Highlights - see the full ALA News below for details... Congratulations to our Michigan libraries and their partners on their selection for the Great Stories Club reading programs with underserved teens: Traverse Area District Library partnering with Traverse City High School, Traverse City, MI Kalamazoo Public Library partnering with Kalamazoo County Juvenile Home, Kalamazoo, MI Ypsilanti District Library partnering with the WSC Academy, Ypsilanti, MI Boyne District Library partnering with the Morgan-Shaw Alternative High School, Boyne City, MI Grand Rapids Public Library partnering with HQ Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids, MI Travel grant opportunity: The Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services (ODLOS) announces a travel grant for the third national Joint Conference on Librarians of Color (JCLC) September 26-30 in Albuquerque, NM. The application requires answers to two essay questions and closes on 8/13/18. National writing competition - the Public Library Association (PLA) invites writers to submit original works of short fiction for a National Writing Contest September 25-October 30, 2018. ALA News for July 24, 2018 NEWS FROM THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION ALA: New Tor delay on library ebooks hurts readers, authors and libraries At the beginning of July, Tor, a division of Macmillan, announced without warning that it was immediately beginning to embargo ebook sales of new titles to libraries for four months. In response, American Library Association (ALA) President Loida Garcia-Febo has issued a statement. http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2018/07/ala-new-tor-delay-library-ebo... Anita Mechler named YALSA executive director ALA is pleased to welcome Anita Mechler, the new executive director of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association. Most recently, Mechler has been the project manager/archivist at the Black Metropolis Research Consortium (BMRC) at the University of Chicago Library. http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2018/07/anita-mechler-named-yalsa-exe... New video PSAs starring Constance Wu promote library resources Constance Wu, star of the soon-to-be released film “Crazy Rich Asians,” is featured in three new video Public Service Announcements (PSAs) promoting the transformative resources available at libraries. In the PSAs, Wu shares her love of libraries and explains how they advance inclusion and education for people of all backgrounds. The PSAs are free and are available for download. http://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2018/07/new-video-psas-starring-constanc... One hundred libraries selected to lead Great Stories Club reading programs with underserved youth The American Library Association (ALA) has announced that 100 libraries nationwide have been selected to take part in the Great Stories Club, a national grant program that supports reading and discussion programs for underserved teens. The grantees represent 77 public libraries, 14 school/K-12 libraries, three college/university libraries, two community college libraries, three prison libraries, and one tribal library. They come from 35 states, the District of Columbia, and the Northern Mariana Islands. http://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2018/07/100-libraries-selected-lead-grea... Public Library Association adds new awareness toolkit to suite of family engagement resources As part of a key strategic initiative, the Public Library Association (PLA) has released a free promotional toolkit designed to help libraries raise awareness of family engagement through libraries. This new resource can be used to supplement libraries’ marketing, fundraising, community relations and political advocacy work. http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2018/07/public-library-association-ad... Freedom to Read Foundation celebrates educational collaboration with San Jose State University School of Information The collaboration combines FTRF’s resources and speakers with San Jose’s renowned reputation for library science education. SJSU iSchool courses are open to students across the U.S., across the world and through the WISE Consortium. Library science classes have been taught at SJSU since 1928 and the graduate degree program has been 100 percent online since 2009. http://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2018/07/freedom-read-foundation-celebrat... AASL releases guide addressing challenges related to censorship and LGBTQ+ materials The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) has released a new resource guide to support school librarians addressing challenges related to censorship and patron privacy issues, particularly with LGBTQ+ materials. “Defending Intellectual Freedom: LGBTQ+ Materials in School Libraries” contains resources, links and activities scaffolded by the newly released AASL “National School Library Standards.” http://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2018/07/aasl-releases-guide-addressing-c... Harry Potter poster and more arrive in the new ALA Graphics catalog ALA Graphics’ fall catalog has been mailed and will unveil new products that are sure to educate, excite, and inspire. The catalog cover highlights a new Harry Potter Poster from Caldecott Medal-winning artist Brian Selznick, who reimagined all seven Harry Potter series’ covers in honor of the 20th anniversary of the U.S. release of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone." The poster features art from "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone," while a coordinating bookmark incorporates art from "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." http://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2018/07/harry-potter-poster-and-more-arr... PLA to hold short-fiction writing contest this fall The contest is part of the Fostering Creative Community Connections (FCCC) project, which seeks to promote reading and literary joy through public libraries. The project is funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and managed by the PLA, in partnership with community publisher Short Edition. The submission portal will open at 12 a.m. Central Time on Tuesday, Sept. 25. All entries must be submitted prior to 11:59 p.m. Central Time on Tuesday, Oct. 30. Public voting will take place online through Nov. 20, and the winners will be notified in early December. http://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2018/07/pla-hold-short-fiction-writing-c... AWARDS AND GRANTS Shortley wins student stipend for YALSA’s 2018 YA Services Symposium http://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2018/07/shortley-wins-student-stipend-ya... ODLOS offers travel grant for two JCLC attendees http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2018/07/odlos-offers-travel-grant-two... WORKSHOPS AND ECOURSES Creating and Expanding Innovative Spaces in Your Library http://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2018/07/new-advanced-ecourse-creating-an... Solutions for Challenging Workplace Relationships http://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2018/07/new-iteration-solutions-challeng... Business Outreach for the Public Librarian http://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2018/07/new-iteration-business-outreach-... Using Surveys to Improve Your Library http://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2018/07/new-session-using-surveys-improv... Working with Children of All Ages http://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2018/07/new-ecourse-bundle-working-child... ALA PUBLISHING International librarianship as professional development http://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2018/07/international-librarianship-prof...