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System Spotlight

by SWKLS Staff

Kearny County Library Lights Up Christmas Parade

Kismet Public Library Hosts Gingerbread House Workshop

From Director Suzan Nelson: Decorating gingerbread houses has become a tradition in Kismet. The 9^th annual Gingerbread Workshop hosted by the Kismet Public Library was a success!  Saturday December 10^th over 35 gingerbread houses were decorated by all ages. Parents and grandparents were on hand as well with over 80 in attendance.

Santa and the Grinch made a special stop for pictures.

Future Dates & Training Opportunities

January 10, 2023 – Train U.P. “Retention Schedule Pt 1/Registration Link

January 20, 2023 at 10:00 am – Online System Board Meeting/

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Consulting

By Richard Brookman

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January Train UP! – Record Retention Pt 1

The January Train UP! has been moved to January 10 to allow for the System staff and our members to get back into the swing of things. The Train UP! will be the first part of the Record Retention Schedule for Public Libraries in Kansas, created by former CKLS Consultant Chris Rippel. This retention schedule was approved on the State level and is an official retention schedule for public libriaies. The Zoom session will start at 2:00 pm as normal and the link will go out to our libraries the week before and day of. You can register for the January 10 Train UP! here.

Start of Template Policies

As mentioned in the last System Board Meeting, Chris has placed the three template policies I worked up on the System’s Wiki Page. The first three policies are: Collection Development and Management; Gifts/Donations/Memorials; and Photography and Video Policy. These policies are in Word so you can download them and edit them to fit your community. These templates give you a starting point.

The next few policies I will be working on after the New Year will be Circulation and Patron Privacy policies. Once those are complete Chris will add them to the Wiki.

To access the template policies you can follow this link.

End of Year Things To Do

With the coming end of year you can start getting ready for the New Year. When you do your final payroll for the 2022 calendar year you can begin by doing your end of year taxes and start preparing your Employees W-2’s. Employers have until the end of January to have their Employees W-2’s finished and supplied to them.

Also January brings about the State Annual Survey. You can start gathering statistics after the new year. Alice Smith, of the State Library, hasn’t sent out the links to the 2022 survey as of this writing, but it will be coming forthwith. Once I am back in the office, I will start looking at scheduling 3 – 4 work days around the region for our member directors to have quiet places to work on their survey.

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Cataloging, Collection Development, and ILL

By Sara Wilson

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Collection Development Inspiration

In literary news, this week . . .

Children’s Book Made Using Artificial Intelligence

Ammaar Reshi has caused a controversy with the release of his new children’s book, Alice and Sparkle. What’s the hubbub about? Reshi’s illustrator and co-creator is a robot! Authors and illustrators are up in arms about the release of the book which took Reshi a weekend to put together. Does it undermine the creative community, or is it an exciting experiment, showcasing the possibilities of AI for future projects? Click here to read more and tell us where you come down on the issue.

New Resources for You!

These items were recently added to our SWKLS STEAM Collection. For more information about the STEAM Collection or to request to borrow items from the STEAM collection, contact SWKLS Technology Supervisor Steve Andrews by calling the office or emailing him at sandrews@swkls.org. (The link below the image is clickable and will take you to this item in our Verso!)

In Case You Missed It . . .

From Alan Mask, Auto-Graphics Customer Service Manager:

Hello,

Auto-Graphics, Inc. will be closed on Dec 26 and Jan 2 in observance of the Christmas and New Year’s Day.  For any emergencies, please use this email: emergencysupport@auto-graphics.com.

On behalf of Auto-Graphics, we wish you all the happiest of Holidays.

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Technology

By: SWKLS Staff

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System Spotlight

by SWKLS Staff

Kinsley Public Library Stars in Local Christmas Parade

Stevens County Library Participates in City’s First Lighted Santa Parade

Future Dates & Training Opportunities

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Consulting

By Richard Brookman

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System Board Meeting December 16

The December System Board meeting will be held on Friday the 16 at 10:00 am CT. This meeting is an on-line meeting only. Please register for the meeting at this link. The Zoom Link has been established. To enter the meeting you will use the Zoom link.

Knowledge For Everyone Webinar

Library Journal is having a webinar sponsored by SirsiDynix entitled “Knowledge for Everyone: How Open Access in Discovery Furthers Your Library’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Goals”. It will be held December 14 at 10:00 am CT. This webinar will focus on “Open Access content” that “promises equitable access without paywall barriers, thus helping to level the playing field for users without privilege”.

The panel of presenters for this webinar are: Chris Baker, Circulation Librarian, Presell R. Robinson Library; Thedis Bryant, Interim Director of Library Services, Alabama A&M University; Mantra Henderson, Director of Library Services, James H. White Library, Mississippi Valley State University; and Rick Branham, VP Pre-Sales, Academic & Content Solutions, CloudSource OA, will be the moderator.

If you are interest you can register for the webinar using this link.

Continuing Education through the System and State Library

Most have finished the year for the Accreditation requirements. For those that haven’t or for next year, remember that the System office has recorded several session of Continuing Education and the State Library of Kansas has WebJunction for Continuing Education. The WebJunction page has links for upcoming training sessions as well as archived training sessions. You will need to create an account with WebJunction, however it is a free account.

If you watch any of these sessions through the System’s Wiki Page or the State Library’s WebJunction Page, remember to email Richard the name of the session you watched and how long the session was so he can update you or your staff’s Continuing Education File.

Here are the links to both webpages for online Continuing Education Training:

Southwest Kansas Library System Wiki Page and

State Library of Kansas WebJunction Page.

Talking Books Presentations

If you would like to have your library sponsor a Talking Books presentation at your library or at a different community location (Senior Centers are the most common locations) please contact Richard and he can coordinate with you on a date and time for the presentation. Remember this service is provided through a Federal/State wide BPH Grant so their is no cost to the library for the program.

Also if each of you could let Richard know when your community is having a Health Fair it would be greatly appreciated. Part of the grant is to allow the Talking Books representative to go to your local Health Fairs and set up a booth and discuss the service with attendees of the Health Fair.

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Cataloging, Collection Development, and ILL

By Sara Wilson

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In literary news, this week . . .

Best of 2022 Lists

The year isn’t over yet, but a lot of book blogs and news outlets are already reflecting on 2022 and listing their favorite reads in different genres. Literary Hub published their 38 Favorite Books of 2022, Book Riot published their 10 Best Historical Fiction Books of 2022, Time Magazine announced their 10 Best Nonfiction Books of 2022 list, the New York Times listed what they think is the Best Poetry of 2022 as well as the Best Crime Novels of 2022, Entertainment Weekly gave us their 10 Best Romance Novels of 2022, and The Guardian came out with their list of The Best Comics and Graphic Novels of 2022. These might make great end-of-year displays in your library or give you some acquisition inspiration. 🙂 How do your best-of lists compare?

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A Makerspace for Everyone

What if makerspaces went mainstream? What if makerspaces existed in every community, from urban to rural? Robin Hooker asks these questions and invites us to examine the possibilities that exist when we offer maker communities a place to converge and create.

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Technology

By: SWKLS Staff

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More New Computers

Still working on additional new computers coming in and making runs to install. Thanks to everyone during this time with your patience.

Future Dates & Training Opportunities

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Consulting

By Richard Brookman

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December Train UP! DEI Policy and Procedure

In this work shop Casandra Norin, Director of Seward County Community College Library, will provide information on what a library should consider when developing a Diversity/Inclusivity Policy and Procedure.

Join her Tuesday, December 6, at 2:00 pm CT through the System’s Zoom room to participate in this discussion. You can register through this link.

Zoom Link: https://kslib.zoom.us/j/92391825887

System Board Meeting December 16

The December System Board meeting will be held on Friday the 16 at 10:00 am CT. This meeting is an on-line meeting only. Please register for the meeting at this link. The Zoom link will be sent out next week with the agenda and it will also be in next week’s Weekly Wrap UP.

I Love My Kansas Library

Shelly O’Brien is coordinating the new Kansas Library Public Relations Campaign called “I Love My Kansas Library”. This campaign is to get the word out about how Kansas libraries uplift our communities. They want everyone from decision-makers, parents, and those who might not have been in a library for years to become aware of the positivity that libraries bring to their communities.

Part of this effort to spotlight Kansas libraries is the creation of the website for “I Love My Kansas Library”. The website just went live at the first of December and you can now visit it through this link.

Shelly is asking that each library share the word about the website. If you can place the link to the “I Love My Kansas Library” on your library’s website, mention the site through your Facebook account and other possible social media outlets it would be appreciated. They are also working on setting up “I Love My Kansas Library” social media accounts, with Instagram being the first created. They will send out more information as additional social media accounts are established.

The site is meant to be a place where you can share your stories about your library and how it interacts with the community. Shelly would enjoy placing your stories on the website by sending them to her through her email – sobrien@nekls.org

December Talks with Ted

The next Talks with Ted from Auto-Graphics is scheduled for Tuesday December 13 at 10:00 am CT. These sessions are made available for librarians to ask Ted questions about the VERSO ILS system. You can send in questions ahead of time to give Ted time to research an answer if needed. To submit a question you will need to do so with this form.

To register for this month’s Talks with Ted follow this link.

2022 Rural Library Network E-Summit

On the afternoons of December 7 and 8 an invitation has been sent out for librarians to attend the 2022 Rural Library Network E-Summit. “The Library Summit is a prominent event for practitioners addressing educational and health disparities and complements the work of other rural and small library organizations by driving resources to rural libraries.”

Some of the programs you will be able to chose from are: “A Parent Nation: Partnering with Families to Support Children’s Learning”; “Rural Libraries as Anchors”; “Seeking Funding Through Grants and other Sources” (two-parter); “From Advocacy to Activism”; and “Let’s Talk About Teens”. This is set up in a conference style so you will have to chose which sessions you want to attend.

If you are interested in attending the Summit you can get more information and register through this link.

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Cataloging, Collection Development, and ILL

By Sara Wilson

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In literary news, this week . . .

Bob Dylan is Making Waves

Bob Dylan’s new book The Philosophy of Modern Song, that debuted November 1st, has been making waves across news outlets, from a recent controversy when fans realized that the autographed, special edition copies they’d purchased were not, in fact, hand-signed by the author to the recent comparisons between Dylan’s book and Quentin Tarantino’s Cinema Speculation, which also debuted around the same time. If you have Bob Dylan’s latest book, now would be a great time to put it on display!

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Newly Cataloged Resources for You!

These are resources that SWKLS has had available to our member libraries, but we’ve recently cataloged them and want to remind you that they are available exclusively for SWKLS member libraries to checkout and demo! The are not available on ILL, so if you want to check them out, you’ll have to contact the SWKLS office. For more information, contact Steve Andrews by calling the office or emailing him at sandrews@swkls.org. Our checkout procedures for technology equipment can be found on our website. Coming soon: Checkout procedures for our newly minted SWKLS STEAM Collection.

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Technology

By: SWKLS Staff

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New Computers, coming and going

We’re working on new computers as they come in slowly creating a computer warehouse in our office and scheduling trips as quickly as we can, making our way down the list, and adjusting your inventories as we go along to reflect any changes!

If you’re not sure where you stand on Windows 11 compatible computers in your library you can check your inventory at the following link:
https://forms.swkls.org/inventory/index.php

E-Rate 2023-2024

Our E-rate consultant, Toby Sykes, has begun sending emails concerning the upcoming 2023-2024 E-rate cycle. As a reminder, I am copied on all of these emails so no need to forward anything from Toby to me. Please be sure to read these emails as some of our libraries will need to submit new Letters of Authorization for Toby to handle your filings. In a few cases your EPC portal primary administrator account may need to be updated with new Director information which will typically require contacting the EPC helpdesk. Instructions for all of this are contained within Toby’s email(s) if needed.

Toby usually sends out emails prior to the end of the year asking about any anticipated changes or purchases beforehand. The SWKLS tech team will begin reviewing Category One (Internet access) and Category Two (equipment) needs after the first of the year, and once we have a chance to review your library’s needs I’ll reach out to everyone.

Future Dates & Training Opportunities

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Consulting

By Richard Brookman

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Being Thankful

This is the time of year that we are encouraged to stop for a moment and consider all that we are thankful for. It’s not saying that we can’t be thankful throughout the whole year. It’s just a reminder on the calendar that we should take stock of everything that has happened through this year to give thanks.

As many know, the year has been full of peaks and valleys. Every year is like this. Within our libraries each of you have gone through those valleys, whether it be budgeting, reconsiderations, or just some interactions with patrons that you wish you never had to have. The valleys can be difficult to get out of, but concentrate on the bright light ahead and reach that summit to see the wondrousness of your library.

Think of the patron that left the library with a smile on their face because you took the time to stop and say hi and visit with them. Or even better when you see a patron come through your doors with an excited look on their face because the book or movie they have been waiting for is finally able to be put in the library or you got it for them through interlibrary loan and they can check it out. I bet you had a smile on your face when they left and the sense that you had a hand in making that persons day.

Many of our libraries through whatever means were able to add to their services for their communities. You working and taking the time with other entities brought about the new services being introduced in your library. Take pride that your library brought these services to your patrons. Show them how the services work to make their experiences at the library better and they will be thankful as well.

Some of our libraries have finished remodels or gearing up for them. This is a stressful time for you, but remember the excitement that you had when all of this began and the excitement you will have or had once the project is complete. When the project is complete you will see your patrons come in and their faces will light up in amazement on how everything worked out and how beautiful the library looks.

The programming that each of you do throughout the year is hard work. From coordinating the events and/or doing the program yourself with your library staff. Many do not see the work that goes into programming at the library and I know how exhausted your are from beginning to end. However, remember to think of those children, teens, and/or adults that came and had a fun time at your library and left with smiles on their faces saying they can’t wait until the next event. This should bring warmth to your heart.

As System representatives each of you also put in time to be at our meetings and being a part of the System’s committees and/or officers. You have also assisted the System and it’s membership when we call out for presenters to make workshops more enjoyable and hear what is happening and working in other libraries that might be something others can take back to their local library. This is a gift you give each time you do something of this nature.

Everything mentioned above is because of you, the director, the staff that assist you, and your library boards having faith in themselves and you to bring about these positive experiences to your community.

I am also thankful for the staff we have here at the System office. We have had some changes, but we are moving forward. Each of the staff has worked hard in being available for our members. We are here to assist you in what your library is endeavoring. Even our members that don’t contact us as much as others, please contact us and we will help you to the best of our abilities. Even if it is just printing posters for an event at your library, we would be glad to help and take that bit of stress off your plate.

The staff themselves are a pleasure to work with. They help me in making sure the office is running smoothly and the membership is getting services that are needed. Being able to come to the office in a familial atmosphere has brought us together. Each will help the other when needed and that is something I truly appreciate.

Because of all of this the System office and I are truly thankful for you, your staff, and boards. Be thankful with us in celebrating you and your communities.

To the System Staff a heart felt thanks from me to you. You make this enjoyable.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Cataloging, Collection Development, and ILL

By Sara Wilson

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In literary news, this week . . .

NPR’s Read List of “Books We Love” is Out

Looking for collection development inspiration, or even just your next good read? NPR (National Public Radio) continues their tradition of publishing their list of “Books We Love,” in its 10th year. This year, there are over 400 selections! To read their list – and look over past years’ lists – click here!

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New Resources for You!

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Technology

By: SWKLS Staff

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Future Dates & Training Opportunities

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Consulting

By Richard Brookman

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After Lunch Course with Sharon Morris

The last After Lunch Course for the 2022 year will be held December 8 at 1:30 pm CT. The title of the webinar is “Lead from Where You Are” with Sharon Morris. As the title suggest the webinar is “focusing on leadership skills that apply to everyone”. This is to be an interactive session for you to “learn about the research on behaviors of effective leaders and identify your leadership strengths”, and, “walk away with strategies and a plan to grow yourself and others in leadership behaviors.”

Sharon Morris has a doctorate in Managerial Leadership in Libraries from Simmons College and attended Emporia State for her MLIS. She has provided workshops nationally on library leadership and development topics and has co-created several leadership institutes.

If you are interested in attending the this After Lunch Course you can register through this link.

Cultivating Affirmation & Belonging Seminar/CSLP’s Virtual Summer Symposium Links Live

The registration links for the “Cultivating Affirmation & Belonging for LGBTQIA+ Youth” seminar and CSLP’s Virtual Summer Symposium are now live.

This “Cultivating Affirmation & Belonging for LGBTQIA+ Youth” seminar is presented by the Kaleidoscope Youth Center’s Director of Education and Outreach, Amanda Erickson, brought to you by CSLP’s Inclusion Committee. “Participants will learn about implicit bias, the complexity and depth of gender, and explanation of acronyms. The participants will be given strategies to create a welcoming environment in their library and their library’s summer reading program for LGBTQIA+ youth.” The seminar will be on November 22, 2022, beginning at 1:00 pm CT.

The Collaborative Summer Library Program Symposium is being held virtually December 8, 2022. It will begin at 10:00 am CT and last until 3:30 pm CT. The day will include: a keynote from Tracie D. Hall, Executive Director of ALA, addressing “The Library as a Civic Bridge and Community Learning Hub”; “Summer Library Outreach to Underserved Children and Caregivers”; “All Together Now with Intergenerational Summer Programming”; and “Decorating Together”.

Registration Links:

Cultivating Affirmation & Belonging for LGBTIA+ Youth” Seminar Registration Link

CSLP’s Virtual Summer Symposium Registration Link

Safety on Spotlight Webinar for Libraries

The Public Library Association, Urban Libraries Council, and The Association of Rural & Small Libraries have joined together to offer a webinar on “Safety on Spotlight: Addressing Threats in Public Libraries. The webinar will be held on November 30, 2022, at 1:00 pm CT.

The webinar will cover and give ideas for libraries on how to:

• “Support colleagues and communities facing attacks on their libraries;
• Recognize the impact of trauma on library work and library workers in times of uncertainty or threats;
• Understand and be able to use de-escalation techniques in responding to library safety and security issues; and
• Identify resources and opportunities for support to help manage the emotional impact of being on the receiving end of threatening behavior.”

The panelists will include: Maria McCauley, Director of Libraries for the City of Cambridge (MA); Justin Lock, Senior Counsel to the Director for the US Department of Justice, Community Relations Service; Manya Shorr, Director of the Fort Worth (TX) Public Library; Leah Esguerra, a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist; and Dustin Koopman, Director of Security at Mid-Continent Public Library (Independence, MO).

If you are interested in this webinar you can register through this link.

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Cataloging, Collection Development, and ILL

By Sara Wilson

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In literary news, this week . . .

The Brooklyn Public Library Announces Its Most Borrowed Book Ever

The Brooklyn Public Library first opened its doors 125 years ago and now, they are ready to share with the world what their most checked out book of all time has been. It’s a children’s book, they have 163 copies of it (according to NPR), and it’s a banned book! Can you guess what it is? Click here to see if you’re right.

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Training and Education

This week, I thought I would share this inspirational TED Talk by author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie about the importance of acknowledging different points of view in literature. The ALA’s Library Bill of Rights tells us that as librarians, we have a responsibility to offer our communities a balanced look at the world through our collections and Ms. Adichie highlights why we should all have access to more than a single story about a person, place, or concept.

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Technology

By: Steve Andrews

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New Computers

New computer orders are shipping fairly quick and we’ve received about two-thirds of the outstanding orders at this point. We’ve begun scheduling visits this week to deploy what we have ready. The first model of desktop computer that we received a quote on has ran out of stock but we do have another model with similar specs and pricing still showing availability. As a reminder, all new computers will be loaded with Windows 11!

E-Rate 2023-2024

Our E-rate consultant, Toby Sykes, has begun sending emails concerning the upcoming 2023-2024 E-rate cycle. As a reminder, I am copied on all of these emails so no need to forward anything from Toby to me. Please be sure to read these emails as some of our libraries will need to submit new Letters of Authorization for Toby to handle your filings. In a few cases your EPC portal primary administrator account may need to be updated with new Director information which will typically require contacting the EPC helpdesk. Instructions for all of this are contained within Toby’s email(s) if needed.

Toby usually sends out emails prior to the end of the year asking about any anticipated changes or purchases beforehand. The SWKLS tech team will begin reviewing Category One (Internet access) and Category Two (equipment) needs after the first of the year, and once we have a chance to review your library’s needs I’ll reach out to everyone.

If your staff computer is displaying a message concerning the free upgrade to Windows 11 we encourage you to let allow / proceed with the upgrade. Our advice is to do this toward the end of the day near closing as the process does take a bit of time. If you encounter any issues please let us know.

Please note that this upgrade cannot be processed on patron computers due to Deep Freeze, so the SWKLS tech team will need to do that for any compatible patron computer.

Future Dates & Training Opportunities

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Consulting

By Richard Brookman

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Grants for Small & Rural Libraries

The American Library Association has opened it’s Libraries Transforming Communities grant for small and rural libraries. Selected libraries will receive: $10,000 to $20,000 to support costs related to a community engagement project; virtual training in developing their community engagement; facilitation & disability service skills; a suite of online resources to support local programs; and project support through ALA Public Programs office during the grant term.

The grant is open to libraries that serve small and rural libraries in the U.S. and U.S. territories. Small and rural libraries are defined for this grant as a library located in an area that is more than, or equal to, five miles from an urbanized area and with a population of 25,000 or less.

Libraries can apply online now until February 28, 2023 at this link. Up to 300 libraries will be awarded in this application period. Additional information and guidelines of the grant can be found at this link.

CSLP’s Virtual Summer Symposium

The Collaborative Summer Library Program Symposium is being held virtually December 8, 2022. It will begin at 10:00 am CT and last until 3:30 pm CT. The day will include: a keynote from Tracie D. Hall, Executive Director of ALA, addressing “The Library as a Civic Bridge and Community Learning Hub”; “Summer Library Outreach to Underserved Children and Caregivers”; “All Together Now with Intergenerational Summer Programming”; and “Decorating Together”.

If anyone is interested registration will open Monday, November, 14, 2022. Even though registration isn’t open yet you can find additional information at the following link.

Cultivating Affirmation & Belonging Seminar

Also on Monday November 14, registration will be opening for the “Cultivating Affirmation & Belonging for LGBTQIA+ Youth” seminar, registration link will be sent out went it goes live. Information can be found at the same link as the CSLP’s Virtual Summer Program Symposium link.

This seminar is presented by the Kaleidoscope Youth Center’s Director of Education and Outreach, Amanda Erickson, brought to you by CSLP’s Inclusion Committee. “Participants will learn about implicit bias, the complexity and depth of gender, and explanation of acronyms. The participants will be given strategies to create a welcoming environment in their library and their library’s summer reading program for LGBTQIA+ youth.”

The seminar itself will be on November 22, 2022, at 1:00 pm CT.

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Cataloging, Collection Development, and ILL

By Sara Wilson

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In literary news, this week . . .

Chris Farley’s Brother Working on a Graphic Novel

Kevin Farley, brother of the late comedian, Chris Farley, is working to bring to us a graphic novel memoir about growing up in Wisconsin, in the Farley family. His memoir, entitled Growing Up Farley: A Chris Farley Story is set to be published in the fall of 2023 (Schaub, 2022). Many of remember Chris for his work on Saturday Night Live and his roles in comedy movies such as Tommy Boy and Black Sheep. This graphic novel is sure to be one that fans will enjoy. For more detailed information, see this link.

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Training and Education

Free seminar! Suicide Prevention for Veterans, Service Members, Families, and Communities. From Webjunction: “Libraries are well positioned to provide information and referral services to connect Veterans and members of military communities with Veterans Health Administration programs and initiatives that address risks and protective factors for suicidal behaviors. Join us for this webinar with presenters from the Veterans Health Administration Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, who will provide an introduction to military culture and share how libraries can help raise awareness of the resources available to Veterans, their families, and other members of military communities.” This seminar is available November 15th.

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Future Dates & Training Opportunities

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System Spotlight

By SWKLS Staff

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HAPPY HALLOWEEN

FROM PLAINS COMMUNITY LIBRARY

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Consulting

By Richard Brookman

Daylight Savings Time

Just a quick reminder for everyone about Daylight Savings Time. Sunday, November 6, Daylight Savings Time Ends. So remember to set your clocks back 1 hour!

Election Day and Veterans Day Activities

This next week has two events you can spotlight, by making displays or joining in with your community on local programs.

The first event, November 8, is Election Day. Make displays of past Presidents/Governors and/or National/State Legislators using books, Blu-rays or pictures. Honor the past and encourage voters to make their voices heard. For those that are not able to vote, provide instructions/pamphlets on how they can register to vote for the next election.

Next is Veterans Day on November 11. If your library has multiple display areas you can have the Election Day display and a Veterans display in the other display area. Your communities will also host events for Veterans day. To show your support you could look into who is providing the program and see if their is anything your library could do to assist them. They might have it covered for this year, but they could put you down as a helper for next year.

Family Creative Learning Workshop

November 10, 2022, PLIX is teaming up with Ricarose Roque and Celeste Moreno of Creative Communities group at University of Colorado Boulder. The workshop will discuss how you can host your own Family Creative Learning Facilitated Workshop and is free to all who would like to attend.

‘The program this group has developed is a workshop series that engages children and their families to learn together—as designers and inventors—through the use of creative technologies. These workshops are designed to build on families’ relationships and cultural backgrounds and to strengthen their social support and expertise around computing.’

If this sounds interesting to consider for your library you can register through this site.

Early Literacy Symposium

The 2023 Early Literacy Symposium is set for April 14, 2023, at the Shawnee-Topeka County Public Library. Registration opens January 11, 2023, however the System Consultant Representatives encourage anyone interested to register as early as possible, because the sets are limited and they have sold out in the past. There is a $20.00 registration fee.

“This engaging session will bring together early childhood educators and library and museum professionals who work with families of children aged birth through Kindergarten and their families. 

Through a combination of professional instruction and group interaction, we will explore three key topics:

• Engineering and Empathy – helping young children explore STEM concepts
• Mind in the Making – promoting and practicing executive function life skills
• Family Engagement – best practices, given a pandemic

Sponsored by North Central Kansas Libraries System and Northeast Kansas Library System. Contact Sandy Wilkerson (swilkerson@nckls.org) or Anna Foote (afoote@nekls.org).”       

For additional information you can visit their website here.

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Cataloging, Collection Development, and ILL

By Sara Wilson

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In literary news, this week . . .

Penguin Random House/Simon & Schuster Merger Blocked by Court

From Andrew Albanese at Publisher’s Weekly: ” [. . .] The order comes a little over two months since the conclusion of a blockbuster trial that captivated the publishing industry, and nearly two years since Penguin Random House parent Bertelsmann announced its proposed acquisition of Viacom CBS subsidiary Simon & Schuster for a hefty $2.175 billion.

On November 2, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice announced its suit to block the deal, with U.S. attorney general Merrick Garland saying the deal, if consummated, would give Penguin Random House ‘unprecedented control over this important industry.'”

Here is a link to the rest of the article: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/90798-court-blocks-penguin-random-house-s-s-merger.html

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Training and Education

From the State Library of Kansas: “Join PBS Books, WETA, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and ALA to learn about THE U.S. AND THE HOLOCAUST, a film by Ken Burns, Lynn Novick & Sarah Botstein and free educational resources available to engage in this important topic.” THE US AND THE HOLOCAUST Resources Webinar for Libraries (Programming Librarian). This webinar is available November 8!

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Technology

As many of you are aware, Microsoft has released the new Windows 11 operating system for general availability. Bernardo and I have examined the hardware requirements for the current computer inventories of our members and have added an extra column to your online inventory view that denotes whether a given computer can be upgraded to Windows 11. (see: https://forms.swkls.org/inventory/)

Overall, 63% of the current computer inventories that SWKLS manages are not compatible with Windows 11. Microsoft will end support for the Windows 10 operating system version on October 14th 2025, which gives roughly three years to make appropriate upgrades or replacements.

The first thing we will need to do is ensure that each of our member libraries obtain a single (1) Windows 11 volume license so that the SWKLS I.T. department can legally re-image / reload your Windows 11 computers as they are purchased or as they need servicing. As a reminder, new computer purchases are shipped to the SWKLS office so that they can be re-imaged with the correct settings and applications before being physically deployed at your library. This process (re-imaging) requires that the member library owns at least one volume license key for the operating system version being used. The current price for a single (1) Windows 11 license is currently $55.82. We can add this onto your next new computer order.

In regards to getting across the finish line with the Windows 10 end of support in 2025 and transition to Windows 11, there are a few different options.

The first option is purchasing / replacing non-compatible computers. New computers are already shipping with windows 11 from the manufacturers and SWKLS is ready to support them. New orders will be for computers that run Windows 11.

The second option is taking advantage of a free upgrade for compatible computers. Microsoft is offering a free upgrade to Windows 11 through Windows update for computers that meet the new minimum hardware requirements. This is similar to the free upgrade option that Microsoft provided Windows 7 users when they released Windows 10 back in 2015. Eligible computers can be determined by using the inventory page (see: https://forms.swkls.org/inventory/).

The third option is to look at your actual need for patron / staff computers and determine if some could be eliminated. With the decrease in computer usage as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by uncertainty of a rebound in usage afterwards, many of our member libraries elected to decrease their patron computer count afterwards as the demand had not returned. The caveat here is to be sure you are within accreditation guidelines for computer count (see: https://wiki.swkls.org/index.php?title=Accreditation_Computer_Requirements)

As next year will be an accreditation application year which also entails an updated technology plan, I wanted to give you this information ahead of time. I know three years seems a long way off, but I also know that time flies when we are having fun!

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Future Dates & Training Opportunities

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System Spotlight

By Jody Hattrup

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Hanston Public Library Painting Pumpkin Party

Greeley County Library Annual Pumpkin Patch

Kinsley Public Library Event

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Consulting

By Richard Brookman

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October SWKLS Board Meeting

Just a reminder that next Friday, October 21, is the next System Board Meeting. This meeting is an online meeting through this Zoom Link. The meeting will begin at 10:00 am. If you haven’t register yet you can do so through this link.

As everyone knows this will be Jody’s last day with the System. She has accepted a position with Kansas State University and will be moving to Manhattan. I appreciate everything Jody has done for the System Office and Members. From training and helping our members with Social Media questions to the skills as a photographer.

If you would like to send her a message you can do so through her email or send a card to the System Office and we will forward it to her. I and everyone congratulate Jody and wish her well in this new phase of her life. She will be missed, but again we congratulate her.

ALA Traveling Exhibit Applications Open

The American Library Association has two traveling exhibits that they are opening applications for libraries to apply to host the exhibit in their library. The first is “Exploring Origins: Promoting a National Conversation on Human Evolution” and the second is “World on the Move: 250,000 Years of Human Migration”.

“Exploring Origins” Traveling Exhibit

For the “Exploring Origins” ALA is collaborating with the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Applications have been open since September 12 and will close on November 7, 2022. Six libraries will be selected to host the exhibit. This exhibit is to encourage libraries and patrons to “engage…across a wide spectrum – from those who do not question the scientific study of human origins to those who are troubled by its findings…”.

“Selected libraries will receive:

• The traveling exhibition for a six- to nine-week loan period
• $1,000 to support programming
• Presentation of three to four programs at each site by the NMNH Human Origins Program (at no cost to host sites)
• A set of five early human skull replicas, which may be circulated to local science educators 
• Virtual training on exhibition content and exhibition set-up
• Extensive online and printed program resources
• Programming and technical support from ALA staff

In addition to hosting the exhibition, selected libraries will host a formal opening event and create a project consultation panel comprised of community members to serve as advisors for developing local programs and conducting community discussions about evolution, among other requirements.”

If you are interested in “Exploring Human Origins” traveling exhibit at your library, you can make the jump to the webpage to learn more and find the links to the application, project guidelines, FAQs, and an application preview.

“World on the Move” Traveling Exhibit

The “World on the Move” exhibit was developed by the American Anthropological Asso. and the Smithsonian’s Center for Folklore and Cultural Heritage. Applications have been open since October 10 and will close on November 14, 2022. For this exhibit fifteen public libraries will be selected “to host the 1000-square foot exhibit for approximately five weeks.”

“World on the Move brings the lens of science, history, and lived experience to a timely yet timeless topic: migration and displacement. By presenting case studies from across human history and a breadth of cultures, World on the Move will help visitors reframe how they think – and talk – about migration by:

• Recognizing that migration is a shared human experience.
• Appreciating the complexity and diversity of migration stories.
• Feeling safe to discuss issues surrounding migration.
• Sharing migration stories with family members, neighbors, and friends.
• Feeling proud of their family’s migration stories.
•  Gaining greater empathy towards migrants in their communities and elsewhere.

The World on the Move: 250,000 Years of Human Migration tour will be overseen by the ALA Public Programs Office. To stay informed about other ALA traveling exhibitions, grant opportunities, and professional development from the Public Programs Office.”

If you are interested in hosting “World on the Move” at your library, follow this link to their webpage to learn more and find links to the application, project guidelines, FAQs, and an application preview.

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Cataloging, Collection Development, and ILL

By Sara Wilson

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In literary news, this week . . .

Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence Long List Announced

From the American Library Association: “Forty-three books (22 fiction, 21 nonfiction) have been selected for the longlist for the 2023 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction. The six-title shortlist—three each for the fiction and nonfiction medals—will be chosen from longlist titles and announced on November 15, 2022. The two medal winners will be announced by 2023 selection committee chair Stephen Sposato at the Reference and User Services Association’s Book and Media Awards live streaming event, during LibLearnX on Sunday, January 29th at 4:30 p.m. CT. The celebratory event, including presentations by the winners and a featured speaker, will take place at the 2023 ALA Annual Conference in June 2023 in Chicago.

Carnegie Medal winners will each receive $5,000.”

To view the list, please click here.

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Training and Education

For all you ILLers: Don’t forget to attend the SHAREit Q & A scheduled for Wednesday, October 26 at 1 PM CST (12 PM MT)! To register, click on this link: https://attendee.gototraining.com/r/5686791113041189122 and fill out your registration information. The registration form has a space for questions you would like to be answered during the Q & A. If your question exceeds the word limit on the form, you can email it directly to Deborah Hensler, SHAREit Product Manager, at dmh@auto-graphics.com.

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Technology

By Jody Hattrup

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Facebook Changes To Meta Business Suites

Future Dates & Training Opportunities

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System Spotlight

By Jody Hattrup

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Plains’ Director Attends ARLA Conference

The director of Plains Community Library, Sara Munn got the opportunity to go to the ARLA conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee. While at the conference she was able to visit the Chattanooga Public Library. The library had many interesting features such as a sound studio where you can rent out time as well as rent out instruments. They also have equipment set up for a photo studio as a maker space. Sara was able to see some of the sites in Chattanooga which included Ruby Falls. Sara said the city was full of beautiful artwork and it was a great opportunity to attend the ARLA conference.

Kismet Library Ground Breaking

Trip to Emporia, Kansas

Great things are happening at the Rolla Library. This spring, Phoebe Brummett was contacted by Yolanda Robinson, organizer of the 70th Anniversary William Allen White Children’s Book Award celebration. Phoebe was asked if Rolla would be willing to have two students present the book awards on stage to the winning authors. The students that were picked were Abe Weiber a 7th grader and Charlotte Wood a 5th grader. The awards ceremony was to take place on October 1 at Emporia State University. The group then made their way on to Emporia, where they were treated to a private tour of the William Allen White House. Here the students and adults alike learned more about the life of William Allen White. The winning authors soon arrived, and the Rolla students were on their toes, first in line for their autographs. Both authors posed with the children and then the students were off to get settled in the rec center. The group was to be special guests, having breakfast in the VIP room and having lunch with the authors after the presentations were complete. The other 300 guests joined the small group in Webb Hall to listen to the speeches that Charlotte and Abe had written to introduce the authors. The group was tired, glad to be home but happy.  Ms. Phoebe is looking forward to taking a larger group next year once the children all hear the tales from Charlotte and Abe.   

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Consulting

By Richard Brookman

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Cataloging, Collection Development, and ILL

By Sara Wilson

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What’s New in ILL?

Auto-Graphics Offers Q & A About SHAREit!

In case you missed it this week, State Library of Kansas Resource Sharing Librarian Nikki Hansen reminded us that the Sharing About SHAREit Q&A and training event with Auto-Graphics is coming up! This is a great opportunity for ILL staff to learn more about the program. See details below!

Hello all,

The next Sharing about SHAREit Q&A is scheduled for Wednesday, October 26, 2022 at 11am PT / 12pm MT / 1pm CT / 2pm ET.

You can register at: https://attendee.gototraining.com/r/5686791113041189122

There is space on the registration form to ask questions (the field has a limit of 256 characters). If the question is too long, email it directly to Debbie Hensler: dmh@auto-graphics.com.

Thanks, and hope to see you at the next Sharing about SHAREit,

Debbie

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Technology

By Jody Hattrup

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Tech Day+ 2022

Thank you to everyone who traveled for Tech Day+ 2022. SWKLS staff had a lot of fun, we hope you did as well. For those of you who miss Tech Day+ or if you were unable to attend a session you wish you had, we have recorded many of the presentations and you can preview them on the SWKLS Wiki. Click here for the recordings.

Future Dates & Training Opportunities

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System Spotlight

By Jody Hattrup

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Hamilton County Library Display

Kismet Public Library

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Consulting

By Richard Brookman

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SEAL Offers Free Solar Eclipse Glasses to Libraries

In 2023 their will be an Annular Solar Eclipse and then in 2024 there will be a Total Solar Eclipse. “To help libraries have activities around these two events the STAR Library Educations Networks SEAL (Solar Eclipse Activities for Libraries) initiative is distributing approximately 5 million solar eclipse viewing glasses within the 50 states, and US territories and protectorates.”

If you are interested in obtaining solar eclipse viewing glasses for your library you can fill out this registration form. After going to this webpage you will need to go down towards the bottom where there are four blue boxes. The first box is the link to fill out the registration form. The other boxes are opportunities for “Upcoming Eclipse Training”, “Join the STAR Net Eclipse Network Community”, and “Find Eclipse Activities”.

“The application must be completed in one setting, so be prepared for this, because you won’t be able to go back and edit your answers. Applications will be reviewed in the order that they are received and the glasses will be distributed on a first come/first serve basis.

Requirements to receive the glasses are:

1. Be a public library in the U.S., D.C., or in a territory or protectorate;
2. Agree to distribute the glasses for free at the eclipse events; and
3. Provide a signed letter from your library director agreeing to the above.”

Thanks to Audrey, Meade Public Library, for passing along this opportunity for our member libraries.

Free Financial Literacy Money Monsters Story Books

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is offering free Money Monsters books and promotional materials. “The Money Monsters stories introduce young people, grades K-5 to ideas, and activities to help build habits that they’ll need as they grow up and start to manage their own money.”

You can visit their site to see what the CFPB has to offer. The stories look as if they might just be pamphlets. They do offer one Chapter Book. For promotional materials they have Bookmarks, Sticker Sheets, and Posters. If you are interested the items are at no cost to the library, just fill out this order form. They estimate orders should arrive in approximately six weeks.

SER Jobs for Progress, Inc.

The SER Jobs for Progress, Inc. wished for me to relay information about their Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) to our libraries. The program “is funded through the U.S. Department of Labor and focuses on the needs of mature workers, the community, and employers.”

This was explained to me, that if a library wishes to participate they would be assigned a worker with payroll provided by the U.S. Department of Labor. The library director would keep track of hours worked and then it will turned in to the program facilitator. This representative was just visiting with me by chance so their might be some variance to responsibilities of the library. You would need to contact the areas facilitator to get the complete explanation of how the program works.

If you are interest in this program the areas contact person is Brian Diedrich, 300 W. Douglas, Ste 850, Wichita KS 67202, Phone Number is 316-771-6770. The counties covered within this contact person’s area are: Edwards, Ford, Finney, Grant, Haskell, Kearny, Meade, Morton, Ness, Seward, and Stevens.

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Cataloging, Collection Development, and ILL

By Sara Wilson

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Register for This Month’s TrainUP! : Windows & Mirrors

Grant Opportunity to Enhance Your Collection!

In case you missed it this week, State Library of Kansas Reference & Research Librarian Dakota Heard reminded us that the Kansas Notable Book Grant is still accepting applications! Get yours in today! See Dakota’s message for details:

Hello everyone! This is your friendly reminder that the 2022 Kansas Notable Books Grant is still accepting applications on or before September 30, 2022. Applications can be found at https://kslib.info/1491/2022-Notable-Books under the “Grants and Purchasing” Tab. More information on the application process is available below. Please feel free to shoot me an email if you have any questions.

Kansas Notable Books Grant

The State Library of Kansas is committed to promoting literacy, lifelong learning, and access to library materials throughout the state.  To that end, the State Library of Kansas, funded through an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Grant, is announcing a non-competitive grant opportunity for libraries in Kansas to purchase books from the 2022 Kansas Notable Books list.

2022 KS Notable Book list- Each participating Kansas library will be reimbursed for the purchase of a single copy, in any format, of any or all books on the 2022 Kansas Notable Books list. Only the actual cost of the book, less any discounts, will be reimbursed with grant funds. Any shipping costs, sales tax and/or protective book covers are the responsibility of individual recipient libraries. Grant information for 2022, including the application and checklist, is available at https://kslib.info/1491/2022-Notable-Books. All Kansas Notable Book lists can be found at http://kslib.info/notablebooks.

Eligibility

To be eligible:

• A public library, or an academic library (public or private)
  • Must be a participating KICNET and/or OCLC ILL library
• A school library
  • Must have a full-time licensed school media specialist in the district
  • Must be a participating KICNET and/or OCLC ILL library

Library must agree to the terms listed within the Grant and Subgrant Eligibility Policy and Assurances documents available at- http://kslib.info/LSTA.

Terms and Conditions 

The recipient library shall:

• To begin, submit a successful application on or before September 30, 2022
  • (Step 1) Upon acknowledgement of a successful application, purchase books, and send invoices/receipts and required checklist on or before November 15, 2022
  • (Step 2) Sign and return the contract and assurances on or before November 30, 2022
  • (Step 3) Provide a brief evaluation via SurveyMonkey due on or before December 15, 2022
• Promote Kansas Notable Books within your library and/or community through programs, displays, book clubs, or other similar means.
• Further agrees to recognize IMLS in all promotions.

*Please see https://kslib.info/1491/2022-Notable-Books for grant application, checklist, and other information, under the “Grants and Purchasing” tab, in the middle of the page, right side.*

To start the process towards receiving the grant, return a signed copy of the application by library courier, email attachment (Dakota.Heard@ks.gov), or mail to State Library of Kansas, 300 SW 10^th Avenue 312-N, ATTN: Dakota Heard, Topeka, KS 66612 on or before September 30, 2022.

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Technology

By Jody Hattrup

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Today is the last day to register for Tech Day+ 2022