Upcoming Opportunities
These opportunities are available for free unless otherwise noted. Descriptions are provided by host organizations.
Library of Congress Literacy Award
February 19, 2024
The Library of Congress Literacy Awards Program honors organizations that have made outstanding contributions to increasing literacy in the United States or abroad. The awards are intended to draw public attention to the importance of literacy, and the need to promote literacy and encourage reading. By recognizing current achievements, the awards seek to enable any organization or program that does not operate on a for-profit basis to strengthen its involvement in literacy and reading promotion and to encourage collaboration with like-minded organizations. The awards also encourage the continuing development of innovative methods for combating illiteracy and the wide dissemination of the most effective practices. For more information, visit the program webpage.
Abilene Public Library’s Spring Workshop
Registration Deadline: February 23, 2024
Abilene Public Library (APL) hosts an annual workshop to help small libraries—public and school—with their programming and summer reading challenges. The workshop features the literacy initiatives of APL as well as partnerships with the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature (NICCL) and Children’s Art and Literacy Festival (CALF). This year’s event is scheduled for March 4, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and is limited to 75 participants. For more information, contact Amanda Sasser at amanda.sasser@abilenetx.gov.
12 Months to Better Library Data (Webinar Series)
Beginning March 2024
Are you interested in gaining knowledge and skills for data-informed decision-making, program improvement, planning, and advocacy? Do you want to learn how to use data to serve your community even better tomorrow than you are today? Join this free webinar series, 12 Months to Better Library Data, beginning in March and featuring curriculum from the Research Institute for Public Libraries (RIPL) 2023 national event as well as a few new topics.This webinar series will be based on the steps involved in conducting an evaluation. For more information, visit the event webpage.
Public Libraries and Adult Literacy: State of the Field Meetup
March 13, 2024 | 9:00 a.m. Pacific | Virtual
Libraries offering adult literacy/ESL/ELL services and those interested in doing so are invited by Beverly Schwartzberg, Library Programs Consultant California State Library, to join a Zoom gathering and learn about the current state of the field. For meeting access, complete the event’s Zoom registration form.
AI and Libraries: Applications, Implications, and Possibilities
March 21, 2024 | 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. Central | Virtual
How has artificial intelligence impacted library services, resources, and work so far? How have libraries responded to these evolving technologies to better support their communities? It’s been over a year since generative artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT and Dall-E have been introduced in public spaces and consciousness, but AI has been around long before these tools yet there are still lingering concerns, challenges, and considerations. Join The Learning Revolution Project for this free virtual conference to learn how libraries and library workers are engaging with artificial intelligence tools in their libraries from research support to information literacy to technical services. The conversations held in the conference will address the practical implications of these tools in the profession. For more information, visit the conference registration page.
Ongoing Tools
These tools are available for free unless otherwise noted. Descriptions are provided by host organizations.
Affordable Connectivity Program Certification program
The Affordable Connectivity Program Certification program will equip you with the knowledge and resources to support households and patrons to enroll in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and sign up for a high-speed home internet plan. Upon completion of this course, you will be a certified ACP enrollment specialist. For more information, visit the program website.
Blooomerang
Bloomerang is a community-focused nonprofit donor management software built to deliver a better giving experience and help organizations thrive. In addition to their suite of paid services, Bloomberg offers FREE educational webinars. These webinars are open to the public, and are recommended for any nonprofit staff member or fundraiser. All sessions are recorded for future viewing. For more information, visit Bloomerang’s Webinar & Events webpage.
Building Community Relationships for Better Library Services (webinar)
Many libraries are increasingly focused on planning library services collaboratively with their communities. Connected Learning, Participatory Design, and Community Led-Libraries are becoming standard practice, but to successfully embark on that work, the first (and ongoing!) thing library staff need to do is build robust and meaningful connections within their communities. In this session, you explore strategies for finding community partners and building relationships with them with the goal of truly working in collaboration with the people you serve. You discuss strategies for small rural libraries up through large urban systems. You’ll hear from library staff who have successfully started doing this work in their own communities with partners who serve all ages. You’ll also learn about the importance of this work and why it needs to be supported by administrators and supervisors. For more information, visit the webinar’s webpage.
Need more support?
Resource Archive
Wish you had access to a repository of all the tools that are featured in the monthly Library Management Updates? Check out our Resource Archive for more information.
Continuing Education
In addition, be sure to peruse our continuing education offerings. Our resources are constantly updated, so check back often.
Questions?
For more information, visit our management services page or contact Christina Taylor at ctaylor@tsl.texas.gov.
