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PROGRAMS AND EVENTS:
Sustainability 101 Webinar - July 18*
The LibLearnX Call for Education Program Proposals - Due August 7*
AI and Libraries: Enhancing Services and Engaging Communities - August 9*
Climate Action Planning (Part 1): An Introduction - August 16*
Earn Your Consumer Health Information Specialization for Free
Helping Libraries to be Autism-Ready
RESOURCES, PUBLICATIONS AND NEWS:
July Maryland Association of School Librarians (MASL) Newsletter
Library Marketer of the Year Award Nominations - Due July 31*
Applications Open for the Community Collections Grant Program! - Due August 18*
Rooftops, cafes and Zoom rooms: Libraries evolve to serve remote workers - Washington Post Article - June 29
Trans-Inclusive Library Service Survey
Intellectual Freedom Updates
Reminder of Topics in the Previous Digest
Sustainability 101 Webinar - July 18*
Tuesday, July 18; 2 -3 p.m.
Start here for an overview of our profession’s newest core value, Sustainability, as adopted by the American Library Association in 2019. Identify the four characteristics of a sustainable library and learn how the triple bottom line definition of sustainability can be used to adapt library operations, service and program design, and partnerships in our community, to respond to the impacts of climate change. This webinar will focus on introductory concepts that will set the stage for the other offerings in the Sustainable Libraries series. Learn more and register here.
The LibLearnX Call for Education Program Proposals - Due August 7*
The Call for Education Program Proposals is now open for the ALA 2024 LibLearnX: Library Learning Experience, January 19-22 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Do you have effective strategies, innovative programs, or cutting-edge research to help shape the future of libraries and their communities? If so, we encourage your contribution to a LibLearnX program that reflects diverse, engaging, and applied learning. Learn more.
AI and Libraries: Enhancing Services and Engaging Communities - August 9*
Wednesday, August 9 3 - 4:30 p.m.
Join this webinar to explore the world of artificial intelligence (AI) and applications for libraries. Learn about AI fundamentals, its relevance to libraries of all sizes and types, and how it can enhance services and engage communities. Discover various uses of AI, such as data analysis and service development, and gain practical tips on integrating AI using affordable and accessible tools. Ethical considerations and challenges associated with AI implementation will also be discussed, including privacy, security, and bias mitigation. Don't miss this chance to expand your knowledge, improve library services, and enable communities to benefit from the latest AI advancements. Learn more and register here.
Climate Action Planning (Part 1): An Introduction - August 16*
Wednesday, August 16; 2 - 3:30 p.m.
Climate action requires a focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions combined with increasing community resilience, all through a lens of climate justice. Join this webinar to find out where your time and energy can be best spent in the face of the overwhelming nature of climate action. Learn from library practitioners that have been early adopters of climate action through the award-winning Sustainable Library Certification Program, to help organize your own thinking on how to implement a climate action plan at your library that will have the biggest impact locally and globally. Learn more and register here.
Earn Your Consumer Health Information Specialization for Free
Libraries promote consumer health and health literacy through their collections and programs and invest in the well-being of their communities. Now is an excellent time for more library workers to obtain their Consumer Health Information Specialization (CHIS). This specialization, developed by the Medical Library Association (MLA), “offers training in providing health information services to consumers and recognition for the accomplishment of acquiring new health information skills.” MLA works closely with the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) to make the continuing education requirements for Level I and/or Level II CHIS certification accessible to all. Follow this link to learn more.
Helping Libraries to be Autism-Ready
Imagine a child standing in front of a brightly lit room at their local public library. Lively music is playing, and bubbles are bouncing all around. Children and adults fill the room, talking loudly and playing with toys. Off in the distance is a colorful rug with letters on it where everyone will gather for storytime. Does the child go right in, look for friends, and find a spot on the rug? Or do they stop, cover their ears, close their eyes, and take a deep breath? And what do the parents decide is best for their child, perhaps remembering a previous negative experience? These questions are important to consider when creating autism-inclusive programming. Read this article to learn more about how the University of Washington’s new Autism-Ready Libraries Toolkit can help.
July Maryland Association of School Librarians (MASL) Newsletter
Follow this link to read about the latest updates from Maryland's school library community.
Applications Open for the Community Collections Grant Program! - Due August 18*
The Library of Congress and the American Folklife Center are thrilled to announce the opening of applications for the third round of Community Collections Grants, with a deadline of August 18, 2023 (2:00 PM Eastern Time).
These grants will support individuals or non-profit organizations in producing cultural documentation–photographs, interviews, audio or video recordings about their community from the community’s perspective. Materials gathered through this program will become part of the Library’s permanent collection, while locally-held copies can enhance (or seed) community archives. This exciting program is part of the larger Of the People: Widening the Path initiative funded by the Mellon Foundation that creates dynamic opportunities for more people to engage with the Library. All activity under the initiative will expand the Library’s efforts to ensure that our historical record reflects a diversity of experiences, thus weaving a more inclusive American story.
Formal Notices of Funding Opportunity can be found on Grants.gov for individuals and for organizations. The due date for applications is August 18, 2023 at 2:00PM Eastern Time. Grants will be up to $50,000, and will support projects of up to 12-months in length.
Support for applicants, including application materials, and links to register for informational webinars can be found here on the Community Collection Grants application webpage.
You can read more about the 2022 Community Collection Grant recipients here, and the 2023 grant recipients here, in addition to in-depth posts about recipients and their projects on this blog.
Library Marketer of the Year Award Nominations - Due July 31*
Does your library have an outstanding marketing team that deserves recognition for their exceptional efforts?
This year Library Journal will honor one library staff member or team with its seventh annual Marketer of the Year award, sponsored by Library Ideas, in its October 2023 issue!
This award places a special emphasis on an individual (or team) working for a library who has instituted or reinvigorated a marketing strategy in the past two years that has:
- had measurable impact on some aspect of the library’s use,
- created a new understanding of the community served via market research,
- improved the prominence of the library in its community, and/or driven the marketing around a successful funding initiative that enables the library to reach a sector of the population previously not served, particularly among marginalized groups, or that secures deeper sustainability.
For more information about this award, and to submit your nomination, click here.
Rooftops, cafes and Zoom rooms: Libraries evolve to serve remote workers - Washington Post Article - June 29
Follow this link to read an article from the Washington Post about how libraries are reimagining public spaces
Trans-Inclusive Library Service Survey
A student from City, University of London is conducting a survey to study how American public librarians are responding to backlash against trans inclusive library practices and programming. You might find the topic of this survey sensitive. If at any time you do not feel you can fill out the survey, please close it.
The survey consists of 18 questions and will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
Working title: "Towards a trans inclusive public library: A review of American librarian responses to transphobia"
Target population: Anyone who has been or is currently employed at an American public library
Researcher: Gwyneth Sise, City, University of London
Supervisor: Dr. Ludovica Price, City, University of London
The survey can be found by clicking here.
Intellectual Freedom Updates
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