The event will be held on the Auraria campus on March 31, 2011, 8:30am-3:45pm.  Registration opens February 1st and closes March 11th. Keynote authors are Maggie Stiefvater and Todd Mitchell!

More information:

• CTLC Website
• CTLC Facebook page
• CTLC Flyer (PDF)

Feel free to share this information with anyone you think may be interested in attending or getting involved.

There are some grants available for both teens and adults to attend, plus opportunities to be a teen panelist, receive graduate credit, present, and exhibit. Be sure to check out the CTLC website after January 10th for more info.

The Colorado Dept. of Education (CDE) and the Colorado Library Consortium (CLiC) are partnering to offer two workshop opportunities (as well as an opportunity for six $100 scholarships to cover registration and a substitute for the day).

Workshop Date/Locations:

• Pueblo on Friday, November 18th
• Thornton on Friday, January 27th

Attend a workshop to evaluate your library program – using the newly revised Highly Effective School Library Program Rubric (PDF) – and learn strategies for improvement for meeting the needs of 21st century learners. Leave this workshop with a toolkit that will help you help your students thrive and be post-secondary and workforce ready.

Registration: $40 per person.
For more information and to register, visit the CLiC website.

Last weekend – despite my body being furious at me for waking it up early on a Saturday – I attended the Bloggy Boot Camp conference, hosted by the SITS Girls here in Denver. Thanks to the women’s studies department at my college I was able to attend for free, so early Saturday aside, it was a good opportunity for me to get out there, meet other women blogging locally and nationally, and get advice on how to make my personal blog a success.

While I was not able to take something usable for me personally from every session, and I felt a bit out of place among the many “mommy” bloggers, I did come away with several things. Specifically: lots o’ business cards (seriously, my giant, bottomless Mary Poppins purse feels heavier today), new blogs to read, a local writing support group, and a few gems to improve my blog and inspire me to write every week. The crème de la crème, for your viewing pleasure:

Branding

• Don’t be intimidated by branding. If you spend time picking out your outfit in the morning, you already have branding experience. It’s all about figuring out who you are and how to let the world know about it. And it can evolve over time, just like you do.
• If anyone else is already doing what you consider your niche, find something else, or you won’t stand out. Instead become an expert in something you are interested in, go deeper, and explore it from every angle.
• Make sure your blog tells a story, and that it lives up to the promise you make to your readers.
• Your About page should be a strong representation of your brand.
• If you think you can do it all in terms of social media, you’re wrong. Pick 3 things to focus on for 6 months, like growing Facebook fans, a tweet a day, etc.

Creative Process

• Ignore those voices that tell you negative things. (“I’m good enough, smart enough, and doggone it, people like me!“)

• Free-write for 15 minutes every day, nonstop, and as fast as you can. It will get you into the habit of writing daily, and there will probably be the makings of a usable post within all that word vomit.
• Allow the child-like creator in you to simply write, and only when done, allow the parent-like editor to take over.
• When tapped out of ideas, consider writing prompts, which give you a break and build community among your readers.
• If you think you can do it all in terms of social media, you’re wrong. Pick 3 things to focus on for 6 months, like growing Facebook fans, a tweet a day, etc.

Design

• The top right of your blog is the most valuable real estate.
• Embrace white space, declutter, be consistent, use color schemes and fonts to create a mood, and repeat design elements throughout.
• Create a style guide with colors, fonts, etc., but also with rules for your writing: first person? yes or no on swearing? any topics you won’t discuss?
• Explore mind mapping.
• Use the rule of thirds in photos, crop around natural body lines (no hacking off of hands or feet, people!), adjust the exposure until white looks white, and always insert photos after text (think SEO).

Evolution of a Post

• Your blog is your resume.
• Think: value, entertainment, consistency, and quality.
• SEO (search engine optimization) is a practice. Things like Google Analytics are tools. So in the technical sense, SEO makes your info search-engine friendly and well ranked. In the practical sense, SEO is a writing method. Use tools like Google AdWords and Yoast, and tag photos with title and alt tags. Be aware of meta keywords, how your site shows on a Google search result.
• Be aware of photo licensing protocol, and only use photos you have permission to use, or photos that have a creative commons license (check Flickr and others).

Your Niche

• To stand out, your content must stand out. What do you offer?
• Take your time, create value, think about your reader’s experience, offer variety, consider readability.
• The first and last sentence of a post can be the most important.
• Make sure the post is easy to scan.

Vlogging

• (Ok, I have to preface this with a statement: I HATE the word “vlogging!”)
• It seems obvious, but: check and re-check the camera angle, make sure the lighting loves you, get distracting or embarrassing items out of the shot, and for heaven’s sake, make sure your teeth and hair are brushed.
• Think of the camera as a friend you are having a conversation with.
• Start off with action or words on the screen – compelling, funny, or high-energy. See Jessica Bern’s hilarious example here (it’s also a good example of a vlogging don’t).
• Keep it under 2 minutes, cutting and timing are everything. Come back after a break and see if anything else should be cut.
• To entertain, keep it short. To inform, the time is more flexible.
• A vlog should have a beginning, middle, and end.
• To edit your own vlogs, check out iMovie or Windows Live Movie Maker. They include free, non-copyrighted music, too!
• Vlogging makes your writing come to life because readers can hear your voice, see your mannerisms, etc.

Now I need to pore over all those blog business cards, subscribe to the blogs that look interesting, and steal some ideas for the business cards that I will no doubt be printing in the future for my own blog.

Happy writing!

Download flyer (PDF)

AGENDA:

• 2012 statewide summer reading, presented by Kathy Barco: “Dream Big – Read” (children), “Own the Night” (teens)
• Lunch and networking
• Early literacy: Fun in the library for babies and new parents
• Update on Colorado youth services initiatives
• Distribute Summer Reading manuals and Highsmith catalogues

DATES and LOCATIONS (register at least 1 week in advance):

• 10/20/2011 – Rifle
• 10/21/2011 – Eagle
• 11/02/2011 – Pueblo
• 11/03/2011 – Englewood
• 11/04/2011 – Boulder
• 11/10/2011 – Dolores

REGISTRATION: All-day program, $20 per person. Includes breakfast, lunch, and materials. Register now!

QUESTIONS: Michelle Gebhart, 303-866-6894

An exciting new event is being introduced this year in conjunction with the 2011 CCIRA Literacy Conference. The Authors’ Festival puts young people in grades 2-10 in direct contact with nationally known authors to talk about writing. The featured authors are Mike Thaler (Librarian from the Black Lagoon), Liz Scanlon (All the World), Alan Sitomer (Hip Hop High School), and local favorite Dom Testa (The Galahad series).

There will also be time for book signings, and registration for the Authors’ Festival includes a ticket for the Young Writers Award Luncheon featuring Colorado’s own Janet Stevens and her sister Susan Stevens Crummel, who will have you laughing with their hilarious take on what it’s like to be sisters.

Time and place: Marriott Denver Tech Center,  Saturday February 5, 8am-1pm

Registration: Open to the public, $20 for each child participating or adult accompanying. There must be one adult for every four children attending. Space is limited to 150 participants.

Register Now (PDF)
Deadline is January 10, 2011

Excerpted:

“I am passionate about Outreach work and the power that it holds for our libraries.  My work in Outreach has led me to believe that Library Outreach is our most powerful PR and our best and most efficient means of serving the masses. So with all of my enthusiasm for this work continually bubbling up, it was so uplifting to attend a gathering of people who share this love and passion for Outreach work.  I believe our success in Outreach work is dependent upon thinking outside of the box, looking for dynamic new approaches, and an unwavering ability to roll with the punches.  It refreshed my spirit to sit next to individuals that share these quirky personality traits with me and to partake in conversations that focus on ways that we can push through barriers and boundaries.

Our bookmobile arrived on display at the ABOS/ARSL conference.  Because this will be a new service for our community and a new adventure in my work as an Outreach Librarian, I was overwhelmed by the appearance of our brand new vehicle –the Clearview Mobile Branch.  Our tires were shiny and the bus smelled so good!  It was both educational and delightful to see our vehicle and show it off to other conference attendees.  I eagerly look forward to the next conference where I hope to perfect my knowledge of “the Library Cheer”.

“I came home from the ARLS-ABOS conference so motivated and excited and full of ideas from the many brilliant minds that I had the privilege to mingle with for three days!  Every class I went to was first rate.  The only complaint I had was that they were too short!  Shelly Drumm really opened my eyes to the huge impact technology has had and the vastly different way it is perceived by those who grew up with it and those of us who did not (I totally related to the monk being taught about the use of a book as opposed to the scroll!).  Pat Wagner’s and Vanessa Uribe’s presentations on dealing with people and providing excellent customer service made a real impact on me.  Excellent tools that can be used everywhere- home, work, and play!  Karol Sacca is an amazing presenter! I could have listened to her all day!  She must have been an absolutely remarkable teacher.  I can’t wait get my hands on some of the fascinating young adult books she shared with us!  I feel totally recharged and energized to touch my community more efficiently in the best job there is in the world – being a small town librarian! “

The winners were staff from the following libraries:

• Conejos County Library District
• Costilla County Public Library
• Delta County Libraries
• Lamar/Prowers County Bookmobile
• La Veta Regional Library District
• Park County Public Library
• Pine River Public Library District
• Red Feather Mountain Library District
• Wetmore Community Library
• Windsor-Severance Library District

One of the scholarship requirements was that each recipient write a brief blog about why their attendance at the ARSL-ABOS conference would significantly impact their library and community.  The blog entry might also contain information about a great session they attended, a meaningful networking opportunity, or anything else the attendee may have taken home with them.

Some blog excerpts:

“Attending the ARSL/ABOS joint conference in Denver for the first time afforded a number of experiences, but the primary impression was that of opportunity: the opportunity to meet a number of peers from far-flung geographies… and to find that their problems and successes were at times the same as ours and in other instances uniquely different. It was the opportunity to debate nuts-and-bolts issues such as handling tourist library usage in smaller, recreation-oriented rural towns. And, it provided the opportunity to listen to, and sometimes meet, fine speakers and leaders in the library world including Colorado’s own Pat Wagner and Jamie LaRue. “  -Creed Kidd, Red Feather Lakes Community Library

“I learned there are many ways to do outreach in your library, from doing job resume assistance to having a pot-luck centered around a culture your community has not yet experienced! It all makes a difference to them and you.  People don’t always know how to ask for help or admit they need it. If you have a caring staff that is trained to reach out and meet that needs of the community you serve, you are rich in friends and your community will be changed for the better.  We are leaders even when we don’t realize it.  We serve because we love what we do.  The patrons aren’t the only ones who walk away with a smile when we help them meet their need(s). “  -Sheri Eirhart, Lamar/Prowers County Bookmobile

The 23rd Annual Colorado Teen Literature Conference (CTLC) will be held at the University of Colorado – Denver’s Auraria Campus on Saturday, April 2, 2010, with keynote speaker Pete Hautman (author of All-in, Godless, How to Steal a Car, Invisible, No Limit, Rash, the upcoming Blank Confession and others). This popular event is generously sponsored by Metropolitan State College of Denver, the University of Colorado-Denver, the Colorado Language Arts Society (CLAS), Pikes Peak Library District, Colorado Young Adult Advocates in Libraries (C’YAAL), REFORMA Colorado, and Fleetthought.

We are currently accepting proposals for program sessions at the conference. This is an excellent opportunity to try your hand as a presenter or moderator of a discussion panel.  Traditionally this forum has been a terrific event for networking and learning about best practices for working with our teen populations.

We are looking for workshops that appeal to an audience of both adults (teachers and librarians) and teens, presented by authors, educators or experts in young adult literature.
This year we especially encourage proposals in the following areas:
good books for good readers in 5-7th grade who are interested in older teen topics; a poetry slam; and teaching teens how to booktalk.

To request a proposal form, go to our website and click on “Call for Presenters.”  You may print off the form and send it by snail mail to the address listed on the form, or copy the form, paste it into the body of an email and send it to Jenny Butler in accordance with the instructions on the website.

Deadline for proposals is December 1, 2011!

Should you have any questions, please contact Jenny Butler at the Golden Library, 303-235-5275.

We look forward to working with you!
The CTLC Planning Committee