ILA Conference Schedule Announced

The Iowa Library Association Annual Conference is coming up—October 12-14—this year in Coralville.  The theme for 2022 is “It’s All Connected: Libraries, Communities, Equity, Information.” The ILA Conference Planning Committee has released this year’s schedule.  As you look ahead to your October calendars and make plans to attend, here’s a look at the schedule:

Three pre-conferences kick off the week:

- They Didn’t Teach That in Library School: Principles of Education Programming for Lifelong Learners

- Local Arts Tour: City of Literature and University

- Basic Book Mending That Every Librarian Should Know

Thursday and Friday of conference week boasts many breakout sessions to choose from, with keynote speakers each day.  The three keynote speakers include Colorado-based standup comedian Hayden Kristal; Hayden earned a quarterfinalist spot on America’s Got Talent and is a frequent headliner at the Limestone Comedy Festival.  Author Mitali Perkins has written several books, among them You Bring the Distant Near, Rickshaw Girl and Steeped in Stories: Timeless Children’s Novels to Refresh Our Tired Souls.  And Iowa journalist Ty Rushing will also present as a keynote.  He is the first black reported and/or editor at eight print publications across the state.  He is the co-founder and president of the Iowa Association of Black Journalists and is a frequent guest on IPTV.

Numbering among several breakout sessions:

- Connecting Through Community Collaborations: Fostering Relationships Between Your Library and City Government

- Unboxed: Subscription Book Boxes For Every Budget

- The Worst Case Scenario: Practical Tips for Disaster Recovery

- Book Challenges Affect Us All: Best Practices for Supporting Our School Library Colleagues

- Refugees and Immigrants in Iowa: Sharing Stories, Welcoming New Neighbors

- The School and Public Libraries’ Relationship: A School Board Member’s Perspective

All that and much more to choose from at the Iowa Library Association Conference this fall.  The conference venue is the Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel & Conference Center. Discounted room rates are available until September 20^th.  For a complete look at the keynote speaker biographies, pre-conference events, and breakout sessions during ILA Conference Week, visit ILA’s website.  Then make plans to attend!

ILA CONFERENCE OCT 12-14, 2022

Nominations Open For...

I Love My Librarian Award

Nominations for the 2023 I Love My Librarian Award are now open. Your librarian could receive $5,000 and a national recognition. And there’s not just one winner—up to ten people are chosen each year!

This is an initiative of the American Library Association, with sponsorship from the Carnegie Corporation of New York.  Here’s more from ALA’s website: “Has a librarian made a difference in your life or gone above and beyond to serve your community? The I Love My Librarian Award invites library users to recognize the accomplishments of exceptional public, school, college, community college, or university librarians. Each year, up to 10 librarians are honored at a ceremony held in their honor and they each receive a $5,000 cash award.”

Since the award was established in 2008, 140 librarians have received this honor. In that time, library users nationwide have shared more than 22,000 nominations detailing how librarians have gone above and beyond in their commitment to inclusivity, literacy, and digital access.

Because we have so many great libraries across the state, Iowa library advocates have successfully nominated our own librarians.   Among the winners announced by ALA in January 2022 are Renee Greenlee, former Children’s and Family Services Librarian at Marion Public Library.  And Shannon Horton, teacher librarian at Decorah Middle School and High School Libraries.

So continue to send the love to Iowa libraries by nominating your own local librarian for this honor.  Award winners will be announced in January 2023.  Submit your nomination by September 20.  More background reading and the nomination from at the button below.

"I Love My Librarian" Award

Awesome Education in August

"Something For Everyone"

This news, originally from Samantha Bouwers and touted in the Eye-Opener last week, deserves recapping here. Because it's all about an impressive lineup of continuing education from the State Library.  Last month, Sam sent a bulletin summarizing August C.E. and wrote “there’s sure to be something for everyone coming up in August. From scam protection, to YA romance, to the next installment of The Boardroom series, read on and register for all kinds of exciting education programs from the State Library. Or search IA Learns for our live and recorded courses …” 

In today's space, a shortened summary of upcoming classes: 

Signs of a Scam: Keep Your Patrons and Yourself Safe from Online Fraudsters August 16.  1:00-2:00PM

In this webinar, Carol Kando-Pineda from the Federal Trade Commission will teach you how to identify common signs of a scam, how to avoid falling for one, methods to help train patrons to avoid scams, and how to keep devices protected from online threats.

Back to School: Best Practices for Promoting Brainfuse HelpNow August 24.  10:00-11:00AM

As the school year begins, it’s an ideal time to promote Brainfuse HelpNow. Diane Bizzle, Director of Outreach, will provide a brief overview of the services within the Brainfuse HelpNow program focusing on the popular online homework help, writing lab, and practice tests.

Friday Tech Focus.  August 26.  9:30-10:00AM

Join us to learn about a new tech or web tool and discuss how it might be used in a library setting. We’ll show a “library-ish” (i.e., might be useful to librarians) app and invite others to share their favorites. 

Marketing Brainfuse to Job Seekers & Veterans in Your Community. August 31. 1:00-2:00PM

Brainfuse’s goal is to connect people with questions to those with answers. It is often said that job hunting is one of the most difficult jobs you will have and navigating the VA can be overwhelming. Join Diane Bizzle, Director of Outreach, for an overview of JobNow and VetNow. Learn strategies for letting your community members know about the services offered for veterans and job seekers.

Plus another installment of Big Ideas Book Discussions (August 11) and another installment in The Boardroom series (August 30)  Those plus the above—and more—inside IALearns.  Looks like we’re all going back to school this month! 

Register in IALearns

This Week...

Big Ideas Book Discussion. 
August 11.  9:30-11:00AM 

The third installment this year of Big Ideas Book Discussions happens this Thursday August 11 (9:30-11:00AM ) when we take up the book Making Numbers Count by Dan Heath and Karla Starr.

Audio Book Production Through the Iowa Library for the Blind.  August 11.  1:00-2:00PM.

Also happening this Thursday August 11 is another collaboration between the State Library and the Iowa Library for the Blind: Audio Book Production through the Iowa Library for the Blind and Print Disabled (1:00-2:00PM) This webinar will provide information about audio books in the Iowa Library for the Blind’s collection, how patrons can access the collection, digital players, and the BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) app. The webinar will also include information about how the library produces audio for the National Library Service.

Register in IALearns