October presents an opportunity to recognize the efforts of Library Friends Groups during National Friends of Libraries Week October 15-21.  And it’s United For Libraries, a division of the American Library Association, that coordinates Friends of Libraries Week each year.  2023 marks the 18th annual recognition as a time to promote local Friends Groups, raise awareness of their efforts, and thank them for their work in support of libraries everywhere. 

The United For Libraries website has lots of ideas, including a sample press release, promotional materials, graphics, and stories about how Friends Groups across the country support their libraries in fun and effective ways.  You can also watch recorded webinars that offers ideas on how to celebrate National Friends of Libraries Week within your library and throughout the community.  And hear about the ALA Store’s customizable products designed specifically for Friends.

United for Libraries offers a variety of resources for library friends, foundations, and trustees.  Some of their materials are behind a pay wall, accessible to paid members. Other materials are freely available, among them are these publications

- Libraries Need Friends: Starting a Friends Group or Revitalizing the One You Have (PDF)
- Friends Groups: Critical Support for School Libraries (PDF)
- Power Guide for Successful Advocacy (PDF)

Download these docs and more at the button below. 
And boast about your Friends Group on LibraryTalk

Celebrate Friends of Libraries Week 2023

Throughout The Month Of October

When calendars turn to October, then Halloween programming becomes top-of-mind.  But here’s another promotion to consider: for more than 20 years, October has been recognized as Health Literacy Month.  It’s a time of international observance when hospitals, clinics, businesses, governments, and libraries join forces to focus attention on healthy living.  With flu season on the horizon, this is an opportune time for libraries to promote health literacy.

The theme for Health Literacy Month is “Building Awareness Through Action.”  There are a wide variety of Health Literacy Month events, thanks to the Institute for Healthcare Advancement (IHA) This agency has developed a free toolkit for raising awareness of how libraries support health literacy in their communities which includes social media graphics, video clips, print posters and flyers, even ZOOM room backgrounds.

From the IHA website “During Health Literacy Month, we urge you to move health literacy awareness to health literacy action.  Together, we can build bridges between our organizations and the people who need health care or services. Greater health literacy helps us overcome barriers and challenges that may result in harm. By collectively working to improve health literacy, we’ll create a more equitable world where everyone can access high-quality care and achieve positive health outcomes.

Assisting in the cause is the Center for Disease Control (CDC) the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the American Library Association (ALA) You’ll also find “Because” statements at the Libraries Transform website, on point like “Because We All Deserve Access to Quality Health Resources."

Rightfully, library policies prevent staff from answering specific patron questions regarding medical conditions or treatment options.  But staff can certainly guide library users to reliable, authoritative information, allowing patrons to make more education health-related decisions.  Promote October as Health Literacy Month @ Your Library!

More About Health Literacy Month

Interactive Map of Iowa Libraries

"Find My Local Library" Tool

State Library Communication Specialist Emily Bainter posted this news last week to Library Talk—that news bears repeating here.  A new tool is now available on the State Library website to help Iowans and visitors locate and connect with their local public library.

The “Find My Local Library” tool displays an interactive and informational map of all the public libraries in Iowa. Users can filter data by county, population size, and Library District. When a location is clicked, a pop-up appears with library information, including address and phone number as well as links to the library website and detail page in the Iowa Library Directory.

In addition to a statewide map view, “dashboards” have been created for each of the six Library Districts that appear on the District information webpages.  The tool uses data from the Iowa Library Directory to populate the map information and was developed by the State Data Center.

The Iowa Library Directory serves as the definitive resource used by the State Library to track information about all Iowa libraries.  Check out the new “Find My Local Library” tool below and access the District dashboards by selecting a District on the District Support landing page

Find My Local Library Map

This Week ...

Lunch with the State Library. 
October 5.  12:15-12:45PM. 
Topic Library Accreditation

Join State Library staff this month to learn more about the Accreditation Program and how the funding from participation benefits Iowa libraries.  Lunch with the State Library is a monthly series, short conversations to give library staff a high-level overview of a product or service available through the State Library, encouraging libraries to participate if they are not already doing so.

Register in IALearns

Bridges User Group Meetings

All libraries subscribed to Bridges are encouraged to join one of three user group meetings this month, online via ZOOM. Attendees will hear about the present structure of Bridges, the selection committee, the current budget, and recent changes to the service.  There are three sessions to choose to accommodate the most people—you only need to attend one.  Because these are meetings meant for information exchange, there is no C.E. credit given.  Also no need to pre-register—simply choose the session that best matches your schedule and log in.  The ZOOM room link will be provided prior to the first meeting, here's the schedule.

- October 4 @ 1::30-2:30 PM
- October 19 @ 10:00-11:00 AM
- October 23 @ 1::30-2:30 PM

This is Banned Books Week October 1-7

ALA’s notable public awareness campaign—Banned Books Week—is recognized this very week October 1-7.  Banned Books Week focuses on defending intellectual freedom by supporting the value of equal access to information for all ages.  The 2023 theme is “Let Freedom Read,” the honorary chairman this year is LaVar Burton.

Learn more at the official website and share your plans for
Banned Books Week with your colleagues on Library Talk

Banned Books Week 2023

Click Here to view the State Library Of Iowa News : Monday Morning Eye-Opener October 2, 2023