When
Tuesday March 31, 2015 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM CDT
Add to Calendar
Registration closes March 24, 2015.
If you would like to print a copy of the MALA Spring 2015 Professional Development brochure click here! 
Quick Links:
MALA All Access Pass for Webcasts
MALA Library Espresso Shot Training Tutorials
MALA Educational Affiliate Membership - If you are employed by a library who is a member of MALA or your library is on the Get Connected Courier Delivery Service -- YOU ARE A MEMBER TOO! Contact Mary Puhr at MALA for more information on membership levels or to check your membership status.
MALA Get Connected Library Courier Delivery - If you are interested in a membership with interlibrary loan courier service, contact Kirsten Myers, Courier Services/Special Projects Coordinator.
Effective October 1st, 2014, Mid-America Library Alliance members can now purchase a license to the more than 2,100 instructional videos available from lynda.com for 
only $45.00/person. This license (valued at $375.00) will be good through February 28, 2015. You can view as many tutorials as you want as often as you want during this period. Click here for more information or email Kirsten Myers at MALA.
Our new lynda.com year will be starting March 1, 2015. MALA members can reserve a license for 1 year for $100 per person now!! Contact Kirsten Myers at MALA for information.
MALA Children's Workshop 2015
The Annual Mid-America Library Alliance Children's Workshop will be held Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at the Colonial Presbyterian Church from 9am-4pm. There is plenty of free parking available! Our Children's Workshop Committee has been hard at work planning the workshop. Check back often as information will be added and updated as it is received!!
Children's Workshop Agenda
9:00 – 9:15 a.m. Introduction
9:15 – 10:00 a.m Keynote: Joyce Slater - Storytelling in Storytime
10:00 – 10:15 a.m. Break
10:15 – 11:00 a.m. Breakout Sessions
Libraries to Go - Naphtali Faris
Outreach to Kids of All Abilities - Amy Cox & Patti White
11:00 – 11:45 a.m. Table Talks
Math and Science in Storytime
Outside the Box Literacy Programs
Story Trails and Other Outdoor Outreach
Early Literacy Outreach to Parents, Caregivers, & Providers
11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m Lunch - Taco Bar provided by MALA
1:00 – 1:45 p.m Breakout Sessions (repeat of morning sessions)
1:45 – 2:30 p.m Outreach Tools and Equipment Fashion Show
2:30 – 2:45 p.m Break
2:45 – 3:30 p.m Best Books for Storytime
3:30 – 4:00 p.m Wrap Up, Q&A, Prizes!PRESENTERS:
Paula Blough has worked at MCPL since 1986. She has planned and presented storytimes for young children of all ages throughout her tenure. She currently works as Assistant Manager and Storytime Specialist for Youth Services at MCPL.
Annie Briscoe is a Storytime Specialist at Mid-Continent Public Library. She has a background in children’s library services, and education. Annie is very happy to be a part of the Mid Continent’s Youth Services Department.
Lisa Campbell is the Children's Coordinator for Mid-Continent Public Library and can most often be found reading her favorite picture books while eating bacon! She enjoys books with pirates, fancy words, and excessive amounts of glitter.
Amy Cox is in her 13th year in education and 8th year as a building principal. She obtained her Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from MSU in 2002, and Master’s in Administration in 2005 from William Woods University. Amy also received her Specialist in Educational Leadership from UCM in 2014. She loves interacting with kids and watching them learn and grow! Amy has been married to her husband Nick for 13 years and together they have three children, Hayden 9, Candace 5, and Malayna 1.
Bradley Debrick is the Early Literacy Coordinating Librarian for the Johnson County Library. In addition to providing storytimes for preschoolers, he also makes frequent presentations to parents, childcare providers, and community groups about the Library's early literacy program, 6 by 6 Ready to Read. Bradley has a Bachelor's from Emporia State, a Master's from the University of North Texas, and is an active member of the Association for Library Service to Children.
Shari Ellison has worked for Mid-Continent Public Library for over 30 years and provided storytime in branches for 17 years! As the Youth Services Department Manager, Shari now enjoys providing support for storytime staff throughout the library system. Shari loves books, wiener dogs, and nonsensical rhymes.
Naphtali Faris is the Early Literacy Manager for the Kansas City Public Library. She received her M.L.I.S. from Dominican University where she specialized in Youth Services. Before coming to Kansas City, Naphtali worked as a Youth Services Librarian for the St. Louis Public Library and as the Youth and Literacy Services Consultant for the Missouri State Library. Naphtali served on the 2011 Newbery Committee and is a current member of the 2015 Printz committee
Deborah Jordahl has worked for Mid-Continent Public Library since 1993. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology and earned her Supervisor Certification through MALA. Deborah became a Storytime Specialist in July of 2014. Before becoming a specialist she provided outreach services at the Blue Springs North branch. During her service at MCPL, she has driven a tuck, worked with teens, and presented Baby and Preschool Storytimes.
Bethany Miller has worked for Mid-Continent Public Library since 1995. Bethany received her bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Park University in 2001. She loves working with children and became a Storytime Specialist in March 2014. Before becoming a specialist, Bethany presented Baby Time, Preschool Storytime, Toddler Time and Outreach Storytime for her library branch.
Joyce Slater - Stories! Art! Music! Laughter! Welcome to the vibrant world of storyteller Joyce Slater. Since 1996, Joyce has led audiences on a magic path through the realm of folktales, fairy tales, ghost stories, personal narratives and more.
Jean Tapley has worked with children in a wide varied of settings both private and public for nearly thirty years. She has been with MCPL for nine years and enjoyed her years working with patrons from diapers to teens. Currently, she is a Storytime Specialist working with frontline staff to bring early literacy rich storytimes to the youngest customers MCPL serves and their families. Jean hopes to always have children in her life to keep her young and curious.
Nancy Yeager is a storytime specialist for Mid-Continent Public Library. Before beginning work at Mid-Continent Public Library in 2001, she worked as a paraprofessional in public schools. Nancy has worked in resource rooms and on life skills with children of all abilities and various ages.
MALA Certificate Program: Library Paraprofessional - 4 elective hours
Cost:
- MALA Member: $70.00 (includes lunch)
- Non-Member: $140.00 (includes lunch)
We prefer all workshops to be prepaid or paid at the door. If you prefer to be billed, please add $5. Full refunds or credits are available for cancellations made a minimum of seven (7) days prior to the workshop date less a $5 administrative fee. You can transfer to another workshop a minimum of seven (7) days prior to the workshop date with no administrative fee. Cancellations made less than seven (7) days prior to the workshop date receive no refund or credit and you or your organization will be billed. No shows are billed to you or your organization.