CE NEWS

December 3, 2019

Table of Contents

• We’ve been chatting for 5 years!

• Webinars You Don’t Want to Miss

• 3 Cities Tour: Future of Libraries

• Alaska Literature for Children

• Alaska Books for Alaska Kids

• Database of Award-Winning Children's Literature

• Equity, Diversity & Inclusion LibGuide

• Library Development Training and Continuing Education Calendar

We've been chatting for 5 years!

In 2014, we began offering monthly Public Librarians’ Chats as a way to meet the professional development needs of Alaska’s far-flung library staff.  Chat topics are determined by the results of a Continuing Education Survey completed by Alaska librarians and library staff on a biennial basis. Guest presenters are local and national “experts” who volunteer to give a presentation on topic they are knowledgeable about and have first-hand experience.   Recent chats have covered civic engagement, Senior Story Hour, Implementation of South Dakota’s Share It Network and more. Previous Public Librarians’ Chats and links to recordings of the webinars may be found on the Archived Webinars for Librarians webpage.

We are grateful to everyone who served as a guest presenter. Below is a list of the people who graciously served (or will shortly serve)  as guest presenters during a Public Librarians' Chat in 2019.  

• Andrea Hirsh
• Felicite Toney
• Diane Foote
• Mo Yang
• Sue Sherif
• Katy Spangler
• Amy Koester

Webinars You Don’t Want to Miss

•  Behavior Management in Storytime
  • Wednesday, December 4, 2019
  • 8:30 am  to 9:30 am
•  Doing the Work Externally and Internally: Race, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
  • Thursday, December 5, 2019
  •  11:00 am to Noon
• Public Librarians' Chat: Alaska Literature for Children
  • Thursday, December 12, 2019
  • 11:00 am to Noon

3 Cities Tour: Future of Libraries

 Libraries everywhere are being buffeted by the relentless change taking place around them. These changes and trends are influencing library user expectations. As a consequence, library users are re-evaluating what sort of services and resources should be available from the library, how the library should be organized, and how library resources should be accessed.  Trends are also influencing the types of library programs and activities that users are seeking.   

If libraries in Alaska are to remain relevant, librarians must be skilled in identifying:

• trends which could potentially impact future library services; 
• trends which support our professional values; 
• And trends which threaten our professional values. 

Miguel Figueroa, Director for the Center for the Future of Libraries will lead three (3) full-day futures thinking workshops in Alaska during the 1st week of March. 

Workshop Agenda

1. Part One - Practices for Thinking about the Future
   During this session participants will learn how they and their organization (staff, volunteers, boards, and friends) can think productively about change across the organizational, environmental, and global contexts. This portion of the program will introduce strategies for scanning change, recognizing patterns, and correlating information to our profession's values.
2. Part Two - Innovation and Change
   In this hands-on portion of the program, attendees will work in groups to begin to think about how new trends and changes could take root in library services.
3. Part Three - Forecasting and Planning
   This portion of the workshop will help attendees begin to put their scanning to use in developing forecasts or scenarios that might guide strategic plans, budget development, staffing models, or even renovations or construction.
4. Part Four - Developing Practices and Communications for the Future
   Futures thinking provides opportunities for improved communications with staff and community members, but also the responsibilities for more intentional practices to achieve its benefits. This portion of the program will provide suggestions for making futures thinking a more intentional part of staff (and board/trustees) communication and outline some of the benefits of talking about trends and forecasts with your community.

Workshop attendees will be invited to attend a follow-up virtual meeting with Miguel Figuero, in April. During the virtual meeting, attendees will have an opportunity to share how they have incorporated trend scanning in their library and how they are engaging other staff in conversations about trends for the future of the library.

Schedule of workshops in Alaska

Anchorage

• March 2, 2020
• ZJ Loussac Library, 10 am to 4 pm
• Site Coordinator: Celia Hartz, email: celia.hartz@anchorageak.gov 

 Fairbanks

• March 4, 2020
• Noel Wien Library, 10 am to 4 pm
• Site Coordinator: Denise Thomas, telephone: (907) 459-1022

 Juneau

• March 6, 2020
• Andrew P. Kashevaroff Building (APK) , 10 am to 4 pm
• Site Coordinator Julie Niederhauser, email: Julie.niederhauser@alaska.gov

Register for a workshop 

Alaska Literature for Children Webinar

Join us on Thursday, December 12^th at 11:00 for a webinar on Alaska Literature for Children.

During this webinar, Sue Sherif (retired librarian and Alaskan literature lover) and Katy Spangler, Ph.D., (Professor of Education, University of Alaska Southeast) will share resources and tips for selecting age appropriate, culturally sensitive and highly recommended books about Alaska for youth.  Participants are encouraged to have a favorite Alaskan children’s book on-hand during the webinar.  As there will be opportunities to critically evaluate your book using selection criteria introduced by the presenters.   

Enter Webinar 

Alaska Books for Alaska Kids 

Alaska Books for Alaska Kids is a collaborative project by librarians and educators to compile an up-to-date, accessible, and useful bibliography of accurate, culturally relevant, recommended books for youth about Alaska and the North. This resource is intended to assist children, parents, teachers, librarians, college students, and early literacy professionals in identifying age-appropriate, accurate and culturally relevant books for youth in Alaska.

Database of Award-Winning Children's Literature

The Database of Award-Winning Children’s Literature has over 14,000 records from 158 awards across six English-speaking countries and was designed to help librarians and teachers create tailored reading lists of quality children’s literature. The database may also be used to determine whether or not a book has won one of the indexed awards.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion LibGuide

The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) LibGuide was created to provide library staff in Alaska with the tools, resources and information needs to create more equitable and inclusive library services, policies and practices.  The guide contains links to EDI recruiting and training resources, EDI best practices and suggestions for developing equitable, diverse and inclusive library collections and programs.

Library Development Training & Continuing Education Calendar

To view all the webinars and training opportunities available in December visit the Library Development Training & Continuing Education Calendar.