Ida D. McGhee one of the founders of CORI is given the 2020 Library Champion Award by RILA

Ida D. McGhee

Congratulations to Ida D. McGhee in receiving the 2020  Library Champion Award from the (RILA) Rhode Island Library Association for her outstanding work  in building a platform for librarians of color within our state.

Ida is one of the founders of (CORI) Cornucopia of Rhode Island.

Diversity and Inclusion Skills by Library Juice Academy (Online Professional Development for Librarians)

Diversity and Inclusion Skills

This certificate program focuses specifically on skills and concepts related to diversity and inclusion in libraries. The program includes a course introducing a critical race theory approach to understanding structural racism in libraries, as well as courses that focus on strategies to create a more inclusive workplace and library. Some diversity-related programming has been critiqued as focusing too much on demographic representation without addressing underlying structural issues, which can lead to recruiting members of underrepresented minority groups into what may feel like a hostile environment.

The courses in this program instead focus on fostering an inclusive environment, in which library employees and patrons can feel safe being their authentic selves, by building cultural competence and addressing structural barriers to inclusion.

Here's the link:
https://libraryjuiceacademy.com/certificate/diversity-and-inclusion-skills/

12 Novels Featuring Protagonists on the Autism Spectrum (April 2020)

This Autism Awareness month (and every month), it’s important to recognize the need for positive representation in fiction, as well as the amazing impact that neurodiversity has on literature. From alluring love interests to powerful protagonists, novels centering on neurodiverse characters are essential to ensuring proper representation in media. If you’re looking to stock your library with romance, mystery, or adventure, these novels all feature main characters that are either explicitly or implicitly on the autism spectrum.

Here's the link:
https://www.libraryjournal.com/?detailStory=12-novels-featuring-protagonists-on-the-autsim-spectrum

Before Amazon, We Had Bookmobiles: 75 Rare Photos Of Libraries-On-Wheels

Long before Amazon, Audible, and other digital book distributors, bookmobiles were bringing literature to peoples' doorsteps. Their mission was to provide the written word to remote villages and city suburbs that had no libraries. We invite you to remember these almost forgotten four-wheelers of the past.

Here's the link:

https://www.boredpanda.com/bookmobile-library-on-wheels/?fbclid=IwAR1rYunNbq84filumZur2vzzjfTRxhHyhxNyks-cT3h_n2QS4FVv3zb_AGI&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=organic

2020 Gordon M. Conable Conference Scholarship!

Are you interested in Intellectual Freedom? Would you like to learn how the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) and other groups in the ALA are working to protect access to information? Applications are now open for the 2020 Gordon M. Conable Conference Scholarship, sponsored by FTRF.

The goal of the Gordon M. Conable Conference Scholarship is to advance two principles that Conable held dear: intellectual freedom and mentorship.

The Conable Scholarship provides for conference registration, transportation, housing (six nights), and a $300 stipend for meals and other expenses. Due to COVID-19, the recipient will be able to apply this award to ALA Midwinter 2021 or ALA Annual 2021 and attend the virtual conference in 2020. The recipient will also receive a one-year membership in the Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF).

The deadline for submitting an application for the 2020 Conable Conference Scholarship has been extended to May 31, 2020; the award will be announced by June 5, 2020.

Who is eligible: Students currently enrolled in an ALA-accredited library and information studies degree program or an AASL-recognized master’s program in school librarianship and new professionals (those who are three or fewer years removed from receiving a library school degree) are eligible to receive the Conable Conference Scholarship.

Those interested must submit an application that includes two references and an essay detailing their interest in intellectual freedom issues. Applicants are also required to attach a résumé. If the recipient has already registered for ALA’s virtual conference, he or she will have the conference fee refunded.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSevTksgt-JBc0U82TIhfF9sx5OeRQko-gRYpWPiCjKyJrG3gA/viewform?fbclid=IwAR07LjZ1ZyQffIDKEvnlRatAflEXh9rm5xEzkOf0SYf_kWeitvOSePC5hCI

Applications are now open for Library Freedom Institute!

During this pandemic, it's especially important for library workers to build community centered around our ethics and values. That's why I am excited to share that applications are now open for the fourth cohort of Library Freedom Institute.

Library Freedom Institute is a free, (mostly) online, four-month long training program to turn librarians into Privacy Advocates. Through weekly lectures from experts in the privacy world and collaborative work, participants learn practical skills and build community together. At the close of the course, participants become part of the Library Freedom Project community, and continue doing privacy work with an incredible group of peers across North America.

Library Freedom Institute is free of cost, a five-hour commitment per week (including 1-2 hours in real time), and is mostly online with one in-person weekend component. The in-person weekend component is fully-funded and is likely to be postponed due to COVID-19 Pandemic, but will happen at some point in the future.

Application materials are due on June 1 and are available on Library Freedom's website:

https://libraryfreedom.org/index.php/lfi

Be well,
Andrea Puglisi
Adult & Technology Services Director
Richard Salter Storrs Library
693 Longmeadow Street
Longmeadow, MA 01106
apuglisi@longmeadow.org
Phone: 413-565-4181 ext 1602
Fax: 413-565-4134
Pronouns: she/her/hers

Chicago Public Library Calls Staff Back to Work, Plans Full Reopen June 1

Even after COVID-19 earned declaration as a pandemic and public health emergency, libraries made preparations for what that would mean. Many closed, shifting to digital work. One notable exception was Chicago Public Library, which kept their libraries open far past a point where staff felt safe, implementing no new safety measures to protect them.

Now, Chicago Public Library aims to be among the first major library systems to open. Staff are to report back to their assigned libraries beginning Wednesday, May 20, with a targeted reopening date of Monday, June 1, as addressed in an email by Andrea Telli, Commissioner of the Chicago Public Library, to all staff Thursday, May 14.

See link below for more information:

https://bookriot.com/2020/05/15/chicago-public-library-calls-staff-back-to-work-plans-full-reopen-june-1/?fbclid=IwAR0JZW3BMMQI7A-WnSCzGODbBxggCxkmWK768LF7SdiznMCFQqrCThh9QcE

Keynote speaker, Julius Jefferson, American Library Association President Elect. at the 2020 Virtual RILA Conference

On Thursday, May 28th, we are looking forward to hearing from our keynote speaker, Julius Jefferson, American Library Association President Elect.

Join us and register for the #RILA2020 Conference.

Click here to view the full schedule http://ow.ly/hPtb50zGBGy

Barack and Michelle Obama Join Chicago Public Library for Virtual Storytime

Libraries across the country have been pulling out all the stops to create engaging, educational online read-alouds for the millions of children staying home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Chicago Public Library’s Live From The Library Facebook series has featured appearances from authors, actors, and musicians; the latest guest readers on the list are Chicagoans Barack and Michelle Obama.

Visit the link below for more information:

http://www.ilovelibraries.org/article/barack-and-michelle-obama-join-chicago-public-library-virtual-storytime?fbclid=IwAR3iaMk0uHYODayt29dfIoYNWA9AYWo8dcscp39cy5TMoIq_h7zXVrTGvL0

Webinar: How to Implement a Sensory Story Time: A Training Session for LIS Students

Webinar: How to Implement a Sensory Story Time: A Training Session for LIS Students

Please join us for the webinar: How to Implement a Sensory Story Time: A Training Session for LIS Students with Maria Cotto, Bilingual Children's Librarian at Pawtucket Public Library

Date: Thursday, May 14, 2020
Time: 2:30-4:00 pm
Zoom

This webinar will be a presentation on training LIS students and librarians on how to implement sensory storytime in their libraries.

The webinar will be recorded for a lecture for the new course LSC 511: Critical Disability Studies in LIS, which will launch in 2021. All attendees' questions during this webinar will be recorded and viewed by GSLIS students in future courses. We especially need LIS students to come to the webinar and ask questions, as it will benefit all students who will view this video as a learning guide in future courses.

Closed Captioning will not be available during this live Zoom event, however, it will be available on YouTube after this event is recorded and shared.

Please email Mel at mvnicholas@uri.edu to RSVP and for the password before Thursday, May 14.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/94046823748…

Meeting ID: 940 4682 3748
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Dr. Melissa Villa-Nicholas
Graduate School of Library and Information Studies
University of Rhode Island
Pronouns: She/Hers
melissavillanicholas.net

COVID-19 Publisher Information Directory

As more librarians and educators transition to online learning, digital storytimes, and other virtual means of connecting with students and patrons, many publishers are temporarily lifting or adjusting their copyright guidelines and permissions. Many others are offering free resources and tools. 

For more information please visit: https://www.slj.com/?detailStory=publisher-information-directory-copyright-storytime-social-media-permissions-covid-19 

Registration for ALA Virtual is now open!

Registration for ALA Virtual is now open! ALA Members can register for $60 thanks to the support of our 

ALA Virtual sponsors. https://2020.alavirtualevent.org/registration/registration-rates

Black Caucus American Library Association Virtual Summit 2020

Black Caucus American Library Association

Vrtual Summit 2020

"Connecting, Cultivating, & Collaboration"

May 15 & 16, 2020

At this time, when many of us are quarantined and feeling secluded with many questions on how your library can move forward. We hope this virtual summit will help you find answers as well as give much needed time to network with your peers. Together we are strong! Together we are powerful! And together we will make it happen! Please join us in a two-day virtual summit to Connect, Cultivate, & Collaborate. We are very excited to highlight our members in these virtual workshops, as well as promote some amazing authors and their works.

https://www.bcala.org/

REFORMA Northeast Chapter announces it's 16th Annual Joint-Mini Conference (A Virtual Gathering)

The REFORMA Northeast Chapter is pleased to announce the:

16th Annual Joint-Mini Conference,

A virtual gathering

Call for Proposals:

“Facing New Challenges: Working in Community, Responding to Crisis”

DEADLINE for Proposals Extended to May 18th, 2020

The Annual Joint-Mini Conference (JMC) brings together the ethnic affiliates of ALA: American Indian Library Association (AILA); Asian Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA); Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA), Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA); and REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking, for a day of intellectual collaboration and networking opportunities for librarians.

The Joint-Mini Conference provides librarians and other professionals with an opportunity to exchange information about library services, collections and projects that serve minorities, newcomers and underserved populations in our communities.

We are stronger together. Challenges are opportunities that can bring us closer. Leaning on each other, sharing our stories and knowledge, working collectively we are able to serve and support our different communities.

For full details, please visit: https://www.reformanortheast.org/16-jmc.html

Please consider joining us for this important mini-conference.

Questions? reformane@gmail.com

Thank you,
Adriana Blancarte-Hayward and Elisa Garcia, RNE JMC Committee Chairs

REFORMA Northeast Chapter

The Northeast Chapter of REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library & Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking, covers people living or working in the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, or Rhode Island.
http://www.reformanortheast.org/