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 Volume 94 ∙ Issue 4 ∙ April 25, 2024
2024 Virtual Conference Wrap Up
Submitted by Al Peterson
Thank you to all who attended the first Virtual Conference hosted by the North Dakota State Library. Today’s Skills for Tomorrow’s Service had 38 attendees attending a variety of topics that were offered. This was our first time using Teams Webinar as an online conference platform. From registration to assigning people to their breakout rooms, things went pretty smoothly despite a couple of hiccups. We hope you benefited from the conference and learned something new or that it augmented your knowledge in some way. Once again, thank you to those who attended. We look forward to offering more workshops, both in person and online, to the library community in the future.
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Discovery Newsletter
The newest issue of the Talking Book Program's Discovery newsletter is now available on the website. This issue includes information and updates about BARD, staff introductions, what's new in the department, and more.
For more information about the Talking Book program or to sign up for this service, visit https://www.library.nd.gov/TBgeneralinfo.
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 Mandan library to host Harry Potter Escape Room (KX News)
Morton Mandan Public Library (MMPL) will be hosting a Harry Potter Escape Room for teens aged 13-18 from 2-6 p.m. on Sunday, April 21. Teams of three to six players will test their problem-solving skills against the clock by cracking codes to uncover clues.
Minot Public Library to host green screen activity (KX News)
The Minot Public Library will be helping children leap into their favorite fictional worlds through a workshop on Thursday, April 18 — but there is far more to the program than just a bit of fun.
Teens make macramé candle holders at Minot Public Library (KX News)
On Tuesday, April 16, teenagers gathered at the Minot Public Library to learn how to make macramé candle holders. In the community room, the teens started off making the macramé holders by first cutting eight strings of yarn. Then, they tied knots multiple times in various ways before placing marbles in a jar, and topping the craft with a tea light ‘candle’.
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NLS Summer Reading Program
Submitted by Lexi Whitehorn
The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) Summer Reading is a collaborative effort between NLS and the Network libraries designed to create a nationwide program adaptable to each state's needs. NLS will provide the general framework for the Summer Reading Program, including scheduling special events and activities throughout the summer. Network libraries can then promote these events to their summer reading participants as additional options alongside their own local programs. The registration links for the 2024 NLS Summer Reading events will be posted in the beginning of June on the NLS website.
The NLS SRP will run from Monday, June 24, through Friday, August 9th, 2024.
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Monday, June 24 at 4:00 pm (EST) - Kickoff event (all ages): Dr. Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress will read Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal.
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Thursday, July 18 at 4:00 pm (EST) - Story time and music by Turtle Dance Music (Designed for K-3rd grade but all are welcome.)
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Thursday, July 25 at 7:00 pm (EST) – Author Talk with New York Times Bestselling Author Angeline Boulley author of Firekeeper’s Daughter and Warrior Girl Unearthed. Please encourage your patrons to read these books ahead of the talk and submit their questions for the author to NLSPES@loc.gov.
Online activities: (Links to the following activities will be posted on the NLS website as they become available.)
- Accessible Virtual Tour of the Thomas Jefferson Building at the Library of Congress (YA and Adult)
- Choose Your Reading Adventure (YA and Adult versions)
- Whispering Library Escape Room (family or group activity)
Summer Reading Resources:
- 2024 Summer Reading Lists with Annotations (The current list will be updated with additional book recommendations in late April).
- 2024 Network Library Guide for Summer Reading
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Sample Materials: These include social media tool kit, invitation to join SRP, program registration; and reading logs in Spanish and English. New samples are added to the Sample Materials section periodically. You may be able to save time by adapting another library’s great idea to promote NLS Summer Reading to your patrons. If you have sample materials to share with other libraries, please send them to doko@loc.gov for consideration so they may be added to this page.
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Haitian Heritage Month
One of the observed May celebrations is Haitian Heritage Month. Even though North Dakota does not possess a large population of Haitian immigrants, introducing local patrons to cultures outside of their own aims in building empathy, knowledge, and wonder. Plus, if your library does service Haitians, these acknowledgements help show they are a valued part of the community!
Haitian Heritage Month was first celebrated in America in 1998. This celebration originated from Haitian Flag Day, commemorated in Haiti since the 1930s (DEI, 2023).
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BND College Save Summer Reading Champions
Submitted by Lexi Whitehorn
It’s that time of year again! Time to register your library to take part in the Bank of North Dakota’s Summer Reading Champion program! This program is an excellent “add-on” to what you are already doing for your summer programs.
As a reminder, this program is available to any public library and its summer reading participants. When students participate, they will receive a $10 contribution (or $25 for new accounts) towards a College Save 529 plan. In addition, 10 students from across the state will also receive a $529 contribution! This is a great incentive for students to read during the summer.
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Register here by May 10th: https://bnd.nd.gov/summerreading/registration/
- Wait for BND to send out materials (mid-May)
- Run your summer reading program
- At the end of the summer, send the excel file to Lexi with the required info. (She’ll send out the template again once its closer to submission time.)
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to awhitehorn@nd.gov or 701-328-4663!
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Disability Justice in Schools Webinar
In this webinar, Dr. A’Seret Dokubo from SELF (Special Education Leader Fellowship) addressed inclusivity and equity for learners who are disabled.
Dokubo pointed out two models of disabilities: medical and social. The medical model of disability places the responsibility on the disabled person. Their disability is why they struggle. Growing up, most of us heard disabilities addressed this way. The social model, on the other hand, states that society needs to adjust to accommodate for those with disabilities. These models pertain to physical, emotional, and learning disabilities.
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State Aid applications opened on April 1, 2024, and need to be completed by April 30, 2024. Library directors can access and submit the application via the Counting Opinions website. If you have any questions regarding State Aid to Public Libraries, please contact Allie Suko at ndsladmn@nd.gov or (701)328-2492.
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Collection Update
It’s spring (or as close to spring as North Dakota can get). That means no more snow, songbirds, flowers blooming, and, of course, spring cleaning. Digital Initiatives has done some spring cleaning recently with its digital collections. As a result, the North Dakota State Documents collection that was on Digital Horizons has been migrated to the State Document Depository.
The state documents (reports, newsletters, books, etc.) that once lived on the Digital Horizons website have been integrated into the thousands upon thousands of items in the depository collection. The idea behind this was to have all the digital state documents (digitized or born-digital) be housed together in the same location, making them easier to locate for users.
Now, all state documents (print or digital) within the State Library’s collections are easily accessible through the Library Catalog. As always, the physical documents can be checked out or mailed. If a digital copy is available, there will be a link to the online depository within the item’s catalog record.
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Public Library Infographics
Each year, the State Library provides a personalized infographic based on the numbers your library submitted for the Public Libraries Survey/Annual Report. These infographics usually include the number of visits to your library, registered users, items, wireless sessions, programs, and circulations, but they can be personalized to meet your library's needs.
For more information, contact BreAnne at ndslpa@nd.gov.
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Solar Science: Younger Audience
“Solar Science: Younger Audience” is a NASA@ My Library kit that provides activities geared at a younger audience -- learn about shadows, size, distance, and temperature. Use the Sunspotter and Sunoculars to safely view the Sun.
This kit includes a Sunspotter, Moon Bear's Shadow activity, two Sunoculars, and two sets of a sorting game activity.
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International Peace Garden 2024 Theme:
Children’s Books and Reading!
Submitted by Debra McCallum, Education and Volunteer Coordinator
With the anticipation of spring, the International Peace Garden is preparing for our 2024 theme, Children’s Books and Reading! Visitors will have a wonderful literacy experience as they journey through the garden, with Classic Characters from toddler books to pre-teen featured in the floral designs, including Alice in Wonderland, the Wizard of Oz, Curious George, the Very Hungry Caterpillar, Clifford the Big Red Dog, and others.
We will be focused on engaging youth in reading with our Story Boxes, strategically placed throughout the garden to encourage families to take some time to read one of the beautiful books contained within. If you would like to donate a book or two from our book list, please click the Amazon link below, select your choices, and they will be mailed directly to the IPG. We have received 44 books so far! We appreciate your consideration and support of our Children’s Books and Reading theme and the International Peace Garden!
We will also be having Storytime in the Garden on Wednesdays from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM, featuring Manitoba and North Dakota libraries. If your library would like to participate, read a storybook and do a follow-up activity, with support from the Education and Volunteer Coordinator, the following dates are still available: July 17th and August 28th. If you have additional questions or would like to schedule your library for Storytime in the Garden, please contact Debra McCallum at coordinator@peacegarden.com or call 701-263-4390.
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Some of these resources and programs are funded under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. |
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