DLD Weekly Wrap-Up | November 8, 2024 | |
Initiatives & Announcements | | |
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In honor of Native American Heritage Month:
"We will be known forever by the tracks we leave."
– Dakota Tribe
"November is Native American Heritage month, and a good time to honor the legacy of our ancestors, but every day we should stop to think about our country’s beginning and that the United States would not exist if not for a great deal of sacrifice, blood, and tears by Indian Tribes across the country."
– Deb Haaland,
United States Secretary of the Interior
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Announcing the Connecticut State Library Excellence in Public Libraries Awards 2025
We are pleased to announce the launch of the inaugural CT State Library Excellence in Public Libraries Awards, which will open for nominations in January 2025 with the announcements and ceremony taking place in the Spring of 2025.
The Awards are designed to honor and celebrate outstanding public libraries—those that demonstrate excellence in service and innovative programming and have a profound impact on their communities.
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The Awards aim to highlight the exceptional work of public libraries, encouraging growth and evolution in library services and acknowledging libraries’ outstanding contributions while inspiring others to strive for excellence in serving their communities.
Open to all public libraries within the state, the Awards categories are:
- Community Engagement
- Innovative Programming
- Outstanding Children's Services
- Technology Integration
- Advancement in Literacy and Education
- Civic Champion
- Cultural Amplifier and Heritage Preservation
- Accessibility and Inclusion
Libraries can be nominated by local legislators, peers, patrons, or staff members, and self-nominating will be encouraged. A diverse panel of reviewers, including library professionals, educators, community leaders, and representatives from the State Library, will evaluate nominations and select awards recipients.
For additional information about the Awards, please visit the CT State Library Public Libraries Awards Libguide.
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The GIANT Room - Bringing STEM-Based Creativity to Your Library!
Please join us for a new three-part series from The Giant Room: Community Engagement Through Hands-on Creative STEM Building, Writing, and Collaborative Publication!
Perfect for anyone who would like to bring a new and fresh community program into their local library with a focus on energizing and engaging families with children 3 to 12 years old, this virtual, interactive, live series will provide a framework for creating engaging and accessible community engagement programs for families.
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The framework outlines ways in which The GIANT Room partners with librarians to bring community publication programs into libraries through “Remix Publication Stations,” as well as in-person family STEM workshops. GIANT Remix is a new program funded by the CT State Library, DLD, for local libraries through which families will be given “creative missions” to contribute writings, illustrations, and ideas to “community books” and “trading cards” throughout the year.
Consider attending if you are a library director, department head, librarians, library staff, or plan to do any type of outreach in your community.
For more information and to register, please see below:
Friday, November 15 | 10:00 am -12:00 pm
Register for Community Engagement Through Hands-On Creative STEM Building, Part 1
Wednesday, November 20 | 10:00 am -12:00 pm
Register for Community Engagement Through Hands-on Creative STEM Building, Part 2
Thursday, December 5 | 1:00-3:00 pm
Register for Community Engagement Through Hands-On Creative STEM Building, Part 3
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Special Technology in Libraries Series with David Lee King
Please join us for a series of six online technology workshops with David Lee King beginning this month and running through June. We had a great turnout for Emerging Tech Trends in Libraries, Part 1 on October 18 where David Lee King took us through the first set of trends.
Did you miss the workshop? Click here to watch the recording.
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DLD's New Home Page
Exciting news: DLD's all-new Home Page is now LIVE!
With an eye towards accessibility, the new pages are designed to be user friendly and allow visitors to find what they are looking for quickly and easily.
Feel free to explore and let us know what you think!
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Upcoming in the Reimagining Library Outreach and Access Series!
Join us for the journey of Reimagining Library Outreach and Access, a nine-month series of 10 workshops through March 2025 that will provide library staff with strategies, tools, and frameworks to expand their reach and impact within their communities.
Using their own library and local data, participants have the opportunity to evaluate barriers to access within their own communities and to reconsider their approach to outreach utilizing their existing assets and structures.
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This project is made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the CT State Library. | |
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E-Rate News
EPC Administrative Window Opened October 15, 2024
The EPC administrative window is open and will close shortly before the FY2025 application filing window opens in early 2025. After this time, applicant profiles will be locked, and you will not be able to make changes to your profile information.
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During the EPC Administrative Window, you should check to be sure that your administrator, user information and library square footage are up to date. | |
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Connecticut Libraries & Partners for Digital Equity
Do you have your State Digital Equity Capacity Grant project outlines underway?
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While the applications are not expected until December or January, now is the time to put together your project!
The November Member Meeting will be devoted to providing lessons based on distinct elements of the IMLS Regional Digital Navigator Sharing Plan that could be used for preparing state capacity grant collaborations, partnerships, needs assessments, applications, budgets, etc. Join us!
Tuesday, November 26 | 2:00-3:00 pm
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 844 2839 7555
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Governor Lamont Announces Applications Now Open for Grants to Support Youth-Led Service Initiatives
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Governor Ned Lamont announced last week that the Connecticut Commission on Community Service, also known as Serve Connecticut, is now accepting applications for mini-grants to support youth-led service initiatives in Connecticut.
These mini-grants are available to support the engagement of youths between the ages of 5 and 25 in meaningful, youth-led service or service-learning projects or programs benefitting the community during the grant term of January 1 to September 30, 2025. Eligible applicants include schools, out-of-school time programs (after school or summer), municipalities, agencies, and youth-serving organizations. Youth-led groups are welcome to apply with sponsorship of an eligible applicant.
This funding opportunity is made available by a grant from the Allstate Foundation in partnership with America’s Service Commissions. Serve Connecticut is one of ten state and territorial service commissions that received a 2024 Empowering Youth-Led Service Grant to increase youth-led service opportunities in the state.
For more information, including an application link, please visit the press release webpage.
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Have Questions? We’ve Got Answers!
All information, programs, resources, and services related to CT libraries have been curated and organized and is only a click away! The information you need can be found on DLD's LibGuides, which offers the most comprehensive overview of library information in CT, including:
Bookmark our homepage and add it to your desktop!
And remember, your DLD Library Liaison is also your go-to resource for answers to all your questions.
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Professional Development & Continuing Education | | |
Emerging Tech Trends in Libraries,
Part 2
TODAY! Friday, November 8 | 3:00-4:00 pm
Register for Emerging Tech Trends in Libraries, Part 2
Technology has changed the face of libraries and is continuing to change how we work and how we deliver services to customers. In fact, the past few years have pushed us, and in some cases made us scramble, to discover and experiment with new technologies and tools, to train our staff and community, and to look for new ways of doing our core activities.
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This presentation introduces emerging technology trends and shows how those trends are reshaping library services. Examples of how to incorporate and adapt these evolving trends into libraries will be provided to participants. | |
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Participants will leave with the ability to comprehensively describe social media's effectiveness as a communication tool, to track and analyze social media insights via the Meta platform, and to develop social media promotion strategies and awareness campaigns for their own library.
The first workshop will include a working session that offers a deep dive into using data to inform a library's social media strategy. The second workshop will include a working session for participants to design their own content calendar and/or social media content.
This session is part of the Reimagining Library Outreach and Access series of 10 workshops taking place through March 2025 that will provide library staff with strategies, tools, and frameworks to expand their reach and impact within their communities. Using their own library and local data, participants have the opportunity to evaluate barriers to access within their own communities and to reconsider their approach to outreach utilizing their existing assets and structures.
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Participants will leave with the ability to comprehensively describe social media's effectiveness as a communication tool, to track and analyze social media insights via the Meta platform, and to develop social media promotion strategies and awareness campaigns for their own library.
The first workshop will include a working session that offers a deep dive into using data to inform a library's social media strategy. The second workshop will include a working session for participants to design their own content calendar and/or social media content.
This session is part of the Reimagining Library Outreach and Access series of 10 workshops taking place through March 2025 that will provide library staff with strategies, tools, and frameworks to expand their reach and impact within their communities. Using their own library and local data, participants have the opportunity to evaluate barriers to access within their own communities and to reconsider their approach to outreach utilizing their existing assets and structures.
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The framework outlines ways in which The GIANT Room partners with librarians to bring community publication programs into libraries through “Remix Publication Stations” as well as in-person family STEM workshops. GIANT Remix is a new program funded by the CT State Library, DLD, for local libraries through which families will be given “creative missions” to contribute writings, illustrations, and ideas to “community books” and “trading cards” throughout the year.
This session is one of three sessions as part of The GIANT Room professional development for the Remix program. Librarians are encouraged to join all three sessions - we will share recordings of the sessions with those who register for the workshop in case you cannot join the live session.
Key take-aways:
- Participating librarians will have a chance to brainstorm on the themes for GIANT Remix stations to better align with their library programs such as monthly themes, summer reading, holidays, visiting author book readings, and more.
- Participating librarians will be introduced to AI tools that make these community publications possible. Expect fun and interactive activities using AI to bring your ideas to life. These activities are designed to help librarians work with creative AI tools in a very engaging and accessible way.
- Participating librarians will be considered to be chosen as one of the stations that receives GIANT Remix Stations and Family Events, free of charge, in their libraries.
Select libraries from those registered for the workshops will receive 5 copies of the final book publications and trading cards to add to their library collection as well as a link to the e-book publication which families could access free of charge at home. This is a wonderful program for your community to gain a sense of belonging to their local library, keep coming back to the library to make more publications and read their books, and invite other families to join the program.
Join us to brainstorm, learn, and dream the next series of community publications for your library!
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Customer Service Tune-Up: Tips to Help You Care for Yourself as You Care for Others
Tuesday, November 19 | 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Register for Customer Service Tune-Up
You already know a great deal about customer service. You’ve experienced a wide range of behavior as you do your best to satisfy your patrons, but sometimes it can feel a bit lonely as you struggle to balance your library’s policies with the endless requests that make up your job.
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In this two-hour Zoom workshop, the goal is for you to make small, sustainable changes that will keep you focused and energized. You’ll share best practices, experiment with a range of strategies for resolving conflict, learn why investing in yourself is critical, and to top it off – you’ll have fun as you help each other.
At the end of the session, you’ll have a personalized plan to help you maintain the essential balance of providing excellent customer service while caring for yourself.
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Youth Services Critical Conversations
Tuesday, November 19 | 1:00-2:00 pm
Register for Youth Services Critical Conversations
Relationship-building, professional learning cohorts, and idea sharing are integral ways for library staff to stay inspired, engaged, innovative, and intentional. To this end, the Division of Library Development will begin to hold Youth Services Critical Conversations to serve as an informal and open-ended opportunity for Youth Services folks in Connecticut to connect, talk, idea-share, and build community.
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Four times a year, the Connecticut State Library will provide a virtual space for youth services, early learning, school-age, and teen services workers in public libraries to come together. While Zoom sessions will be hosted by Children/Young Adult Consultant, Kym Powe, conversations are intended to center on and run primarily with public library voices.
Bring your successes, questions, ideas, and challenges! Ask questions and ask for resources. What supports are needed, what information is needed, help us help you!
These meetings are intended as interactive spaces, so we ask that registrants have a camera, microphone, and a designated space to allow for vocal conversation. These meetings will be driven by voices of attendees!
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The framework outlines ways in which The GIANT Room partners with librarians to bring community publication programs into libraries through “Remix Publication Stations” as well as in-person family STEM workshops. GIANT Remix is a new program funded by the CT State Library, DLD, for local libraries through which families will be given “creative missions” to contribute writings, illustrations, and ideas to “community books” and “trading cards” throughout the year.
This session is one of the three sessions as part of The GIANT Room professional development for the Remix program. Librarians are encouraged to join all three sessions - we will share recordings of the sessions with those who register for the workshop in case you cannot join the live session.
Key take-aways:
- Participating librarians will have a chance to brainstorm on the themes for GIANT Remix stations to better align with their library programs such as monthly themes, summer reading, holidays, visiting author book readings, and more.
- Participating librarians will be introduced to AI tools that make these community publications possible. Expect fun and interactive activities using AI to bring your ideas to life. These activities are designed to help librarians work with creative AI tools in a very engaging and accessible way.
- Participating librarians will be considered to be chosen as one of the stations that receives GIANT Remix Stations and Family Events, free of charge, in their libraries.
Select libraries from those registered for the workshops will receive 5 copies of the final book publications and trading cards to add to their library collection as well as a link to the e-book publication which families could access free of charge at home. This is a wonderful program for your community to gain a sense of belonging to their local library, keep coming back to the library to make more publications and read their books, and invite other families to join the program.
Join us to brainstorm, learn, and dream the next series of community publications for your library!
Upcoming in this series:
Thursday, December 5 | 1:00-3:00 pm
The GIANT Room: Community Engagement Through Hands-On Creative STEM Building, Writing and Collaborative Publication - Part 3
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CT Public Libraries FY2024 Annual Report Update
Thank you to the 173 libraries that submitted their FY2024 CT Public Libraries’ Annual Report data to us! As we review the reports, a major trend is emerging: eAudio downloads are up in libraries across the state!
Stay tuned for more information, as well as the Statistical Profile in December.
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Veterans Day is November 11 - DLD Provides Resources to Veterans and Military Families
The Division of Library Development (DLD) offers valuable resources you can share with veterans and military families in your community. We have 39 print titles and 64 eBooks available for you and your patrons as part of the eGO CT program.
You are welcome to view a sampling of our print books and eBooks and visit our Service to Veterans and Military Families Libguide, which contains useful information including a link to the Libraries and Veterans National Forum Toolkit that was created with librarians from across the country, including DLD staff. The goal of the Toolkit is to provide programming options for organizations that are just getting started in this work, and to make it easier for those already engaged to find new ideas and new strategies to increase the success of their programs.
You can also find information about Blue Star Families, an organization dedicated to strengthening military families by connecting them with their neighbors to create vibrant communities of mutual support.
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We also have FREE database resources available for veterans and military families, including the following tutorial from Workforce Solutions:
Military to College: A How-to Guide for New Veterans
Serving in the military opens numerous doors to veterans who want to attend college or pursue a graduate degree after their years of service. This tutorial can help make veterans in your community aware of all the doors open to them—and unlock unexpected ways to earn college credit, find a “military friendly” college, and maximize their VA benefits.
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Service to Veterans and Military Families – Veteran Saves Week
Public Libraries are a trusted and valued community resource and are uniquely positioned to assist veterans and military families in accessing resources and services for which they may be eligible.
One easy way for libraries to fill this role is to share this information with veterans and military families in their community.
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Veteran Saves Week (November 12-15, 2024) marks a monumental moment as this inaugural event honors the legacy of Military Saves Week, while shifting focus towards the unique financial journey of transitioning service members and Veterans through our four program pillars: Financial Stress, Housing, Employment, and Banking. Learn how to participate as an organization.
Even if you don't formally participate, you can create displays or provide links on your website to share this America Saves Flyer and the Veterans Saves Resource Center.
Daily themes this year are:
Day 1 (11/12): Choosing the right financial Institution
Day 2 (11/13): Saving for competing priorities
Day 3 (11/14): All about housing
Day 4 (11/15): Navigating military to civilian employment financial transition
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Books and Collections Available at the Middletown Library Service Center
Middletown Library Service Center Collections
The Middletown Library Service Center (MLSC) has so many collection items worth knowing about, exploring, and, of course, borrowing! We lend resources to public, school, and academic libraries throughout the state of Connecticut to help supplement collections or provide access to resources that otherwise might be out of reach. We lend Picture Books, Non-fiction, Book Discussion Sets, and more! Please note that we’ve recently begun to share MLSC resources with homeschooling families!
Not sure how to request items? Don’t worry, we made a video showing how to request items at MLSC!
Do you work in a school? Have your MLSC items sent to the public library of your choice. That can be the town your school is in or the town you live in - your choice!
And remember you can book items up to 365 days in advance and there are NO LATE FEES!
Below are some new and seasonal collections available to you and your patrons at MLSC. Happy Browsing!
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New Board Book Sets
Looking for something new to add to your story times? Consider one of our recently added board book sets!
The loan period for book sets is 45 days and you can reserve up to 365 days in advance.
New sets include:
Browse all of our board book sets or visit our Equipment Catalog to book sets in other categories.
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Seasonal Picture Books
Stock up on Thanksgiving, Winter, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Christmas books for upcoming story times and displays! We can send 20-25 seasonal large print books through deliverIT that will be yours to circulate for 90 days.
If you are interested, please feel free to reserve a book bundle in our Equipment catalog or email Abbey at Abbey.E.Lynch@ct.gov.
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Please let us know if there are specific topics or holidays you would like included! | |
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Seasonal Large Print Books
Winter is on its way! Supplement your large print collection with Christmas and winter books from MLSC.
We can send 10-15 seasonal large print books through deliverIT for you and your patrons to use for 90 days. If you are interested, please email Abbey.E.Lynch@ct.gov.
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Middletown Library Service Center
Open Hours:
Monday-Friday | 8:00 am-4:30 pm
MLSC staff, whether in the office or telecommuting, are responding to voicemail and e-mail during business hours of 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday, except for state holidays.
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Connecticut State Library | Division of Library Development
Middletown Library Service Center
786 South Main Street | Middletown, CT 06457
(860) 704-2200 | libguides.ctstatelibrary.org/dld
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