Award-winning author and National Teacher of the Year Sharon Draper will kick off the OLC’s virtual Youth Services Conference on Thurs., Aug. 19. Draper will talk about the importance of diversity and inclusiveness in children’s literature and why kids and teens need to see themselves in books. This virtual conference will take a look at best practices and innovative ways to best serve patrons from birth through high school, especially in the wake of the pandemic. Choose from nine breakout sessions to create a program that meets your needs and interests. Conference breakout sessions include:

1. Getting Started on the Road to Restorative Practices for Youth
2. Teen Virtual Library
3. Countdown to Kindergarten – Virtual Edition
4. From Diversity to Inclusion: How to Audit Your Collection and Why
5. Re-training the Library: How Cross-Training Saved Our Library
6. Back Porch Tips: Maximizing Your Videos for Young Children
7. Racial Justice Programming
8. Creating a Library Discord Server for Teens
9. Creating Unique Early Literacy Spaces

This virtual conference also features a networking lunch based on specific areas of service. The registration fee for OLC members is $65 (non-member fee: $130). Please note that you must select your breakout sessions when registering for this virtual program. The registration deadline is Aug. 15.

Read more and register.