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Idaho Commission for Libraries
10/22/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 10/22/2024 14:34
Register for “More Than a Checkbox: APALA’s Evaluation Rubric for Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Youth Literature”
Are you interested in learning how to build inclusive and respectful youth literature collections that center on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI)? Join ICfL staff Kristina Taylor and Staci Shaw, along with children's literature scholars Amy Breslin and Becky Leathersich, for a virtual workshop designed to help library staff:
- Recognize the importance of maintaining an up-to-date understanding of the diverse Asian communities.
- Understand how centering the voices of cultural insiders can inform the planning of programs and events that promote cultural appreciation.
- Learn to use the Asian Pacific American Library Association (APALA) Rubric as a guide for critically evaluating materials for problematic character and story elements, and for incorporating the rubric into collection management practices.
This hands-on workshop will provide participants with background knowledge of the AAPI community, discuss ways to plan culturally sensitive programs and practices, and include breakout sessions where participants can learn to evaluate children's literature and practice using the rubric to review books from their library's current collection.
Participants who complete the workshop will receive a recently published book (or two) selected by facilitators Amy and Becky, showcasing the characteristics of high-quality youth literature representing AAPI characters and communities.
Facilitators:
Becky Leathersich is an Associate Librarian at the State University of New York (SUNY) College at Geneseo. She is also the coordinator of the Asian Studies program and advisor of the Korean American Student Association. She is a member of the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) Literature Awards Committee for Picture Books and former co-chair of the APALA Family Literacy Focus Committee. Her research interests include Asian American youth literature, inclusive pedagogy, and library collaborations. She was named a New York State Outstanding Librarian in 2023.
Amy Kyung Eun Breslin (she/her) is Associate Director of the Asian American Cultural Center at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She has facilitated capacity building initiatives through fostering strategic partnerships with community stakeholders and advocating for systems change through community-led solutions. As a public library practitioner, Amy's work focused on literacy justice through inclusive collections, library programs, and transformative spaces that support cross-cultural understanding and build intercommunity solidarity. Amy serves on the Executive Board for the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) and previously as Co-Chair of APALA Family Literacy Focus Committee. She was named a Mover and Shaker - Educator by Library Journal and received a JCLC Advocacy Award from APALA.
Workshop Information
Date: Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Time: 2:00 pm - 3:15 pm Mountain Time / 1:00 pm - 2:15 pm Pacific
Cost: No cost
How to attend:
Option A:Live, virtual, via Zoom (link will be provided with registration)
Attend the live, interactive session for the greatest benefit! You'll have the ability to ask questions and receive guided support when using the evaluation rubric. If you choose the live session, please honor your commitment to attend, as seating is limited. Attendees will receive two hardcover, recently-published books upon completion of the workshop.
Option B:Watch the workshop recording (link will be provided to registered participants)
If you are not able to attend the live session or if registration for the live session is full, you can watch a recording of the workshop. To receive two hardcover, recently-published books you will email Kristina and Staci after you view the recording, and provide the title of the book you evaluated with the rubric, along with a short synopsis of what the evaluation determined. Questions about the workshop content can be directed to the facilitators, Amy Breslin and Becky Leathersich. The recording will be available for 60 days (January 18, 2025).
Multiple staff from each library/branch may attend.