CE NEWS

October 1, 2021

Image by 9883074 from Pixabay.

• Read Beyond the Beaten Path 
• Alaska Library Association Scholarship
• Bridging Knowledge Scholarship
• InfoPeople Online Course Opportunity
• Fall Reading Challenge

Read Beyond the Beaten Path

Registration for the 2022 Statewide Summer Reading Program, Read Beyond the Beaten Path is open! The deadline to apply is November 20, 2021. Libraries that register will receive a resource guide on a flash drive with over 300 pages of themed activities, games, art, reading lists, and more. Participating libraries will also receive a summer reading starter kit with posters, bookmarks, reading logs, and other promotional items.

Alaska Library Association Scholarship

Image by Cindy Parks from Pixabay.

AkLA has established a scholarship program to provide financial assistance to worthy students pursuing graduate studies leading to a Master’s degree in Library and Information Studies and to encourage graduates to return to Alaska to work in professional library positions. Scholarships may be awarded for both on-campus and/or distance education programs. Preference will be given to an individual meeting the federal definition of Alaska Native ethnicity.

Eligibility

An applicant must be an Alaskan resident who:

• is eligible for acceptance, is currently enrolled, or will be a student in a graduate school program during the academic year, semester, or academic quarter for which the scholarship is received.
• makes a commitment to work in an Alaska library for a minimum of one year after graduation as a paid employee or a volunteer, or for two semesters for one semester’s financial assistance. A scholarship recipient who fails to fulfill this commitment will be expected to repay the money received. Candidates awarded the scholarship must supply proof of admission to an accredited program before the scholarship is disbursed.

Amount

Amount for the next academic year will be $4,000.

Criteria for Selection

An individual will be selected by a Scholarship Committee of AkLA based on the following criteria:

• Financial need
• Demonstrated scholastic ability and writing skills
• Applicant’s response to an essay question regarding his/her professional goals and objectives in pursuing a library career
• Strength of references. Three Applicant Reference Evaluation Forms are required, at least one of which must be from a librarian. References may include additional comments or letters.
• For more information, visit https://akla.org/scholarships/.

Procedures

1. Fill out the online form;
2. Mail a current resume, official college transcripts, and three references using this printable Word form, to AkLA Scholarship Committee, Attn: Julie M. Niederhauser, Alaska State Library, PO Box 110571, Juneau, AK 99811.

A complete application packet must be received by January 15 of the award year. The scholarship recipient is announced during the annual AkLA Conference.

Bridging Knowledge Scholarship

Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

Applications are open for the Bridging Knowledge Grant Program sponsored by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Administered through the Alaska Library Network in partnership with the American Indian Library Association and the Alaska State Library, this grant will provide 15 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. Supplemental curriculum, presentations, and poster sessions will be available through the Sustainable Heritage Network.

Deadline to Apply: November 1, 2021

Students will receive financial and scaffolded support to provide them with training and development throughout the program. Graduates will bridge contemporary digital practices with traditional knowledge.

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

Infopeople Online Course Opportunity

The Alaska State Library has purchased a block of thirty seats to Infopeople online instructor-led training sessions. These seats may be used by any Alaska library staff member.

Course seats will be distributed in an equitable manner to ensure that participants from libraries of all sizes, all types, and all regions of the state are represented. Six sets will be reserved for each of Alaska's five recognized regions: Far North, Interior, Southwest, Southcentral and Southeast.

To register for a seat, complete the online application. Once your application has been approved, you will be registered for the Infopeople course.

Please note: If you fail to complete your Infopeople course, you will be required to reimburse the Alaska Library Network the full amount for your registration fees. 

Upcoming Infopeople Courses

• Foundations of Library Services - Oct. 12-Nov. 22, 2021
• Technology in Libraries - Oct.19-Dec. 6, 2021
• Communication is More Than Words - Nov 2-29, 2021
• Mindfulness in the Library: A Response to Burnout and Other Modern Maladies - Nov 2-15, 2021

Learn more about the Infopeople Course Seats Opportunity.

Fall Reading Challenge

The fall Beanstack Reading Challenge is a great opportunity to highlight your library’s Alaskana collection. Readers are challenged to read 30 books about Alaska or by an Alaskan author or illustrator between October 1, 2021 and April 30, 2021. They will earn a badge for every two books they read.

Please email Julie Niederhauser if you would like a pdf of the flier below, with information about the fall challenge, to share with your community. The flyer includes space for you to add your library’s contact information or to personalize.

Here are some ways your library can support patrons’ participation in the fall reading challenge:

• Hold a kick-off event to get patrons excited about the challenge.
• Promote upcoming Alaska Book Week readings, lectures, and discussions.
• Invite Heather Lende, Alaska Writer Laureate for the 2021-2023 term to be a guest speaker at your library.
• Create booklists highlighting Alaska, Alaskan authors, and illustrators.
• Create bookmarks for various adults, youth and teens highlighting recommended titles.
• Create a fall reading challenge display (inside, outside library, and shared virtually)
• Create a paper reading log for readers to track their progress.
• Offer prizes for patrons who complete the challenge (a half-way prize and a grand prize).
• Encourage participants to share their favorite reads during the challenge on social media to maintain interest.
• Develop programs around the Alaskana theme. Invite Alaska authors or illustrators to a Zoom meeting to talk about their books, hold a virtual cooking class with an Alaska cookbook author, or invite a local historian to share information on local produced family histories.
• Use the Beanstack report feature to periodically check in with challenge registrants from your library.