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News & Upcoming Events
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ODL is excited to invite all library staff to a special "Resources Roundup!" Due to the upcoming Allen Wright Memorial Library building renovations, items from the ODL collection, as well as other useful resources like furniture, equipment, and more, will be available at no cost to library staff. You read that right! We're giving away books and resources that we no longer need and cannot put in storage during the renovation. Are you looking to expand a specific collection or genre? Check out the State Library catalog. Everything from novels and children's books to informational literature is waiting to find a new home on your library shelves!
This "Resources Roundup" will take place March 12 through April 25, so swing by during as many of the available time slots as it takes to explore this wide selection of equipment and reading material. Staff from academic, tribal, public, and special libraries are all welcome! To sign up, fill out the survey below. There will be special hours March 12-14 for Oklahoma Library Association conference attendees.
Take this unique chance to find valuable resources for your library! Please bring your own bags, boxes, or containers. All items are first come, first served. ODL staff cannot hold items, but they will be happy to answer any questions you may have at statelibrary@libraries.ok.gov or 405-522-3205.
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Oklahoma libraries can now apply for an LSTA grant up to $4,000 that could cover the non-discounted portion of E-Rate Category Two funding. This competitive grant will prioritize libraries with budgets under $1,500,000 as well as those not funded for Category Two in FY24. If you plan to replace network equipment such as Ethernet cabling, switches, or wireless access points, now is the time to start filing Form 470 as a bid request!
Important E-Rate Dates:
February 26: This is the last day to file Form 470. The form is required to request bids for eligible telecommunications and internet services. Remember, filing Form 470 only initiates the bidding process and does not commit you to a purchase. Cable installation is not eligible.
March 24: Those interested in applying for LSTA funding from ODL will need to submit a draft Form 471 by this date.
March 26: Form 471 filing window closes. Boost your library's connectivity goals by making a submission before then!
Have questions? Contact Rachel Walker at rachel.walker@libraries.ok.gov
or 405-522-5591 for help navigating the E-Rate process. Secure funding for your library by taking advantage of these resources!
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GAO Library Facilities Survey
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is conducting a survey
on library facility conditions! If your library is part of the randomly chosen sample group, we highly encourage you to share your perspective. Responses to this survey will help inform legislators how to most efficiently and effectively support public libraries as they offer essential services to customers.
Congress has mandated that GAO independently review the facility repair needs of libraries and museums, sharing the results in a report that will be made available to Congress and the public. GAO is hoping to hear from libraries and museums on topics such as:
- Your building repair needs and any challenges in making those repairs
- The extent to which your building’s current condition, storage, and size meet staff and customer needs
- Funding sources used in undertaking facility repair
GAO is an independent, nonpartisan agency that conducts research at the request of Congress. This study is making national estimates on these topics; it is not an audit of any sample institutions. Your answers will be combined with others and presented in a general summary. Participation from libraries in this survey provides first-hand information and lived experiences, informing Congress ahead of the reauthorization of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Please feel free to request a copy of the report as part of your participation in the survey.
For more information about the survey or the study in general, email Library_MuseumSurvey@gao.gov. Tania Uruchima at (202) 512-5112 and Jennifer Kim at (213) 830-1115 are also available to answer any questions.
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The Trustee Project
Trustees are fundamental to library administration as key decision-makers in everything from developing policy to hiring new directors. Despite this, the last national study for library trustees took place in 1973. IMLS aims to change that by funding a three-year research initiative called The Trustee Project. Led by former librarian Dr. Shannon Crawford Barniskis, the project team will explore scope and practice for trustees.
Trustees and library staff members who work with them are encouraged to share their thoughts! Interested? Take a brief 30-minute survey, and the project’s research team will use your feedback creating developmental resources for libraries of all sizes and types. Following the survey, participants have an option to provide more insight through in-depth interviews. In the project’s final year, a Participatory Action Council made up of volunteers will develop a practical toolkit for library staff. Members of the Trustee Project will also share their findings through webinars, conference presentations, publications, and other platforms.
To garner nationwide support for library administrative needs, be sure to take this survey and share it with your coworkers. Email TrusteeProject@uky.edu or check out the website for more information!
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Save the date! From 1-2:30 p.m. on March 5, ODL has organized a webinar exploring the role of AI in libraries. Participants will dive into the many ways this technology can be used to enhance services and discuss ethical considerations in order to set library staff up for success. This event is made possible by LSTA funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Enroll in this brief, online training to learn how AI can enhance library
services through automation, data analysis, and personalized recommendations—all while maintaining a commitment to privacy,
intellectual agency, and widespread access. This session aims to provide
a balanced perspective on AI technology, outlining its potential and best practices. Customer services and programming will also be discussed.
Benefit from the expertise of the webinar's keynote speakers, Michael Hanegan and Dianne Connery, as they provide insight from two, distinct backgrounds. Michael is the founder of Intersections and has been featured
by the American Library Association and the Oklahoma State School Board for his research on AI as a professional and educational resource. He co-authored a book on AI and Libraries which will be published by the American Library Association in 2025. Dianne is the director of Pottsboro Public Library. She spearheads initiatives geared towards digital access in rural areas and has pioneered the application of AI in libraries.
To sign up at no cost or for more information, click the button. Take this unique opportunity and explore how AI can be used to support library services.
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