While attending ALA Annual or joining a committee are fantastic ways to meet fellow ALSC members and librarians, sometimes you may not be able to make these big commitments due to time or budget constraints. Never fear, though! There is still a low-lift way to meet others in the field of library service to children – a virtual We Are ALSC Chat!
What is a We Are ALSC Chat?
We Are ALSC Chats were created to build community within children’s librarianship through informal virtual Zoom meetings. Led by ALSC Committees, they are open to both members and non-members, allowing for resource sharing and discussion around timely topics.
We typically see about 15-20 people attend each chat. The committee leading the chat brings questions to get the conversation going, but they typically end up being free-form, allowing attendees to share ideas and problem-solve issues they’re facing in their work.
We Are ALSC Chat Topics
ALSC Committees have covered a variety of topics during We Are ALSC Chats. Here are some of the most recent ones:
- Beyond the Screen: Navigating Screen Time After COVID
- Summer Reading Pep Rally: Getting Your Heart, Mind, and Body Ready for the Coming Storm
- Solidarity in the Face of Censorship: Meeting You Where You Are
- How to Identify Community Stakeholders and Form Partnerships
Upcoming We Are ALSC Chats
While there is no official schedule for We Are ALSC Chats, there is typically one hosted every month or two. We announce them via ALSC’s Bluesky, Facebook, and LinkedIn channels, as well as through the ALSC Update. You can also see the full schedule at any time on this web page.
The next We Are ALSC Chat is right before ALA Annual on June 25 at 3pm ET/2pm CT – “ALA Annual FOMO,” hosted by the Membership Committee. They’ll be providing a virtual space hang out with fellow librarians ahead of the conference, share your favorite stories from conferences past, and talk about what you’d like to see in the future. Register Here.
Plan Your Own Chat!
If you’re part of an ALSC committee, your committee is welcome to plan a We Are ALSC Chat!
First, read through our FAQs and take a look at the current schedule here. Then, complete this form so that we can get your Chat ready to go!
I hope to see you at a We Are ALSC Chat soon!
Featured image courtesy of ALSC.
