Month: November 2021

Thanksgiving Thanks

To all of our member libraries I wish to give thanks to you. We at the System office recognize that each and every one of you strive to make you communities a better place. It’s not only about the books on your shelves any more. So much has changed over the years that librarians have looked to the future to be ahead of the curve for their patrons.

Who would have thought that movies would ever be in a library for check-out? What about having a person read you a book? The thought was you are to read the book yourself and how many years has it been that audio books have brought joy to readers? Some wouldn’t have any other avenue to read if not for audio books.

Graphic novels and manga started becoming more in-line to what a library has to offer. Then video games became a viable check-out. Music and other “Things” are a part of many libraries. With technology entering into the world, libraries have made in-roads to provide internet services and other technology based services to your patrons.

Many of you have also become counselors of a sort. People share their stories with you – good and bad / happy and sad. You listen in grace and try to give the person a pleasant experience in your library, which could be the only pleasant experience they get for the day. Some tears may fall, but happiness and willingness is your stock and trade.

The best part about this is that it doesn’t matter where you fall within your community all are welcome into the library.

Thank you for all you do and enjoy the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday with your families.

Free Birding Backpack

If any of your libraries would be interested in a FREE Birding Backpack (binoculars, backpack, and related literature, etc), it would greatly appreciated if you could fill out this survey:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd3LibbqASts4wus_4G-zElle02R9XcZ2mb02N0XuUgLlFPDQ/viewform?usp=sf_link
The Audubon of Kansas is working on getting grants to get Birding Backpacks in as many libraries in Kansas as possible.  They are using this survey to help figure out the logistics of this project and fill out the grant paperwork as completely as possible.

If you have any questions Laurie Crawford at Stevens County Library has offered to answer them. Thank you to her for her work in this area and sharing with the System Members.

ALA – Carrying Accessibility Forward Webinar

Wednesday, December 1, 2021 (11AM PT / 12PM MT / 1PM CT / 2PM ET)

Free Online Event  

This past year certainly cast a spotlight on the importance of accessibility in online teaching and learning. Accessibility, however, is more than best practice checklists, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), or legalities. Join us as our presenter, Katie Quirin Manwiller, Education Librarian and Assistant Professor at West Chester University, shares her knowledge of disability and accessibility, addressing what the future could hold for universal design for learning (UDL) and practical ways to implement UDL in online instruction.

Attendance is Free! Register through ALA Events Link Here

Rural Library Summit

I know this is the same date as the “Carrying Accessibility Forward” Webinar. So I’m afraid if you are interested in both you might have to chose one or the other. You could also register for both and jump over to the “Carrying Accessibility Forward” webinar during it’s 1:00 pm time frame and then jump back over to the Rural Library Summit.

Save the Children and Partners for Education at Berea College are pleased to announce that the second annual Rural Library Summit will be held Wednesday, December 1, 2021. The Summit will explore how libraries can support cradle-to-career solutions by growing their impact on improving third-grade reading, combating food insecurities and enhancing mental health.

In addition to the opportunities for learning at the Summit, Save the Children is proud to offer $7,500 worth of support material to Rural Library Summit participants. Fourteen attendees will be randomly selected to win the prizes listed below.

1 grand prize winner – $2,500 to shop on STEMfinity

3 winners – $1,000 each to shop on Scholastic

10 winners – $200 Vroom Kits

To win, you must be present during the Summit and be a member of the Rural Library Network. Join the Network for Free Here.

For more information about the Summit schedule, including keynotes and breakout speakers, please visit our website. To register for the Summit, click here.

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Cataloging, Collection Development, and ILL

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After-Lunch Course with Jamie LaRue

After-lunch course with Jamie LaRue, HR management: The 20 second talk

December 9 @ 1:30pm CST

Have you ever worked with someone who should have been fired? Have you noticed that sometimes we go 20 years avoiding a 20 second talk? This workshop focuses on how to build a script for a crucial conversation, predicated on courtesy, clarity, and communication.

Register in advance for this free workshop:
https://kslib.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAvceGtpzgvGtSFmxzg2aVEGpfrgI1A49aX

(After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.)

LaRue is the former executive director of the ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, and the Freedom to Read Foundation. Author of “The New Inquisition: Understanding and Managing Intellectual Freedom Challenges,” LaRue was a public library director for many years (including a 24 year tenure as director of the Douglas County Libraries in Colorado), as well as a weekly newspaper columnist and cable TV host. He has written, spoken, and consulted on leadership and organizational development, community engagement, and the future of libraries.You can visit the After-lunch course recording archive by visiting: https://systems.mykansaslibrary.org/–look under the “Archive” heading near the bottom right of the regional system’s homepage to view the courses from earlier this year.

Penguin Random House Grants for Small & Rural Libraries

For those that might have missed this in the latest ARSL Newsletter I wanted to place it in the SWKLS Newsletter as well. This is a challenge grant so your application might not be chosen. However, you aren’t in the running unless you try. The wording says it can be used for anything to include programming. This might be able to help you with an upcoming program event at your library.

Through the generosity of Penguin Random House, we are please to announce the establishment of a new grant opportunity for small and rural libraries nationwide!

Not all applications will be selected for funding. If selected, grants will be awarded for up to $2,500.

This is a rolling grant application, with batches of applications going under review every 8 weeks beginning December 17, 2021.  Applications will be accepted until all available grant funds are distributed. Please visit our website for a list of grant application deadlines.

This program will award grants to libraries that demonstrate a true need. Grants are not limited to literacy and may be used for everything from library programming and books to resources like hotspots that help community members access important information. In-kind donations will also be considered.

Promotional Posters for Libraries

Amanda Harrison posted a link on the KASL ListServ about the company Alexandria posting free downloadable posters on their website. I went to the site and downloaded a file to try it out.

The posters are downloaded in a Zip File so you will need to extract the files to be able to print the poster. I did not get any type of information request from the company asking who was downloading the poster file. Check out what they have to offer at Alexandria’s Site. Below is a sample of one of the posters:

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Cataloging, Collection Development, and ILL

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Kansas Reads to Preschoolers Month

November is here and the State of Kansas has named this month Read to Preschoolers Month. This year’s book is Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard. During this month you can read to your community’s preschool age children, using Grump Bird that the State Library sent out to each of the State’s libraries. You also use can 3 videos during your Storytime through the State Library’s YouTube channel. Check them out below. If you take pictures of your reading please share them with Jody so she can place them in upcoming Weekly Wrap UPs.

You also have this current website for resources such as bookmarks and banners: Kansas Reads to Preschoolers Resource Page

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New Information Resource for Children: 1-800-Children

Save This Resource! 1-800-Children

• 1-800-CHILDREN staff are in your corner providing anonymous, judgement-free support. Families can easily connect with the information, local resources, and support they need 24/7, even if what they need is just a listening ear. No question is off limits! 1-800-CHILDREN is available in English, Spanish and 200 additional languages. In addition to calling, you can reach 1-800-CHILDREN by sending a text or email to: 1800Children@kcsl.org.
• 1800ChildrenKS.org is a searchable database of statewide resources. You can download the mobile phone app 1800ChildrenKS for free whenever you find your apps to search a mobile friendly version of the resource database.
• If you are a provider who would like promotional materials or more information about the 1-800-Children resource please email Kansas Children’s Service League’s Community Engagement & Marketing Coordinator Kaitlyn Moore at kamoore@kcsl.org

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Cataloging, Collection Development, and ILL

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