Association for Library Service to Children

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) is a division of the American Library Association.

ALSC has over 4,000 members, including children, experts in children's literature, publishers, faculty members, and other adults. The Association has nearly 60 active committees and task forces, including programs for youth, publishing resources and journals, evaluating and awarding media for children.

ALSC sets standards for library services to children through regular updates to its "Competencies for Librarians Serving Children in Public Libraries." The most recent competencies which was adopted in 2015, emphasized seven core areas of competence, including; services, programs, outreach, collection development, and administrative practices.

In 2015, the ALSC Board accepted a white paper titled "Media Mentorship in Libraries Serving Youth". This paper outlines the role of librarians and other library staff who serve youth and families with particular regard to materials and practices surrounding digital media.

ALSC published a triannual peer-reviewed academic journal, Children and Libraries, covering library services to children. The journal was established in 2003 and succeeds the Journal of Youth Services (formerly Top of the News), which was published until 2002 in collaboration with the Young Adult Library Services Association.

ALSC announces the awards listed below every January at a Monday morning press conference that takes place during the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting.

In addition to the above listed awards, ALSC produces three lists of notable annual media titles:

ALSC formerly produced the Notable Children's Videos list