Iowa Joins iREAD Consortium in 2021
In recent weeks, the State Library announced that Iowa will be joining the iREAD Summer Learning Consortium in the summer of 2021. Based in Illinois, iREAD offers summer learning material for libraries in Illinois, Minnesota, California, Oregon, and Alaska--and soon Iowa! Youth Services Consultant Angie Manfredi, along with the State Library’s Youth Services Advisory Council, researched this consortium and all agreed that iREAD will produce a dynamic and contemporary summer program for Iowa libraries.
State Librarian Michael Scott and Program Director Nancy Medema also reviewed the iREAD program materials and voiced their support for transitioning to this new consortium, pledging to provide access to iREAD program materials to the state’s public libraries free of charge. iREAD Executive Director Diane Foote has more: "We are so excited to welcome Iowa librarians as iREADers by summer 2021. Our upcoming theme Reading Colors Your World lends itself to a broad array of interpretation, from celebrating cultural diversity, to exploring the science of color, to creating and appreciating art, and more. We can't wait to get started with you!"
Upcoming iREAD Webinars
The iREAD Consortium is offering an introductory webinar for all state partners on September 22nd (1:00-2:30PM) Registration is required and is limited to libraries in partner states; a recording will be made available afterwards. When registering, your ORGANIZATION is the name of your library. To answer the question HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS WEBINAR, answer State Library of Iowa Communication.
Plus … the State Library of Iowa is offering our own learn-more-about-it webinar on October 13th (1:00-2:00PM) At this point, save the date because registration is not yet open in the C.E. Catalog—registration is expected to open by September 24th..
Questions?
Questions about the new summer library vendor and process? Angie Manfredi has all the answers! You’re welcome to contact Angie at angie.manfredi@iowa.gov or refer to earlier youth services bulletins which included many more details. In the meantime, check out the iREAD Summer Program here
ILA Virtual Conference Scheduled Released
This summer, the Executive Board of the Iowa Library Association made the decision to hold ILA’s fall conference entirely online. ILA’s membership would have gathered in Dubuque this year in mid-October. But not surprisingly, organizers joined ranks with countless other regional, state, and national conferences in deciding to move to a virtual event.
Last week, the ILA Conference Planning Committee announced the schedule. The 2020 conference will be held on Thursday October 15. It’s one full day of learning and connecting with colleagues across the state. Iowa author Heather Gudenkauf leads off as the day’s keynote speaker. Four concurrent sessions, a virtual exhibit hall, and an awards ceremony rounds out the day. This year’s conference theme is Adapting the 2020 Vision.
Concurrent Sessions
Sixteen concurrent sessions are planned in four time blocks. Here are just a few, find all possible sessions at ILA’s website linked below
- Virtual Programming in the Age of Social Distancing
- Libraries and Fitbits and Board Games … Oh My!
- Fostering Public Health and Public Library Collaborations
- Digital Accessibility 101
- In the Public Eye: Creating a Community Reads Program
Conference Rates
In an effort to make the conference most affordable, the ILA Executive Board arrived at these reduced registration rates:
- ILA Members == $50.00
- Non-Members == $80.00
- Library Trustees, Presenters, Students, Unemployed / Furloughed == $20.00
- ILA is also offering group registration rates (5+ registrations from the same library) for Members and Non-Members. This year’s ILA Virtual Conference is a unique opportunity for library directors, staff, and trustees to attend at affordable rates.
September is Library Card Sign-Up Month
Since 1987, Library Card Sign-Up Month has been promoted every September to mark the beginning of the school year. Libraries work to remind parents and youth that signing up for a library card is the first step towards academic achievement and lifelong learning. Not to mention a very cost-effective back-to-school item!
This year, the honorary chair of Library Card Sign-Up Month is DC’s Wonder Woman. From ALA’s website “A founding member of the Justice League, Wonder Woman is known for strength, compassion and truth. Armed with the Lasso of Truth, Wonder Woman makes a perfect ambassador to support the value of learning and the role libraries play in transforming lives and strengthening communities through education…”
Organizations like ALA and Libraries Transform can help with those promotions. Wonder Woman posters, stickers and bookmarks are currently available for purchase through the ALA Store. At the Libraries Transform site, find public service announcements, a sample press release, graphics, artwork, and yard signs. In addition, at Libraries Transform find a library-themed bingo card showing activities that can be done throughout the month. When someone gets bingo, they can share their card online using the hashtag #LibraryCardSignUpMonth.
Click the button below for a promo toolkit. Note this requires registration at the website, but the toolkit is entirely free. Also helpful: share your plans to promote Library Card Sign-Up Month with Iowa colleagues on Library Talk!
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