Two Locations in August

The State Library is sponsoring our first ever Librarian STEM Fair in two locations this month, with more to follow.  This month, the fairs happen on August 26 at Coralville Public Library (9:30AM-3:30PM) and on August 28 at the Anita Community Center (9:30AM-4:00PM) 

This daylong, hand-on workshop is intended for public library staff who are new to STEM programming.  Any youth staff already providing STEM programming will come away with fresh ideas.  The Librarian STEM Fair will familiarize you with local resources to expand your own STEM offerings.  The all-day event, awarded 5 c.e. credits, will begin with a one-hour presentation from State Library staff.  The rest of the day will include several short presentations and hands-on opportunities from local STEM Hub staffers, IPTV, and librarians from the area.  Plus ample time for lunch :-)

By the end of the day, attendees will have knowledge and resources to:

• Develop easily accessible, high-quality STEM learning experiences for children
• Create STEM experiences, resources, and interactions that fuel a love of learning
• Construct learning opportunities for children that are self-directed, experiential, and content-rich
• Identify and maintain regular communication with agencies, institutions and organizations serving children in the community
• Cultivate partnerships with local / regional organizations that have compatible goals and objectives to serve children, and develop cooperative services and programs to extend and enhance children’s and family programs

If you are within easy driving of Anita or Coralville, we hope you’ll make plans to attend.  Otherwise, not to worry: because of already full calendars this fall, repeats of these STEM Fairs in more locations will follow in the spring!

Register for August STEM Fairs

BRIDGES User Groups and
Fall PLM Classes

All libraries that subscribe to BRIDGES are encouraged to attend any one-of-four BRIDGES User Group meetings  this month, online using ZOOM. 

Our facilitators have important issues to discuss with everyone including the magazine pilot project, hold ratios, service costs, and budget issues. The BRIDGES Team is seeking feedback from member libraries to help determine the best way to use consortium funds when purchasing downloadable content. But please note that this is an advisory only, non-binding user group. Final decisions are within the authority of State Library management.

There are currently 460 BRIDGES member libraries in the consortium. We hope that you can attend one of these ZOOM meetings to help us shape the future direction of this valuable service.  Four days and two time slots help accommodate the most people.  There is no c.e. credit for user group meetings.  Also no need to pre-register; a link to the ZOOM Room will be distributed prior to the first meeting. Choose from

• August 13 @ 2:00-3:00PM
• August 15 @ 10:00-11:00AM
• August 20 @ 10:00-11:00AM
• August 22 @ 2:00-3:00PM

If you have questions, contact our staff on the BRIDGES Team: Misty Gray , Becky Heil , Jay Peterson , Eunice Riesberg

On To Fall PLM Courses: 

New hired library directors who are ready to begin—or continue—certification courses, note that fall classes for Public Library Management 1 and Public Library Management 2 (PLM1 and PLM2 for short) are open for registration in the C.E. Catalog.  Because director certification is a Tier 1 standard, public library directors are allowed first admittance into the classes; others will be admitted if room permits.

PLM1 begins on September 10 with the first in-person class held at Johnston Public Library.  Thereafter, the remaining seven classes will be held online; PLM1 runs through November 5.  PLM2  begins on September 16 with the first in-person class also at Johnston Public Library.  Thereafter, the remaining seven classes will be held online; PLM2 runs through November 18.

Click below to register, but note:
registration deadline for fall PLM classes is August 27.

Register For Fall PLM Classes

Funding Awarded to 58 Libraries

Congratulations to 58 Iowa public libraries that received grants as part of the 2019 LSTA Technology Grant Program!  In April, the State Library announced this grant project, with the stipulation that interested libraries must first complete the Edge Assessment. Grant recipients were chosen in June.  In total, the State Library was able to award approximately $350,000, enabling the winners to update computer hardware, software, technology services and programming.

Libraries could apply for up to $10,000 to purchase new computers, laptops, tablets, makerspace equipment, software licenses, assistive tech devices for handicap accessibility, network infrastructure and more.  Grant funding was made available from the State Library’s allocation of federal dollars from the Institute of Museum and Library Services / Library Services and Technology Act.

Tech Grant Recipients & Projects

Here are just a few of the 2019 Tech Grant recipients.  Click below for a full listing of recipients and their intended projects.  

• Aplington PL == Outdoor Movie Project $4,000.00. To pay for a high lumen projector, speakers, microphones, and consultant fees
• Auburn PL == Assistive Devices $1,425.00. To pay for a widescreen high resolution / high contrast monitor, a zoom text magnifier / reader license, and a large print keyboard
• Charles City PL == Computer Hardware and Editing Software $9,000.00. To pay for eight server terminals, one desktop computer, license for audio and video editing software
• Cherokee PL == Computer Hardware $1,700.00. To pay for one iPad and five Chromebooks, in addition to a Cricut machine
• DeWitt PL == Tech Equipment $9,900.00. To pay for three AWE Early Learning Literacy Stations

2019 LSTA Tech Grant Recipients

Wilson Core Collection and Credo Reference Webinars 

Two State Library-sponsored webinars this week: on August 6^th, learn more about the Wilson Core Collections Online (10:00-11:00AM)  And on August 7^th, learn more about using Credo Reference with middle school students (1:30-2:00PM)