Looking for a FREE Live Author Visit?

As many school librarians know, great author & illustrator visits can cost a pretty penny these days.  While many of us don't have budgets that can accomodate best-selling, award-winning guests we are (fortunately) now in an age where technology and a little ingenuity go a long way in leveling our access.

School Library Journal hosts a series of webcasts that brings popular, award-winning authors & illustrators into your libraries and classrooms LIVE via webcast.  Hundreds of students and educators have already tuned into webcasts with Jeff Kinney and Rick Riordan.  (And if you missed the live event, no problem!  SLJ has a list of archives available for viewing as well.)

The next author visit that you and your students can tune into is just around the corner.  Brooklyn Friends School will be hosting Newbery Honor-winning author, Shannon Hale, on Monday, October 1 at 1pm.   

You can register for the event here and watch LIVE online with your students in the comfort of your own library.  Members of the virtual audience will have opportunities to participate with Shannon and the live audience in real time.  Don't miss out!

We recommend that you register in advance and test your computer for all the necessary system requirements.  Also, you can take a peek at the BFS library blog to see the kind of information I sent home (letter to families, book order forms, etc.) about this visit.

Mark Your Calendars!

There's so much happening this Fall.  Here's just a snapshot of some of the great workshops, conferences, and book-related events that I'm keeping my eye on.  What about you?  Any great events that HVLA should know about?  Let us know in the comments below.

Brooklyn Book Festival
Date of Event: Sunday, September 23, 2012 - 10:00AM  to 6:00PM (check the website for additional "Bookend" events September 17-23)
Location: Brooklyn Borough Hall & Plaza
Need to Know:  Calling all book lovers!  Join Brooklynites for the largest FREE literary event in New York City, presenting an array of national and international literary stars and emerging authors.

KidLitCon
Date of Event: Friday, September 28 - Saturday, September 29, 2012

Location: New York Public Library - The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Need to Know: Join Betsy Bird (A Fuse #8 Production), Monica Edinger (Educating Alice), and Liz Burns (A Chair, a Fireplace, and a Tea Cozy) as they explore the KidLitosphere from a variety of angles.

Live Webcast with Shannon Hale

Date of Event: Monday, October 1, 2012 - 1:00PM

Location: Brooklyn Friends School  (That's my school!)
Need to Know: BFS is excited to host award-winning author Shannon Hale.  Register in advance so you and your students can join us online.  If you miss the live event, the webcast will be archived and available for on-demand viewing at your convenience.

BookFest @ Bank Street
Date of Event: Saturday, October 27, 2012 - 9:00AM to 3:30PM (Registration begins today at Noon. Get your tickets ASAP.  This event sells out quickly!)

Location: Bank Street College of Education
Need to Know:  Keynote speakers, author panels, and small breakout groups assure this event has something for everyone.  This is by far my favorite professional development event of the year!

Also...

Are you planning on going to one or both of ALA's national conferences?  Have you considered bundling your registration fees for 2013 Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference?  It's a great way to cut down on costs.  Bundled registration ends Midnight, September 30th.

September Book Club...now October Book Club!

Date/Time: **Please Note: DATE CHANGE**

Tuesday, September 25th Tuesday, October 2, 5:30pm

Location:
Elisabeth Irwin High School -- In the library!
40 Charlton Street

(between 6th Ave & Varick)

What We're Reading:
Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein