Index
- MID encourages entrepreneurship among youth
- Anderson certified to lead crisis prevention classes
- Exploring Chrome Extensions: Grammarly
- PLA Awards & Grants
- Continuing Education Calendar
MID encourages entrepreneurship among youth
Public libraries are engines for entrepreneurs of all ages.
According to a 2013 study by the American Library Association, 95 percent of the 16,000 public libraries in the United States report economic and workforce services. Roughly half of those libraries provide specialized support services to startups and small businesses. Pictured at right, Annabelle and Eliza sell accessories for American Girl dolls.
What can entrepreneurs expect to find at the Middleton Public Library? Offerings are diverse and include access to databases like AtoZ, where one can search millions of business and resident listings in the United States, and download records for easy marketing. Lynda.com has thousands of video tutorial courses for business, software, technology, and creative skills, taught by recognized industry experts. Financial databases, such as Business Source Premier, Morningstar, and Value Line, are available from anywhere with a Middleton Public Library card. Staff can also offer areas of expertise along with timely and relevant physical collections available for checkout.
Lectures and programs facilitate the sharing and exchange of ideas, along with networking opportunities. In the Media Maker Lab kids learn essential problem-solving and inventing skills needed for future jobs and careers that may not exist today. Tech focused offerings are continually in high demand, as is the need for internet access and printing services. Wi-Fi usage at the Middleton Public Library has soared 74 percent since 2015. Part of this increase is related to the equally high demand of the library’s study and meeting room space. Pictured at left is a shopper purchasing artwork.
On Saturday Nov. 4, the library teamed up with the Middleton Senior Center to offer craft fairs at both locations. Now in its third year, the ‘Young Entrepreneurs’ Craft Fair’ (YECF) provides an avenue for kids to make and sell their own products at the library. The kids handle merchandising, pricing, and sales transactions on their own. Some even choose to donate their profits to a selected charity. Working together with friends or siblings, kids build teamwork and collaboration skills. By browsing the sale and talking with the kids, many shoppers find a renewed interest in crafting and hobbies. Space constraints are one of the library’s biggest challenges. By holding the craft fair on the main level, patrons look at and experience the library in a new way. Whether a senior or a child, entrepreneurs of all ages are empowered to develop a new perspective on themselves. After all, one never knows who will come up with the next million-dollar idea…
Have a great idea that you would like to make happen? Visit your senior center and public library! The stage is set for aspiring entrepreneurs to not just dream, but to transform their ideas into reality.
Visit www.midlibrary.org for more.
Anderson certified to lead crisis prevention classes
Jean Anderson, SCLS Continuing Education Consultant, is a Certified Instructor for the Crisis Prevention Institute’s (CPI) Prepare Training program. The core focus of this program is to promote a culture of Respect, Service, and Safety at Work.
As a certified instructor, Jean can customize this program for your library and train your staff to safely manage disruptive patrons and situations. This interactive program includes role playing, discussions, and laughter.
If you’re interested in having this training as part of a staff in-service, contact Jean.
Exploring Chrome Extensions: Grammarly
I have to admit. My grammar is not the best. Luckily there is the Chrome extension Grammarly. In continuing with the Exploring Chrome Extensions series, we are going to check out a very useful one for those of us who are grammar-impaired.
Grammarly is a multi-featured Chrome extension that checks any inputted text in Chrome automatically as you type or finish typing. Not only does the extension check for grammatical errors but it also features a contextual spelling checker.
The application itself is fairly downplayed visually, adding squiggly error lines and context menus for corrections. You will notice when Grammarly is active when you see what looks to be an upside-down Refresh symbol that is bright teal in the lower right-hand corner of the field. I have found that it does not always catch the errors, especially in certain fields. Despite this, I have found this to be a pretty respectable tool in the Chrome extension arsenal.
You can get Grammarly here!
--by Will Allington for TechBits
Nominate yourself, a colleague, or your library, today!
Ten PLA service awards and grants -- including the new The Singer Group Helping Communities Come Together Award -- highlight the best in public library service and honor those bringing innovation, creativity and dedication to public libraries. Consider nominating yourself, a colleague, or your library, today! Click here for details on all 10 awards and grants. The deadline to apply is Monday, Dec. 4, 2017, at 11:59 p.m. Central Time. To submit an application or nomination, please login to the PLA Awards Online Application.
2018 Service Awards & Grants
- Allie Beth Martin Award -- Honors a librarian who, in a public library setting, has demonstrated extraordinary range and depth of knowledge about books or other library materials and has distinguished ability to share that knowledge. A plaque and a $3,000 honorarium are presented annually at the ALA Annual Conference. Established in 1977 in honor of Allie Beth Martin. Sponsored by Baker & Taylor.
- Baker & Taylor Entertainment Audio Music / Video Product Award -- Designed to provide a public library the opportunity to build or expand a collection of either or both formats in whatever proportion the library chooses. The grant consists of $2,500 of Audio Music or Video Products. Sponsored by Baker & Taylor.
- Charlie Robinson Award -- Honors a public library director who, over a period of seven years, has been a risk-taker, innovator and/or a change agent in a public library. The recipient should have been active in national and other professional associations and be known for developing and implementing programs which are responsive to the needs of community residents. The award consists of $1,000 and a gift. The public library director will be honored at the ALA Annual Conference. Established in 1997. Sponsored by Baker & Taylor.
- Demco New Leaders Travel Grant -- Designed to enhance the professional development and improve the expertise of public librarians new to the field by making possible their attendance at major professional development activities. Plaques and travel grants of up to $1,500 per applicant are presented annually at the ALA Annual Conference. Established in 1993. The name of this grant was changed in October 2004. This grant is sponsored by Demco, Inc.
- EBSCO Excellence in Rural Library Service Award -- Honors a public library serving a population of 10,000 or less, with an upper per-capita income limit of not more than the 75th quartile of the national average, that demonstrates excellence of service to its community as exemplified by an overall service program or a special program of significant accomplishment. A plaque and a $1,000 honorarium are presented annually at the ALA Annual Conference. Established in 1991. Sponsored by EBSCO Information Services.
- Gordon M. Conable Award -- Honors a public library staff member, a library trustee, or a public library, that has demonstrated a commitment to intellectual freedom and the Library Bill of Rights. The award consists of $1,500 and a plaque to be presented annually at the ALA Annual Conference.
- John Iliff Award -- Honors the life and accomplishments of John Iliff, early adopter and champion of technology in public libraries, and recognizes the contributions of a library worker, librarian, or library that has used technology and innovative thinking as a tool to improve services to public library users. The award provides a $1,000 honorarium, a plaque and a bouquet of roses for the workplace. Sponsored by Innovative.
- Romance Writers of America Library Grant -- Designed to provide a public library the opportunity to build or expand its romance fiction collection and/or host romance fiction programming. The grant consists of $4,500 to be used toward the purchase of books in print and/or audio format, author honorariums and travel expenses, and other applicable program expenses. Sponsored by the Romance Writers of America.
- The Singer Group Helping Communities Come Together Award -- Recognizes a public library’s ability to identify community needs specifically in times of crisis and division, and respond in creative and exemplary ways. The award consists of $1,000 and a plaque. Established in 2017. Sponsored by The Singer Group.
- Upstart Innovation Award -- Recognizes a public library’s innovative and creative service program to the community. A plaque and a $2,000 honorarium are presented annually at the ALA Annual Conference. Sponsored by Upstart, a Demco company