Welcome to ACLA District Youth Services

New to Allegheny County libraries?  Need help?  Have questions?  Contact Kristin Rama, the Youth Services Coordinator for the Allegheny County Library Association (ACLA).  Email Kristin at ramak@einetwork.net or call the ACLA office at (412) 921-1123 x303.  

Here you'll find what you need to get started and stay connected!

Looking for in-County Resources?

• Here's a breakdown of libraries by region.  Librarians by Region.docx
• Want a fancy big book for storytimes?  Here are some titles available from Barnes and Noble
• Want to know the available shapes for the Ellison machine available around the county? Look here!  Here are the die cuts available from the CLP District Center (though you must go there to use them!) 

Children's Literature Awards and Suggested Titles

A good way to start is to be familiar with what's popular, recommended, and award-winning.  If you haven't yet checked out these lists, they might be helpful!  

• The Newbery Winners, Past and Present: honored for literary merit.
• The Caldecott Winners, Past and Present : honored for illustrations.
• Association of Library Services to Children (ALSC) Notable Lists:  For books, recordings, videos, and software.
• The Coretta Scott King Award Winners, Past and Present:  Given to African-American authors and illustrators for inspirational and educational merit.
• The Pura Belpre Award Winners, Past and Present:  Given to Latino/Latina authors and illustrators whose works celebrate Latino culture.
• Best Books for Babies:  A list of notable titles recommended by Pittsburgh's own Beginning with Books.

List of Local Cultural and Literacy Organizations 

• The Grable Foundation: a great local funding organization specifically geared toward initiatives involving children and families
• Beginning with Books Center for Early Literacy  Every year, this early literacy organization puts on a fun filled event known as Storywalk that brings in storytellers, literacy groups and fun activities for children. The organization also is known for its annual list of recommended books for babies. Information about both is included on their website.

• Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh is located on Pittsburgh’s North Side. They have a number of performers and assemblies that are sometime available to come to libraries.

  Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council Our local literacy council specializes in adult and family literacy. They offer a number of different programs, and also sponsor an Americorps program that provides some tutoring.

• Allegheny Intermediate Unit 

• Carnegie Science Center 
• Communities in Schools
• Homeless Children’s Education Fund 
• Consortium for Public Education 
• Reading is Fundamental Pittsburgh 

Professional Resources

• ALSC Listservs

• Bare Bones Children's Services: Tips for Public Library Generalists by Anitra T. Steele

• Books, Babies, & Libraries: Serving Infants, Toddlers, Their Parents & Caregivers by Ellin Greene
• Children & Libraries: Getting It Right by Virginia A. Walters
• Connecting Boys with Books by Michael Sullivan
• Crash Course in Children's Services by Penny Peck
• Dynamic Youth Services Through Outcome-Based Planning and Evaluation by Eliza T. Dresang, Melissa Gross, & Leslie Edmonds Holt
• Fundamentals of Children's Services by Michael Sullivan
• Gamers...in the Library?! by Eli Neiburger [This is a how-to-be-a-great-librarian resource, right?]
• Learning Environments for Young Children: Rethinking Library Spaces and Services by Sandra Feinberg, Joan F. Kuchner, & Sari Feldman
• The Librarian's Complete Guide to Involving Parents Through Children's Literature: Grades K-6 by Anthony D. Fredericks, illustrated by Phyllis Disher Fredericks [also available as an e-book] ]
• Librarians Serving Disabled Children and Young People by Henry C. Dequin
• Literacy is for Everyone: Making Library Activities Accessible for Children with Disabilities by National Lekotek Center
• Managing Children's Services in the Public Library by Adele M. Fasick[also available as an e-book]
• Multiculturalism in Library Programming for Children prepared by Janice N. Harrington
• Naked Reading: Uncovering What Tweens Need to Become Lifelong Readers by Teri S. Lesesne
• Outstanding Library Service to Children: Putting the Core Competencies to Work by Roseanne Cerny, Penny Markey, & Amanda Williams
• Partners in Literacy: Schools & Libraries Building Communities Through Technology by Sondra Cuban and Larry Cuban [This new title from ALA is not yet owned by any of the system's libraries]
• Pictures and Words Together: Children Illustrating and Writing Their Own Books  by Paul Johnson
• Poetry Aloud Here! Sharing Poetry With Children In the Library  by Sylvia M. Vardell 
• Principles of Children's Services in Public Libraries by Mae Benne
• Programming with Latino Children's Materials: A How-to-Do-It Manual for Librarians by Tim Wadham
• Public Library Services to Visually Diabled Children by S.G. Basu
• Reference Services for Children and Young Adults by Rosemarie Rieche
• Venture into Culture: A Resource Book of Multicultural Materials and Programs edited by Olga R. Kuharets
• Youth Development and Public Libraries, Tools for Success edited by Kurstin Finch Gnehm with Urban Libraries Council
• 25 Latino Craft Projects by Ana-Elba Pavon & Diana Borrego

Our Libraries and Their Children's Librarians

2012 Directory of Libraries (updated 2/12: address, phone and email of children's librarians around the county, including CLP)

• ACLA Mobile Library Services – Becky Sabol 
• AC Free – Erin Tipping
• Avalon –  Rania Sullivan
• Baldwin - Gina Leone
• Andrew Bayne – Denise Plaskon
• Bethel Park– Elaine Volpe
• Braddock – Rachel Brehm
• Brentwood – none, as of 2/12
• Bridgeville – Karen Verduci
• CC Mellor Edgewood – Lauren Miller
• Carnegie Library of McKeesport – Chris Kritikos
• Carnegie Free of Swissvale – Bonnie Egli
• Carnegie Homestead – Emily Salsberry
• Clairton - Odessa Ellis
• CLAV – Susan Wilson and Judy Errico
• Castle Shannon – Heather Anderson
• Cooper-Siegel – Susan Herald 
• Coraopolis – Susan McClellan
• Crafton – Carolyn Rosenquest
• Dormont – Cindy D’agostino
• Sto Rox – Sue Ann Orange
• Green Tree – Shannon McNeill
• Hampton – Lori Ridenour
• Jefferson Hills – Ann Zettl
• Monroeville – Lou Anne Sokolowski
• Moon Township – Megan Goode
• Mt Lebanon – Holly Visnesky 
• North Versailles– Karen Schmidt-Ramsey
• Northern Tier – Robin Gibson
• Northland – Mary Morgan Smith
• Oakmont – Karen Crowell 
• Pleasant Hills – Joanna Heywood
• Plum Community – Liz Kostandinu
• Robinson – Carolyn Rosenquest
• Scott Township – Sherry Small
• Shaler –Ing Kalchthaler
• Sewickley – Rita Crawford  
• South Fayette – Jody Wilson
• South Park – Mary Planiczki
• Springdale – Patty Wise
• Upper St. Clair – Debra Conn
• Western Allegheny – Amanda Kirby
• Whitehall – Denise Ignasky
• William E. Anderson – Mary Ann Zeak 
• Wilkinsburg – Lisa Barnes

CLP Locations:

• District Services - Georgene DeFilippo
• Main: Patte Kelley
• Allegheny: Jen Pickle
• Beechview: Julie Moore
• Brookline: Erin Scioli
• Carrick: Maggie Craig
• East Liberty: Caralee Sommerer
• Hazelwood: Ellen Sikov
• Hill District: Andrea McNeill
• Homewood: Ian Eberhardt
• Knoxville: Jeanne Nikolaison
• Lawrenceville: Karen Brooks-Reese
• LBPH: Linda Gmiter
• Mt. Washington: Laura Knouff
• Sheraden: Jim Carney 
• South Side: Brooke Askew
• Squirrel Hill: Megan Fogt
• West End: Katie Husted
• Woods Run: Kelly Shesko