Tweet by @neverland_gaby. Click to enlarge.

With an endorsement as the "best event of its kind in the US" from none other than National Book Award Winner Neal Shusterman, Teen Lit Con 2016 closed another chapter on this widely anticipated annual event.

More than 1,000 teens & other YA readers descended on Sibley High School for a day of author talks, breakout sessions, & literary fun. Readers came from as far away as Moorhead, Marshall, & Cedar Rapids, as all parts of the MELSA region. 12 Twin Cities schools received transportation awards to bring students to the event.

Our national authors Neal Shusterman, Faith Erin Hicks, Jason Reynolds, & Leigh Bardugo filled the Sibley HS auditorium for their keynotes. Local authors drew enthusiastic readers at their panels. Other breakout sessions on writing & publishing also were packed.

Tweet by@lolakarns

A shout out to the more than 70 Ambassadors from all types of libraries, schools, & ''just people who like books" who helped make this Legacy-funded event a success. Partners Sibley HS & ISD 197 are also vital to making it happen.

Ambassador Susan Bernstein, Carver Co. Library, was a champion Tweeter before, during, & after the event. You can see the fun by browsing the Twitter hashtag #teenlitcon for lots of pictures & comments.

As the happy readers streamed out their biggest question was, "When is Teen Lit Con 2017?"

• AASL invites school librarians to apply for two new grants made possible by the generosity of AASL member Marina Welmers. The award provides funds for public middle or high school libraries to update their existing collection or plan a special event in order to enhance student learning. Criteria, eligibility & application requirements can be found at http://www.ala.org/aasl/awards/inspire/collection. Applications are due Mon, May 23, 2016.

• The Library Awards for Innovation will "acknowledge innovative public library programs and services that engage citizens in reading while strengthening the social & cultural fabric of their communities" The awards will consist of one $10,000 grant & four $1,000 grants for runners-up; each winning library also will receive $1,000 in PRH books. Full award guidelines are on the Penguin Random House Foundation website. Deadline for submission for the Library Awards for Innovation is October 1, 2016.

• American Libraries has launched the  Dewey Decibel podcast. Hosted by AL Associate Editor Phil Morehart, this new monthly podcast series will feature conversations with librarians, authors, thinkers, scholars, and other experts, on a variety of topics from the library world and beyond. ALA News, Apr 25. 

• SELCO is offering Camp Read-a-Lot on Wed, Aug 17 in Rochester.