In This Issue
Executive Notes ~ Spotlight on Intellectual Freedom Committee ~ RILA Awards ~ Gracious Guest Speaker ~ News from the RI Library Community ~ Moment of Levity
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Greetings all, and thanks for reading our June Bulletin.
First of all, thanks to all who attended our annual RILA Conference, Restore Reconnect Reflect. It was wonderful to connect with all who attended and presented. A huge thank you to the Conference Committee for all the work that they did. We would also like to thank Bryant University and the Bryant University library staff for their support and help.
The Legislative Action Committee is monitoring a number of bills circulating in the legislature that pertain to libraries. Keep an eye on our Advocacy Page to stay informed about upcoming legislation.
Cornucopia of Rhode Island (CORI) is starting to work on their Annual Fall Mini-Conference! Save the date--Thursday, November 3, 2022--and keep an eye out for more information.
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Rachael Juskuv, RILA President
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June 2022 Spotlight on the Intellectual Freedom Committee
Welcome to the RILA Bulletin Spotlight Series, where we feature the important work of a different RILA or RI library section, committee, roundtable, initiative, or organization in each issue.
For this issue, we asked Tayla Cardillo to tell us about her role as Co-Chair of the Intellectual Freedom Committee. Tayla is the Branch Librarian of the Oak Lawn Branch of the Cranston Public Libraries in Cranston, Rhode Island.
What is the mission or purpose of the Intellectual Freedom Committee?
To help libraries in their role as protectors of Intellectual Freedom and the First Amendment as well as inform the Rhode Island Library Community about issues of Intellectual Freedom.
When was the Intellectual Freedom Committee formed?
This January, the Committee was reactivated after a period of inactivity.
What made you personally interested in being involved with this committee?
I think protecting people's intellectual freedom as well as their right to read and access information is one of the most important aspects of our jobs as library professionals. Frequently, the stories of marginalized groups are the ones that get labeled as obscene or inappropriate for children, so it is important to make sure that those voices are not silenced by the white heteronormative majority. Part of the reason many of these groups, especially the LGBTQAI+ community, don't know their own history is because their voices were silenced in the past. That's what I want to try to work to stop.
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RILA Awards Librarians, Library Staff, and Library Advocates at Annual Conference
The Rhode Island Library Association (RILA) presented its annual awards at its Annual Conference, which was held May 25 and 26 at Bryant University in Smithfield. The theme for the conference was “Restore, Reconnect, Reflect.”
"This year’s award recipients represent a wide cross section of library staff and advocates,” said RILA President Rachael Juskuv. “We were so fortunate to be able to have this awards reception in person this year, and give the winners the recognition they richly deserve."
Click below to read about this year's award recipients.
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Gracious Guest Speaker
Since authors are our rock stars, as the saying goes, I definitely feel that Jarrett Krosoczka is definitely one. Not only did he offer a moving and informative keynote talk but he agreed to talk for another hour on the Cranston Public Library's Downtime with CPL podcast. He was so honest and open about what it's like to be in his skin, especially how it feels when his books are banned by people who clearly have not read them. He has a fan for life with me.
- Robin Nyzio, Branch Librarian, William Hall Library, Cranston
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News from the Rhode Island Library Community |
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Providence Public Library Spring Exhibition & Program Series Runs through June 30th
If you haven't been to PPL yet to take in the 2022 Spring Exhibition Tomboy, you still have time. The exhibition has been receiving rave reviews and is up through June 30th.
Tomboy is part of the library's Identities series of programs, which offers new ways of exploring who we want to be and who we are. Try something unexpected, learn a new skill, meet people like yourself, all at the Library. Tomboy takes a look at the many meanings of that rough-and-tumble identity throughout history. The exhibit is up through June 30th, free and open to all during library's regular open hours.
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Slime War! at the Barrington Public Library
It was BIG slime rush at Barrington Public Library's May 4 Slime War, celebrating the 2022 Kids Reading Across RI (KRARI) pick, How to Win A Slime War, by Mae Respicio.
Our slimentists (grades 3-5) experimented with color, texture, and activating ingredients, which produced some slimetastic creations!
Participants also received a brand new copy of How to Win a Slime War, thanks to Rhode Island Center for the Book. We had the slime of our lives!
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News from URI's Robert L. Carothers Library & Learning Commons
Jim Kinnie, Humanities Reference Librarian, Retires in June 2022
Jim Kinnie, Humanities Reference Librarian at the Robert L. Carothers Library & Learning Commons at the University of Rhode Island (URI), is retiring this summer.
After receiving his MLIS in 2000 from URI, Jim joined the Public Services department where he has served the URI community providing reference and instruction for over 20 years. He enthusiastically participated in the libraries' instruction program, teaching LIB 120, 150, 220, and 350G as well as managing the department’s support for the writing program for many years. His scholarship focused on distance learning and information literacy, advancing URI Libraries’ leadership in information literacy instruction in library literature. He was active in university service, especially in the areas of general education and distance teaching and learning, and he fostered information literacy skills in countless students through credit courses and general library instruction. He played his banjo with the URI Traditional Jazz Band and the URI Symphony.
His colleagues and the university community have enjoyed and appreciated Jim's dry wit, creativity, and commitment to student success. Jim’s last day at URI is June 18th.
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Deborah Mongeau, Head of Government Publications, Retired in June 2021
Professor Deborah Mongeau retired from the Carothers Library & Learning Commons at the University of Rhode Island in June 2021.
Deborah earned her MSLS from Rutgers University and joined the URI faculty in 1987 as Head of Government Publications. She also served as
chair of the Public Services Department from 2007 to 2019. As Head of Government
Publications, she facilitated the cataloging of government documents and taught college
students how to locate and use government information. She served on University committees and the Faculty Senate. Her research focused on the use of government information and the literature of public coastal access. She has continued to consult for the University Libraries in her retirement.
Her colleagues and the university community have benefited from Deborah’s stellar ability to explain how to find and use government information, and her colleagues have greatly
appreciated her kind support, which came in the form of good advice, a mind for precise detail, a copious supply of chocolate, and, as she is a Master Gardener, sometimes excess plants.
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The Rhode Island Library Association
is a professional organization that serves its members through career development, education, advocacy, networking partnerships, and legislative action.
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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.
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