Speaker(s): Christine Smailys, A to Z Databases

Learn about how you can use AtoZ Databases to better support small business and workforce development, along with other community reference needs in your library. Familiarize yourself with the product and discover new features at a hands-on workshop with AtoZ rep Christine Smailys. A limited number of laptops will be provided for attendees; please bring your own if you can! This program is also being offered November 29 and 30.

Registration required. Limited to 25 participants.

Intended Audience: Adult services librarians

Share and learn about successful technology or digital literacy instruction programs, lessons or classes. Come prepared to share for about 10 minutes about your favorite or greatest success, borrow ideas from colleagues from libraries around the state, and get a brief tour of the Fuller Creative Learning Center, a former branch library converted to a dedicated learning space!

Registration required.

Intended Audience: Any librarian or library staff working with technology and instruction!

Speaker(s): Performers

The Performers’ Showcase is your chance to meet area educators/performers interested in being a part of the annual statewide children’s Summer Reading Program. In addition to observing presentations, visit with other program providers setting up table top displays. This is your opportunity to provide feedback and offer your recommendations for the 2018 slate of programs offered statewide.

The booking meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 9 (snow date: January 16) at the Warwick Public Library.

Registration required.

Intended Audience: Children's Librarians and Library Staff

Speaker(s): Group Discussion

We’ll continue our discussion of the best children’s books of 2017. This will be the final discussion meeting before voting for the Rhode Island winner and honor books on January 17, 2018. The third discussion list will be available on November 3 at the Mock Newbery web page.

Registration required.

Intended Audience: Youth Services Librarians and Library Staff, School Librarians, and Teachers

Speaker(s): Donna Longo DiMichele

Rhode Island library staff who have responsibility for special collections don’t have many opportunities to connect with others who are working with these materials. It appears to be true for all such staff - whether it’s a full-time or part-time charge. OLIS wants to change that by convening a Special Collections Roundtable!

The purpose of the OLIS Special Collections Roundtable is to connect staff from all types of Rhode Island libraries who have responsibility for the care and access of unique or rare manuscripts, records, books, visual materials, local history and other collections, for purposes of discussion, peer education and collaboration. We want to create a community where the individuals who are responsible for the care and access of special collections can connect and discuss challenges, opportunities, best practices and current trends in the field – learning from one another or from other experts.

Optional Tour @ 11:45: The Barrington Preservation Society's Museum is located on the lower level of the same building that houses the library. Anyone who would like to visit the museum and learn about the collections held by the Preservation Society is welcome to reconvene at the Preservation Society at 11:45.

Join us at this inaugural meeting to connect with your colleagues and help to chart the course of this new OLIS Roundtable. You won’t be alone anymore!

Registration required.

Intended Audience: Rhode Island librarians and archivists who have responsibility for special collections.

Speaker(s): Performers

The Performers’ Showcase is your chance to meet area educators/performers interested in being a part of the annual statewide children’s Summer Reading Program. In addition to observing presentations, visit with other program providers setting up table top displays. This is your opportunity to provide feedback and offer your recommendations for the 2018 slate of programs offered statewide.

The booking meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 9 (snow date: January 16) at the Warwick Public Library.

Registration required.

Intended Audience: YA Librarians and Library Staff

Speaker(s): Alicia Waters, Library Program Specialist, OLIS Talking Books Library and Benjamin Hanley, Digital Services/Reference Librarian, Barrington Public Library

Reach out to those in your community who may not be able to come into your library, but can still enjoy and benefit from services your library provides.

Your library can establish an institutional account and become a BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) station for patrons in your community that cannot read standard print materials because of a visual impairment, blindness or physical handicap through the Talking Books Library (TBL), which administers a program of the National Library Service through the Library of Congress to provide materials and equipment free for qualified individuals.

Alicia will discuss the benefits of having an institutional account with TBL and how your library can become a downloading station. Ben will talk about how easy it is to use BARD and how the Barrington Public Library collaborates with their Senior Center to provide assistance with downloading digital books for their patrons.

Registration required.

Intended Audience: All library staff