[CHILD-YA] Call for online Newsletter articles on Libraries supporting mental, social and physical wellbeing of children and young adults

Dear colleagues!

IFLA Section Libraries for Children and Young Adults is looking for articles on libraries providing and supporting the wellbeing of young patrons. The theme follows last year's Newsletter theme Sport in libraries but takes a much broader perspective.

Access to relevant information, suitable reading material and all the activities (public) libraries provide can have a big impact on children and young adult physical, mental and social wellbeing. The range and depth of services vary, from displaying up-to-date material to helping the teenager find the right novel to relate to or some fresh online information about a specific theme. At deepest libraries can offer or collaborate in bibliotherapy sessions or workshops. Cooperation and collaborating is important in order to provide a professional approach.

Libraries provide for example
* accurate and free material and information
* programmes and promotions
* social activities
* volunteering possibilities
* space for social meetings

Issues that can be covered, for example
* physical health: sexual identity, diseases, handicaps...
* mental health: depression, anxiety...
* identity, growing up, loneliness, relationships, bullying, different cultures/life choices
*social issues

What kind of work your library does to promote young patrons' wellbeing? Send the Info Corodinator (ulla.potsonen [at] gmail.com) your proposal of an online article with a few lines about the content, resources and possible partners latest on December 8th. The editorial board will get back to the chosen proposals before Dec 15 with the deadline for ready articles plus practical information. We're looking forward to hear about your innovative actions and programmes!

 See the Call for articles on IFLA site http://www.ifla.org/node/10015