July 2019 Edition
Announcements
Libraries Lead with Digital Skills is an initiative of the American Library Association and the Public Library Association, sponsored by Grow with Google that provides libraries with funding, training and tools to assist job seekers in preparing for finding work and to empower small businesses to grow online.

Applications for funding are currently being accepted from libraries that host digital skills workshops to provide training and tools for job seekers and small business owners using Google products.

The application period closes on July 22. Grant-funded workshops will provide a great opportunity for libraries to shine a spotlight on how you are supporting your community’s economic growth through digital skills training.
Professional Development News
There are many exciting Continuing Education conferences, classes and webinars coming up. Scholarships are one way that library staff can attend these Continuing Education opportunities. These scholarships are funded with Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

All library personnel employed full-time in Arizona libraries are eligible to apply for a scholarship to learn best practices of librarianship and provide continuing education at their libraries or to the Arizona library community at large. Scholarships are available in $100 increments starting at $250 up to a maximum of $1250. In deciding at which level to apply, please consider the number of hours required for preparation/presentation of the work product. Other costs to consider may include the costs of your attendance at a national, state, or local workshop, institute, conference, or webinar. Scholarships are not available for formal library courses through a university or community college. More information can be found on the website .
Upcoming Conferences


Mark your calendar!
Don’t miss the opportunity to apply for the MPLA Leadership Institute . Next year the Institute will be in Prescott, AZ at Yavapai College from June 7-12, 2020. There are only 30 slots and it is a competitive process.
Registration is open now and the deadline is November 15, 2019.
Early Literacy Summit 2020:
A Vision for the Future
The Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records and the Arizona Library Association are collaborating to present the  Early Literacy Summit 2020: A Vision for the Future  to connect and enlighten Early Literacy providers in libraries on best practices for early literacy, parent awareness, and school readiness. 

This three-day summit will provide the opportunities for Arizona’s Early Literacy professionals who serve children under 5 to network and learn from experts and each other. Below are some of the confirmed sessions and presenters:

  • Re-imagine the Future pre-conference with the Bay Area Discovery Museum
  • Planning Meaningful Early Childhood Programs by R. Lynn Baker
  • Embodied Play 101 by Katie Scherrer
  • Keynotes Sponsored by the Arizona State Library
  • Experiences Elevate Everything with Dr. Dipesh Navsaria, MPH, MSLIS, MD 
  • The Importance of Self-Regulation and Social-Emotional Skills for School Readiness with Dr. Megan McClelland 

More information coming soon regarding registration and available scholarships
 
Date:    January 8-10, 2020
Location: Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resort; One San Marcos Place; Chandler, AZ 85225
Project READY: Reimagining Equity & Access for Diverse Youth , is a free online professional development curriculum for school and public youth services librarians, library administrators, and others interested in improving their knowledge about  race and racism, racial equity, and culturally sustaining pedagogy . The primary focus of the Project READY curriculum is on improving relationships with, services to, and resources  for youth of color and Native youth.

The curriculum consists of 27 modules, designed to be worked through by individuals or small groups. Modules are organized into three sequential sections. The first section, Foundations, focuses on basic concepts and issues that are fundamental to understanding race and racism and their impact on library services. The second section, Transforming Practice, explores how these foundational concepts relate to and can be applied in library environments. Finally, the third section, Continuing the Journey, explores how library professionals can sustain racial equity work and grow personally and professionally in this area after completing the curriculum. The curriculum may be found at http://ready.web.unc.edu/ .

Project READY was developed by the School of Information and Library Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the School of Library and Information Sciences at North Carolina Central University, and the Wake County (NC) Public School System (WCPSS) with funds from a three-year Continuing Education Project grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
New Infopeople Courses
Infopeople offers a variety of webinars and self-paced online courses on topics of high interest for library staff. Webinars are free, and the Arizona State Library has purchased a block of registrations for the online courses. Arizona library staff may register for courses by sending an email to  Ann Marie Creegan , containing:
·        The course name and dates
·        Registrant’s name
·        Registrant’s email
·        Library name
·        Library address
·        Library phone number


July 2-29, 2019
This four-week online course will provide an overview of library cataloging and classification and prepare you to do copy cataloging. 

July 16-August 12, 2019
This four-week online course will take a big-picture look at the mission of a library and how the collection works toward serving that mission.

August 6-September 2, 2019
This four-week online course will utilize an assessment, readings, recorded presentations, examples, resources and an online meeting to help you develop a better understanding of cultural intelligence.

WEBINAR: July 11, 2019, 1:00 PM MST
In this webinar, presenter Kimberlji Buckley will discuss how to put together an adult craft program on a budget, how to utilize crafts to promote awareness, and she will offer a wide variety and range of craft examples that will prove that crafts aren't just for kids.
New WebJunction Webinars
Access to WebJunction’s self-paced online library courses is now available and free to all library staff members. Simply create an account at  http://learn.webjunction.org  and explore the catalog of library-focused courses and archived webinars. Certificates of completion will be available to you for any of the courses or archived webinars you complete from the catalog.

July 11, 12:00 - 1:00 PM MST
Part one in a two-part series, this webinar explores intellectual freedom, privacy and confidentiality in practical, actionable ways.

August 8, 12:00 - 1:00 PM MST
Part two in a two-part series, this webinar explores library policies and procedures related to intellectual freedom, privacy, and confidentiality.

August 27, 12:00 - 1:00 PM MST
In this webinar, learn the steps for creating a successful technology plan for your library.
Grants & Opportunities
For Rural and Tribal Communities
There are several grant opportunities for rural and tribal communities and libraries to bring new services to their communities and revitalize their collections.

  • The Pilcrow Foundation-provides 2 to 1 match to rural libraries that receive a grant through its Children’s Book Project and contribute $200-$400 through a local sponsor for the purchase of up to $1200 (retail) worth of new, quality, hardcover children’s books;
  • USDA Rural Development division funding can aid with collection development, STEAM programming, and other topics.

If you have any questions, please contact Kaitlin Dailey at kdailey@azlibrary.gov . 
Resources
The American Library Association released the Libraries' Guide to the 2020 Census , a new resource to prepare libraries for the decennial count of every person living in the United States.

The Guide contains practical information to assist library staff in addressing potential patron and community requests regarding the upcoming 2020 Census. The Guide includes:
  • basic information about the Census process;
  • highlights of new components in the 2020 Census, such as the online response option;
  • frequently asked questions;
  • a timeline of key Census dates;
  • contact information and links to additional resources. 

ALA teamed with the Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality to develop the Guide, with support from ALA's 2020 Census Library Outreach and Education Task Force. ALA plans to provide additional resources for library practitioners in the months leading up to Census Day on April 1, 2020.

The Libraries' Guide to the 2020 Census is available for free download at ala.org/census.
Are your patrons frustrated by hold queues for the latest books? Reading Arizona can entertain them while they wait! Our collection contains over 200 titles that are always available for use. No holds, no wait time, for select books about the people, places, and history of Arizona. Some of these always available titles make great choices for Arizona-themed local or library book groups too. Visit www.readingarizona.org for instructions on how to set up a free account.
Reading Arizona MARC Records Now Available
Want Reading Arizona titles easily visible to your patrons as they explore your collections? Request MARC records for our perpetual access titles and import them into your catalog. E-mail Kori Tueller at ktueller@azlibrary.gov and specify whether you need MARC-8 or UTF encoded MARC records for your ILS.

An account is required to access Reading Arizona materials, so be sure to review our FAQ at http://azsos.libanswers.com/faq/215978 so you can know how to support your patrons’ access to these titles. If you or your patrons have any difficulty with account creation, you can submit a request for help here .
Library Services is part of the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records, a division of the Secretary of State. The branches of Library Services include Library Development, the State of Arizona Research Library, the Arizona Talking Book Library, and E-Rate. Library Services programs and activities are supported in part with federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Holly Henley
State Librarian and Director of Library Services
Contact
Library Services