Upcoming Opportunities
Descriptions below are provided by host organizations.
DESIGNING STUDENT-CENTERED RESEARCH GUIDES
July 13, 2022 | 11:00 AM Pacific | Webinar
Creating and maintaining research guides that students actually use is an ongoing challenge for many librarians. To design a LibGuides subject guide “blueprint” that would increase student usage, Amy E. G. Barker, Instructional Design Librarian, and Ashley T. Hoffman, Research Support Librarian, of Kennesaw State University Library System conducted a mixed-methods usability research study. In this webinar, the presenters will give an overview of their study and highlight practical design tips that will be easily transferable to other libraries. If you’re interested but not able to attend the live webinar, a recording will be sent to all registrants after the fact. To register or find more information, visit the webinar site.
SUSTAINABLE THINKING FOR THE FUTURE OF LIBRARIES
July 20, 2022 | 2:00 PM Eastern | Webinar
In this webinar, Rebekkah Smith Aldrich will explore the importance of infusing the new core value of sustainability into everything we do, and demonstrate how libraries that lead into the future using ‘sustainable thinking’ fulfill our mission as libraries in new and innovative ways.‘Sustainable Thinking’ is a concept that aligns the core values of libraries with the ‘Triple Bottom Line’ definition of sustainability. This consists of practices that are environmentally sound, economically feasible, and socially equitable. Libraries play an important and unique role in promoting community awareness about resilience, climate change, and a sustainable future. For more information, visit the webinar site.
DIVERSE BOOKFINDER’S 2022-2023 METADATA COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE
July 27, 2022 | 4:00 PM CST | Webinar
Are you invested in questions about who (which racial/cultural groups) is being represented in children’s books featuring Black and Indigenous people and People of Color (BIPOC) and how (what messages are being sent) they are represented? Are you a conscientious reader of picture books, early readers, middle grade and young adult literature? If so, the Diverse BookFinder (DBF) Metadata Community of Practice may be for you!
The Diverse BookFinder seeks applications for the 2022-2023 Metadata Community of Practice to code books for children and youth featuring BIPOC characters. To learn more, visit the Community Webpage and register for the 60-minute virtual information session.
CROSSROADS OF HISTORY PROJECT:
Using Primary Sources to Develop and Implement Informed Meaningful Activity Plans Based on Social Justice and Civil Rights Issues
Cohorts run through 2023 | Virtual
The Northwest Council for Computer Education’s (NCCE) Crossroads of History Project is sponsored in part by the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) Western Region Program, coordinated by the Metropolitan State University of Denver. The project will facilitate a careful, reverse chronological examination of social justice and civil rights incidents in U.S. history that mirror each other over time providing entry points for those involved in education in and outside of formal classroom settings to use primary sources and social justice standards to conduct meaningful dialog, learn and develop historical inquiries, and inspire informed actions that give voice to marginalized communities.
Crossroads of History is a FREE completely virtual professional learning experience for educators across the spectrum including:
- PreK-16 educational professionals including pre-service teachers
- Public librarians and leaders of tribal youth groups, faith-based youth groups, Boys and Girls Clubs, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, before and after school programs, adult education leadership programs, and other “outside of the classroom” programs
Visit the program website for more information.
Ongoing Tools
Descriptions below are provided by host organizations.
BOOKS UNBANNED | BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY
Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) is launching a new campaign today, titled Books UnBanned, to help teens combat the negative impact of increased censorship and book bans in libraries across the country. For a limited time, young adults ages 13 to 21 nationwide, will be able to apply for a free eCard from BPL, unlocking access to the library’s extensive collection of eBooks.The card will be good for one year and is designed to complement access to resources for teens in their local communities. The BPL eCard provides access to 350,00 e-books; 200,000 audiobooks and over 100 databases. Teens will also be connected to their peers in Brooklyn, including members of BPL’s Intellectual Freedom Teen Council, to help one another with information and resources to fight censorship, book recommendations and the defense of freedom to read. For more information visit the program’s press release.
LM_NET | School Library
LM_NET is the world’s largest listserv for school librarians. Launched in 1992, it has nearly 12,000 members from 64 countries and nearly 2,000 on its companion listserv El-Announce. LM_NET is generously hosted by Syracuse University and is managed and moderated by Blythe Bennett, Program Manager of the Library Information Science/School Media program at Syracuse University and by Michelle Kelley, current Butte College Instructor and longtime K-12 Teacher Librarian. For more information, visit the listserv’s website.
LUNCH & LEARN: LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT SERIES
Niche Academy, Ian Hill, and their partners have launched the ‘You Make the Difference’ national initiative to equip public sector professionals and their departments with relevant and actionable resources to drive change. The Monthly Lunch & Learn is one of those resources. Join this virtual gathering of professionals across the nation on the last Thursday of every month to celebrate, educate, and activate the public sector to go and be THE difference. To join the community or find more information, visit the community site.
Diverse BookFinder
The Diverse BookFinder (DBF) is a comprehensive collection of children’s picture books featuring Black and Indigenous people and People of Color (BIPOC). The DBF is an online, searchable database and associated physical collection designed to facilitate the discoverability and exploration of multicultural picture books. Their goal is to diversify and balance bookshelves everywhere, so that all children can find themselves reflected and celebrated in libraries, schools, and homes across the nation. For more information, visit the DBF website.
Need more resources?
Check out our webinars that focus on Youth Services for more information.
Questions?
For more information, visit our youth services page, contact Christina Taylor at ld@tsl.texas.gov, or call 512-463-5465.
