New Jersey State Library

New Jersey State Librarian Norma Blake was the keynote speaker for the New Jersey Association Of Library Assistants 22nd Annual Conference, "Staying Motivated in the Midst of Change". The event was held at the Enterprise Center at BCC and featured instructional presentations, hands on computer training, workshops and panel discussions. Congratulations to the Association for putting together an outstanding conference.

LINKS:
Photos from event
NJALA
NJSL Home page

At its annual state conference, the New Jersey Library Association recognized the contributions and achievements of librarians and community members who had made a difference in 2008 – including two Librarians of the Year.

The Honors and Awards Reception began with a tribute to New Jersey State Librarian Norma Blake in recognition of her selection by Library Journal as National Librarian of the Year. As a legacy to Blake’s outstanding commitment to libraries, the association created a scholarship in her name. The scholarship will be awarded at next year’s NJLA Conference to a student pursuing a Masters of Library and Information Science degree. Those wishing to donate to the scholarship fund may send a check made out to NJLA to: Norma Blake Scholarship, NJLA, PO Box 1534, Trenton, NJ 08607.

As State Librarian, Blake was among the first to recognize the need to recruit new librarians. It was under her direction that over $1.5 million in scholarship funds were received from the federal government through the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program.

Complete list of awards and recipients
Photos
Home page

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The State Library is partnering with the Children’s and Teen Services Sections of NJLA to offer librarians the opportunity to meet with three authors at the 2008 New Jersey Statewide Children’s and Young Adult Author Conference. This year’s feature authors are: Kevin C. Pyle, author of the graphic novel Blindspot; Marie Lamba, author of the teen novel What I Meant and Sarah Beth Durst, author fantasy Into the Wild; Tonya Bolden, whose newest nonfiction book is George Washington Carver; and Michael Reisman, whose forthcoming book is Simon Bloom, The Gravity Keeper.

Date: April 11
Time: 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM.
Where: Woodbridge Public Library

A light breakfast and lunch will be included. Come for coffee at 9:30 AM, with the program to start at 10:00 AM. Copies of the author’s books will be available to purchase and have signed by the authors. Full Story

Links:
Registration Form
YouTube Book Trailer made by Sarah’s fan