n.d.). Professional tools. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/yalsa/professionaltools

Associations

Professional Toolkit

Associations

Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). www.ala.org/alsc/ 

This association is important for anyone entering the field of children’s services in libraries.  They include professional development opportunities, professional tools, grants and scholarships available, and opportunities to connect with others in the field.  This tool would help me find professional development opportunities available for individuals in the field of children’s service and would allow me to network with others that are interested in the same topics.

PUBYAC. www.pubyac.org

This is a discussion list and list serve focusing on public library services for children and young adults.  The types of items posted are craft ideas, articles relating to children and young adult services, grants, job postings, story time ideas, and many other resources for individuals that focus their career or education on serving children and young adults.  This would be beneficial to me because they are often sending new resources available for people interested in such topics, which would help me keep abreast of the issues impacting such services and get ideas of what others are doing in the field.

Blogs about Children's Services

Professional Toolkit

Blogs

ALSC. [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/

I was happy to find this blog because it discusses not only books for children and programs, but also early literacy.  Since this is a blog created by ALSC, the other topics discussed include scholarships, collection development, advocacy, gaming, outreach services, and story time.   This resource will be helpful in my future as a children’s services librarian because it provides so much information on topics of the field that I would not have considered, such as the outreach services.

Dillon, S. [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://tweendom.blogspot.com/

This blog reviews books of the children’s and young adult varieties.  This will be a great resource for future reader’s advisory services.  I look forward to reading books discussed on this blog so that I may truly suggest them to kids of all ages.

Hartwell, D. [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://bookzone4boys.blogspot.co.uk/

This is a great tool for children’s services librarians today!  Hartwell began his blog in 2009 and reviews books that he thinks boys would like.  Children’s services librarians have to be able to give books to kids when they ask and this resource offers somewhere to start when suggesting books for boys.  Hartwell also lists other blogs that discuss books for boys.  I will find this useful in the future when young boys ask me for suggestions of what to read.

[Web log message]. Retrieved from http://thelupinelibrarian.me/

This is a fun blog created by a woman interested in children’s services and children’s books.  She gives great ideas for children and librarians and discusses library programs that she has participated in.  This resource will give me ideas for creating programs and developing the children’s collection in the future library that I will work at. 

Competencies, Job Descriptions, Guidelines

Professional Toolkit

Competencies, Job Descriptions, Guidelines

"Competencies for Librarians Serving Children in Public Libraries", American Library Association, November 30, 1999.

http://www.ala.org/alsc/edcareeers/alsccorecomps (Accessed February 23, 2013)

doi: b67d0c86-2082-e624-596b-d602d5b38b90

This is a list of core competencies recommended for any individuals that are interested in children’s services.  It provides an idea of the skills needed for work in this field.  This tool would help me to give the children services of the quality that they deserve. 

IFLA. (n.d.). Guidelines for children's libraries services. Retrieved from http://archive.ifla.org/VII/s10/pubs/ChildrensGuidelines.pdf

This is a list of guidelines for having children’s services in a library from the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions.  It discusses meeting the children’s needs, the goals, funding, materials, and so much more.  This would be an asset to me when I begin working with children because it discusses the importance of publicity and networking and gives information about creating services for children.

WebJunction Connecticut. (2012, January 26). Children's librarian job descriptions. Retrieved from http://www.webjunction.org/documents/webjunction/Children_039_s_Librarian_Job_Descriptions.html

This page contains a variety of children’s services librarian job descriptions in Connecticut.  The listings on this page are samples so that individuals may understand the layout of the post and gain a basic knowledge of what is needed in a children’s services librarian.  This is beneficial to me because it allows me to get an idea of what libraries are looking for in their children’s services librarians, which will give me a change to adapt myself to what other libraries want.

For Kids in Children's Services

Professional Toolkit

For Kids

Houston Public Library. (n.d.). Kids. Retrieved from http://www.houstonlibrary.org/kids

This is a library page that provides sites and databases that children would be interested in.  Some of them you need your library card number to use.  They focus on games, internet safety, and homework help.  While I cannot use some of the resources on the page, it is helpful because it gives me an idea of what internet resources a library can provide for children through the library’s website.

Journals for Children's Services

Professional Toolkit

Journals

Nemec, J. (2011). It's (still) never too early to start. Children & libraries: The journal of the association for library service to children, 9(3), 015-021.

In this journal article, Nemec discusses how in-depth children’s services can be and how you come to know the patrons.  She advocates the Born to Read program to promote early literacy in children.  This helps me because it lets me know what has been done to advocate early literacy and gives me an idea of what I can do in the future.

PLA. (2011, February). The role of public libraries in children's literacy development. Retrieved from http://www.ifpl.org/Junior/studies/Role of Libraries.pdf

This study was performed to determine the role public library services play in a child’s literary development in Pennsylvania.  The programs reviewed were the summer reading programs and preschool programs.  This would be helpful to me in determining what programs children and parents are looking for in libraries today.

School Library Journal. www.slj.com

This journal provides ample resources for the children’s and youth services librarian.  There are articles about collection development, career building, e-books, scholarships, conferences, and more information necessary for an individual interested in children’s services.  This site could help me in so many ways, including finding books that would interest children of all ages. 

Swan, D. W., & Manjarrez, C. A. (2012). Children's services at public libraries: a port in the storm. Metro Trends, Retrieved from http://www.metrotrends.org/commentary/libraries-imls.cfm

This article discusses the need for children’s services in public libraries in areas of high need.  In areas of high poverty, libraries are a valuable resource for children who may otherwise lose interest in school.  This is an important journal article to me because it tells me how children’s services are needed and in what areas specifically.

Swell, K. (2012). Beyond library walls. Children & libraries: The journal of the association for library service to children, 10(1), 27-29.

This article discusses how library services could benefit children in at-risk communities.  Swell advocates the Ready to Read Corps, which focuses on kindergarten readiness.  This article is useful to me because it shows me how individuals prepare children for learning to read.

Programs for Children's Services

This is for my Professional Toolkit assignment for my Public Library class.

Programs

ALA. (n.d.). Early literacy & libraries. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/advocacy/literacy/earlyliteracy

This page lists four programs dedicated to teaching children to read early in life.  Some of the programs focus on the parents and some on the children.  I can use this page in the future when I am wanting to create a program that improves early literacy.

Department of Education. (n.d.). Archived information: library services. Retrieved from http://www2.ed.gov/pubs/parents/Library/Services.html

This page gives some basic ideas for children’s programs in the library.  The information on the page is focused on telling parents how libraries can help their children.  I can use this page because it can give me ideas of programs to create in the future and tells me what parents expect from the library. 

Department of Education. (n.d.). Beyond books: library services for children. Retrieved from http://www.readingrockets.org/article/130/

This source is useful for creating library services for children.  It discusses different types of programs and materials for various age groups and covers an array of reading topics, such as early literacy.  This site will be beneficial when I need to plan programs that will interest children of different ages.

Goldstein, R. (2011, April 03). Kids crafts program continues at Pikesville Branch Library. Pikesville Patch. Retrieved from http://pikesville.patch.com/articles/kids-crafts-program-continues-at-pikesville-branch-library

This is another source that can help me create programs for children in the future.  The idea of having a craft project kit in a box for advanced preparation for children’s crafts is a great one.  This method provides librarians with the ability to stay organized and prepared for short notice programs.

Krause, D. (n.d.). Library programs for kids. Retrieved from http://pinterest.com/dawnkrause/library-programs-for-kids/

This is a great Pinterest page of ideas for library programs for children.  The difficulty of the projects varies and some are definitely for older kids or teens.  I will use this page in the future to create programs for children of various ages.

"Programs for school-aged kids", American Library Association, August 30, 2012.

http://www.ala.org/alsc/kickstart (Accessed February 23, 2013)

doi: 499b0c37-d158-2154-9db9-5e0b8d3f14e8

This tool is a wonderful source of ideas for programs for children in the library.  It is even organized into topics based on the subject of the program.  In the future, this would help in scheduling programs for children, particularly for the ones in school since that is the group that the list is focused on.  The programs could be altered so that they would be appropriate for younger or older children.