RI Office of Library and Information Services, in collaboration with Peer 2 Peer University (P2PU) and the adult education Tech Hub Team, is inviting librarians to join adult educators, administrators, and adult education students for a half-day training to learn about learning circles and how to get learning circles started in your library by experiencing this learning model. Using P2PU resources, they will be guided through the process of organizing a learning circle and selecting online learning resources. At the end of the workshop, participants will have a tentative plan to implement learning circles at their library/organization.

Please bring a laptop or tablet to this workshop.

This workshop will be held at the Providence Housing Authority at 144 Dodge St., Providence. Parking is available on street and in lot.

What are learning circles?

Learning circles are a model of blended or distance learning that libraries and adult education organizations across the world have been using to engage adults in learning about subjects as diverse as English, citizenship, math, climate change, and the science of happiness. They are study groups for people who want to take online classes together and in person.In this peer-support educational model, founded in 2014 by Peer 2 Peer University, learners meet face-to-face at a regularly scheduled time and work on an online course or study program collaboratively and with light-touch facilitation by a group member, teacher or volunteer.Learn more about learning circles at P2PU's website.

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The Ocean State Center for Independent Living (OSCIL), with locations in Warwick and Pawtucket, has been operating for over 30 years providing services for people with disabilities to address goals for increased independence. The mission of OSCIL is “to enhance, through self-direction, the quality of life for persons with disability and to promote integration into the community.”

Join OSCIL Executive Director, Lorna Ricci in this interactive session to learn how to communicate more effectively with your blind, vision impaired, deaf, hearing impaired and/or physically disabled library patrons so that they will be comfortable and confident in your ability to assist them in your library.

This would be very useful for frontline staff in your library. All staff and GSLIS students are welcome.

Planning library programs for adults is an exciting but often unpredictable business! Join fellow adult services librarians to share some of your greatest hits and discuss what magic ingredients seem to go into your favorite, best-attended and most well-received programs. Acknowledging that we can learn as much from our failures as our successes, you are also encouraged to share a programming "flop" with the group so that we can use the collective wisdom of the group to imagine how that program might be reworked into a hit!

Please bring and be prepared to share a recent program that you felt was a great success as well a program that may have "flopped". If you would like your hit program shared on the Adult Services LibGuide, fill out the Program Model Template and email a link or attachment to nicolette.baffoni@olis.ri.gov

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According to the 2016 RI Healthy Aging Data Report, the population of RI residents over the age of 65 is expected to rise to over 264,000 by 2040 - a 75% increase from 2010. Libraries already serve as vital centers of information, resources, and social opportunities & support for older adults and their caregivers, and as RI's population continues to age, these supports and programs will be more in demand than ever. This program will focus on library programs and services you are already providing for your aging populations and their caregivers, while also highlighting national and statewide resources, and potential community partners you may bring to this work. As part of this program, Tara Geraghty from Kindred Hospice will share about how libraries can work with her organization to educate the public on end-of-life decision making.

Please bring and be prepared to share any programs, partnerships, services or resources related to the topic that you have used/provided at your library.

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The Adult Services Roundtable (ASRT) relies on input from its members and other interested library staff to plan its future programs. Join fellow adult programming librarians to review and reflect on the previous year's activities, and help to plan the upcoming 2019/2020 continuing education discussion topics and program ideas. This meeting will be an informal gathering at which you will have the opportunity to network and chat with other adult services librarians, share some food and plan for another great year of programs!

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