Celebrating 3 Years of TLT, with a Giveaway
Three years ago today, I wrote my first Teen Librarian Toolbox post. Today, in celebration, I thought I would share with you what TLT means to me – and give stuff away. We’re giving away 1 box of books to 5 people. And some other fun giveaways.
1. Turning Loss into Something Positive
TLT was born out of desperation. We were moving because of my husband’s job and I was fully aware of the job market. So I began blogging. Being a librarian – being a YA librarian – is in my bones. This blog not only allowed me to keep doing that in a time of difficult transition, but it allowed me to participate in a bigger way. I’ve met other amazing librarians, I’ve learned and clarified my thoughts, I’ve shared. It allows me to be creative. But the other thing it has done and it has allowed me to teach my girls, who mean everything to me, that even in the face of adversity you can work hard, build something, and rise up. My girls have watched me struggle with loss and change and stress, and they have seen me start this blog from scratch and it has become something kind of awesome (at least to me). With a little bit of pride in my pocket I can look at my girls and say yes, this was hard and we lost a lot, but look what we did. We made this thing, this blog, and I am proud of it.
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2. Connecting People with Books and Authors
I have had some amazing moments thanks to this blog. I got to introduce a then teenage boy to his writing hero when I introduced Cuyler to Jonathan Maberry. I got to provide my goddaughter books from her favorite author Lisa Schroeder. I got to meet A. S. King and Judy Blume! And this week, my Tween received hand written notes from Natalie Lloyd and Jennifer Ziegler. These moments are all so important to meet because they provided someone I love and care about with a moment that would not have been possible without this blog. It is an amazing feeling to be able to provide someone with a moment that matters to them. I am humbled and honored and grateful that these moments happened. Plus, I get to talk about books. How cool is that? Very.
For years as a YA librarian I have heard teens share their stories with me about the things that have happened in their lives and felt powerless to do anything. I’m not a social worker, I’m not a psychologist, I have no real power or knowledge or skills. I just have a heart for teens. And when I wrote my first blog about consent, I began to realize that my voice is all I have. It may not be much, it’s definitely not enough, but it is better than nothing. So the #SVYALit Project was born as a way to keep talking about these issues that matter. I am incredibly grateful to Christa Desir, Carrie Mesrobian and Trish Doller for helping me give voice to an issue that matters. For 20 years I have watched my teens struggle with the effects of sexual violence in their lives and believe me, it matters.
So, thank you all for this past 3 years. They wouldn’t have happened without you to share this journey with. And thank you to Stephanie Wilkes and Christie Gibrich and Heather Booth and Robin Willis and everyone who has every written a post. I hope this 3 year celebration is like any other birthday, just another one on the way to growing old and wise. So, let’s give away some books – shall we?
So here is how the giveaways will happen. The four of us here at TLT have been saving up ARCs and books that we have picked up and bought along the way. Enter the Rafflecopters below and we’re going to give away a few boxes of books. Yes, boxes. I will literally take and stuff books into a few small boxes until I can’t fit anymore. I’m going to give away 5 random boxes (that’s 1 box each to 5 people). And then we will have another set of signed books from the Rainbow Project from Christie where she has served for the last three years. Because of the cost of shipping, we ask that all entries be from the U.S. You can enter until Sunday at Midnight. Also, the 3 from Merit Press giveaway has a few more days left for you to enter.
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About Karen Jensen, MLS
Karen Jensen has been a Teen Services Librarian for almost 32 years. She created TLT in 2011 and is the co-editor of The Whole Library Handbook: Teen Services with Heather Booth (ALA Editions, 2014).
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Wonderful! I know the feeling of having a heart for teens. I'm a middle school librarian and a big believer in bibliotherapy! Rock on!
Your blog is one of my favorites — I am always learning from it and that makes me a better librarian. Here's hoping you have many more years of blogging to come!
Super exciting! And congrats! This is probably my favorite book blog.
3 years! That's a lot!! Congrats!! 🙂
So excited to see my publisher, Merit Press, giving away 3 titles! And thank you, TLT, for the great things you do to connect kids to books!
Beth Fehlbaum
Author, Big Fat Disaster
I work in a small library and end up being the jack of all trades but I love doing the YA and children's stuff. I try and read all the YA and JUV I can because I am the only one to book talk and recommend books to them.
Woohoo! So cool you're doing this! 🙂
Thanks for all your work on this blog. It's one that I learn from every week and also share with my pre-service teachers.
Congratulations! I am so glad to have gotten to know you this past year. I have loved all our time discussing books and life and everuthing in between.
Congratulations on three years! This blog has been extremely instrumental in helping me transition from a library tech in an elementary school to a teen library assistant in a large public library (the only teen person!)
LOVE THESE GIVEAWAYS! Merit Press is my publisher and I'd love to win some of my fellow authors' books. Thanks, TLT!
Happy anniversary! !! So glad this blog turned out to be so special.
I just found your blog a few months ago and I am so glad I did. Thanks for all the writing and sharing you do!
Your blog always inspires me to do more and be more in my professional role as a teen librarian. Happy anniversary and here's to many more to come!
I am very grateful for you blog. It has been inspiring and encouraging to fellow YA workers. Especially newbies like me. 🙂
Happy Anniversary! I only recently started working at a library and on my MLIS degree and this blog is fantastic. Thanks for all the work you do on here and everything you share.
Congratulations! You guys are great. I always know I can read good articles that will make me think on this blog. And librarians rock!!! @tammygeo
I can't believe TLT is only three years old – I must have discovered it early on, when I was just starting to move towards wanting to be a teen librarian. This blog has inspired some great programming at my library, a teen volunteer program this summer, and inspired me personally to pick up tons of books I might never have discovered otherwise. So thank you for everything you do! Here's to three more wonderful years!
Wow! What an incredible journey. So happy that no one in the family was injured during the flood. “Stuff” being lost is better put into perspective when you realize what else could have been lost too.
Thanks for hositng the giveaway and congratulations on three years!
Yay! This is so fun, and this blog is so cool. You rock!
Congratulations on these years! Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us! Also, thank your tween for reminding us all what authors can do for us…Her joy made my day!
Congrats on 3 years!
Your blog has saved me from despair so many times! Your passion and IDEAS inspire me daily. Thank you for your commitment and dedication to our profession.