OLIS offers consultation services to children's services librarians in the areas of collection development, programming, services, facilities, policies, planning and evaluation. OLIS supports children's library services by providing continuing education for librarians and facilitating information sharing and reading promotion activities. OLIS is a pro-active advocate for children and library services for children and collaborates with other agencies for information sharing, cooperative projects and school/public library cooperation. OLIS staff also participate in state, regional and national organizations that focus on library services for children.

Planning

Children's Services Advisory Council (CSAC): Eight member group of children's librarians that advises the Office of Library and Information Services on children's library services. CSAC members strive to represent the entire community of children's librarians by consulting regularly with colleagues in their region. Each Council member serves a two-year term; four members retire and four new members join each September. In recruiting CSAC members, the Youth Services Coordinator selects both new and experienced children's librarians from diverse communities (rural, suburban, and urban from different geographical areas). Any children's librarian desiring to serve on the Council should contact Cheryl Space at OLIS.

The objectives of the Council:

1. To select the slate of educators/presenters for the annual statewide summer reading program,
2. To advise OLIS' Youth Services Coordinator on topics for continuing education programs,
3. To plan, evaluate, and develop new initiatives for the statewide summer reading program, and
4. To represent the community of Rhode Island children's librarians regarding statewide partnership projects with other organizations, grants, and time-sensitive issues, including legislative action, affecting children in Rhode Island.

Continuing Education

• OLIS Continuing Education offerings, including: "Brown Bag" lunchtime discussions; statewide summer reading program planning meetings; technology training sessions; book evaluation and discussion groups (Mock Newbery and Mock Caldecott); and, national and/or local speakers on topics of interest to RI children's librarians.
• Professional Collection for children's services librarians available through the Iacono Library
  

Reading and Literacy Promotion Projects

• Summer Reading Program: cooperative effort among Rhode Island public libraries to promote reading during the summer school vacation
• Performers Showcase: annual audition of performers for Summer Reading Program and library programs
• Rhode Island Children's Book Award: facilitates and advises award selection for children in grades 3 to 6. Award is sponsored by the Rhode Island Library Association, the Rhode Island Educational Media Association, and the State Council of the International Reading Association
• Kids Reading Across Rhode Island: partnership among OLIS, Rhode Island Center for the Book at the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities, and public libraries statewide.

Programming Support

Performers Showcase: annual audition of performers for the Summer Reading Program and other library programs

Collection Development

• Annual Mock Caldecott Award
• Annual Mock Newbery Award

Information Sharing

• Children's Services Discussion Group