Coming In May ...

This year, the State Library continues our practice of offering a “topic track” that will weave its way through our continuing education classes. This year’s topic track centers on HR issues, a frequently expressed training need.   

This spring, Director Roundtables are following that theme as well. Roundtables will review the topics discussed in the HR-focused webinars which began in January, topics such as    

• Frequently Asked HR Questions

• Legal Aspects of Management

• Job Descriptions

So join spring Director Roundtables to discuss your library job descriptions, your performance evaluation process, and your staff education policies. Everyone is encouraged to bring copies of the same to share. For very small libraries with few staff people, these HR issues also apply to working with volunteers. There will likely be time for open-ended discussion on other topics of interest to the group.

There are several locations across the state--times do vary from place to place.  We hope you'll mark your calendars and make plans to attend 2018 Director Roundtables.  They all happen in May and have been awarded 3 c.e. credits.  Register in the C.E. Catalog—that’s where you’ll find the date and location nearest you.  Then join us May for HR conversations!  

C.E. Catalog

April 8-14, 2018

National Library Week is right around the corner—this year to be celebrated April 8-14.  National Library Week is a natural and necessary time to publically recognize the many and varied contributions that libraries make to American society.  In a world of rapid technological and cultural change, America’s libraries continue to establish themselves as trusted sources of information, research, and programming for all ages. 

Originating in 1958, NLW has been sponsored by the American Library Association and observed each April since, with a focused theme. The 2018 theme for NLW is “Libraries Lead.”  This year, in keeping with the Libraries Lead theme, staff are encouraged to ask patrons how the library led them to something valuable in their lives.  One randomly selected winner will receive a $100 VISA gift card and a copy of Firebird by Misty Copeland, who is the 2018 National Library Week Honorary Chairperson.  Click the button below to learn more.

2018 NLW events are scheduled to include:

• Release of  ALA’s 2018 “State of America’s Libraries Report;” this annual report examines library trends of the past year and includes the “Top Ten List of the Most Challenged Books of 2017.”    
• Tuesday April 10 is designated as National Library Workers Day, recognizing  librarians and support staff who make library services and programming happen every day.
• Wednesday April 11 is National Bookmobile Day, recognizing the nation's bookmobiles and the library staff who make this kind of outreach possible in their communities.
• The month of April is also School Library Month, sponsored by the American Association of School Libraries, a division of ALA.

Find press releases, promotional materials, and more at ALA's National Library Week page. Don't forget Library Talk is a great place to share your plans with each other for celebrating National Library Week 2018!

National Library Week

For Summer Library Programs in 2019

The Iowa Campus Compact has a unique  opportunity for public libraries.  They are developing a program that will place AmeriCorps volunteers in public libraries to help with 2019 summer reading programs.

Iowa Campus Compact is a statewide association of college and university presidents providing leadership for the civic mission of higher education.  Their mission “to advance the public purpose of colleges and universities by deepening their ability to improve community life and to educate students for civic and social responsibility.”

Program coordinators from Campus Compact are offering informational webinars in April to share their ideas about providing AmeriCorps volunteers to libraries for the summer of 2019. This webinar will include essential program information including, scope, benefits, and local library obligations, plus an opportunity to provide feedback. A recording and slides will be made available to everyone who registers. 

Choose from two sessions: Tuesday April 3rd at 12:00PM Central Time (register here https://zoom.us/meeting/register/d7a19b1f363317567510d14dfea9e911) OR

Wednesday April 4th at 11:00AM Central Time (register here   https://zoom.us/meeting/register/d80a0ab47541921ecde7dc3c8da9331e )

Please note: this webinar format is considered informational; consequently there is no c.e. credit for attending.  Thanks to Alysia Peich for this story! 

This Week ...

 Summer Library Program Roundtables continue this week with two more remaining: Wednesday March 28 @ Mason City and Thursday March 29 @ Elkader.  Find specifics regarding times & venues in the C.E. Catalog.

Tuesday March 27 sees a webinar titled “Empower Your Patrons Against Identity Theft and Imposters.” (1:00-2:30PM) Learn about IdentityTheft.Gov, the federal government’s free one-stop resource to help people harmed by identity theft.  This website makes it easier for victims to report ID theft and to recover from it—good site for your patrons to know about.

Wishing you a Happy Easter Holiday!