CE NEWS

February 4th

Table of Contents

• Alaska Library Association Annual Conference
• Bridging Knowledge: Supporting Indigenous Scholars in the Field of Librarianship
• Public Library Association Conference
• Start with a Book 
• Indigenous Perspectives in School Libraries Scholarship

Alaska Library Association Annual Conference

The mission of the Alaska Library Association is "bringing the Alaska Library community together through learning, advocacy, and collaborative action." Each year a group of AkLA members turn that mission statement into action by organizing the largest continuing education opportunity for librarians in the state. The Alaska Library Association’s 2022 Virtual Conference will be held February 24-27.

Below are a just a few reasons why you should make plans to attend:

1. National and international keynote speakers
2. Sessions on topics of interest to staff working in libraries, archives, and cultural institutions
3. Alaska specific topics, issues and collections will be discussed
4. Opportunity to learn from your colleagues
5. Celebrate Alaskan authors, illustrators, cartoonists, and filmmakers.   
6. Conference registration is inexpensive.
7. Laugh out loud during Battledecks.  
8. Relax with a yoga break.  
9. Learn about the current state of libraries in Alaska.  
10. Attend an AkLA committee or roundtable meeting and become involved in the organization.
11. Support AkLA by participating in the Silent Auction.
12. Attend the General Membership and Awards Meeting and support the achievements of Alaska librarians.
13. Check out the exhibits and thank conference organizers and sponsors.
14. Learn about local and national library trends.
15. Most importantly, connect with other librarians across the state, the US, and abroad.

Bridging Knowledge: Supporting Indigenous Scholars in the Field of Librarianship

Applications are open for a second cohort of Bridging Knowledge students. The Bridging Knowledge Grant Program is sponsored by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and administered through the Alaska Library Network in partnership with the American Indian Library Association and the Alaska State Library. This grant project provides scholarships to American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian graduate students to earn the Master of Library and Information Science degree with an advanced certificate in strategic management of digital assets and services at San Jose State University.

Deadline to Apply: April 1, 2022

Questions? Email Cindy Hohl, Bridging Knowledge Project Manager or Sheila Gurtu, SJSU Student Outreach Specialist

"This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services [RE-250081-OLS-21]."  

Public Library Association Conference

There is still time to register for the Public Library Association Conference that will be held in Portland, Oregon March 23-25, 2022. Participants have the option to attend the conference in-person or virtually. Please note that those attending in-person will have to meet COVID-19 requirements and safety measures.

Continuing Education (CE) grants are available from the Alaska State Library. Library directors and individual library staff in public or school libraries may apply. Each library outlet is limited to 1 CE grant of up to $1,250 or 4 CE grants of up to $300.00 each.

Start with a Book

If you are starting to pull together resources for your summer reading program you may want to visit Start with a Book , a companion website of Reading Rockets designed to help parents, caregivers and librarians support children become better readers.  Start with a Book is organized around 24 topics of interest to children (e.g., Oceans, Rives and Ponds, Bugs, Birds and Animals, and Nature: Our Green World). Each topic includes a list of "great" fiction and non-fiction picture books, organized by age level, that are perfect for reading aloud to children and some fun, hands-on activities designed to extend learning. 

While Start with a Book was designed to support children's summer reading the resources can be used throughout the year. One of the featured topics, Meet the Trailblazers: remarkable men and women of color who helped shape our world  is an excellent resource for librarians looking for inspirational biographies to share with children during Black History Month.  Meet the Trailblazers includes a list of 32 picture book biographies and a 36-paged activity guide with reflection questions, activities and writing prompts.

Indigenous Perspectives in School Libraries Scholarship

The Indigenous Perspectives in School Librarianship (IPSL) grant is accepting applications for its second cohort. Teachers in Alaska and Montana are eligible to apply for a full scholarship to the online library media certificate program at Montana State University.  Applicants residing in rural areas and or serving Alaska Native populations/ Montana reservation communities will be given priority consideration.

The scholarship includes:

1. Tuition and fees for the 21-credit LMC program;
2. Cost to attend participant's state library conference;
3. Funds for course textbooks; and
4. Virtual mentorship with an expert school librarian in MT or AK.

For additional information on the Indigenous Perspectives in School Libraries Project and Scholarship, a schedule of recruitment events, and how to apply for Montana State University's Library Media Certificate Program, email librarymedia@montana.edu or visit this webpage.