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Category Archives: Library Management
FREE United for Libraries Webinars This Week!
TODAY!
National Friends of Libraries Week Webinar
TUESDAY, SEPT. 10 AT 1 P.M. CT
Register Here: www.ala.org/united/listserv/nfolw
This webinar offers ideas on how to celebrate National Friends of Libraries Week within your group, library, and community. Speakers Judy Bentzen (Friends of the San Juan Island Library) and Katie Norris (Friends of the Charleston Public Library) will discuss their National Friends of Libraries Week Award-winning projects from previous years. Learn about the ALA Store’s new customizable products designed specifically for Friends.
Judy Bentzen currently serves as Treasurer of the Friends of the San Juan Library. She is also known as a salty accountant with a love for books and libraries. She is a mother of four and grandmother of five. Katie Norris is a client account manager who lives and works in Charleston, South Carolina. In her current role as Past President of the Charleston Friends of the Library, Katie sits on the Executive Committee, chairs the Nominating Committee, and spearheads the effort to write the next strategic plan for the organization.
TOMORROW!
UNITED FOR LIBRARIES MONTHLY MEMBER FORUM
2020 Census: What Trustees, Friends, and Foundations Need to Know
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 11 AT 1 P.M. CT
Register Here: www.ala.org/united/listserv/census
The 2020 Census will begin in March and the results will shape economic and political opportunity for the next decade. More than $800 billion in federal funds will be allocated to states and communities based on the census results every year, along with seats for every level of government from Congress to school boards. Around the country, libraries are working with their communities to help achieve a complete count, from delivering accurate information about the Census to providing computers and internet for residents to respond online. In this webinar, learn about free resources from the American Library Association and opportunities for Trustees, Friends, and Foundations to get involved.
Gavin Baker is assistant director of government relations at the American Library Association and co-lead for ALA’s work to prepare libraries for the 2020 Census. Gavin earned his M.S. in library and information studies from Florida State University. He worked as a census-taker in the 2010 Census.
NEW monthly member forums on the second Wednesday of each month at 2 p.m. eastern. All sessions will be recorded and posted in the members’ only area of the United for Libraries website. Each month we’ll feature a hot topic of interest to Trustees, Friends, and/or Foundations. A guest speaker will share highlights and information about the month’s topic, followed by a Q&A with the speaker. At the half hour mark, the format will switch to an open discussion among webinar participants. Sessions are open to all personal and group members of United for Libraries.
Coming soon…
What’s Your E?™ – The E’s of Libraries®
TUESDAY, SEPT. 24 AT 1 P.M. CT
Register Here: www.ala.org/united/listserv/whats-your-e
You know that your library is vital to your community, but how do you communicate its importance to elected officials, community leaders, funders, and other key stakeholders? How can you talk about what your library does using their language? Learn how to use The E’s of Libraries® – Education, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Empowerment, and Engagement – to demonstrate why your library is essential.
United for Libraries Board Member Alan Fishel will discuss the concept of The E’s of Libraries® and how to overcome the “reality-perception” gap that comes with library advocacy. Paula Miller, director of the Baltimore County (Md.) Public Library, will discuss how her library uses The E’s of Libraries®, and how it was used for Maryland Library Legislative Day. Charity Tyler, executive director of the Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Public Library Foundation, will discuss how to apply The E’s to your library and Foundation.
United for Libraries
The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations
A division of the American Library Association
312-280-2160
www.ala.org/united
NCompass Live: NLC Grants for 2020
Do you have a program or project you would like to see funded? Learn how to apply for the ‘NLC Grants for 2020’ on next week’s FREE NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, September 11, 10:00am-11:00am CT.
The Nebraska Library Commission has made funding available for four grants for 2020: Youth Grants for Excellence, Internship, Library Improvement, and Continuing Education & Training. Join Christa Porter, Sally Snyder, and Holli Duggan, from the Nebraska Library Commission’s Library Development Team, as they provide an overview of the grants, including eligibility requirements, the application process and grant review, timelines and deadlines. They will also share some tips on writing effective grants.
Upcoming NCompass Live events:
- Sept. 18 – Coretta Scott King Book Awards: 50 Years Strong
- Sept. 25 – Pretty Sweet Tech – Can Librarians Teach Robotics?
- Oct. 2 – NO NCOMPASS LIVE THIS WEEK – ENJOY ILA/NLA/NSLA!
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
NCompass Live: Eliminating Late Fines is a Win-Win for Your Library and Community
Learn why ‘Eliminating Late Fines is a Win-Win for Your Library and Community’ on next week’s FREE NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, August 28, 10:00am-11:00am CT.
Libraries have traditionally charged overdue fines for 3 reasons: to generate revenue, get materials back on time (and at all), and teach responsibility. But what if all of these assumptions are wrong? It turns out they are! In this webinar, learn why these reasons are old fashioned—and just plain incorrect—notions that create a real barrier to using the library for many people, and how ditching fines leads to an increase in library use and circulation, with no negative effects. It’s a win-win for your library and community!
In this session, Beth and Meg will review the research and results from the growing number of libraries across the country that have ditched late fines and coaxed new and former users to their doors. They will share talking points, tips, and an advocacy tool you can use to build a case to eliminate fines in your library. At the end of the session, you will feel inspired and well-equipped to gather your library’s data and patron stories and advocate for ditching late fines at your library in order to provide more equitable service.
Presenters: Beth Crist, Youth & Family Services Consultant, Colorado State Library and Meg DePriest, a state library consultant currently based in California.
Upcoming NCompass Live events:
- Sept. 4 – Library Summer Reading Program Update
- Sept. 11 – NLC Grants for 2020
- Sept. 18 – Coretta Scott King Book Awards: 50 Years Strong
- Sept. 25 – Pretty Sweet Tech – Can Librarians Teach Robotics?
- Oct. 2 – NO NCOMPASS LIVE THIS WEEK – ENJOY ILA/NLA/NSLA!
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
NCompass Live: Research – the Key to Library Design
Learn about ‘Research – the Key to Library Design’ on next week’s FREE NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, August 21, 10:00am-11:00am CT.
Whether you are undertaking a small renovation project, or building a brand-new library, conducting primary and secondary research is critical. Arming oneself with real-life examples of what to do AND what not to do can save you time and money.
Presenter: Joy Stevenson, Director, Crete (NE) Public Library.
Upcoming NCompass Live events:
- Aug. 28 – Eliminating Late Fines is a Win-Win for Your Library and Community
- Sept. 4 – Library Summer Reading Program Update
- Sept. 11 – NLC Grants for 2020
- Sept. 18 – Coretta Scott King Book Awards: 50 Years Strong
- Sept. 25 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- Oct. 2 – NO NCOMPASS LIVE THIS WEEK – ENJOY ILA/NLA/NSLA!
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
NCompass Live: Life in Fort Schuyler: The Challenges Faced at the SUNY Maritime College Library
SUNY Maritime College’s Stephen B. Luce Library is located in a preserved 19th century fort. While working in a fort is certainly cool, it does present myriad challenges for librarians trying to move the Library into the 21st century. This presentation will highlight some of the major and minor challenges of working within a building designed for war, not learning.
Presenter: Chante Hope, Instruction and Outreach Librarian, SUNY Maritime College, Bronx, NY.
Upcoming NCompass Live events:
- Aug. 14 – Pretty Sweet Tech – Building a Clean, User-Friendly Library Website
- Aug. 21 – Research – the Key to Library Design
- Aug. 28 – Eliminating Late Fines is a Win-Win for Your Library and Community
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Posted in Education & Training, Library Management, Preservation
Tagged libraries, NCompLive, suny, sunymaritime
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NCompass Live: ACRL Outcome Measurement Made Easy: Project Outcome for Academic Libraries
Join us to learn about the new ‘Project Outcome for Academic Libraries‘ surveys and resources on next week’s FREE NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, July 17, 10:00am-11:00am CT.
Project Outcome is a free toolkit that helps libraries measure four key learning outcomes – knowledge, confidence, application, and awareness – across seven library program and service areas.
Presenter: Sara S. Goek, Program Manager, Association of College & Research Libraries.
Upcoming NCompass Live events:
- July 24 – The Golden Sower Award: Nebraska’s Children’s Choice Literary Award
- July 31 – How Does Your Library Garden Grow?
- Aug. 7 – Life in Fort Schuyler: The Challenges Faced at the SUNY Maritime College Library
- Aug. 14 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- Aug. 21 – Research – the Key to Library Design
- Aug. 28 – Eliminating Late Fines is a Win-Win for Your Library and Community
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
2019 E-rate Funding Awarded to Nebraska Schools and Libraries
USAC has released Waves 1-10 of Funding Commitment Decision Letters (FCDLs) for E-rate Funding Year 2019. Congratulations to all Nebraska schools and libraries who have been funded!
Your FCDL will be attached as a printable PDF to the email notifying you that your FCDL has been issued. It will also be available in the Notifications section of your EPC account, but you are no longer required to log into your EPC account to view it.
As soon as you receive your FCDL, you can go on to the next step in the E-rate process, filing your Form 486. This form is submitted in your EPC account. Information and instructions on how to do that can be found in this USAC News Brief.
If you haven’t received your FCDL yet, don’t panic! There are many more weekly Waves to come as USAC processes more applications. This is just the start of Funding Year 2019, more approvals are coming. A list of libraries who have received E-rate funding is on the NLC E-rate webpage. The 2019 list will be updated as new funding waves are announced.
If you have any questions or need any assistance with your E-rate forms, visit the NLC E-rate webpage or contact Christa Porter, 800-307-2665, 402-471-3107.
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Nebraska Public Library Accreditation 2019
The 2019 Public Library Accreditation process opened on July 1.
Sixty-five Nebraska public libraries are due for re-accreditation in 2019. Forty-seven additional public libraries that submitted their annual statistics for the Public Library Survey and the Nebraska Supplemental Survey are also eligible to apply for accreditation. These two groups of libraries have been contacted with details on how to initiate and go through the process.
The purpose of Public Library Accreditation is to encourage excellent library service in Nebraska communities. It is a measure of community pride in the library services it offers to its citizens. Through the questions in the Application Form, libraries are measured against guidelines developed by a task force of professional librarians. The guidelines are community-based, so that each library can determine its own priorities based on local community needs. To help libraries address how the library will serve the unique needs of its own community, libraries applying for accreditation also must submit a Community Needs Response Plan.
Completed Accreditation Applications and up-to-date Community Needs Response Plans are due October 1. The Applications and Plans will be evaluated together and by December 31 libraries will be informed of their new Accreditation Level: Bronze, Silver, or Gold. Accreditation is valid for three years.
To see the complete list of all accredited Nebraska public libraries, check the Accreditation Status webpage.
For any questions about Nebraska Public Library Accreditation, contact Christa Porter, 800-307-2665, 402-471-3107.
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NCompass Live: The 2019 Public Library Accreditation Process
Get a head start on ‘The 2019 Public Library Accreditation Process’ on next week’s FREE NCompass Live webinar, on Wednesday, June 26, 10:00am-11:00am CT.
The 2019 Nebraska Public Library Accreditation process opens on July 1. Join us to get a head start on your library’s 2019 re-accreditation. If your library is not currently Accredited, you’ll want to attend this session to learn more about the process and explore the possibility of becoming an Accredited Public Library. You will learn why Accreditation is important and what it can do for your library. We’ll also show you how the Application Form works, and how it relates to the required Community Needs Response Plan. This presentation will be of special interest to public library directors and library board members.
Presenter: Christa Porter, Library Development Director, Nebraska Library Commission.
Upcoming NCompass Live events:
- July 3 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Enhance Your Online Security with Password Management Tools
- July 10 – Fun, Easy, and Inexpensive Teen Nights (aka After Hours)
- July 24 – The Golden Sower Award: Nebraska’s Children’s Choice Literary Award
- July 31 – How Does Your Library Garden Grow?
- Aug. 7 – Life in Fort Schuyler: The Challenges Faced at the SUNY Maritime College Library
- Aug. 14 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- Aug. 21 – Research – the Key to Library Design
- Aug. 28 – Eliminating Late Fines is a Win-Win for Your Library and Community
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
‘Public Library Accreditation and Community Needs’ Workshop Recording now available
The recording of the ‘Public Library Accreditation and Community Needs’ online workshop is now available on the NLC Public Library Accreditation webpage.
What is Nebraska Public Library Accreditation? What are the benefits of accreditation? How does my library become accredited? What’s a Community Needs Response Plan? Why does my library need one?
The purpose of Nebraska Public Library Accreditation is to encourage excellent library service in Nebraska communities. The guidelines used to evaluate libraries and their services are community-based, so libraries need to know their communities’ needs in order to provide appropriate library services that meet those unique needs. That’s where Community Needs Response Planning comes in!
In this workshop, Christa Porter, NLC’s Library Development Director, will guide you through Community Needs Response Planning and applying for Public Library Accreditation. Public Library Directors, Staff, and Library Board Members are encouraged to attend.
If you have any questions or need any assistance with your Accreditation or Community Needs Planning, please contact Christa Porter, 800-307-2665, 402-471-3107.
The Public Library’s Role during Elections: Voter Education in the Age of Misinformation
In a time marked by uncertainty, the public library is in an extraordinary position as one of society’s most trusted institutions. Public libraries can leverage that trust to be at the forefront of voter education as we head into what will be one of the most watched presidential elections of our lifetimes.
This presentation will equip librarians to gather user-friendly information from reliable and nonpartisan sources, allowing libraries to offer an invaluable, evolving resource tailor-made for their communities. By exploring resources—everything from a glossary of common terms used during elections to campaign finance information—this webinar will help librarians gather the most useful information in addressing their community’s needs. With a focus on citizenship and voting, librarians will learn to serve their diverse populations in a nonthreatening and nonpartisan way. REGISTER NOW
Date: Tuesday, Jun. 4, 2019
Time: 1:00–2:00 p.m. Central Time
Learning Outcomes
At the conclusion of this webinar, participants will be able to:
• Identify the information needs of their communities regarding elections and voter mobilization efforts;
• Identify key stakeholders and audiences to whom they will communicate the importance of their voter education efforts; and
• Curate and design a helpful online resource equipping their communities to be engaged in the voting process.
Presenters:
Haley Samuelson is reference librarian at the Cook Memorial Public Library District serving Lake County, IL. With more than 15 years’ experience in libraries, Haley has worked with patrons of all ages. She also has experience working in at-risk neighborhoods on Chicago’s West Side. Since 2016, she has enjoyed marrying her background in politics with the information needs of her community.
Nate Gass is webmaster and emerging technology librarian at the Cook Memorial Public Library District serving Lake County, IL. In addition to maintaining the library’s website, he has eight years’ experience teaching computer classes and technology topics. Nate also hosts and produces the Cook Memorial Public Library Podcast (https://cooklib.org/podcast) and is a member of the library’s social media team.
Registration Details
Date: Tuesday, Jun. 4, 2019
Time: 1:00–2:00 p.m. Central Time
Cost: The webinar is free, but registration is required. You can register for this webinar until it begins, or until space is no longer available, whichever comes first.
Libraries’ Guide to the 2020 Census
The American Library Association has released the Libraries’ Guide to the 2020 Census, a new resource to prepare libraries for the decennial count of every person living in the United States.
The Guide contains practical information to assist library staff in addressing potential patron and community requests regarding the upcoming 2020 Census. The Guide includes:
• basic information about the Census process;
• highlights of new components in the 2020 Census, such as the online response option;
• frequently asked questions;
• a timeline of key Census dates;
• contact information and links to additional resources.
ALA teamed with the Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality to develop the Guide, with support from ALA’s 2020 Census Library Outreach and Education Task Force. ALA plans to provide additional resources for library practitioners in the months leading up to Census Day on April 1, 2020.
The Libraries’ Guide to the 2020 Census is available for free download at ala.org/census.
Preliminary 2018 Public Library Survey Data is Now Available
The 2018 public library survey data is now available on the NLC website. This is preliminary data (meaning that it has not yet been certified by IMLS) so keep in mind that it is subject to change. Thanks to all of you who submitted your statistics. Historical data (back to 1999) is also available on our website. The next survey cycle begins in November, but you should be collecting those statistics now. If you are a new library director, check out the Bibliostat guide.
FREE Library Advocacy Webinar on June 10
FREE Webinar:
Local, State, and National Library Advocacy: A Grasstop Approach
Monday, June 10, 1 p.m. Eastern
Speakers: Julius Jefferson, 2020-2021 ALA president; Kathi Kromer, associate executive director of ALA’s Public Policy and Advocacy Office; and Skip Dye, 2018-2019 United for Libraries president and vice president of library marketing and digital sales at Penguin Random House.
Library Trustees, advocates, Friends, Foundations, directors, and staff are invited to hear from experts about the difference between grassroot and grasstop advocates, how to identify them in their communities, and how to engage them in their efforts. Attendees will learn how to build key library advocates to cultivate allies and develop constituencies in support of their positions at every level of government.
To register for the webinar, visit www.ala.org/united/advocacywebinar. If you cannot attend the live session, register and you will receive a link to the recording the day after the live session.
Skip Dye is Vice-President of library marketing and digital sales at Penguin Random House and 2018-2019 president of United for Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, a division of the American Library Association. Dye has been a corporate at large member of the United for Libraries board since 2015. Kathi Kromer is the associate executive director of ALA’s Public Policy and Advocacy Office. ALA’s advocacy and public policy staff work to secure information technology policies that support and encourage efforts of libraries to ensure access to electronic information resources as a means of upholding the public’s right to a free and open information society. Prior to joining ALA, Kromer was vice president of strategy and outreach for the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Association for 11 years. Julius C. Jefferson Jr., section head of the Congressional Research Service at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., was recently elected as the 2020-2021 president of the American Library Association. An active member of ALA for 15 years, Jefferson currently serves on and has been a member of ALA Council since 2011, and most recently completed a three-year term on the ALA Executive Board (2015–2018).
For information about other webinars offered by United for Libraries, visit http://www.ala.org/united/training/webinars.
United for Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, is a division of the American Library Association with approximately 4,000 personal and group members representing hundreds of thousands of library supporters. United for Libraries supports those who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries, and brings together library trustees, advocates, friends, and foundations into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century. To join, please visit www.ala.org/united or call (800) 545-2433, ext. 2161.
Beth Nawalinski
Executive Director
bnawalinski@ala.org
United for Libraries General Inquiries: 800-545-2433, ext 2161
To reach me directly, call 800-545-2433, ext. 5868 or call 312-280-5868
United for Libraries
The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations
A division of the American Library Association
600 Eagleview Blvd., Suite 300
Exton, PA 19341
2019 State Aid Letters Have Been Mailed
The 2019 state aid calculations are now complete. State aid letters have been mailed and payments will be processed soon. In the meantime, you can read (in general) about state aid and how it is distributed. Here is a list of the state aid distributions for 2019 (including this year’s formula). Finally, here is a link to a press release you can customize and use for your particular library.
This year, there were 47 libraries that will be receiving Dollar$ for Data payments. For those libraries, you are now eligible to apply for accreditation when the cycle opens this summer.
For libraries that aren’t accredited, now may be the time to consider the accreditation process, as you would then be eligible for state aid next year. You also need to submit your public library survey online via Bibliostat. The next public library survey collection cycle begins in November.
Posted in General, Library Management, Public Relations
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FREE PLA Webinar : Measuring the Success of Health Programs and Services
Public libraries are critical to their community’s health, serving as a go-to resource for individuals to access current and reliable health information. Public library staff have a deep understanding of the unique needs of their communities and the value of serving their patrons’ health needs. Now all they need is the data to prove just how valuable those services are. In this webinar, participants will learn how Project Outcome’s new health survey will help public libraries measure the success of health programs and services. Participants will also discover helpful resources and training tools to enhance their health services. REGISTER NOW!
The Project Outcome health survey was developed in partnership with the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM), dedicated to advancing the progress of medicine and improving public health. To learn more, visit https://nnlm.gov/.
At the conclusion of this webinar, participants will:
- Know resources and training tools to help create and improve health services at their library;
- Understand how to measure the outcomes of their health-related programs using Project Outcome’s new health survey; and,
- Be able to apply survey data for decision making and action.
Presenter:
Emily Plagman, manager of impact and advocacy, manages PLA’s performance measurement initiative, Project Outcome. Prior to joining PLA, Emily worked as a project manager at the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning on an energy efficiency grant. Emily received her Master’s in International Public Affairs from the LaFollette School of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin and her Bachelor’s in Political Science at Marquette University.
REGISTRATION DETAILS:
Date: Wednesday, May 29, 2019
Time: 1:00–2:00 p.m. Central Time
Cost: The webinar is free, but registration is required. You can register for this webinar until it begins, or until space is no longer available, whichever comes first.
Public Library Accreditation and Community Needs Workshops Scheduled
Public Library Accreditation and Community Needs Workshops have been scheduled in locations across the state and online.
What is Nebraska Public Library Accreditation? What are the benefits of accreditation? How does my library become accredited? What’s a Community Needs Response Plan? Why does my library need one?
The purpose of Nebraska Public Library Accreditation is to encourage excellent library service in Nebraska communities. The guidelines used to evaluate libraries and their services are community-based, so libraries need to know their communities’ needs in order to provide appropriate library services that meet those unique needs. That’s where Community Needs Response Planning comes in!
In this workshop, Christa Porter, NLC’s Library Development Director, will guide you through Community Needs Response Planning and applying for Public Library Accreditation. Public Library Directors, Staff, and Library Board Members are encouraged to attend.
Dates and locations:
- May 13 – Wayne
- May 22 – Scottsbluff
- May 23 – Elwood
- May 28 – David City
- May 30 – Online, GoToWebinar
To register for any of these sessions, go to the Nebraska Library Commission’s Training & Events Calendar and search for ‘accreditation’.
Upcoming Webinars from WebJunction
Strategic Planning in a Deeply Weird World: The Flexible Roadmap Field Guide Approach
DATE AND TIME: Tuesday, March 26, 2019: 2:00-3:00 CENTRAL TIME
Join us to learn about Salt Lake City Public Library’s new ground-breaking approach to strategic planning, focused on human-centered service design.
It’s a big task to define the library’s future over the next three or five years, and strategic planning is becoming less and less effective in a rapidly changing world. The Salt Lake City Public Library (SLCPL) has created a new approach that is flexible, staff-driven, and human-centered. SCLPL’s Strategic Roadmap is not a 100-page plan in a binder-on-a-shelf; it’s an experiential learning tool that invites all staff to participate in the co-creation of meaningful outcomes and experiences for the community. The Roadmap focuses less on planning and more on building the capacity of staff to adopt a human-centered service design mindset and skillset. SLCPL staff are adopting a new perspective, continually experimenting with and adapting spaces, collections, services, programs, and their own roles, to responsively address community needs and aspirations in an ever-changing landscape. Join us for this webinar to learn how to cultivate new skills to help bring the Roadmap to life for your library’s strategic planning.
Presented by: Peter Bromberg, Executive Director; and Marilee Moon, Assistant Director of Customer Experience, at Salt Lake City Public Library
The Power of Small: How Rural Libraries Help Their Communities Thrive
DATE AND TIME: Thursday, April 18, 2019: 2:00-3:00 CENTRAL TIME
Learn how any tiny library can find more ways to support the needs of their community by thinking strategically and creating new connections.
All libraries provide vital services to their communities, but libraries that serve small, rural populations have the potential to go beyond providing information and access—they can inject the vitality that will help their communities thrive. Addressing the challenges faced by rural areas may seem daunting to a library with few staff and limited resources, but any tiny library can find more ways to support the needs of their community by thinking strategically and creating new connections with their stakeholders, patrons, and other library staff. Learn how small library director and 2018 Library Journal Mover & Shaker, Allie Stevens, applied the concept of growth mindsets to set her priorities, use resources and volunteers smartly, and avoid burnout as a solo librarian. Follow her lead to turn your library into a powerhouse for your community.
This webinar is presented in collaboration with the Association for Rural & Small Libraries.
Presented by: Allie Stevens, Director, Calhoun County Library & Museum, Hampton, Arkansas
The Library as Social Connector: Forging Community Connection
DATE AND TIME: Thursday, April 25, 2019: 2:00-3:00 CENTRAL TIME
This webinar will explore how libraries play a role in creating social connection and identify ways to more intentionally facilitate stronger community bonds.
Strong social cohesion is a crucial factor in a community’s resilience in times of stress and disruption. Unfortunately, studies show that our communities are experiencing a steady erosion of social cohesion, pointing to an increase in loneliness, depression, and separation because of too much time spent online and too little time spent in the community. Libraries have the position and the power to rebuild social bonds, offering that sense of community and shared place that humans crave. Active learning programs that bring people together for participatory, shared experiences are a boost to community strength, but they could go even further to amplify social connection and build social infrastructure. Join us as we explore library programs through the lens of social possibilities and devise strategies to be more intentional about forging stronger community bonds.
Presented by: Betha Gutsche, WebJunction Programs Manager, OCLC; and Jennifer Peterson, WebJunction Community Manager, OCLC
E-rate: Form 470 Deadline and Online Resources
Just a reminder …. Wednesday, February 27 is the deadline to submit the first form in the E-rate process, Form 470, for the upcoming 2019 Funding Year.
The filing window for submitting the second form in the process, Form 471, opened on Wednesday, January 16, and will close at 11:59 PM EDT on Wednesday, March 27. This makes February 27 the deadline to post your Form 470 to the USAC website, meet the 28-day posting requirement for the competitive bidding process, and submit a Form 471 by the filing window closing date.
However, we do not recommend waiting until the last day to submit your Form 470! If there are any issues that day, like the E-rate servers are slowed down because it is the last day to submit, or you can’t submit the form due to reasons on your end, such as illness, weather, power outage, etc., then you would miss the deadline and lose out on E-rate altogether. So, get your E-rate process started and submit your Form 470 as soon as possible!
Do you need help completing your forms? Do you have questions about E-rate? You’re in luck!
USAC has Form 470 resources on their website:
And more recorded webinars, demos, and training materials are available on the NLC E-rate webpage.
If you have any questions or need any assistance with your E-rate forms, please contact Christa Porter, 800-307-2665, 402-471-3107.
Posted in Library Management, Technology
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Public Library Survey Deadline Friday February 15, 2019
The deadline for the annual (2017-2018 fiscal year) IMLS public library survey (submitted via Bibliostat) is Friday, February 15, 2019. Completion of the survey is required for your library to receive state aid if you are accredited. If you aren’t accredited, you still have an incentive to complete the survey ($200), called Dollar$ for Data.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions throughout the process. Thank you in advance for your participation.
Posted in General, Library Management
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