Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy

CLELCON 23: Day 1
2023-09-21 11:00 - 16:30 (America/Denver) | Hopin
CLELCON is the annual conference of the Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy. It provides workshops, keynote speakers, and networking to anyone who is involved or wants to be involved with early literacy. It is recognized nationwide as a premier early literacy professional development opportunity. The conference will take place virtually on Hopin. More information coming soon.

Member Meetup: Math in Storytime
2023-09-05 13:00 - 14:00
Member Meetups are an informal way to network with other professionals around a topic relevant to youth librarianship.
In September, we will share and learn tips and tricks for including Math elements into storytime. Meetups are informal conversations that invite members to network and share resources. To encourage open discussion, Meetups are not recorded, but notes will be shared via blog after the event.
To join, click the website link below.

Member Meetup: Partnerships and Outreach
2023-07-27 13:00 - 14:00 | Zoom
Share and brainstorm organizations to partner with and tips for successful outreach. Meetups are informal conversations that invite members to network and share resources. To encourage open discussion, Meetups are not recorded, but notes will be shared via blog after the event.

Rescheduled - Member Meetup: Reader's Advisory for Emergent Readers
2023-05-31 13:00 - 14:00 | Zoom
Due to technical difficulties at the event on May 24, we are rescheduling it to May 31.
Get ready for Summer Reading with some new titles and tricks to help the emergent readers at your library! Meetups are informal conversations that invite members to network and share resources. To encourage open discussion, Meetups are not recorded, but notes will be shared via blog after the event.

Member Meetup: Reader's Advisory for Emergent Readers
2023-05-24 13:00 - 14:00 | Zoom
Get ready for Summer Reading with some new titles and tricks to help the emergent readers at your library! Meetups are informal conversations that invite members to network and share resources.

Webinar: Choose Your Own Adventures
2023-05-04 14:00 - 15:00 | Zoom
Discover research-based play experiences that work for libraries!
Join Michelle Randall, PhD with the Bay Area Discovery Museum in learning how to create research-backed play experiences in your library. Explore examples that pull from fields of education, psychology, and neuroscience to set up intentional problem-solving play experiences. Identify foundational principles such as choice that help you construct adventures that will inspire a passion for discovery in young children.
Registration for this event is closed
We have been very excited to receive a large and unanticipated number of registrations for this webinar. Registrations have outpaced our Zoom room capacity, therefore we have closed registration earlier than anticipated. However, CLEL members who didn’t have a chance to register will be able to access the webinar recording via our password-protected archives after the event.

Member Meetup: Diversity in Storytime
2023-03-21 13:00 - 14:00 | Zoom
Member Meet-Ups are an informal way to network with other professionals around a topic relevant to youth librarianship. In March, we will be talking about Diversity in Storytime; how are we ensuring our books, music and fingerplays represent everyone? How are we talking about diversity with our families? We don’t record Member Meet-ups to encourage casual and open discussion, but notes will be available via our blog.

Breaking Down Barriers: How One Library Removed Replacement Fees
2023-01-26 11:30 - 12:30
The Broomfield Library eliminated fees for lost and damaged children’s materials in January 2022. Find out how and why they were able to make this change using the Colorado State Library research, local circulation data, and qualitative information when seeking guidance from the Broomfield Library Board and approval by the Broomfield City Council. This webinar will include time to ask questions.
Presented by Sarah Johnson, Danni-lyn Steiner, and Esther Knox-Stutsman of the Broomfield Library.
This Zoom webinar is free and open to all. You must register in advance to receive the Zoom link.
Registration: https://forms.gle/unAjosN7UurmkB5EA

About the Presenters
Sarah Johnson is the Children’s Library Supervisor at the Broomfield Library with 15 years of experience working in a public library. Her career has been dedicated to working with children and families through library programs, services at the children’s reference desk, and community engagement, while focusing on removing barriers to library services.
Esther Knox-Stutsman is the Operations Manager at the Broomfield Library. Her work focuses on circulation, public services, digital resources, and technical services. She is passionate about accessibility of library services and resources.
Danni Steiner is the Circulation Supervisor at the Broomfield Library. While her daily work focuses on efficient and accurate materials circulation, she and her team are on a synchronous mission to remove both systemic and physical barriers to library access.

Member Meetup: Books of 2022
2022-11-17 13:00 - 14:00
It’s almost the end of the year, so it’s time to reflect on the plethora of titles we saw in 2022. Take time to connect with other CLEL members and share your favorite children’s titles of 2022. Get new ideas for storytime books, look at the themes publishers focused on and strengthen your readers advisory repertoire. It’s also your last chance to suggest titles for the CLEL Bell Awards!
For this Meet Up, we ask that you come prepared to share at least one of your favorite titles.
Join us live on Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87907786789?pwd=[REDACTED]
Member Meetups are for CLEL Members only. Not a member yet? It’s FREE to join!
We do not record Member-Meetups but notes will be shared after.

Steering Committee Q & A
2022-10-18 15:00 - 16:00
Are you considering apply to serve on the CLEL Steering Committee but are not sure what all is involved? Join current Steering Committee members for an overview and discussion about the responsibilities, requirements, and benefits of serving on the committee.
Join us live on Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87835284545?pwd=[REDACTED]
You can read more about the structure of the Steering Committee and the application process here.

CLELCON: Growing Readers Together Summit
2022-10-14 | Parker Library, 20105 East Mainstreet, Parker, CO, 80138, United States
This year CLEL will also offer an in-person opportunity, in partnership with the Colorado State Library. The in-person summit celebrates the Growing Readers Together (GRT) grant project and the lesson learned from libraries across Colorado serving Family, Friend and Neighbor caregivers through exceptional early literacy service and outreach. The summit will offer professional development and networking opportunities for all early literacy professionals.

CLEL Virtual Conference
2022-10-06 - 2022-10-07 | Hopin
CLEL is proud to once again offer our annual conference sessions virtually! Our virtual conference is able to reach members from across the continent and provide learning opportunities in a safe environment. We are excited to offer several tracks at the 2022 conference — Early Literacy Foundations (for those new to the field or wanting a refresher over core EL knowledge), Early Literacy Leadership (for those that are leading change — with or without the title), and Early Literacy News (trends & developments in the field). The 2022 conference will be delivered live via Hopin and all Keynotes and breakout sessions will have live captioning and be recorded.

CLEL Member Meet-Up: Thoughts From Teachers Turned Librarians
2022-09-22 13:00 - 14:00 | Zoom
Many youth librarians come from the teaching world. What can our colleagues who have spent time in the classroom teach us about how to serve children? We would love to hear from teachers turned librarians who bring to our field a wealth of knowledge about reading, learning, child development, classroom management skills, and more. At this Member Meetup we invite former teachers to share their perspectives and experiences and non-teachers who want to learn from them. This is an informal conversation for members to chat and get to know one another around a topic relevant to youth librarianship.

Webinar: What to Do About Anti-Racist Babies, Drag Queens and Censors
2022-08-18 13:00 - 14:00 | Zoom
In a time when board books and story times are being challenged, your institution and staff need to be prepared – but how? Solid informed policy, consistent processes, and knowing your stakeholders will all lead to better communication and response when a challenge arises. We will walk through these areas providing examples and possible solutions, including a variety of resources and allies available for support. Time for Q&A at the end!
The webinar will take place via Zoom. Live captioning will be provided. A recording and transcript will be made available afterwards if attendees cannot participate in real time. Please contact info@clel.org with any additional access needs.
The Zoom Meeting link will be provided immediately upon registration after clicking Submit. If you are registering on the day of, please save this information! A reminder with the meeting link will be emailed to registrants who sign up in advance.
REGISTER: https://forms.gle/cVniQoYF6xdXjvJY7
CLEL is hosting a Matching Fundraiser in conjunction with this webinar to benefit the National Coalition Against Censorship. CLEL will match donations up to a total of $500. Learn more at https://www.clel.org/advocacy/
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS
Miranda Doran-Myers is a librarian in Denver, Colorado and has served as the chair of the Colorado Association of Libraries Intellectual Freedom Committee since 2018. Her goal is to help library workers provide their communities with free and equitable access to information, which includes creating supportive, safe, and stimulating workplace conditions for library workers. Miranda holds an MLIS from Florida State University.
Dodie Ownes is an adult services librarian at Denver Public Library, in the Central Branch, and has been the co-chair of the Colorado Association of Libraries Intellectual Freedom Committees since the start of 2022. As public libraries increasingly become safe havens for underserved communities, she works to ensure equity of access to resources and information for all, and to protect the privacy of customers and library workers. Dodie holds an MALS from University of Chicago.

Member Meet-Up: Surviving Summer at the Library
2022-07-12 13:00 - 14:00
Share tips and tricks for summer reading programs and how to adjust your storytime when your summer audience changes. This is an informal conversation for members to discuss what they’re seeing and provide one another support.
Join us on Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89084690130?pwd=[REDACTED]

CLEL Session Proposals Due
2022-06-17
The 2022 Virtual Conference is scheduled for October 6-7. This year CLEL offers two different opportunities to share your knowledge and experience: Break Out Session Presenters and Discussion Facilitators. All presentations will be delivered live virtually via Hopin.
Breakout Session Presentations: Those interested in presenting can submit a proposal for a 50-minute breakout session on an early literacy topic. This year CLEL will offer sessions on three different tracks: Early Literacy Foundations, Early Literacy Leadership, and Early Literacy News.
Discussion Facilitators: Those interested in facilitating a discussion can submit their topic idea using this interest form. Discussion sessions at CLELCON are meant to be a low pressure, casual way for members to share knowledge, resources, and most importantly, connect & have fun.
More details and links to the submission forms can be found on the CLEL Annual Conference Page.

Member Meet-Up: Challenges and Censorship
2022-05-11 13:00 - 14:00
Libraries are seeing a rise in challenges to materials and programming. At this Member Meetup we will talk about what early literacy professionals need to think about and act upon as advocates for children and intellectual freedom.
This is an information conversation for members to get to know one another and exchange ideas. If you have them, please bring examples of challenges in your library and how they’ve been handled. And, bring your questions and concerns regarding this topic.
Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84835585864?pwd=[REDACTED]

Project READY Info Session
2022-03-15 09:00 - 09:30, 2022-03-10 19:00 - 19:30, 2022-03-07 16:00 - 16:30, 2022-03-04 14:00 - 14:30
Beginning in April, CLEL will be facilitating small study groups of youth services staff interested in working through the Project READY curriculum. This will be a year-long learning opportunity, exploring the free, online professional development curriculum for school and public youth services librarians about race and racism, racial equity, and culturally sustaining pedagogy.
CLEL is hosting short, informational webinars this month for anyone who would like more information before applying.
Please register to receive the Zoom link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSduuOGWj2Nq2XO2jSDizJCA7gM8T8NYKzu7mVqjzpyukr4wjA/viewform

Member Meet-Up: Back to In-Person Storytime
2022-03-08 13:00 - 14:00
Many libraries have dipped back into in-person storytimes. What successes and challenges are you facing as everyone acclimates to storytime again? At this Member Meetup, we will talk about what it’s like doing storytime with children and adults who have been missing the opportunity to gain as many social and literacy skills as their peers did pre-Covid.
This is an informal conversation for members to get to know one another and exchange ideas. If you’re back to in-person storytime, bring your observations and ideas. If you’re not, bring your questions!
Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83192296822?pwd=[REDACTED]

2022 CLEL Bell Awards
2022-02-05 12:00 - 12:30
Winners will be announced via social media, email, and on the website.

Ideal Learning Environments with Early Milestones Colorado
2022-01-20 14:00 - 15:00
Ideal learning environments embrace principles that include a commitment to play, relationship-based interactions; an ecologically-focused, child-centered perspective; equity; and a strength-based and inquiry-based approach with children, adults and families. In this webinar, you will observe these principles in action, learn more about how ideal learning approaches create high-quality learning experiences for every child, and engage in discussion with colleagues about how you already use and could expand the use of these principles in the library setting!
The webinar will take place via Zoom on Thursday, January 20th from 2 to 3PM Mountain Time.
Live captioning will be provided. A recording and transcript will be made available afterwards if attendees cannot participate in real time. Please contact info@clel.org with any additional access needs.

Beethoven's Birthday Bash
2021-12-16 09:00 - 11:00
Ludwig van Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany in December 1770… probably on the 16th, but no one is sure of the exact date! He was baptised on 17 December, so he was probably born the day before. His birthplace is now the Beethoven-Haus museum.
