In This Issue
President's Corner ~ EDI Initiatives ~ Rhody Radio ~ RILINK Conference
School Libraries Look Ahead ~ Scholarship Winner
News from the RI Library Community ~ News from the Sections
|
|
We are 4 months into the coronavirus pandemic, and library service to our communities has never been more important. We are helping patrons to find virus testing sites, apply for new jobs, and navigate the myriad new guidelines and travel restrictions for each phase. We are providing our patrons with access to mail ballot applications for the upcoming elections, as people try to avoid crowded polling locations. Our academic and school librarians are preparing for the most uncertain school year of their careers. In the midst of this challenging time, we are having necessary conversations in our homes and our communities surrounding racial equity, liberty, and justice. Libraries are uniquely poised to lead during times of upheaval. Let us continue to show our communities that we are here for them and stronger than ever; we will never shut down. I hope you will join us this year as we dedicate ourselves to this important work.
Julie Holden, RILA President
|
|
RILA Receives Funding for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Initiatives
EBSCO Information Services, in collaboration with the RI Office of Library and Information Services (OLIS), is providing a $20,000 donation to the Rhode Island Library Association to develop programming and training for librarians and library staff in the areas of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI).
In addition to trainings and workshops, RILA may utilize funds to support and promote action to make collections, services, and programming more responsive to the needs of the communities being served. OLIS looks forward to working with RILA to continue and expand EDI initiatives in the state.
|
|
Were you planning a face-to-face program that cannot happen because of COVID?
Do you have presenters you miss working with?
Do you want to create virtual content for your library but don’t have the capacity to make regular content?
Do you want to share book reviews and library services with a statewide community?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, we would love for you to participate in Rhody Radio: RI Library Radio Online!
Rhody Radio is a programming and outreach project that provides a centralized platform for virtual content. The weekly podcast will feature library presenters and programs your library would typically hold face to face: local historians, musicians, artists, authors, and other scholars and experts. It will also feature original content by library staff, including book recommendations, promotion for library services, and whatever other ideas you may have!
By bringing digital content together in one location, we hope to help connect library patrons and experts across the state, provide support for smaller libraries to create digital content, and help raise awareness for library services and programs.
All Library staff are welcome to submit content for Rhody Radio, and we would love to work with you to develop your ideas. We are looking for whatever level of participation you are interested in and able to provide, and we are happy to provide technical support. To get involved, or to learn more, visit the Rhody Radio Resource Guide for Libraries, or email rhodyradioonline@gmail.com.
Rhody Radio is a project of the Office of Library & Information Services and made possible with a grant from the RI Council for the Humanities.
|
|
RILINK Virtual Summer Conference Sets Standard for Future Sessions
The Rhode Island Library Information Network for Kids (RILINK), the statewide consortium of K-12 school libraries, held its 12th annual conference in July—this time with a virtual twist. The unusual circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic necessitated either cancelling the event entirely or switching to an exclusively online platform. The former option was out of the question, and RILINK staff felt ready to handle the challenges of the latter.
|
|
Two School Librarians Look Ahead to Servicing Students
School librarians are no stranger to collaborating with teachers within their buildings, but this past school year found them relying on their professional colleagues for ideas. When students and teachers went to distance learning, school librarians immediately tapped into their creativity to continue offering services to students in different ways. From driving house to house to deliver books, as Meredith Moore did, to creating fun Tik Toks to keep their students entertained (we are looking at you, Tasha White), school librarians tried to keep their students at the heart of their plans.
As a giant question mark looms over the upcoming school year, Melanie Roy and Stephanie Mills, both middle school librarians, have been brainstorming ideas for how to continue to meet the needs of students. Many schools have already said that traditional library visits will not be allowed. Click the button below to see what they hope to accomplish this year!
|
|
Dymond Bush Awarded Scholarships
Dymond Bush, of East Providence, has been named a 2020–2021 American Library Association Spectrum Scholar and a 2020–2022 Association of Research Libraries Diversity Scholar in the Kaleidoscope Program. She is currently pursuing a Master of Library and Information Science degree at Simmons University, where she serves as secretary for the Special Libraries Association at Simmons and as Chair of Students of Color in the School of Library and Information Science.
Dymond most recently worked in the non-profit sector as a Program Manager for Scholar Athletes in Boston, MA and as a High School Advisor for the College Crusade of Rhode Island in Providence. She earned a Master’s degree in Kinesiology specializing in Sport Management and Policy from the University of Georgia in 2014 and a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Management from Hampton University in 2012. Her interest in librarianship was sparked by an internship at the International Tennis Hall of Fame and Museum. She is passionate about pursuing a career in library science to combine her passions of service, sports, and history.
Dymond was also selected as the recipient of the 2020 James M. Matarazzo Student Stipend from the Special Libraries Association and was selected to receive a scholarship to attend the 2020 New England Library Association Conference.
|
|
News from the Rhode Island Library Community |
|
Kickemuit Middle School Hosts Fabric Face Covering Design Challenge
Kickemuit Middle School in the Bristol Warren Regional School District hosted a cross-discipline Fabric Face Covering Design Challenge with teachers from Wellness, Library, Art, STEM, and Inquiring Minds.
Click below to see their introduction video and view the Part 1 Lesson.
|
|
Riverside Middle School's Bitmoji Library Promotes Summer Reading |
|
Riverside Middle School in East Providence has been using a Bitmoji library to promote its summer reading program. Book choices with trailers, choice board with assignments, and videos explaining how to check out an ebook or audiobook are just a click away. |
|
Bubbles! at the Greenville Public Library
The weather forecast for Wednesday, July 1st, called for rain, heavy at times. The Greenville Public Library had an outdoor program planned with Mr. Vinny, The Bubble Guy. After careful consideration, they decided to go for it and move forward as planned. The sun began to poke through the stormy clouds, and the skies magically cleared just in time for the 2:00pm program!
Director Dorothy Swain had the idea to kick off summer at the Library with a bubble program. She thought that an outdoor gathering would be a great way for families to spend time together, especially since the library was still closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Mr. Vinny brought his own sound system; the Library supplied the extension cord and opened a window to plug in the cord. That is about as "high tech" as they needed to go. Vinny played fun, upbeat music and walked car to car, sharing bubbles and interacting with the children and families.
The patrons parked in the library parking lot, where assistant director Cassie Patterson and Children's Librarian Babs Wells marked off every other space with an X. Some patrons stayed in their cars with the windows rolled down, some opened the back hatch and hung out, and some milled about near their cars using social distancing. The bubbles brought smiles to everyone’s faces, and the music inspired some kids to dance about while chasing the bubbles.
The bubble program was a great success. Children and parents shared that it was just right for a warm summer day at the Library!
|
|
Rogers Free Library Reopens to Patrons
Like all libraries, the staff at Rogers Free Library spent many long days planning for its reopening in June. To describe the work as grueling is a gross understatement. But, the staff is a team that is dedicated to serving the public.
One of the task force members suggested the Library have a greeter at the main entrance to not only invite patrons to use the sanitizer but to also welcome them back and explain how the library will look different during the current phase. Having a greeter at the door has alleviated lots of questions that would have to be asked at checkpoints, which in turn has helped the flow of traffic. More importantly, the greeters at the door are putting patrons at ease about reentering the building. The Library has received several emails from patrons thanking them for having a smiling and welcoming staff member at the door, during a time where people are bombarded with signs and intercom announcements.
The Friends of Rogers Free Library are always so willing to help the library as much as they can. The Friends generously gifted the entire staff masks with the Library's logo, which they wear with pride.
|
|
Cranston Public Library Received Grant for Census Outreach |
|
The Cranston Public Library (CPL) was awarded a $2,000 mini-grant from the American Library Association Library Census Equity Fund. This grant will be used by the Cranston Census Complete Count Committee, Chaired by CPL Library Director Ed Garcia, for Census outreach in targeted low response Census tracts in Cranston. |
|
Tiverton Public Library Opens New Doors to Services |
|
While the stacks are still closed to patrons in Tiverton, the staff at Tiverton Public Library have gotten creative about bringing library collections and services out to patrons.
Children's Librarian, Meg Paquette, brings rolling bins and shelves of books out to the lawn outside the children's activity room twice each week, so that kids and their families can browse in the open air. Teen Librarian, Rebecca Ott, installed a screen door at the emergency entrance to the Teen Room, so that a couple of teens or one family at a time can browse the new books and pick up activities in the Teen Room each weekday. Adult Services Librarian, Deb Estrella, brings a selection of free books, children's activities, and information about current library services to the Tiverton Farmer's Market every Tuesday, extending outreach to around 100 members of the community each week.
|
|
News from the RILA Sections |
|
Cornucopia of Rhode Island (CORI): Former Peace Corps Volunteer Returns to the Philippines and the Library She Established There
Earlier this year, Juliann Cerrito, Librarian at URI's Pell Marine Science Library and President of Cornucopia of Rhode Island, had a simple objective: to revisit the village where she was a Peace Corps volunteer and see if the library she created there still existed.
As the COVID-19 pandemic began to spread around the world, that objective became harder to achieve. Click the button below to read more.
|
|
Coalition of Library Advocates (COLA)
New Membership Fees
COLA is lowering its section fees. Once you join RILA, you may opt to join the COLA section for an additional $5 if you are an individual and $10 if you are an organization. We are seeking new members to help us with our educational outreach.
Fall Conference
The Fall Conference has been postponed until the Spring of 2021. Details will be available in January 2021. This conference will update members on COLA’s activities from both 2019 and 2020.
Reeves Awards for Friends Groups
Contact us at cola@rilibraries.org for an application. Friends groups can submit an application for projects from either 2019 or 2020 (or both!). Awards will be given for both years, since we had to forgo this year’s conference.
Volunteers Needed
COLA is looking for members interested in revamping our social media outreach and helping update our web pages. COLA also seeks members with design experience who could help us come up with a new logo and an improved brochure. Please contact cola@rilibraries.org if interested.
|
|
School Librarians of Rhode Island (SLRI)
This summer, SLRI called together an ad hoc committee of school librarians to come up with reopening guidelines for three scenarios: students coming into the library, students not allowed in the library, and digital learning. These guidelines were finalized and sent to the membership for distribution to superintendents to be used for planning school library reopenings in September. They were written so that school librarians would have input into how libraries will be utilized during the upcoming pandemic-related changes to how schools will operate. Also, many librarians got themselves invited onto their district's planning committees.
Click the button below to see the elementary school recommendations.
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
