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AI and Libraries: Enhancing Services and Engaging Communities Webinar - August 9*
Wednesday, August 9; 3:00 – 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.
Presented by: Linda W Braun, Learning Consultant, The LEO Group; Juan Rubio, Digital Media and Learning Program Manager, Seattle Public Library (WA); and Dianne Connery, Director, Pottsboro Public Library (TX)
Learn more and register here.
PROGRAMS AND EVENTS:
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AI and Libraries: Enhancing Services and Engaging Communities Webinar - August 9*
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Climate Action Planning (Part 1): An Introduction - August 16*
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Libraries Helping Refugees and New Immigrants Learn the US Financial System - August 22*
RESOURCES, PUBLICATIONS AND NEWS:
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Libraries in the News (In Case You Missed it) from the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies
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MLIS Student Research Study on 3D Cataloging Practices
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President Obama's Support of Libraries Against Book Bans
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DPLA Launches The Banned Book Club to Ensure Access to Banned Books
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Resources from OCLC
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MD Tech Connect Call For Proposals - Due July 28*
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LibLearnX Education Program Proposals - Due August 7*
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Nominations Open for the I Love My Librarian Award - Due September 30*
Reminder of Topics in the Previous Digest
Climate Action Planning (Part 1): An Introduction - August 16*
Wednesday, August 16; 2:00 - 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 who 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.
Presented by: Rebekkah Smith Aldrich (MLS, LEED AP), Executive Director, Mid-Hudson Library System (NY), Co-founder/Current President, Sustainable Libraries Initiative (SLI), and Author
Learn more and register here.
Libraries Helping Refugees and New Immigrants Learn the US Financial System - August 22*
Tuesday, August 22; 3 - 4 p.m.
Many refugees arriving in the US have spent all of their lives in a refugee camp before coming to the US, and most immigrants to the US come from countries with minimal infrastructure. Navigating the US financial system is an important skill these individuals must develop to thrive in their new home country. Libraries can provide some of that assistance. In this session, learn about free and trustworthy financial literacy resources developed specifically for new immigrants and refugees. Librarians will share how they work with new immigrant and refugee communities to provide this vital education.
Presented by: Ken McDonnell, Financial Education Program Analyst, Office of Financial Education, Division of Consumer Education and Engagement, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; Julie Robinson, Refugee & Immigrant Services & Empowerment (RISE) Outreach Manager, Kansas City Public Library; Young E. Park, Manager of Popular Library, Chicago Public Library; and Emily Mross, Business Librarian and Library Outreach Coordinator, Penn State Harrisburg Library, and Chair, RUSA Financial Literacy Interest Group
Learn more and register here.
Libraries in the News (In Case You Missed it) from the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies:
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Iowa’s Public Libraries ‘Next Grounds for the Oncoming Civil Rights Movement’ The Gazette, July 16
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North Carolina Republicans Want to Help Parents Prosecute Librarians Rolling Stone, July 13
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Librarian of Virginia Announces Retirement Plans Richmond Free Press, July 13
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Montana State Library Commission Votes to Withdraw from National Association Daily Montanan, July 12
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New Bill Would Prevent Massachusetts Public Libraries From Banning Books Spectrum News, July 12
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Pennsylvania Bill would Ban Library Book Bans ABC27.com, July 11
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Twilight of the Libraries: What Gets Lost When Books Go Off-Site and Online The Walrus, July 8
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Hoopla, Overdrive/Libby Now Banned for Those Under 18 in Mississippi Book Riot, July 7
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Libraries In The Age Of Book Bans Our Towns, June 26
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CT State Library in Partnership with Libraries Without Borders US, Six Local CT Libraries Connecticut by the Numbers, June 25
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New Rule Furthers Misinformation about How Libraries Interact with Children (Opinion for MO Library Association) Columbia Missourian, June 21
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Public Library Association (PLA) Releases First Public Library Services For Strong Communities Report InfoDocket, June 21
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Miami-Dade School Board Seeks to Revise Book-Ban Policy in Wake of "National Embarrassment" Miami New Times, June 21
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State Librarian: Book Challenges Are Nothing New (featuring Nancy Pack) Alabama Political Reporter, June 20
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Llano County libraries Case has Lawyers and Publishers Worried about Existing Legal Precedents Texas Tribune, June 19
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50 Ways to Love (not Leave) Your Anchor Institutions SHLB, June 16
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IMLS Releases Research on Library Services during the Onset of COVID-19 IMLS, June 2
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Statewide Digital Marketing Campaign (for Libraries) from New Jersey New Jersey State Library
MLIS Student Research Study on 3D Cataloging Practices
Are you responsible for cataloging in your library or archive? There have been studies about cataloging items like maps, video games, film, and even some art in recent years, but little is known about the kind of practices institutions have for cataloging 3D objects like board games, tools, natural objects like seeds or geodes, toys, clothing, historical items, art, or technology. These items are becoming more prevalent in library collections. Our research team, Maria-Emil Deal and Dr. June Abbas, from the School of Library & Information Studies at the University of Oklahoma, is conducting a national survey investigating the guidelines and/or best practices used by libraries, archives, and other information organizations to catalog 3D objects and the practicality of these guidelines for catalogers. We invite you to participate in this survey by going to: https://ousurvey.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bCn3igEcGJVeMv4. The survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete and your identity and the data will be kept confidential. This project is part of a directed research project in the Master's of Library and Information Studies program. The data is being gathered by a student investigator (Deal) and will be used to develop practice-based publications reporting the survey results to the cataloging community. We want to hear from you about the practices your institution uses for 3D objects!
President Obama's Support of Libraries Against Book Bans
Former President Barak Obama has made several recent public statements in support of Libraries and intellectual freedom. Among them are:
DPLA Launches The Banned Book Club to Ensure Access to Banned Books
Readers in communities affected by book bans can now access banned books for free via Palace e-reader app
Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) has launched The Banned Book Club to ensure that all readers have access to the books they want to read. The Banned Book Club makes e-book versions of banned books available to readers in locations across the United States where titles have been banned. The e-books will be available to readers for free via the Palace e-reader app.
“At DPLA, our mission is to ensure access to knowledge for all and we believe in the power of technology to further that access,” said John S. Bracken, executive director of Digital Public Library of America. “Today book bans are one of the greatest threats to our freedom, and we have created The Banned Book Club to leverage the dual powers of libraries and digital technology to ensure that every American can access the books they want to read.”
Utilizing GPS-based geo-targeting, DPLA has established virtual libraries in communities across the United States where books have been banned. When a reader is within a community served by a library that has been forced to ban a book, they can visit TheBannedBookClub.info to see the exact books have been banned in their area. Then, they can download that book for free on any handheld device via the free Palace e-reader app.
Earlier today former president Barack Obama and the Obama Foundation shared their support for the Banned Book Club initiative and its mission to provide individuals with the power and access to obtain literature that is thought-provoking, educational, and eye-opening, allowing them to learn more about the world. Their support will help to expand awareness of how people can access banned books within their communities and connect people through literature.
To access The Banned Book Club now, download the Palace app and choose “Banned Book Club” as your library, then follow the prompts to sign up for a free virtual library card. For more specific instructions, click here. For more information on The Banned Book Club, readers can visit TheBannedBookClub.info.
Resources from OCLC
Bridgebuilding Resource Hub
Bridgebuilding is an approach for promoting engagement and dialogue between groups of people with different perspectives and experiences. As trusted community spaces, libraries offer a great place to do this work, but they don’t have to tackle it alone. WebJunction is collaborating with IREX to share the resource from the Library Bridgebuilding program, which was created to enhance bridgebuilding capabilities of public libraries to combat rising levels of distrust and division in the United States. Bridgebuilding can help facilitate this engagement in ways that respect identities, foster mutual relationships, seek a common good, and promote a commitment to civic engagement. The Bridgebuilding Resource Hub offers a space to support libraries with bridging and other civic strengthening activities. Check out the Hub to explore the resources and read a collection of library case studies that offer examples, strategies, and lessons learned.
Native Stories, Native Peoples: Opportunities for Library Engagement
The history and current experiences of Indigenous peoples and Tribal Nations are complex, rich, and diverse. Libraries can play an important role in counteracting damaging myths and narratives about Native peoples, as well as exploring contemporary struggles and joys. This webinar recording highlights opportunities for libraries to connect their communities to accurate and respectful information, fostering understanding and support of Indigenous peoples past and present.
Community-Led Planning for Equitable, Responsive Services
You want to serve your community equitably and well, but you have endless possibilities and finite resources. How do you know which direction to go? Community-led planning is a strategy that invites community participation in service design and implementation by sharing power. Whether you’re creating a system-wide strategic plan, a single program, or anything in between, using community-led planning techniques can set you up for outstanding success. This webinar can help you learn about community-led planning strategies and how to apply them to create highly relevant, inclusive services for, and with, your community.
MD Tech Connect Call For Proposals - Due July 28*
The MD Tech Connect Planning Committee is still accepting session proposals for the 9th annual MD Tech Connect on Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at the Universities at Shady Grove. The theme of this year’s event is “Building Bridges With Technology" and will encompass the ways in which Diversity, Equity and Inclusion intersect with library technology. Our keynote speaker will be Deshjuana Bagley, founder of TechPlayZone, who will talk about attracting members of underserved communities to STEM careers.
There are two options for session proposals. Regular sessions will be one hour long, including time for Q&A. Successful proposals will showcase the latest trends and best practices in library technology. We want you to provide practical tips and takeaways that can be immediately applied when attendees return to their libraries.
There is also the option to propose a hands-on session for a tech expo that will take place throughout the day as its own breakout session. Is your library using an innovative technology to reach an underserved group - robots, coding kits, virtual reality, etc.? Come and demonstrate it to your colleagues!
The deadline to submit a proposal is Friday, July 28, 2023. Please visit the MD Tech Connect website for more details and the submission form.
LibLearnX Education Program Proposals - Due August 7*
Contribute to the success of libraries when you present your best ideas and innovative work at LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience, January 19-22 in Baltimore, Maryland.
ALA LibLearnX looks forward to offering conference participants an opportunity to be revitalized through energetic, diverse, and thought-provoking programming. We value your input and perspectives and are excited to hear from you.
Don't delay. Submissions close on August 7, 2023.
Learn more here.
Nominations open for the I Love My Librarian Award - Due September 30*
ALA is inviting library users to submit nominations for the I Love My Librarian Award through September 30, 2023—ten amazing librarians will receive $5,000 and the honor of a lifetime. We know public librarians change lives in their communities every day, so please spread the word about this life-changing opportunity! Promotional tools including graphics, social media copy, and a sample press release are all available on the award website.
- 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
- 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
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