Registration Is Open For...

The Learning Circuit On October 20th

Back as an in-person event this fall, the State Library Learning Circuit is open for registration. Scheduled for Thursday October 20 from 9:30AM-3:00PM--earn 4 c.e. credits for attending! The registration fee is $15.00 which includes a continental breakfast and box lunch. 

There is a Learning Circuit location planned in each District to ensure the broadest possible attendance.  More information, including location addresses and an agenda for the day, is available on the Learning Circuit webpage.

Learning Circuit Locations

• Central @ Johnston Public Library
• North Central @ Clear Lake AEA
• Northeast @ Cedar Falls AEA
• Northwest @ Sioux Center Public Library
• Southeast @ Washington Public Library
• Southwest @ Clarinda Public Library

The Topic: Disaster Preparedness

Local, state, and national experts come together in this event designed to give those working in Iowa libraries additional tools, support, and planning as they think ahead to future, potential emergencies. All communities were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, while many cities and towns are subject to dangerous weather and incidents like fires and floods.  This day-long workshop is designed to introduce library directors, staff, and trustees to basic concepts of emergency management, get connected to local and state partners who can help when disaster strikes, and assist teams in thinking through how their library should respond if the worst happens.

Following the Learning Circuit on October 20^th, attendees will receive a series of follow-up emails and invitations to additional CE webinars in November and December.  These additional webinars are designed to provide support and guidance in working through the planning process initiated at the Learning Circuit.  By attending the live workshop in October and the follow-up webinars, you will have a complete Disaster Preparedness Plan in place for your library.

Please note that Learning Circuit registration is being handled through Seamless Docs because of the registration fee.  Click below to register,
the deadline is October 13. The $15.00 fee can be paid online with a credit card or e-check; paper checks will also be accepted by mail but must be received by October 13.

Register For Learning Circuit 2022

Promote Our Freedom To Read @ Your Library
September 18-24, 2022

This year, Banned Books Week, ALA’s notable public awareness campaign, is September 18-24. This national promotion celebrates the freedom to read by spotlighting the value of equal access to information for all ages. The 2022 theme is “Books Unite Us, Censorship Divides Us.”

This national recognition brings together the entire book community—libraries, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and trustees—in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider controversial and unpopular. By focusing on frequent efforts by groups and individuals seeking to remove or restrict access to books, Banned Books Week draws national attention to the dangers of censorship.

The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) compiles lists of challenged books as reported in the media and submitted by librarians and teachers across the country. Each year, ALA tracks incidents of challenged books in public and school libraries; in 2021, ALA noted 729 challenges nationwide. A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group. A banning is the removal of those materials.

From ALA: “While books have been and continue to be banned, part of the Banned Books Week recognition is the fact that, in the majority of cases, the challenged books have remained available. This happens thanks to the efforts of librarians, teachers, students, and community members who stand up and speak out for the freedom to read.”

Among the Banned Books Week resources and promotional materials available

• An article about author George M. Johnson, honorary chair of Banned Books Week 2022 and author of All Boys Aren’t Blue.
• Display ideas, graphics, and free downloads
• Top 10 Most Challenged Books in 2021

Click below for all of that and more.  And be sure to share your plans and pictures of your own Banned Books Week displays with each other on LibraryTalk. 

Banned Books Week 2022

September Is Library Card Sign-Up Month

"Let Your Imagination Sing"

Since 1987, Library Card Sign-Up Month has been promoted in September to mark the beginning of the school year. Library staff work to remind parents and youth that signing up for a library card is the first step towards academic achievement and lifelong learning.  Not to mention a very cost-effective back-to-school item!     

The 2022 theme is “Let Your Imagination Sing @ the Library.” And the 2022 honorary chairpersons are sisters Idina and Cara Menzel.  Idina is best known as the singer- songwriter behind the movie Frozen; Cara is an author and educator.  Together, the sisters have co-authored a children’s book titled Loud Mouse, a story about a very loud mouse named Dee who loved to sing very loudly.  Their book will be released in September; posters featuring Loud Mouse Dee are available for purchase from the ALA Online Store.

Public and school libraries nationwide are urged to participate in Library Card Sign-Up Month and amplify the message that libraries are an imagination place. Find free toolkits from ALA, including posters, bookmarks, social media messages, public service announcements, and more. Here’s a smattering of what’s available on ALA’s website

• Ready-to-air audio public service announcements (PSAs) for radio stations, available with the American Library Association ID or customizable versions
• Graphics in English and Spanish, including yard signs and window clings reading “Library Card Holders Live here." ALA’s digital graphics are free for all to use on their websites and social media accounts.
• A Library Card Sign-Up Month bingo card, designed in Canva, can be customized to reflect your own library’s programs  

Remember to share your plans to promote Library Card Sign-Up Month with Iowa colleagues on Library Talk!

September: Library Card Sign-Up Month 

This Week and Next ...

Public Library Annual Survey

Scott Dermont reports that the software needed to file the Public Library Annual Survey is back online.  Find Annual Survey information and instructions at the link below.  Still ample time to complete it, the deadline is October 31.  Let us know if questions ... 
Annual Survey Info

Pop YS Live.  Get Schooled: Connecting Your Library's Programming and Services to the Local School. 
September 20.  1:00-2:00PM.

Pop YS Live returns from its summer hiatus with presenter Peg Gay, director of Fisher-Whiting Memorial Library in Mapleton. Peg will share success stories and lessons learned from her 5-year collaboration with the local school district. From classroom visits, to hosting field trips, multigenerational book clubs, and more, you’re sure to find actionable ways to connect with the educators and school librarians in your community.

Register in IALearns

Strategic Treasure Hunting Part 1: Identifying and Selecting Materials for a Local History Digitization Project. 
September 21.  11:00AM-12:00PM.

Every Iowa library likely holds material unique to their local community. Many of these items play a role in preserving and celebrating local history.  But due to their fragile state, poor cataloging, or obscure storage conditions, patrons or researchers may not be aware of these materials. This session will present an overview of the best practices needed to organize, digitize, and provide access to these special collections. We will briefly cover the topics of evaluating collections, prioritizing them for digitization, the scanning process, and how to promote new or existing digital collections so the public can use and enjoy them. We will also talk about the training and support the State Library provides throughout the planning process and into the future. This is part 1 of our two-part series on digital preservation, part 2 is scheduled for September 28.

Register in IALearns