Help Finish Ballou HS's Library!!

It isn't all that often that we, as individuals, can feel like we've directly contributed to a library's actual collection. Many times, the books we donate to our local library end up on the half-price sale shelves, which is a great way to help the library raise much-needed extra funds, but you don't always end up seeing the book YOU donated on the loan shelves, being lent out to other patrons.

Well--Guys Lit Wire is giving us all another fantastic opportunity to really add to a library collection. You might remember the two book fairs they've held for Ballou Sr. High School in Washington, D.C.:

Between our spring book fair and a small holiday fair last November we have helped Ballou move from a library that had less than one book for each of its 1,200 students at the beginning of 2011 to a ratio now of two books per student. While this is an impressive achievement and something we are quite proud of, the American Library Association advocates ELEVEN books for each student. It's obvious that Ballou is still operating at a serious literary deficit and because of that we have decided to commit ourselves to the long haul and stay with this school library until they have everything they need.

While they got a lot of initial support when their plea first went out, they still need help, and every one of us can make a difference by buying even just ONE book off the wish list. You'll have the satisfaction of knowing you've been able to put a book YOU love into the hands of high school students--students who are already grateful beyond words. For more information, please visit Colleen's post on GLW.

Monday Randomness

After spending much of the weekend reading Plato's Republic, I find my brain has decided to retreat into a tiny corner of my skull and refuses to work any more. And, I'm again pondering blog-related what's-the-point-itis and rethinking what I want to do in my blogging life. So...here are a few links for your amusement while I return to normal. Enjoy.

• If you're interested in writing for educational publishers and live in...er...Central California, there's a seminar by writer Christine Peterson on March 3rd in Bakersfield. Why Bakersfield? I dunno. I liked the sound of it until I saw it would be a 3-hour drive (each way), so I am unlikely to attend, but for those who live a little closer, check out this link. For those of you on the opposite side of the country, in April our blog bud Mitali Perkins is leading a Highlights workshop on Creating an Authentic Cultural Voice.
• Also, in an e-mail to the Kidlitosphere Yahoo Group, author Martha Brockenbrough says: "YALSA reached out to authors, asking us to sign a petition that asks for school libraries for every child in America. They are in need of almost 15,000 more signatures. If you feel so inclined, might you write a blog post about what school libraries meant to you, to your kids, or to kids you know?" Here's the petition--they still need signatures, but I agree with Martha that a heartfelt blog post might also be in order. I know I spent a ton of time in the school library, not just browsing books, but studying and being a tutor. (Weirdly, I was a chemistry tutor. Go figure.) My middle school library was where I first checked out and read Ursula LeGuin's A Wizard of Earthsea. I even remember the two librarians there: Mrs. DeLeon, who was the mom of a girl in my class, and Mrs. Y, who had a long and unpronounceable last name. As an adult and as a writer I've had some amazing school library experiences, too, talking to kids in book clubs and creative writing clubs and just regular kids. I can't imagine a world without school libraries. If you feel the same, go sign the petition! And if you write a blog post, let Martha know for her roundup.
• Lastly, I'm proud to say that my advice, such as it is, has been included in Katie Davis's new e-book, How to Promote Your Children's Book. Katie does the podcast Brain Burps About Books and her book is an amazing collection of first-hand marketing information from the likes of Our Jane, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Liz Garton Scanlon, and plenty of others. I know I'm going to find it useful, and I'm happy to give it a plug!

Thursday Procrastination Fun!

PSSST! Heard about the kidlitosphere's own Jen Robinson and her big, big news? Go check it out!

Before I amuse and astound you all with a handful of enjoyable links (or rather, amaze you with how behind the times I am in posting them), anyone who IS a Cybils winner or finalist, or KNOWS one, please read this post describing how you or your publisher can get super-nifty Cybils award stickers for your book! Great for conferences and signings! There's no year on the sticker, so winners or finalists from past years can use them, too. Help support the Cybils and our cool prizes for winning authors/illustrators--buy stickers for your books! EVERYTHING MUST GO!

OK, now that that's out of the way, here are a few YA book lists to think about from Flavorwire (via my friend Fumi): 10 Literary Classics Made Better as Comic Books (what a claim!! go check it out), 10 Best Young Adult Books for Grownups (not sure some of these are actually YA, but whatever, The Westing Game is still awesome), and, just for fun, 10 Awesome and Inappropriate Books for Kids.

Did you know it's National Library Week? Susan Kusel at Booklights reminds us to be sure to thank a library worker for their unflagging toil in a time when libraries seem to be underfunded (if not underappreciated--though I appreciate mine regularly!). And Greg Pincus has created a great little video over at The Happy Accident reminding us why libraries rock. So, thanks, libraries and library workers for your super awesomeness!

Bonus linkage: If you're like me and stress about whether you're blogging too much or not enough or don't have anything to say or any of the myriad of little pestering thoughts that keep us from paying proper attention to our blogs, go check out Lee's Zen of Blogging website--his weekly tips are reassuring, thoughtful, and--I'll just come right out and sound dorky--mentally rejuvenating. Honestly.