In this article, "School Library Journal's" ("SLJ") advisors talk about book apps for kids. They discuss what they like, what one should look for in discerning the best for kids and teens, and where this all might be headed.

This article features YOUmedia, an innovative learning space that's housed on the ground floor of the Chicago Public Library's Harold Washington Library Center. A student states that YOUmedia is a great example of what learning can look like in an out-of-school environment. The Windy City's one-of-a-kind program, which attracts young men and women…

When Barry Lyga finished writing his second young adult (YA) novel, he knew there'd be trouble. After all, "Boy Toy" was about a 12-year-old who has sex with a beautiful teacher twice his age, and Lyga expected it to spark letters to local papers, trigger complaints to the school board, and incite some parents to yank it off library shelves. But…

Minneapolis is a book lover's paradise. There are dozens of neighborhood bookstores, a sleek new $125 million Minneapolis Central Library, and Open Book, the nation's first facility devoted to the literary arts. No wonder it was dubbed America's most literate city last year. But one of the best-kept secrets is that Minneapolis and nearby Mankato…

Storytimes, lap-sit programs, and other services for young children are a major part of most public libraries' missions. According to children's librarians, these services play a significant role in preparing children for success as readers. This article discusses the positive relationship between children's services and early reading success by…

A series of video tapes called, Profiles in Literature," are being made under the sponsorship of the Free Library of Philadelphia and Temple University's College of Education. The purpose of this series is to assemble an archive of interviews with prominent authors of children's books and use it to stimulate reading. (Author/NH)

Describes the characteristics of British children's books that are apt to make them incomprehensible to American children. (PF)

Advocates a more militant approach to facing problems directly related to certain practices among publishers: discount, delivery, and a general disregard for the significance of libraries in the market. This can be seen by comparing the way publishers treat public and school libraries to the way they treat retail booksellers. (JPF)

A trial no-fines" policy on children's books yields temporary but inconclusive results, and raises the question: should such library policy be subject to the results of experimentation. (Author)

Discusses the author's experiences and beliefs regarding the role of the children's librarian in the reviewing and publishing of children's literature, and the goals of public library service for children. (CMV)

Efforts of the Constitutional Heritage Club (CHC) and several supportive groups to censor the book and magazine collections of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County are discussed. (NH)

"Born to Read," has attempted to build a partnership between public librarians and health care providers to help new and expectant at-risk parents. Describes the experiences of projects in Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania), Provo (Utah), and Houston (Texas). Discusses literacy and learning theory, ethnic needs, and resources for infant/toddler…

Discusses the use of public libraries by homeschoolers and gives examples of ways to serve homeschoolers, including specialized tours and using homeschooled children as volunteers for library programs. Homeschooler-initiated outreach programs are described, and a list of resources including Web sites, books, and journal articles is provided. (LRW)

Describes an infant and toddler public library program called "Mother Goose Time." It is a language enrichment program that uses rhymes, songs, and books to lay the foundations of listening, learning, and literacy. Activities are planned according to the babies' motor skills--they are divided into two groups, "prewalkers" and "walkers". A list of…