CO Libraries for Early Literacy Annual Meeting Invitation

Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy (CLEL) is excited to invite you to our first annual meeting!

Since our organization began in early 2008, we have been a small but determined organization working to strengthen children’s literacy through library services and community advocacy. We have had a chance to work on some very cool projects and are now poised to grow in size and influence. We welcome your interest and involvement!

The meeting will include:

* A session on what early literacy programs and services look like at public libraries across Colorado – gather ideas for your library and share your own ideas with others!
* Time to meet and network with other Colorado library staff interested in early literacy
* A reception honoring our first LSTA grant recipients for all their hard work and early literacy efforts
* How you can get involved with CLEL committees, current projects, and our new LSTA grant
* An overview of the CLEL resources available to help you in your community: our member network, website, blog, Facebook page, and Twitter presence

You do not have to be a member of CLEL to attend. The meeting will take place at the CAL Annual Convention hotel, on Thursday, November 19, 2009. We will meet in the Bluebell Room at the Marriott Denver Tech Center (I-25 and Belleview), from 1-4pm. This meeting is NOT part of the CAL pre-conference, so there is no charge, and you do not have to register for the pre-conference (or the CAL conference itself) to attend.

However, we hope you do register for the conference! There are great youth services workshops scheduled, including:

-Reaching Children’s First Teachers: How to Present Early Literacy Tips to Parents and Caregivers (a CLEL panel!)
-Twisted Tweens
-Colorado Blue Spruce Book Award 2010
-School Liaisons – Building A Partnership Between A Public Library and A School District
-Mind/Body programs for children and teens to teach health and literacy.
-Choosing Good Books: Evaluating Picture Books for Children Ages 0-5
-Partnering with a Librarian from “The Dark Side” (High School and Public Library partnerships)
-70 New Branches Overnight: How a Public Library Shared Its Databases, Built Relationships and Saved Taxpayers Money
-What’s Hot in Teen Literature (Teens from Jeffco present booktalks)

If you would like to come to the CLEL meeting, please RSVP to Susan Oakes.

To register for the CAL Conference, head to the CAL site.