Welcome to ACLA District Youth Services

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

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

Looking for in-County Resources?

• 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 (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! 

• Center for Children's Book's 2009 Guide Book to Gift Books PDF
• 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 for infants and toddlers (compiled annually 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 
• Mon Valley Educational Consortium 
• 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

Directory of Children's Librarians.pdf (updated June '10: 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 – Diane Roos
• Bethel Park– Elaine Volpe
• Braddock – Rachel Brehm
• Brentwood – Dolores Colarosa
• Bridgeville – Donna Taylor
• CC Mellor Edgewood – Andrea McNeill
• 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
• Coraopolis – ?
• Crafton – Carolyn Rosenquest
• Dormont – Cindy D’agostino
• Sto Rox – Sue Ann Orange
• Green Tree – Brian Romine
• Hampton – Lori Ridenour
• Jefferson Hills – Jane Morgan
• Knowledge Connection: Moon Crest - Lisa Shaughnessy
• Knowledge Connection: Monview - Darlene Thoms
• Lauri Ann West – Susan Herald
• Monroeville – Lou Anne Sokolowski
• Moon Township – Megan Goode
• Mt Lebo – Judy Sutton
• North Versailles– Karen Schmidt-Ramsey
• Northern Tier – Robin Gibson
• Northland – Mary Morgan Smith
• Oakmont – Beth Mellor
• Penn Hills – Mary Ann Zeak
• Pleasant Hills – Joanna Heywood
• Plum Community – Elizabeth 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 – Stephanie Willman
• Whitehall – Kristin Rama
• Wilkinsburg – Lisa Barnes

CLP Locations:

• Main: Patte Kelley
• Allegheny: Jen Pickle
• Beechview: Tina Zubak
• Brookline: Danielle Greenburg
• Carrick: Julie Helt
• East Liberty: Caralee Sommerer
• Hazelwood: Ellen Sikov
• Hill District: Ian Eberhardt
• Homewood: Lee Ann Swensrud
• Knoxville: Suzy Waldo
• Lawrenceville: Anne Lee
• LBPH: Devon Gary
• Mt. Washington: Amy Korman
• Sheraden: Jim Carney
• South Side: Jeanne Nikolaison
• Squirrel Hill: Megan Fogt
• West End: Jim Carney
• Woods Run: Kelly Shesko