Capstone adds YA “Switch Press” Imprint
Capstone Young Readers is set to launch its fifth imprint, Switch Press, in August, as reported by Publishers Weekly.
Switch Press will release young adult narrative and contemporary nonfiction, along with fantasy, historical fiction, graphic novels, and poetry.
“Our books aim to mirror the lifestyles of our readers,” John Rahm, Senior Product Manager for Capstone Young Readers, stated in the press release. “The name ‘Switch Press’ symbolizes the ever-changing interests of young adults and the notion of ‘turning them on’ to new ideas.”
Isobel Harp’s illustrated memoir The Isobel Journal will be Switch Press’s first release. A website for the imprint is set to launch in May.
2014 Ezra Jack Keats Book Award Winners
The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation and de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection at The University of Southern Mississippi have announced the winners of the 28th annual Ezra Jack Keats Book Award. Two book awards were given, along with five honor awards.
Ame Dyckman is this year’s Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award winner for her book Tea Party Rules (Viking). In the press release she said, “I’m completely moved and honored and honestly, astonished to receive this award. Mr. Keats’ books are childhood and play, and I wish I could have had him over for tea, too.”
Christian Robinson won 2014 Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Award for Rain! (Houghton Harcourt). Robinson said “It is an honor to receive the Ezra Jack Keats Book Award because Ezra was one of my greatest influences on many levels. Like in his books, I used a cut-paper style for the artwork in Rain!”
The honor winners for each category are as follows:
2014 New Writer Honor
-Pat Zietlow Miller for Sophie’s Squash (Random/Schwartz & Wade)
-Linda Davick for I Love You, Nose! I Love You, Toes! (S & S/Beach Lane)
2014 New Illustrator Honor
-K.G. Campbell for Tea Party Rules (Viking)
-Aaron Meshon for Take Me Out to the Yakyu (S & S/Atheneum)
-Marta Altés for My Grandpa (Abrams)
To be eligible, candidates must not have had more than three children’s picture books published in the year prior to their nomination. The winners were chosen by a selection committee that includes librarians, illustrators, and experts in the fields of early childhood education and literature.
Register your Día programs!
Organizations celebrating ALSC’s annual El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day), which culminates on April 30, are invited to add their programs to the Día National Program Registry.
The information collected will be made available on the Día site in database and map format, allowing both librarians and their patrons to see events happening locally or around the country.
Libraries that register their programming will be eligible to receive Día merchandise (stickers, buttons, and bookmarks) while supplies last. The Día website also offers celebration ideas and downloadable materials, including book lists, activity sheets, and resource guides.
In the Margins announces top 10 list
The In the Margins Book Award & Selection Committee announced its top 10 list for books for teens living in poverty, on the streets, and/or in custody.
The selection committee, formed by the Library Services for Youth in Custody (LYSC) considered 200 books, narrowing this list down from its previously published 30 nominations.
Asante, M.K. Buck: A Memoir. Spiegel & Grau. 2013. 272p. Tr $25. ISBN 9780812993417.
Jones, Marilyn Denise. From Crack to College and Vice Versa. Marilyn D. Jones. 2013. 144p. pap. $14.95. ISBN 9780989427401.
Langan, Paul. Survivor. Townsend. 2013. 138p. pap. $5.95. ISBN 9781591943044.
McKay, Sharon E. War Brothers: The Graphic Novel. illus. by Daniel Lafance. Annick. 2013. 176p. pap. $18.95. ISBN 9781554514885.
McVoy, Terra Elan. Criminal. S & S/Simon Pulse. 2013. 288p. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781442421622.
Medina, Meg. Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass. Candlewick. 2013. 272p. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780763658595.
Nussbaum, Susan. Good Kings, Bad Kings. Algonquin. 2013. 320p. pap. $14.95. ISBN 9781616203252.
Rivera, Jeff. No Matter What. CreateSpace. 2013. 112p. pap. $5.38. ISBN 9781493544141.
Ryan, Darlene. Pieces of Me. Orca. 2012. 240p. pap. $12.95. ISBN 9781459800809.
Young, Pamela Samuels. Anybody’s Daughter. Goldman House. 2013. 374p. pap. $16.99. ISBN 9780989293501.
Applications to be on the 2015 In the Margins selection committee close March 1, 2014.
Listen up: Free audiobooks!
SYNC has announced its list of audiobooks that will be available for free this summer. Each week, two audiobooks—one contemporary YA and one classic—will be paired based on common themes and offered for MP3 download.
The 26 titles include works from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar (L.A. Theatre Works) to Agatha Christie’s Murder at the Vicarage (Harper Audio), alongside recent releases such as Matthew Quick’s Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock (Hachette Audio) and Elizabeth Wein’s Code Name Verity (Bolinda Audio, 2013), an SLJ best audiobook of 2013.
Downloads begin on May 15 through the OverDrive Media Console for users 13 and up.
Better World Books LEAP for Libraries Grants
Better World Books is accepting applications for its 2014 LEAP for Libraries Grants. The awards will go to libraries that aim to address the literacy needs of underserved members of the community, especially those proposing projects that will continue to have impact once the funding ends.
Each library is eligible to apply for one grant at a maximum of $15,000. Better World Books will be giving away a total of $40,000 in funding.
Applications are due by 4pm ET on April 4, 2014.
Alexandria Library Automation System now supports MakinVia
COMPanion Corporation’s Alexandria Library Automation System has released an updated version, 6.22.5, supporting integration with Mackin’s MackinVIA. A new feature will allow MackinVIA access though Alexandria without requiring users to sign into each account separately.
“Alexandria version 6.22.5 offers improved performance and reliability as well as ongoing enhancements to our framework with several new and improved interfaces designed to run optimally on the latest platforms and mobile devices,” COMPanion Product Manager Randy Everill said in a press release. “We’re excited to expand our partnership and bring Mackin users improved tools to more effectively and efficiently manage their physical and electronic collections.”
Alexandria is used in many school and public libraries, and MackinVIA has almost 300,000 digital assets including ebooks, audiobooks, and databases.
Baker & Taylor integrates Blackboard Learn
Baker & Taylor announced that it has integrated its Axis 360 digital media library platform with Blackboard Learn, allowing students and instructors to borrow ebooks and digital audiobooks from Axis 360 from within Blackboard Learn. The borrowed materials can be directly downloaded to computers and other devices.
“Integrating the Axis 360 digital media platform into Blackboard Learn will help smooth the delivery of digital materials into classrooms across the country,” George Coe, President and CEO of Baker & Taylor, said in the press release. “This is an important and fast-growing area. Baker & Taylor and Blackboard recognize the need to stay ahead of technological changes and to offer schools a broad array of materials in formats that students and teachers are demanding.”