In This Issue

Executive Notes ~ Facilitation Workshop ~ PBS Workshop ~ Cornucopia of RI Mini Conference ~ RILA Mentorship Program ~ RI Library Community News ~ Moment of Levity

Greetings to all, and welcome to the October Bulletin!

The Rhode Island library community continues to grow and build. Take a look in this Bulletin to see some of the great events that people have led in Rhode Island, and take a look below for some of the opportunities and events that will be taking place this month:

Leadership Opportunities

There are a number of open positions in the RILA structure. Take a look to see if you'd be interested in leading. Email president@rilibraries.org if you are interested. 

• Board Member: Paraprofessional Representative (Click for Responsibilities)
• Committee Chairs/Co-Chairs: Conference Committee Co-Chairs
• Round Table Facilitators: Information Literacy Action Round table (ILART) 

Learning Opportunities

• P2PU Workshop: Best Practices for Co-Facilitating Peer Learning - October 13
• PBS Learning Media Literacy Cohort for Educators - Asynchronous Monthly Class from Sept-May

Networking Opportunities

• Library Libations: New Harvest Coffee & Spirits - October 16

Upcoming Workshop:

Best Practices for

Co-Facilitating Peer Learning

Thursday, October 13, at 2:00pm

Join this workshop to learn how to be an active co-facilitator, how to define your role, and how to identify your strengths and weaknesses as a facilitator.

Peer 2 Peer University (P2PU) and the Rhode Island Library Association (RILA) welcome library staff in to build a learning community with fellow librarians across the state. P2PU is developing five workshops on in-demand topics for Rhode Island library staff. 

PBS Learning Media Literacy Cohort for Educators

Join PBS for a free monthly workshop designed to help facilitate educators interested in completing the PBS Media Literacy Educator Certification. This professional learning opportunity meets one Thursday a month over Zoom, from 7:00-9:00pm, and is a great way for teachers, librarians, and coaches to showcase and validate their expertise in media literacy!

Participants qualify for RIDE-approved PLUs, earn digital badges for micro-credential completion, and earn fantastic prizes along the way!

Registration is required as there are limited seats available.

Registration is Currently Full:

Join waitlist for the Cornucopia of Rhode Island's Fall Mini Conference

This year’s theme is ‘Recruitment and Retention of Librarians of Color’. The conference is free and virtual and will be held on Thursday, November 3rd, from    2:00-4:30pm.

This year's conference will feature the following presentations:

• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Best Hiring Practices and Strategies with Cheryl Space, Community Libraries of Providence, and Dawn Emsellem, Salve Regina University
• Library School Recruitment of Students of Color with Kate Bensen, Simmons University, and Dr. Valerie Karno, GLSLIS, University of Rhode Island
• Onboarding New Librarians with Dymond Bush and Allison Papini, Bryant University

RILA Mentorship Program Now Accepting Applications for 2023!

The RILA Mentorship Program, now in its third year, is accepting applications for both Mentors and Mentees for the 2023 year.

Mentoring is a wonderful opportunity to make a difference in the life of another person and to gain new insights into our profession. You can give and receive guidance and take your career to the next level. Please join our program today to develop lasting professional relationships with others in the field.

To be a part of the RILA Mentorship Program:

• You must be a current RILA member.
• You may be a library employee, retired librarian, or current library school student.
• You must make a 1-year commitment that includes meeting with your mentor/mentee at least 3 or 4 times per year by phone, email, web conferencing, or in-person meeting.

Click the button below to read the full program guidelines and fill out an application.

Cumberland Public Library Welcomes New Assistant Director

Cumberland Public Library is pleased to welcome our new Assistant Director/Technology Coordinator. Andrew Northrup is returning to Rhode Island from 4 years at the Eugene Public Library in Eugene, Oregon. He has a great deal of experience in programming and patron assistance and is more than willing to take on technology issues! He proved his patience by driving cross country with two cats. He loves that we have a Stephen King book club and feels he will fit right in.

Used Book Sale at William Hall Library

The Friends of the Cranston Library are sponsoring a used book sale on Saturday, November 5th, from 10:00am to 400pm at the William Hall Library.

Donations are accepted at the Central Library, 140 Sockanosset Cross Road, or the William Hall Library, 1825 Broad Street.

Questions? Please email Branch Librarian Robin Nyzio at RNyzio@cranstonlibrary.org.

News from the East Providence Public Library

Library Camp Out

As a complement to the Summer Reading camping theme and as a fun and COVID-safe activity, the East Providence Public Library hosted our first Community Camp-out in July 2022. Weaver Library has a large yard with large, historic trees that made for an ideal urban campsite.

Participants registered online and tent loans were arranged for participants who needed them. Three staff members were involved in the actual event—the outreach librarian, the custodian, and a librarian who led the storytime, along with 8 volunteers including some local Girl Scouts. Additionally, LL Bean sent a representative to show us how to make paracord key chains and teach us the 10 necessities to pack in a hiking backpack. We played lawn games, made crafts, sang songs, and told stories around a campfire while we toasted marshmallows and ate s'mores. The library purchased a propane fire pit as recommended by the East Providence Fire Department because of the ability to control the flame. We also made the East Providence Police aware of our event to ensure extra patrol passed throughout the night. Despite the downpours throughout the night, everyone had a blast! Looking forward to next year’s camp-out!

New permanent StoryWalk®

The Weaver Library in East Providence is lucky enough to have a beautiful lawn that allows for lots of great outdoor programs, like the Weaver Library Farmers Market; Story & Play, a year-round Outdoor Storytime; and now a new StoryWalk®! The Weaver Library has had StoryWalks® before on temporary posts, but it wanted to take advantage of the space and make it a permanent program. Through a Rhode Island Legislative grant, facilitated by RI Senator Valerie Lawson, the library received funds for 20 metal StoryWalk® posts and frames from Pannier Graphics. With the help of Dan Borges, the City of East Providence’s Director of the Department of Public Works, and a great DPW crew, the posts were installed in late August.

The library presented its first story, We Don’t Eat Out Classmates' by Ryan T Higgins, in September, and celebrated with a kick-off party that featured a reading with Youth Services Coordinator Pam Schwieger, a visit from a “real” T. Rex (Outreach Librarian, Michelle Perry), dinosaur snacks, dinosaur party hats, and music! Since then, library staff regularly see people enjoying the StoryWalk®: parents and children after school drop off, adults on their daily walk, both during and outside of library hours. The story will be changed monthly and accompanied by activity and question prompts to encourage readers to engage even more! October’s story, Not Very Scary by Carol Brendler, is the perfect companion to the library's other outdoor October programming, including a Halloween Family Concert and the Annual Pumpkin Stroll.

Jill Campanella-Dysart, George Hail Library's New Adult Services Librarian

We're happy to announce that Jill Campanella-Dysart, or Jill C-D, has started as our new Adult Services Librarian at the George Hail Library in Warren, RI. Jill interned here with us during the summer helping us organize our Charles Whipple Green Museum collection. She graduated from URI in August while working part-time at Barrington Public Library. We want to wish Jill congratulations and welcome her to our library.

New Extended Fall Hours at RIHS!

The Robinson Research Center (RRC) of the RI Historical Society, the largest genealogical library in the state, is adding new hours for walk-ins and appointments.

Beginning Wednesday, October 1st, the RRC will be open on Wednesdays, from 1:00 to 7:00pm and the second Saturday of every month, from 10:00am to 1:00pm. Thursdays and Fridays are open 10:00 to 12:00pm for appointments and 1:00 to 4:00pm for walk-ins and appointments.

Contact reference@rihs.org with questions and requests. The RIHS is located at 121 Hope Street, Providence. 

McKillop Library Welcomes New Staff

Salve Regina University celebrates its 75th anniversary with special events scheduled throughout the coming year, and McKillop Library is planning a major renovation in 2023 – more on that as plans unfold. Meanwhile, the library welcomes new staff as we extend cross-campus collaborations in support of student learning and development.

Regina Connolly is the new Education and Instruction Librarian. Regina comes to us from Bishop Hendricken High School in Warwick, where she served as Director of Library Services. Regina built a highly student-centered library at Hendricken, creating a welcoming space for all, which included co-moderating the school’s Book Club, Hawks for Her (gender inclusion advocacy group), and Born to Stand Out (BIPOC affinity group). She remains a member of the Rhode Island Teen Book Award Committee. At McKillop Library, Regina will manage the Curriculum Resource Center, in addition to her research instruction and other academic liaison support duties. Regina completed her MLIS at the University of Rhode Island, with a Certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and her BA in English and Secondary Education, with honors, from Rhode Island College.

Katie Foley joined McKillop Library in May as our new evening and weekend circulation supervisor and will co-manage our busy interlibrary loan service. She also serves as a library assistant at Bristol’s Rogers Free Library. Katie earned her BA in English with a minor in Creative Writing from Rhode Island College.

Edward Iglesias is McKillop Library’s Systems and Technology Librarian. He joins us from Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, TX, where he was head of digital strategies and content discovery at Ralph W. Steen Library. Edward holds an MA in English from Texas A&M International University and his MLS from University of Texas, Austin. Currently Edward is overseeing major updates to the library website and associated security infrastructure, as well as Digital Commons and WorldShare Management Services.

Would You Like a Cupcake? The Nook in the Greenville Public Library Children's Room Is a Popular Destination!

Greenville Public Library reopened the Nook in the Children’s Room on July 1st after being closed for 2 years. It  contains three very popular pretend play stations: the kitchen, dollhouse, and parking garage. All throughout the day, the Nook is busy with lively activities! It provides endless possibilities that foster

creativity while expanding the children’s imagination.

Whether it is preparing food to share with others, playing restaurant, fixing cars at the garage, or arranging the furniture in the dollhouse while creating a conversation with the families who live there.

The Nook provide endless opportunities to develop and practice language, social skills, and problem solving. Two of the favorite toys are a cupcake tin with four cupcakes that have brightly colored frosting and a basket that includes a cutting board, knife, and various wooden fruits to cut. Staff working in the Children’s Room are often asked if we

would like a cupcake and fruit salad!