28 Apr Promoting Visibility & Celebrating National Library Week
National Library Week is winding down, and we couldn’t let the occasion pass without thanking the Missouri Association of School Librarians (MASL) for welcoming Ellie to its spring conference and praising the people (librarians) and places (libraries) that encourage, entertain, inform, and enlighten us.
Our thanks to MASL for inviting Ellie to read her alphabet book, TYPE ONE DIABETES A-Z, and to present a workshop: “The Power of Visibility: A Young Author’s Perspective on Managing a Chronic Condition (Type One Diabetes), Encouraging Young People to Write, and Developing a Resilience Plan.”
Ellie wrote TYPE ONE DIABETES A-Z at age 9. Published in 2020 when she was 12, the primer promotes understanding of a complex, chronic condition. In her workshop, Ellie showcased potential library programs that focus on:
- Increasing awareness of Type One Diabetes (T1D)
- Encouraging young people to write and to think of themselves as writers
- Helping young people identify ways to build resilience
Ellie discussed how her book promotes visibility (the state of being able to see or be seen). Even an alphabet book can be both a window and a mirror. It’s a window providing a glimpse into life with T1D, a chronic condition that comes with massive (often seemingly invisible) challenges. It’s a mirror in which all youth can see themselves as writers and as resilient people moving forward in the face of life’s challenges.
You’re invited to scroll through Ellie’s presentation of how school librarians can use TYPE ONE DIABETES A-Z as a window and a mirror.
Click on any of the handouts that accompany three potential programs: T1D info sheet, Primer Prompt (to encourage young people to expand on their ideas and think of themselves as writers), and Resilience Plan (to identify strengths and resources to help people recover from setbacks and to keep moving forward).
With 600 librarians in attendance and an unmatched enthusiasm for the written word, the MASL annual conference lived up to the promise of its theme, “Sharing Our Stories.” It was a wonderful opportunity for Ellie to add her voice to the many that were lifted and amplified in celebration of learning.
Thank you, MASL!
Beloved author Judy Blume said, ““Librarians save lives by handing the right book, at the right time, to a kid in need.” We could not agree more! In a full circle moment, Ellie shared her book with librarians, and it seemed especially fitting since, over the years, they have shared books with her on everything from T1D to Star Wars to inspiring biographies and any number of subjects in between.
In celebration of National Library Week we wanted to share some of the best benefits of libraries:
- Access to a wide range of books
- Free community learning events
- Author events
- (Ellie will be visiting multiple libraries to read her book this summer; please watch for dates and locations.)
- Community space
- Technology access
- Professional or career assistance (Researching a grant? Learning a new computer program? Updating your resume? Applying for a small business loan? Using social media to market your business? Start at the library!)
Did you know you can also take cooking classes, get museum passes, or check out movies and toys from the local library?
Another quick tip: You can often apply for membership at more than one library system.
Lastly, kudos to libraries for fighting book bans. The American Library Association is part of the effort to fight censorship, keep books available in libraries, and promote the freedom to read. We believe that free people read freely.
We’re always grateful when libraries add TYPE ONE DIABETES A-Z to their shelves, ensuring that info about T1D reaches many hands, homes, and hearts. The ripple effect is exciting and encouraging.
People with T1D are safer when those around them know how to help, but the same can be said of us all. When we understand each other, aren’t we better able to look out for each other?
Our thanks to libraries for providing access to information and resources, supporting literacy and education, promoting lifelong learning, and serving as a community space where all are welcome.