August 2024 Director Digest from the State Library of Iowa

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Director Digest Newsletter Header

August 2024

State Fair time and back to school commercials? It must be August!

Here’s this month’s Director Digest:


Learning Circuit Registration Open

Learning Circuit Graphic

Join us Thursday, Sept. 26 at six locations across Iowa for the 2024 Learning Circuit on Trending Technology and the Future of Your Library. As in previous years, we’ll have national experts Zoomed in to set up the topics for us, and your District Staff will be on hand to guide you through the hands-on workshop portions of the day. Your registration fee of $25 includes a continental breakfast and box lunch.

Find Out More & Register


Workday Learning Logo

IA Learns to be Deactivated August 23

Emails to IA Learns users are going out today and tomorrow, but we wanted to give you a heads up that IA Learns will no longer be accessible beginning August 23 in order for us to prepare for our move to Workday Learning.

There are a few steps you can take now to make the process go more smoothly:

IA Learns Transition Action Items


Foundation Directory Promotional Materials & Overdrive Library

Foundation Directory logo

Looking to become more familiar with Foundation Directory or find ways to promote it to your patrons? We’ve made some updates to the Foundation Directory webpage that include promotional materials and user guides.

We also have exciting news that our contract with Candid includes access to an Overdrive/Libby library of ebooks and audiobooks on a variety of topics related to grant writing, fundraising, marketing/communication, and more! Borrow titles to enrich your own learning and promote the collection to your patrons and local organizations.

Get instructions and browse the promo resources and guides:

Foundation Directory for Libraries


Space Utilization Grants

The Space Utilization Grants program is on an indefinite hiatus beginning this fiscal year. The State Library plans to review the grant program, and in the meantime offer additional training opportunities on space planning that will be open to more librarians statewide.

Registration will open soon for in person Space Planning Workshops led by David Vinjamuri at three locations this October; watch the CE Newsletter and Library Talk for more information and registration links coming soon!

Upcoming State Library Events & Deadlines

Public Library Annual Survey

The Public Library Annual Survey is now open; Scott Dermont sent a notice to directors with instructions and login information last week. The survey is due October 31. 

IA Learns Deactivated

The system will no longer be accessible beginning Friday, August 23.

Holiday Closure: Labor Day

State Library Offices will be closed Monday, September 2.

Bridges Invoices Due

Please have Bridges Invoiced paid by Tuesday, September 3.

Learning Circuit Registration

Deadline: Thursday, September 12