May 24-25, 2023

The Rhode Island Library Association Conference will be held on May 24 & 25, 2023 at the newly renovated Providence Public Library. The Conference Committee is accepting presentation proposals through January 31, 2023.

They are particularly interested in presentations which address this year's theme: Keep Calm and Read On: Supporting Each Other in the Face of Challenges. All proposals, regardless of adherence to the theme, will be considered.

PROVIDENCE, RI – Reading Across Rhode Island, Rhode Island’s One Book, One State community read program kicks off its 21st year by encouraging everyone to read True Biz by Sara Nović with this year’s Honorary Chairs Nancy Maguire Heath, Director, Rhode Island School for the Deaf and Amanda Montgomery, Chief Legal Officer with Convo Communications, LLC and Board Chair, Rhode Island School for the Deaf.

I’m thrilled and honored that True Biz has been chosen as this year’s Reading Across Rhode Island pick. I like to call this book a coming-of-age story and a coming-of-middle-age story, so I think it has something for everybody, and I’m looking forward to connecting with RI readers. – Sara Nović

Reading Across Rhode Island is a program of the Rhode Island Center for the Book, made possible through a vibrant collaboration of librarians, teachers, book group leaders and readers from across the state.

Reading Across Rhode Island Kicks Off virtually on February 1st from 7:00 – 8:00pm with the Pell Center at Salve Regina University

Readers are invited to join moderator, Jim Ludes, Executive Director, Pell Center for International Relations and Policy, Honorary Chairs Nancy Maguire Heath and Amanda Montgomery, Reading Across Rhode Island Education Chair Maureen Nagle, and Reading Across Rhode Island Chair Amy VanderWeele for an engaging introduction to the book. Registration opening soon at ribook.org.

April 27th Sara Nović Reading Across Rhode Island Author Event Registration will be available in March at ribook.org. Please also check the website for other upcoming book-related events throughout the year.

Lookout for more programming from the Reading Across Rhode Island team, such as the Librarian Event, Evening for Educators and Book Discussion Leaders, and more!

Provide a robust programming schedule to surround discussions of True Biz in your library. In addition to programming opportunities through the Center for the Book and the Reading Across Rhode Island Programming Committee, check out these ideas and resources from Programming Librarian to inspire your program calendar.

If you are looking for help developing programming, you can also schedule a meeting with Emily to discuss ideas and connections throughout the state.

From the WebJunction.

Virtually every library has patrons who are veterans, military service members, or military family members. Join us for this webinar as library staff with experience developing programming for the veteran and military communities share best practices and practical ideas for engaging veteran and military-affiliated patrons. The presenters will also share the Libraries & Veterans Toolkit, a new resource to help workers at all types of libraries garner new ideas for veteran-related exhibits, book clubs, events, collections, celebrations and more.

Learn more.

From WebJunction:

While libraries have enthusiastically met the challenge to positively influence kids’ and teens’ attitudes, skills, and knowledge about STEM topics, adult-centered science programs are scarce in libraries. Youth have access to many creative, engaging, hands-on programs that use informal learning to develop exploration, experimentation, and computational thinking. But why are kids having all the fun (and skill enrichment)? As citizens and voters, adults are asked to make decisions that increasingly involve complex science. Join this webinar to learn about programs that make adult science learning fun and enticing, and that get people involved in investigating their environment. Join the conversation about expanding adult learning to include identifying environmental issues, applying science-based strategies, and working together to find solutions and take action for their communities.

Learn more.

Join Elaina Norlin for this webinar to explore a topic we rarely talk about in the workplace…how written and unwritten policies are weaponized to marginalize, penalize and push people out the door. In some cases, this is a favorable course of action, but in many instances these actions have long-term consequences that erode staff morale, trust and positive engagement. As workplace organizations, we can do better. This webinar will discuss strategies to communicate clear expectations but lead with compassion, empathy and transparency. Learn more.

Is your library considering how to make virtual and hybrid programming a thing to stay? Make the most of any newly acquired equipment and the accessibility and flexibility that hybrid programming offers your community.

Programming Librarian has gathered all the resources you need to gain confidence in hosting and evaluating hybrid programs at your library. Learn more over at Programming Librarian.

Surveys are key tools for evaluating training programs. Surveys are revered for their ease of use and promise of reaching many, but we must be able to craft rich, concise, and focused questions that yield useful data. For this, we must understand the cognitive processes our respondents use to answer questions with accuracy and candor.

With rich examples and an interactive approach, Sheila will demonstrate why we must engage in a respondent-centered and research-based survey design process to craft high quality questions. Participants will increase their understanding of how to design high quality surveys and leave with resources for further skill development.

View Recording and Slides

This webinar will teach the fundamentals of building a positive workplace culture through the building blocks of coaching.

They are as follows:

• A – Awareness. No training or coaching initiative will be successful without people becoming self aware from both a leadership and individual contributor perspective. During this webinar we will teach how to establish self-awareness within your organization
• B – Building. The building of a coaching program follow some very simple steps that include training, coaching development, and measurement
• C – Coaching. It is vital every leader is thoroughly trained in the field of coaching as well as attending practice sessions that facilitate the skill that lead to greater talent development and retention
• D – Determine. It is vital that organizations determine what is working and what is not working from a progress perspective

Register here.

Would your library benefit from some tips for engaging with community partners? Join the Entrepreneurship & Libraries Conference (ELC) on Feb. 16, 2023 from 3-4:15pm Eastern for an exciting opportunity to learn practical skills on creating a compelling pitch designed to generate engagement, excitement, and maybe even funding! From content to delivery, this workshop focuses on what it takes to design an award-winning project pitch.

Get expert advice from Jenn Hensel, Pitch Coach for ElePitch, as well as winners from the past ELC pitch competitions. Workshop tools will give you the competitive edge, as you prepare your own pitch, and optionally, compete for $10,000 in prizes in our upcoming pitch event (via Zoom on May 4, 3-5pm Eastern), sponsored by ALA Libraries Build Business and EBSCO. The workshop will conclude with a networking discussion.

Register here.

The Peggy Barber Tribute Grant is an annual grant that recognizes, promotes, and supports meaningful programs in libraries that have limited and/or no access to budgetary support for programming. This grant aims to help ease budget challenges by annually awarding three libraries $2,500 to support a proposed program, program series, or programming effort.

Each year, the grant will focus on supporting a specific type of library programming. For the 2022–2023 cycle, libraries are invited to submit applications for a grant to support programming related to increasing access for groups that are identified as undeserved or new library users in the community.

Application closes February 1.

The Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant is an annual grant to recognize, promote, and support innovative and meaningful community engagement efforts in libraries. Community engagement is the process of working collaboratively with community members – be they library patrons, residents, faculty, students, or local organizations – to address issues for the betterment of the community.

Each year, the grant will focus on supporting a community engagement project with a specific theme. For the 2022-2023 cycle, libraries are invited to submit applications for a community engagement project that focuses on connection and reconnection with your community.

Applications open now.

Want support in your work?

Schedule a meeting with me to talk through any ideas, projects, or challenges with your Adult Services work.

Contact me to share questions, comments or ideas for next month's newsletter!

Email: emily.goodman@olis.ri.gov
Website: www.olis.ri.gov
Location: One Capitol Hill Providence RI
Phone: 401-574-9314
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Twitter: @olisri