School and Public Library Staff who serve children are welcome to join any of our CLEAR groups. Can't attend any of our existing groups? Contact us for more information on forming your own CLEAR group.

Who Should Attend:

• Collection Development Staff
• YA Librarians
• High School Media Specialists
• Library Staff who work with teens

Competencies Covered:

• Collection Development and Management
• Collections for Children
  • Builds a collection designed to meet the needs and interests of children
  • Establishes and pursues strategies to stay informed about current and relevant resources to meet children's evolving needs
  • Facilitates children's requests for information and provides accurate and appropriate answers
  • Connects children and their families with resources that encourage reading

How it works:

These books are aimed at the target audience of children birth through age 11. At each meeting reviews of the last meeting's books are shared orally. Members then get to choose books to read and review for the next meeting.

The number of books provided to you is based on the number of reviewers registered for the meeting on our website and the number of books received from the publishers. Reviews are shared with the publishers and are a requirement of participation.

Members get to keep the books that they review. Many of the reviewers add the books to their library's collection, adding close to $1,000 worth of books to their shelves on a yearly basis. However, members are also welcome to keep the books for themselves, or distribute them in any way they choose.

Cost

• $50 per year for employees of Supporting Member Institutions*
  $100 per year for everyone else**
•  
• * FREE for employees of Supporting Member Institutions with $400,000 or below in total operating revenue
• ** $50 per year for members in our Ohio service area with $400,000 or below in total operating revenue

You may join at any time and your dues will cover one full year. To pay your dues click here.

If you are a publisher and would like to be included in our review process, please contact the SWON Libraries office at (513) 751-4422 or email us.