In This Issue
Executive Notes ~ NELLS 2023 Applications ~ Report a Challenge ~ We Are ALL Readers 2023 ~ State Aid to Libraries ~ RILA Awards ~ Upcoming Events ~ News from RI Libraries
|
|
Greetings to all, and welcome to the February Bulletin!
We are very excited that, for only the second time since 2009, the state budget will fully fund state aid to libraries. This is exciting for the publicly funded libraries!
As you plan for the year ahead, some professional development opportunities might interest you:
P2PU is offering some free learning classes with RILA:
-
April 13, 2023 - How to navigate sensitive and interpersonal topics (Click here to RSVP)
-
June 8, 2023 - Safe Spaces: Balancing feeling safe with feeling challenged (Click here to RSVP)
|
|
Rachael Juskuv
RILA President
|
|
Beatrice Pulliam
RILA Vice President
|
|
NELLS 2023: Now Accepting Applications
The application for the 2023 NELLS II program (previously known as NELLS I) is now live and the due date is February 17th. The symposium will be held at the Von Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, VT on April 24-27, 2023.
This program is designed for library professionals in mid-career (3-15 years experience in or with libraries). The program focuses on the application of leadership theory to real-world library issues. Participants will focus on topics such as creating equitable workplaces/public spaces, leading through change, self-care, mentoring talent, developing a strong vision, building strong communities, resilience, and other topics that will nurture and mentor attendees as they prepare for senior leadership roles. Applicants must be NELA members in order to be considered for this program.
Click below to learn more and to apply.
|
|
RI-Specific Challenge Reporting Form Now Open
The Intellectual Freedom Committee has created a form for reporting material challenges and other forms of censorship that are taking place in Rhode Island. This will allow the committee to track the censorship happening in RI so that we can be better informed on how to help. We will also report the data to ALA's Office of Intellectual Freedom if the respondent chooses, so those facing book bans and other censorship attempts can report to the state and national library organization using only one form.
The Intellectual Freedom Committee encourages any librarian, library staff member, or educator to report any incident of attempted censorship happening at your institution, no matter how small, using this new form. The link to the form can be found in the Intellectual Freedom Committee's webpage, or by clicking the button below.
|
|
We Are ALL Readers 2023
The We Are ALL Readers Children's Book Festival, celebrating diverse books, authors, and illustrators, is returning for another year! This fun event features 11 picture book and middle grade authors, fun activities for the whole family, and food trucks!
The event will be held on Saturday, April 1st, from 10:00am to 3:30pm at North Kingstown High School. This event is free and open to the public. Event organizers include librarians from East Greenwich, North Kingstown, Exeter, Cranston, and West Warwick. Library programming guides for promoting the festival's featured authors can be found by clicking he button below.
|
|
Rhode Island Library Association Applauds Governor McKee for Fully Funding State Aid to Libraries
RILA applauds Governor Dan McKee’s introduction of his Fiscal Year 2024 state budget, which includes $484,000 in additional funding for libraries. For only the second time since 2009, the state budget will fully fund state aid to libraries at the level outlined in RI General Law 29-6-2. Existing state law specifies that the state contribute to each city and town an amount equal to 25% of municipal expenditures and 25% of expenditures from a library’s private endowment that supplements that expenditure.
This additional funding will positively impact public libraries in every city and town in Rhode Island. The budget also includes additional funding for AskRI, the Statewide Reference Resource Center, to fully support online learning, tutoring, and job upskilling support services for all Rhode Islanders.
|
|
Nominate Someone for a RILA Award!
Submissions are now open for the 2023 RILA Awards, to be presented at the Annual Meeting on May 24, 2023. Please see the Awards & Criteria page here.
You may submit your nomination by clicking the button below. Thank you for considering those special people who have made a contribution to your library and community.
|
|
News from the Rhode Island Library Community |
|
Lego Engineering & Coding in Portsmouth Elementary School Libraries
In Portsmouth elementary school libraries, December was a month of STEAM. We participated in the International Hour of Code week during all library classes for the entire month. Coding was incorporated into other art classes, guest speakers spoke to students about their coding careers, and we even had a Lego Master run engineering workshops for both schools! Christine "Tacos" Blandino, a participant from Season 3 of Fox's "Lego Masters," taught our students about compression, creativity, stability, and teamwork while building a massive Lego bridge. This was such a hit with our students, grades K through 4. When asked what they had learned during the workshop, one fourth grader announced "Teamwork makes the dream work!"
|
|
Teaming Up for a Sibert Smackdown!
School library and public library collaborations are a fun way to bring two types of librarianship together within the community– and sometimes that community is a few cities over!
As a way to open students' eyes to the wonderful world of nonfiction, Park View Middle School librarian Steph Mills and 8th grade ELA teacher Rhonda Marro talked to Barrington Middle School librarian Melanie Roy and Garden City librarian Meredith Moore about their previous work on creating Mock Sibert award lesson plans. Throughout their conversations, Steph learned that Maria Cotto, a Pawtucket children’s librarian, served on the Sibert committee from 2019-2021. In an effort to give students a first hand look at what it is like to serve on a national committee, Steph invited Maria to visit her classes to discuss the hard work and deliberations that go into choosing the winners and nominees.
|
|
Hope Library Is Proud to Announce Its New Assistant Director and Collections Manager |
|
Rebekah Hamilton Appointed Hope Library Assistant Director
If you have ever been to Hope Library, you most likely have been warmly welcomed by Rebekah Hamilton. Becky has been at Hope Library since 1998 as a Library Technician, Young Adult Specialist, and Circulation Supervisor. Becky revels in the fact that, after so many years, work in the library is still evolving, challenging, and rewarding. Becky thrives on her relationships with patrons that have developed over the years. She explains, “I love it here. It feels like home. I’ve watched so many young people grow up in the library.”
New Director Cora Morrigan quickly realized when she began working at Hope Library how vital Rebekah was to the library’s culture and smooth operations. “She was doing so much more for the library than what was written in her job description as Circulation Supervisor. The Board and I unanimously agreed that she deserved to be promoted and recognized for all of her hard work.”
|
|
Susannah Carter Named Hope Library's Collections Manager
In fourth grade, Susannah Carter’s elementary school required the fourth grade class to create a fully functioning mini society. When asked as part of the project to create her own business, Susannah chose a library. As an adult, she never dreamed she would work in a library, but her enthusiasm for libraries never faltered. That changed 8 years ago when she was hired as a Library Technician at Hope Library. Susannah loves her work at the library, especially providing patrons with excellent book recommendations and caring for and organizing the library’s adult and young adult collections. When evaluating her contribution to the library, new Director Cora Morrigan suggested creating a position as Collections Manager for Susannah. “Susannah, as a talented frontline worker, has developed an in-depth knowledge of Hope Library’s patron base. Through her interactions at the desk, she knows what people like to read and what resources are missing in the collection to meet their needs. She regularly spends time reading trade journals and 'stalking' new books to find just the right titles for our collection.”
Susannah loves everything that has to do with Collections Management. This past summer she completely shifted the library’s entire adult collection and is in the process of moving the library’s audiobook collection to a more prominent place within the library. “Susannah is an organizational wizard,” says Cora Morrigan. “I don’t know what we would do without her!”
|
|
Pamela Schwieger Promoted to East Providence Public Library Assistant Director
Pamela Schwieger has been appointed Assistant Director of the East Providence Public Library. Pam has worked at the Library in various positions for almost 30 years, most recently as Youth Services Coordinator. She has served on several committees: RICBA; OLIS Youth Services Advisory Board; Books Are Wings Board; and NERTCL as the RI Representative. She is currently serving on the RILA Conference Committee as Co-Chair; and the East Providence PreK School Improvement Team.
|
|
The Rhode Island Library Association
is a professional organization that serves its members through career development, education, advocacy, networking partnerships, and legislative action.
|
|
The RILA Bulletin is produced by the RILA Communications Committee. The RILA Communications Committee is responsible for publicizing and supporting Rhode Island Library Association activities using a variety of communication tools. Responsibilities include publishing the RILA Bulletin, managing social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter, and exploring other media as needed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
