Index
- Make virtual programs more accessible & inclusive
- IDEA: Inclusivity, Diversity, & Equity in Action feedback needed
- PBS KIDS Community Learning Cohort for Youth Services Staff
- Wild Wisconsin Winter Web Conference registration
- Member/Staff News
- 2020 Best of the Books: Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature
- New COVID-19 resources and test results
- Lake Superior Libraries Unsymposium is Jan. 8
- Digital Health Lending Kits award application now open
- New from StarNet
- Continuing Education Calendar
Make virtual programs more accessible & inclusive
Virtual programs are a great way to reach communities in times of social distance (and likely beyond). They provide a means of continuing to offer opportunities for learning, gathering, and discussion in a time when physical contact and shared spaces pose health risks due to COVID-19.
(Image Credit: Alexandra_Koch from Pixabay)
Here are a couple of resources to help make your virtual programs more welcoming and accessible:
The Virtual Accessibility Toolkit created by the Association of Specialized, Government, and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCGLA) Accessibility Assembly addresses accessibility in a variety of program types. Use this resource to find tips for virtual accessibility and links to additional resources for various program types, including meetings, presentations, webinars, and group discussions.
The Connecticut State Library highlights several options for live captioning in the Libraries and Accessibility: Accessible Virtual Gatherings libguide. These options include free and paid services that provide transcription (captioning) services for live programs and discussion on several platforms (Zoom, Skype, Google Meet, and YouTube).
For ideas on virtual and socially-distanced programs in general, Programming Librarian: Social-Distancing Programs and Virtual topics, is also a great resource to visit.
Please reach out to Mark Jochem and Shawn Brommer for additional resources and assistance on inclusive services.
IDEA: Inclusivity, Diversity, & Equity in Action feedback needed
Thanks to LSTA funding through the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Wisconsin continuing education consultants are planning a series of facilitator-led webinars, workshops, and mini-grants to support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in your library and in your community. Your feedback will help us create a plan for these education offerings, which will begin in Spring 2021 and continue through 2022. The deadline for completing the survey is Dec 15.
PBS KIDS Community Learning Cohort for Youth Services Staff
PBS Wisconsin seeks to empower and elevate family and community learning engagement in Wisconsin libraries over the next year. Wisconsin public library staff serving families with children ages 2-8 can apply to be a part of the first PBS KIDS Community Learning Cohort.
Participants will:
- create a virtual community of practice with fellow library staff around the state;
- receive training in the PBS KIDS family engagement model, which focuses on children ages 2 through 8;
- participate in monthly play-based, skill-building online workshops between January and May;
- receive a $1,000 implementation grant and technical assistance from the PBS Wisconsin Education staff to support PBS KIDS program implementation during summer 2021; and
- build confidence in the use of PBS KIDS digital media resources.
One library will be accepted per library system throughout the state. Applications will be selected based on service audience diversity and commitment to full program participation. Applications will be accepted through Dec. 11, 2020, and selected cohort members will be notified by Dec. 30.
Apply today to receive training and funding to make your community engagement stronger! Please send your questions to [email protected].
Wild Wisconsin Winter Web Conference registration
Registration is now open for the 9th Annual Wild Wisconsin Winter Web Conference, geared toward public librarians in Wisconsin.
This year's conference, scheduled Jan. 27 & 28, 2021, has 14 programs with tracks in management, small libraries, public services and marketing.
Participate in the comfort and safety of your own home or library workspace.
“When we finally got the go ahead to reopen the libraries with limited capacity and staff, we had to consider what was the most vital use of our buildings,” Neeyati Shah, librarian at Madison’s Central library, shared recently. “We talked about browsing, about holds, but public computing clearly rose to the surface.” While the COVID19 crisis has illuminated the need for public computing options, the service has always been one of the core uses of our libraries. Read the complete article.
The December issue of WSLL @ Your Service is now online. Please send comments to the editor, Carol Hassler. In this issue: Online Classes a Popular Addition -- The State Law Library did not predict that we would be offering webinars via Zoom in 2020, but the live, online format has helped us reach more people throughout the state. We look forward to continuing and expanding upon our webinars in 2021 (read more); New Books -- Our two featured new titles this month are Cyberbullying law and Automated vehicle law: legal liability, regulation, and data security. Our complete new book list is also available! (read more); Tech Tip -- As the health emergency continues, many law libraries continue to offer services remotely. Under these conditions, LexisNexis recently announced a continuation of their free remote access service (read more); Library News -- We feature new or updated research guides and some upcoming class opportunities in this month’s news column (read more); December Snapshot -- For many years, we've held an open house event during the winter months with games and appetizers. Here's a look back at previous parties. We're missing all of our library users this year (read more).
2020 Best of the Books: Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature
The Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature, an educational research center based in California whose mission is to provide children, teachers, parents, educators, and librarians access to multicultural books with high literary and artistic standards, has released its Best Books List for 2020.
The Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature is among the leading educational research centers in the field of multicultural literature. It works to preserve the richness of the many cultures in the field of children’s and young adult literature. The primary objectives include:
- to foster an interest in multicultural children’s literature for young people;
- to promote awareness of the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature (CSMCL); and
- to generate excitement in the study of multicultural literature.
New COVID-19 resources and test results
The REopening Archives, Libraries and Museums (REALM) project has published Test 6 results from Battelle's laboratory testing for infectious COVID-19 virus on five materials commonly found in furnishings and exhibits. New and updated toolkit resources have also been added, including a Decision-making Checklist to explore the various factors that can impact local decisions.
Lake Superior Libraries Unsymposium is Jan. 8
The ninth annual Lake Superior Libraries Unsymposium is going virtual this year! The 2021 “unconference” will be held Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, from 1-4 p.m. You’re invited to join for an afternoon of conversation, collaboration, and connection -- from wherever you are!
Although in-person is not an option for the 2021 Unsymposium, they will stick to the “unconference” format and use the online meeting platform Unhangout to brainstorm and vote on discussion topics before breaking into small groups for discussion. Participants are encouraged to ask questions, interact with other participants, and offer expertise drawn from your own experiences. Rather than listening to a single speaker, you determine the conversation!
Join this Jan. 8 virtual Unsymposium for invigorating discussion with other library folks and be prepared to take that enthusiasm back to your library! Registration is open now!
Sign up for the mailing list, follow on Facebook and Twitter, or visit the website for updates.
The Unsymposium is free and open to everyone. If you have questions, contact the Unsymposium organizers.
Digital Health Lending Kits award application now open
According to an article in the Greater Midwest Region Weekly Digest from the National Library of Medicine, public libraries can apply to receive a Digital Health Lending Kits.
These kits are designed to support small and rural public libraries’ efforts to bridge the gap in digital health information access, and each will contain the following items:
- 10 iPads (8th generation)
- 10 iPad covers
- AppleCare+ for each iPad
- A physical copy of the book Promoting Health Individual and Community at the Library
- An e-book version of the book Pivoting during the Pandemic: Ideas for Serving Your Community Anytime, Anywhere
- A selection of print materials related to NLM resources and digital health literacy that can be included with each iPad at check out.
In addition, libraries receiving a kit must dedicate at least one staff member to participate in a 4-month cohort. This cohort will require the participation and completion of a custom session of the NNLM course Beyond an Apple a Day (BaAaD) between Feb. 8-21, 2021. In addition, participants will meet virtually via Zoom at least once each month to share progress, best practices, and discuss programming related to digital lending and their iPad kits. It is expected that BaAaD participation will require approximately two hours per week and monthly meetings will last one hour. To assist with time requirements for the cohort, a $250 stipend is included for up to two staff members to participate in the programming. Learn more about the award and apply for a kit.
Up to 14 awards will be granted and the application deadline is Dec. 11, 2020, at 5 p.m. (Central Time).
The following are new programs and resources mentioned in the Star Net monthly newsletter. The STAR Library Network (STAR Net)is a community of library and STEM professionals that work together to strengthen STEAM learning in public libraries nationwide.
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Celebrate Engineers Week: Feb. 21-27 -- COVID-19 has laid bare the critical work of engineers in creating a world safe from pandemics, climate change, cyber-attacks, and other daunting global challenges. Engineers Week (hosted by DiscoverE) is a time to celebrate their important work and engage the next generation of innovators. Even with social distancing, you can make a difference. During this week, your library will have the opportunity to:
- Be a virtual role model
- Celebrate engineers and their contributions
- Share Chats with Change Makers
Get Programming Resources | Download Theme Poster
- Save the Date: Perseverance Rover Landing -- Perseverance will touch down on Mars on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, at approximately 2:30 p.m. Central Time. Landing on Mars is challenging. Only about 40 percent of the missions ever sent to Mars – by any space agency - have been successful. Perseverance is only the fifth rover to attempt landing on Mars. Will your library's patrons be watching? Tune in to NASA's Watch Online page for viewing information.
Mission Overview Video | NASA's Landing Toolkit
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Two Eyed Seeing: Mayan Astronomy & NASA Moon to Mars -- Please join Native Skywatchers on Dec. 17 at 8:30 p.m. (Central Time) for a live (virtual) show featuring Mayan Indigenous Astronomy, presented by: Gerardo Aldana, Andrea Carrillo, Annette S. Lee, Andrea Medina, and Graciela Rodriguez. Supporting organizations are Native Skywatchers, NASA, and the Chicano Studies Institute at UC Santa Barbara. Lead educators are Andrea Carrillo and Graciela Rodriguez from Adelante Charter School in Santa Barbara, California.
Get the Details and Register Today!