Author: UELMA

Utah Ambassador for Young People’s Literature

UELMA

Steering Committee Members Needed

UELMA is excited to announce the Utah Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Recognition. 

What: The Utah Ambassador for Young People’s Literature is a respected author and/or illustrator either born or living in Utah chosen by the UELMA steering committee whose creative work represents the aspirations, imaginations and stories of and for young people. Similar to the Library of Congress’s National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, the Utah Ambassador will be appointed to “raise [state] awareness of the importance of young people’s literature as it relates to lifelong literacy, education, and the development and betterment of the lives of young people.” 

Why: Funded in part by a grant from the Utah State Library, the Utah Ambassador will travel statewide over the course of their term, showing children and teens that reading is a fundamental skill and vital part of their lives. Speaking to parents, caregivers, teachers, school and public librarians, local booksellers, administrators, political leaders—everyone invested in young people’s literacy, the Utah Ambassador will promote ways to better connect with children and teens through literature and help them love reading.

Action:  The UELMA Executives and Board are seeking volunteer applicants to join the Utah Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Recognition Steering Committee. As a member of the ten-person steering committee, volunteers will meet virtually monthly or as needed to define the scope of the recognition and organize the work of the committee including selection, promotion and recognition of the appointee. If you are a current or retired licensed school library educator, school library paraprofessional, or public or academic children’s or teen librarian, please consider applying for a committee position by filling out the short application form linked below. Applications will be accepted through the end of day January 22nd.  Committee members will be notified of their selection in early February.

How:  Apply hereThe Utah Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Recognition Steering Committee Application.

When:  Applications will be accepted through the end of day January 22nd .

ULA/UELMA Joint Statement on Alpine School District Book Removals

UELMA

The Utah Library Association (ULA) and the Utah Educational Library Media Association (UELMA) are aware of the removal of 52 books from Alpine School District. We are alarmed because it is clear from the school board meeting that the sub-committee tasked with evaluating these books did not fully read them. It is necessary for every challenged library material to be evaluated as a whole. This requirement was established in the Supreme Court case, Miller v. California (1973). Federal law requires that the “Miller Test” be followed to determine the serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value of an entire book and state law mirrors this requirement. Thus, the “Miller Test” was not followed when books were removed without due process. The Supreme Court also ruled in Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969) that students’ First Amendment rights must be protected while they are in school. Illegally removing these books infringes upon Utah students’ protected First Amendment rights. This dangerous move not only opens up Utah taxpayers to costly and time consuming litigation, it also harms students.

Students can safely explore at their school library under the guidance of professional school librarians. School libraries were designated “places of voluntary inquiry” in the Supreme Court ruling Island Trees School District v. Pico (1982). Thus, students must have access to books that not only reflect their own experiences but also help them learn about others. Having access to books that reflect the many aspects of human thought and experience is more important than ever as our students grow to become leaders in our global environment. It is extremely troubling that 21 of the books that were removed have LGBTQIA+ characters and themes. Our LGBTQIA+ youth have the highest youth suicide rate in the nation. However, the Trevor Project reports that LGBTQIA+ youth are less likely to attempt suicide when they have access to LGBTQIA+ affirming spaces and information. Many of the books that were removed also deal with complex issues such as race, growing up, health, and addiction. These books might not be right for every reader but school librarians work with parents and caregivers every day to help them find appropriate materials for their children. We believe that parents and caregivers have the right to discuss reading and book selections with their own children. However, they do not have the right to make these crucial decisions for other families. We encourage all Utahns who are interested in learning more about the important role of libraries in supporting student success and a healthy democracy to read our jointly authored ebook, “Utah Libraries: Keystone of Healthy Democracy, Student Success, and Prosperous Communities” available for download at ula.org/guide.

We call on the Board of Alpine School District to immediately return all books to the shelf. If there are legitimate challenges to any books, the Board must follow their own policy and state and federal laws in evaluating each title as a whole to determine whether it has serious value for students and involving parents that are reflective of the school community in this process.

UELMA 21 Virtual

UELMA

It is happening! Members should have recently received an e-mail this AM about our annual conference. It is on March 5th and happening at “your location.”

If you did not get the e-mail have no fear! All the information is here as well. Check your junk or spam folders and make sure you ARE on our mailing list. (Sign up is on the right side.)

Below are the links to what you need. Please read the e-mail details first.

Advocate for Libraries

UELMA

Register Here

Advocating for the School Library

Thursday, December 3 at 2:00pm

Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/advocating-for-the-school-library-tickets-123190390775

Learn how to recalibrate and rebrand your school library program so that it supports important district-level priorities such as equity, curriculum and instruction, college and career readiness, and universal design for learning. A Zoom link will be sent to registered participants via email prior to workshop

Presenter Bio

Jonathan Hunt is the Vice President of Professional Development for the California School Library Association, an occasional School Library Journal contributor and a children’s literature expert–having judged the Newbery Medal, Caldecott Medal, Printz Award, LA Times Book Prize, and Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, and many others.