Readers, educators, and book club leaders are invited to the RI State House on Saturday February 1st at 2:00pm for the 2025 Reading Across Rhode Island Kick Off Event!

Join the RARI Committee and Chairs (including yours truly), and Honorary Chair, and award winning storyteller, Len Cabral as we announce an engaging introduction to the year's programming and resources for THERE'S ALWAYS THIS YEAR by Hanif Abdurraqib.

Event is free but registration is required, as seating is limited at the RI State House library. Each attendee will receive a free copy of the book.

Parking is FREE in the RI State House parking lots. We hope to see you there!

A special webinar and other programming for public librarians is to be announced soon.

Thousands of Rhode Island residents have been impacted by a data breach on RIBridges, the platform that manages many of the state's social services programs (like SNAP and Medicare) and managed by Deloitte, a third party company.

As of January 10, 2025, letters from the State of Rhode Island have been mailed to all affected individuals. The letters confirm that personal data belonging to the recipient or someone in their care was breached and provide directions on how to access five years of free credit monitoring through Experian using an activation code provided in the letters. You may find more information and continual updates on this situation on a dedicated state website.

Due to this ongoing situation, HealthSourceRI, the state's marketplace for health insurance, has extended their open enrollment period through the end of February. Resources have been sent to libraries, and you may find more information directly from them on their website.

These resources may help patrons who need assistance navigating the impact of the breach or updating their healthcare elections, and are intended to be shared/used by the general public. The websites are available translated in to multiple languages, and there is also a dedicated call center regarding RI Bridges to relay general information which can be reached at 833-918-6603.

Get involved! Want to chat with your colleagues or patrons about what their reading, watching, loving, and doing in your community? Reach out to be a guest host of Overdueing It!

Email overdueingitpod@gmail.com today.

The 2025 Pat Carterette Professional Development Grant, created in memory of the Learning Round Table’s past-president Pat Carterette, is here to help you achieve your goals. This grant provides up to $1,000 to library professionals passionate about continuing their education. Funds may be used to attend conferences, workshops, or training events held between September 1, 2025, and August 31, 2026.

The deadline to submit your application is February 15, 2025, and the recipient will be announced in May 2025. Don’t miss this chance to invest in your future and honor a legacy of learning.

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