Author Event: Vanessa M. Kirby - Book Talk & Discussion

Jason Reynolds the Author of "When I was The Greatest"@ Haverford Library

Reynolds, Jason. (2014) When I Was the Greatest. Hardback | Atheneum | ISBN-9781442459472 | $17.99 |   240 Pages

Friends + bad choices = deadly circumstances.  When Ali and his friends land an invite to an off-limits party that is so under the radar you can’t even hear the music from the street, it’s just too good to be true. An innocent misstep leads to total chaos and causes the dangers from the streets to almost destroy friendship and family. A fresh debut that captures the heart and soul of life for an urban teen who is trying to make the right choices

Marvin DeBose (Haverford Branch Manager) & Jason Reynolds (Author)

James Reynolds' visit to Haverford Library on the Free Library of Philadelphia “Teen Author Series” event was awesome in front of a crowd of 135 middle school students. This being my first time meeting Jason, I was very impressed with his demeanor and how he engaged with this young crowd that showed up for his book discussion.

Thanks go out to Aurora Sanchez the Teen Author Series Outreach Coordinator for coordinating this event.

Dr. Seuss Birthday Bash @ Haverford Branch!

Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?

In the Margins Official 2015 Top Ten List

In the Margins Top Fiction Award, 2015: How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon

In the Margins Top Non-Fiction Award, 2015:   Left for Dead by Ebony Canion

For Immediate Release

2/4/2015

Contact: Amy Cheney Chair, In the Margins Book Award and Committee ajcheney@mac.com

SAN FRANCISCO — In the Margins Book Award and Selection Committee, (ITM) a committee under the umbrella of Library Services for Youth in Custody (LYSC) selected their top non-fiction and fiction winning titles as well as a top 10 http://www.youthlibraries.org/margins-official-2015-top-ten-list and list of 34 titles. http://www.youthlibraries.org/margins-official-list-2015 In the Margins is committed to the promoting and highlighting diverse books and voices that have been in the margins. ITM strives to find the best books for teens living in poverty, on the streets, in custody - or a cycle of all three.  

In the Margins Top Fiction Award, 2015: How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon

In the Margins Top Non-Fiction Award, 2015:   Left for Dead by Ebony Canion

In the Margins Official 2015 Top Ten List

Butler, Pacc. From God’s Monster to the Devil’s Angel. CreateSpace. January 2014. 170p. PB $14.95. ISBN 9781494771669.

Canion, Ebony. Left for Dead. Life Changing Books. February 2014. 228p. PB $15.99. ISBN 9781934230596. 

Ewing, Lynne. The Lure. Balzer + Bray. February 2014. 288p. HC $17.99. ISBN 9780062206886. 

Little, Ashley. Anatomy of a Girl Gang. Arsenal Pulp. May 2014. 254p. PB $16.95. ISBN 9781551525297. 

Magoon, Kekla. How It Went Down. Henry Holt. October 2014. 336 p. HC $17.99. ISBN  9780805098693. 

Miles, Michelle. The High Price I Had to Pay 2: Sentenced to 30 Years as a Nonviolent, First Time Offender. Voices International. November 2013. 66p. PB $7.99.  ISBN9780991104109. 

Reynolds, Jason. When I Was the Greatest. Atheneum. January 2014. 240p. HC $17.99. ISBN 9781442459472.

Wilson, Rayshawn. Lionheart: Coming From Where I’m From. Legendary Publishing. August 2014. 196p. PB $15.00. ISBN 9780982786321.

Workman, P.D. Ruby: Between the Cracks (Volume 1). PD Workman. February 2014. 486p. PB $16.90. ISBN 9780992153953. 

Zusman, Angela Beth. The Griots of Oakland: Voices from the African American Oral History Project. Story for All. October 2013. 206p. HC $59.99. ISBN 9780988763111. PB $14.99. ISBN 978-0988763104. 

"We are thrilled with the second year of this important work finding relevant books for our communities that validate, illuminate and humanize those living in the margins. The majority of our top ten and even our list may be unknown to you - providing you more relevant books for your collections.  This year we introduce our top fiction, top non-fiction, and advocacy award categories. We have a great list, bringing to national attention books that add to diversity in our collections and world,”  said Amy Cheney, Chair of In the Margins Book Award and Selection committee. “We are proud to contribute to bringing these voices out of the underground and into your libraries." 

Annotations, the full list and more information on the committee and selections can be found at: 

http://www.youthlibraries.org/margins-committee

Please be on the lookout for YA Underground in School Library Journal  2/4/15 for more details and an inside view. In addition, this is the first year we will announce the Advocacy Award on 2/18/15 at the link above and in the School LIbrary Journal column. 

ITM identifies quality, age appropriate resources for librarians and library workers to share with the teens in urban, lockdown, homeless shelters and other non-traditional venues for teens living in the margins.

2015 Committee: 

Chair: Amy Cheney, Librarian, Juvenile Justice Center, Alameda County, CA

Administrative Assistant: Dr. Kerry Sutherland, Youth Services Librarian, Akron-Summit County Public Library, OH

Project Assistant: Mackenzie Magee, English teacher, Passages Academy, NY

Sabrina Carnesi, Librarian, Crittenden Middle School, VA

Dale Clark, Teacher-Librarian, Fraser Park Secondary, Burnaby Youth Custody Services, Burnaby, BC Canada

Joe Coyle, Project Coordinator, Mix IT Up!, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL

Marvin DeBose Sr., Library Supervisor, Free Library of Philadelphia, PA

Maggie Novario, Teen Librarian, Fort Vancouver Regional Library District, WA

Amy Wander, Youth Services Manager, Lafayette Public Library, LA

PR Category: 

Awards (Books & Media)

Martin Luther King, Jr. Trivia Contest

Spreading Holiday Cheer Through Literacy and Community: A Visit to Interim House West

Marvin DeBose & Christina Holmes

 (Branch Manager @ Haverford Library)     (Children Librarian @ Overbrook Park)

Spreading Holiday Cheer Through Literacy and Community: A Visit to Interim House West

During the holiday season, the spirit of giving and community support is more important than ever. On Saturday, December 20 of last year, the Free Library of Philadelphia and Mt. Olive Lodge #27, Prince Hall Affiliated Masons, brought that spirit to life through a heartfelt outreach program at Interim House West Inc.

Located at 4108 Parkside Avenue in West Philadelphia, Interim House West is a residential shelter that provides care and support for mothers and their children who are healing from substance use and domestic abuse. The shelter offers not only a safe haven but also a path toward stability and self-sufficiency for families in need.

Representing the Free Library of Philadelphia, Marvin DeBose and Christina Holmes arrived with a meaningful gift for every child at the shelter: a brand-new book. These simple but powerful gifts brought smiles and sparked curiosity—planting seeds of imagination and literacy that can last a lifetime.

In addition to distributing books, Marvin and Christina set up a display table with Free Library promotional materials and spent time talking with residents and staff about the many services the library offers. From early literacy programs and job search resources to free computer access and educational workshops, the library is a vital resource for families and individuals across the city.

Perhaps most heartwarming was the commitment to continue this connection beyond the holidays. Marvin and Christina offered to return to Interim House West for future storytime sessions, keeping the door open for ongoing engagement and support.

At its heart, this outreach was more than a seasonal gesture—it was a reminder that libraries are not just places for books, but pillars of community, learning, and hope.

We’re proud to support partnerships like this one, and we thank our friends at Mt. Olive Lodge #27 for joining us in this meaningful work.