White Papers

Engage, Cultivate, Provide, Assess: An Outreach Model for Serving Children and Families

The Engage, Cultivate, Provide, Assess: An Outreach Model for Serving Children and Families white paper identifies a research-based framework for outreach development and supports ALSC’s position on the value that libraries serve in establishing and assessing outreach opportunities in their communities to reach unserved and underserved children and their families. This white paper, written for the Association for Library Service to Children by J. Elizabeth Mills, Dr. Kathleen Campana, and Dr. Michelle H. Martin was adopted by the ALSC Board of Directors on June 22, 2019.

Media Mentorship in Libraries Serving Youth

The Media Mentorship in Libraries Serving Youth white paper addresses the evolving role of librarians in the digital age. The paper provides guidance to library training programs, library administrators, and children's librarians on how to ensure that libraries are prepared to support children and families with a broad range of digital media needs. This white paper, written for the Association for Library Service to Children by Cen Campbell, Claudia Haines, Amy Koester, and Dorothy Stoltz, was adopted by the ALSC Board of Director on March 11, 2015.

The Importance of Diversity in Library Programs and Material Collections for Children

The Importance of Diversity in Library Programs and Material Collections for Children white paper explores the critical role libraries play in helping children make cross-cultural connections and develop skills necessary to function in a culturally pluralistic society. This white paper, written for the Association for Library Service to Children by Jamie Campbell Naidoo, PhD, was adopted by ALSC's Board of Directors on April 5, 2014.

The Importance of Play in Early Literacy

As part of the partnership with LEGO® DUPLO®, ALSC is committed to examining the role of play in early literacy. This web resource provides programming ideas, a librarian toolkit, and a white paper that addresses the importance of play in the lives of young children. This white paper, written for the Association for Library Service to Children by Sue McCleaf Nespeca, was adopted by ALSC's Board of Directors on September 10, 2012.