Applications for 2024 LORI Grant programs are open through December 22, 2023. LORI Project Grants are available for projects from $10,000 - $27,500. Mini-Grants are available for projects from $2,500 - $7,500. Visit the program Notice of Funding pages for application information and additional details.

• 2024 LORI Project Grants Notice of Funding Opportunity
• 2024 LORI Mini-Grants Notice of Funding Opportunity

Recordings for each session of the 2023 Teen Summit can be found in the session descriptions on the summit agenda and presentation slides can be accessed in the virtual tote bag. The annual Teen Summit is coordinated by the New England Collaborative, a joint project of the Connecticut State Library, the Maine State Library, the Massachusetts Library System, the New Hampshire State Library, the Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services, and the Vermont Department of Libraries.

• summit agenda
• virtual tote bag

All library staff serving youth who would like to be part of the Young Adult Roundtable and the Children’s Services Roundtable are invited to host a 2024 roundtable meeting. Meetings will remain hybrid for 2024. Meetings with less than 5 people registered for in-person participation will be moved to a virtual only meeting.

Hosting a Roundtable Meeting

All are welcome to host a roundtable meeting, the only requirement being access to a meeting room with a projector/screen that can be connected to an OLIS laptop. Hosting duties are:

• Booking your library's meeting room
• Ensuring the meeting room is set up (table & chairs)
• Assisting with connecting the projector to the OLIS laptop

Scheduling Roundtable Meetings

Using the blank schedule below please select the month you would like to host and fill in the date, time (meetings are 90 minutes), topic, presenter (if applicable), your library's name (location) and your name (host). Use the list of suggested topics or feel free to come up with your own topic for the meeting you will be hosting. Hosts are invited to present on a topic and may also invite a colleague or community partner to present. If there will be no formal presentation, please enter "Group Discussion" in the "Presenter" line.

Scheduling for Children’s Services Roundtable

The blank schedule and instructions can be found here

The list of suggested topics can be found at here

Scheduling for Young Adult Roundtable

The blank schedule and instructions can be found here

The list of suggested topics can be found here

Voting for the 2024 RI Children's Book Award will take place March 1 - April 30. Beginning March 1, 2024, schools and libraries may submit their voting results using the online form. The winner will be announced early May 2024.

Voting materials will be available February 2024.

In celebration of Smokey the Bear’s 80th birthday in 2024 the USDA Forest Service is coordinating a free reading program for libraries nationwide. This challenge, available through Beanstack and a printable challenge paper log, will engage youth in reading about wildfire prevention, forests, and natural resource careers while they explore their local environment. Participating libraries may run the challenge anytime between January 1st to November 28th, 2024 (Smokey’s birthday is August 9, 2024). This challenge is geared for ages 4 to 10, but all ages are welcome. Participating libraries will receive at no cost:

• One roll of 500 Smokey Stickers
• 50 Smokey Cards
• Smokey Stamp for use on paper challenge, completion certificates, and other items.
• One Smokey Bear Story Book - Teacher’s Version
• Access to a digital toolkit containing everything needed to promote and implement the challenge, including:
• Printable challenge paper log, Smokey’s Reading List, posters, bookmarks, sticker/button templates, completion certificates, coloring sheets, “Pin the Hat on Smokey” game, and additional prizes
• Graphics and images for online platforms, social media, monitors, and websites

If you are interested in participating in this program and would like to receive the list materials please submit this form no later than December 13 - https://olis-ri.libwizard.com/f/smokeybear

Materials will be sent via delivery in January.

ConnectRI, through RI Commerce Corporation has been working with statewide stakeholders to develop a plan for increasing digital equity across the state with incoming federal dollars through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. Now, the group is collecting public feedback on the current state of broadband/internet access to further develop the plan and its rollout and ensure equitable internet access is achieved.

Libraries are imperative in spreading the information for public comment to ensure that everyone across the state is included and receives adequate internet connectivity through this programming. See what you can do below.

The Rhode Island Center for the Book is partnering again with Rhode Island Poet Laureate, Tina Cane, for the sixth year of the Rhode Island Youth Poetry Ambassador initiative. This program establishes a youth poetry advocate position to be filled by a high school student (grades 9-12) who lives in Rhode Island. The application period takes place between November 1st and December 15th 2023. We will announce the winner in January 2023. Application Information here: https://ribook.org/2023/10/25/apply-to-be-the-next-ri-youth-poetry-ambassador-4/

This initiative is designed to bring more poetry directly to our state’s youth and to inspire young people through example. Just as the State Poet Laureate position affirms Rhode Island’s support of poetry, the Youth Poetry Ambassador is meant to validate and support the creative potential of our young people.

Building Equity-Based Summers’ (BEBS) empowers libraries to create summer services that are built on a foundation of equity and designed with the community to ensure systemically marginalized groups engage in library services in new ways. Learn more about this work with the BEBS podcast. The first three episodes include:

• The Why of Equity and the Why of Equitable Summer Services

• Start Where You Are But Don't Stay There
• Evaluation Can Have an Equity Center

Listen at https://bebspodcast.buzzsprout.com/2235015

Take Your Child to the Library Day, is an international celebration that encourages families to take their children to their local public library. Take Your Child to the Library Day is held annually on the first Saturday of February. To celebrate, libraries across the country and around the world welcome families with programs, activities, and special events.

Since 2011, more than 1,735 libraries have participated, serving 56.54 million people and drawing attention to the importance of the library in the lives of children.

Last year, the Take Your Child to the Library Day team launched a new public-facing website: takeyourchildtothelibrary.org . The site features information about Take Your Child to the Library Day and the benefits of libraries for children, including an interactive map for families to find a participating library near them. Coming soon is a librarian resource page with information and tools to make participating even easier.

Participation is completely customizable – it can be as simple as handing out bookmarks, or as elaborate as a full day extravaganza. Registration is simple and free through this form. When libraries register, they’ll be placed on the map for their community to find.

Libraries can get information and inspiration from these short videos:

• How to register
• Planning your events
• Making a publicity plan

Take Your Child to the Library Day is coordinated by the Connecticut Library Consortium along with co-founder Caitlin Augusta of the Stratford (CT) Library. Please feel free to contact Amanda Stern at astern@ctlibrarians.org with any questions.