About Me

Who Am I?
Welcome! My name is Lisa Mulvenna and I am a Children's Librarian (Head of Youth Services) in Metro Detroit. I work with ages 0-12, but my specialties are 2 year olds, early literacy, and programming. Hopefully I will touch on all of those on this blog. I have a lot of things that interest me in the library world so you may hear about those too. I have a master's degree in library and information science and a bachelor's degree in music and psychology. I have been working with books since I was 17 and have worked in most areas of a public library (page, circulation, and librarian).   In 2012 I received the Pletz Award for Excellence in Service to Youth from the Michigan Library Association.  This was an honor and it makes me think of it like the Oscars in Michigan Youth Librarianship.

How to Find Me

You can always comment on one of my posts and I will get back with you.  You can email me anytime at lisaslibraryland at gmail.com (someday I will get around to adding a sparkly email me button to the blog).  I am on Twitter at lmulvenna and Pinterest at lmmulvenna.  I am a Storytime Ninja on Storytime Underground if you are interested in my opinions.  If you like technology, you will sometimes find me over on Little eLit, either talking about our iPad program or reviewing various apps.  You can also find me on Good Reads (Lisa Mulvenna), but I am not a consistent book reviewer.  I have recently starting using Riffle (Lisa Mulvenna) to keep track of professional book lists. 

About Libraryland

If you are familiar with children's librarianship, you will know that we wear many hats.  It is a job that is constantly busy and changing.  I do everything from collection development and displays to story times to working the reference desk.  You will hear about some of the things that I do here at Libraryland.  While it started as an archive for me to keep track of my programs, it has grown.  Hopefully you will find something here you like and will come back for more.

Public Speaking 
I have been active in the Michigan Library Association since 2000 and have held many roles.  With that has come public speaking appearances, including the following: 

• Making the Grade at Each State of School Outreach-PLA Conference 2016
• Making Public/School Library Collaboration Happen-MAME Preconference 2015
• Building School Outreach from the Ground Up-MLA Annual Conference 2015
• iKids: Adding Tablets and Apps to Your Programs for Young Children-MLA Spring Institute 2014
• Guerilla Storytime-MLA Spring Institute 2014 
• App Up Your Story Times-ISLOC 2014
• 50 Apps in 50 Minutes-MLA Annual Conference 2013
• Shake Rattle and Roll-Jazz Up Your Programs for 0-5 Year Olds with Music and Props-MLA Annual Conference 2011 
• Simply the Best- What’s Cool and New in Children’s Literature-MLA Annual Conference 2008 
• What’s Cool and New in Children’s Literature-MLA Annual Conference 2007

Outside of the Michigan Library Association, I have been working with 2 great librarians (Anne Clark and Andrea Vernola) to start MI KidLib, a statewide youth services unconference.  Our first one was held February 21, 2014 and we are looking forward to our 3rd one in Clinton Township on May 13, 2016.

Writing
Other than on blogs and in the online world, you can find me in the printed world with:

• "iPad Apps in Storytime: Why I Use Them and How to Start".  Public Libraries Sept/Oct 2014:16-17. Print.

If you would like to hear more from me, let me know.  I am always looking for new opportunities.