Come to the inaugural meeting of the Urban Libraries Roundtable (ULRT) to connect with your colleagues and help chart the course of a new OLIS community of practice. The goal is to create a space where the staff who work in urban libraries can connect and discuss challenges, opportunities, best practices and current trends in the field – learning from one another or from other experts.

We will learn about Rhode Island’s response to the opioid epidemic and provide an opportunity to explore how libraries can support their communities with information and online resources. Jennifer Koziol, Drug Overdose Prevention Program Manager, RI Department of Health, will speak about Governor Raimondo’s initiatives for overdose prevention and intervention followed by a Q&A. In addition, libraries who hosted staff training for the administration of naloxone will share outcomes from their training.

Next, Danielle Margarida, OLIS Youth Services Coordinator, will give a short presentation how libraries can collaborate with the RI Department of Education on its Summer Food Service Program. The West Warwick and Cranston Public libraries will share their experiences with the summer meals program.

We will look ahead and discuss future programming for the ULRT. This is a member driven community of practice, so come with your ideas about the direction of the ULRT!

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In an effort to make our libraries more welcoming and inclusive spaces for our diverse communities, the Office of Library and Information Services (OLIS) is partnering with Dorcas International Institute to provide a series of workshops on the topic of Cross-Cultural Competency. This first in a series of three workshops will provide an introduction to the language of cross-cultural competency, as well as break down the vocabulary, definitions, and contexts.

Brandon Lozeau, Community Relations Manager at Dorcas International Institute, will lead this discussion. Dorcas International Institute provides refugee resettlement, U.S.Citizenship, ESOL, adult education classes, and other programs designed to build a stronger and more connected community in Rhode Island.

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Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia, has come a long way since its 2001 launch. As source evaluation experts, librarians have long been suspicious of Wikipedia's credibility. It's time to take another look at Wikipedia and consider how it can be used in our day-to-day reference interactions as well as in information literacy instruction. Please join Bryant University's Allison Papini as she shares her experiences attending and organizing Wikipedia meetups as well as the successes and opportunities she has encountered trying to encourage increased use of Wikipedia at Bryant University.

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Summer 2017 was a great year for Adult Summer Reading Programs, and we hope to make 2018 even better. At this meeting, OLIS will share results and conclusions from 2017's summer reading survey and provide information about prize vouchers, program models, and the future of the summer reading program. This workshop will also focus on generating ideas for programming and connecting with presenters, performers and speakers related to the 2018 Collaborative Summer Reading Theme of Libraries Rock!

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From the news that earth surface temperatures hit a record high in 2016, to a presidential administration that denies the effect fossil fuels play in climate change, we are inundated with stories and images about climate change. And yet authentic face-to-face conversations about climate change (with family, friends, neighbors, colleagues) are rare. According to the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, “more than half of those who are interested in global warming or think the issue is important ‘rarely’ or ‘never’ talk about it with family and friends.”

In this experiential, interactive training, participants will learn why dialogue about climate change is critical to creating a brighter future, and how librarians can facilitate dialogues that empower our communities to be better equipped to respond, adapt, and mitigate the effects.

You will be guided through the creation of a “Climate Communications Toolbox” to facilitate dialogue and host “Climate Conversations” within your library community.

You will:

• Learn how to create and host “Climate Conversations” at your library.
  
• Share ideas for archiving and exhibiting artifacts created in workshops.
  
• Brainstorm ideas for building community partnerships.
  
• Learn why resilience and social capital are critical for communities to thrive and endure, and how libraries can help communities build both.
  
• Experience mindfulness exercises as a tool for “re-wiring” the brain to stabilize the nervous system.
  
• Explore your own thoughts and feelings about climate change through storytelling and reflective writing

*This event will break for 1-hour for lunch

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Join fellow programming librarians for this sharing session on how to take your community partnerships to the next level. Hear from colleagues that have worked with community groups to develop programming, extend services, and strengthen relationships for a win-win. Cassie Patterson, the Assistant Director for Greenville Public Library, will moderate the discussion.

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