Join This Program @ Your Library!

Here’s an exciting literacy program that libraries of all sizes can get behind—it’s The Great American Read, jointly sponsored by ALA and Public Television.  Hosted by Meredith Vieira, this is an eight-part television and online series designed to spark national conversations about reading and the books that have inspired, moved, and shaped us. The series will engage audiences with a list of 100 diverse books. Audiences are encouraged to read the books, vote from the list of 100, and share their personal connections to the titles.

The Great American Read premieres Tuesday May 22 at 7:00PM central time on PBS stations, kicking off a summer of reading and a voting component. Then in the fall, seven new episodes of the series will air as the quest to find America’s most beloved book moves into high gear. Episodes from the series will feature appearances by celebrities, athletes, experts, authors, and everyday Americans advocating for their favorite book.

The book list will be revealed this spring, before the launch episode premieres on Tuesday, May 22. The list will include 100 fictional titles spanning different themes—love, heroes, villians, other worlds, what it means to be an American.  Voting will start when the launch episode premieres on May 22 and will remain open through the fall broadcasts.

Learn more about The Great American Read, share this news with your local book discussion groups, teachers, students, and readers everywhere.  Then make plans to participate in The Great American Read @ Your Library!  

Great American Read

Enrich Iowa Deadline April 30

State Library Consultant Scott Dermont has this important reminder: libraries intending to participate in Enrich Iowa for FY2019 (effective July 2018-June 2019) must submit an “Enrich Iowa Letter of Agreement” by April 30.  Remember Enrich Iowa comprises 3 distinct programs:

• Open Access
• Interlibrary Loan Reimbursement
• Direct State Aid

Click the link below to find all the Enrich Iowa documentation needed, including the Letter of Agreement, and eventually a listing of the libraries that submit agreements. On that page, you’ll be able to check back to confirm that your library’s agreement has arrived.  Here’s a summary of what to do:

1. Print a copy of the Enrich Iowa Agreement  and mark all the boxes to indicate your library’s participation. This is an important step, don’t leave blank boxes!  (note: only public libraries are eligible to participate in Direct State Aid…)
2. Sign the Enrich Iowa Letter of Agreement; use the library director’s signature or other signatory authority
3. Send the E.I. Agreement to State Library of Iowa—Des Moines Office by U.S. mail or fax (515-281-6191) or scan it and e-mail it to Toni Blair toni.blair@iowa.gov
4.  E.I. Agreement must be received at the State Library Des Moines office by April 30, 2018.

Reminder: as of July 2017, Tier 0 libraries are ineligible to receive reimbursement through the Open Access Program.  And because Tier 0 libraries are also not meeting standards (or not participating in the Standards Program) Tier 0 libraries are only eligible for Interlibrary Loan Reimbursement. 

Call District Office staff or Des Moines staff with questions…

Enrich Iowa Info

The Power of Moments

Webinar on May 17

Next in the Big Ideas Book Discussion series is The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact (c2017) by Chip and Dan Heath.  

From GoodReads: "… The New York Times bestselling authors of Switch and Made to Stick explore why certain brief experiences can jolt us and elevate us and change us—and how we can learn to create such extraordinary moments in our life and in our work. While human lives are endlessly variable, our most memorable positive moments are dominated by four elements: elevation, insight, pride, and connection.  If we embrace these elements, we can conjure more moments that matter.  What if a teacher could design a lesson that he knew his students would remember twenty years later? What if a manager knew how to create an experience that would delight customers? What if you had a better sense of how to create memories that matter for your children? ...”

In Big Ideas Book Discussions, State Library staff and guest stars facilitate discussions using books outside of library management, but with plenty of application to library management. Choosing books on leadership, civic engagement, customer service, presentation skills, etc. we’ll connect those ideas with public library service. In addition to a great assortment of non-fiction titles there are other spin-off benefits of Big Ideas:  

• titles help with collection development for participating libraries
• titles are good choices for local book discussion groups
• this program serves as another model for how to facilitate local book discussions

We encourage participants to purchase books used throughout the Big Ideas series for your own collections. And join us on May 17 for the next good read: The Power of Moments!   

C.E. Catalog

This Week ...

For everyone pre-registered, a reminder that “Small Change: Building Financial Literacy” workshops continue this week—Tuesday April 17 in Johnston and Thursday April 19 in Coralville.

There’s also a webinar scheduled on Wednesday April 18 titled “Libraries at the Table: Campaign for Grade-Level Reading.”  Of interest to youth services staff, the time is 2:00-3:30PM.  Register in the C.E. Catalog…

Finally, catch “Website Worktime” this week, helpful for all staff who maintain PLOW websites. Two sessions to choose from: Wed April 18 at 10:00AM OR Thurs April 19 at 9:00AM.  These sessions use ZOOM web conferencing software; the virtual classroom link is http://zoom.us/j/5152813464.  No registration is necessary to join Website Worktimes.  Call your District office with questions.