In This Issue
Letter from the President ~ Statewide Library Events
RILA 2019-2021 Executive Board Slate
School Library News Feature ~ News from the Public Library Community
Letter from the President
RILA President's Corner, March 2019

Hello everyone,

Thank you for being a member of the Rhode Island Library Association. We are working hard to build a vibrant library community in our state!

On May 22 and 23, we will be holding our Annual RILA Conference at Bryant University. Thank you to Mackenzie Dunn, Conference Committee Chair, and her team, who are pulling together a great lineup of programming and events.

Two of our planned keynote speakers are Wanda Brown, ALA President-Elect, and Michael Spikes, news media and literacy education expert.

At the annual business meeting, we will be celebrating new collaborations with the Coalition of Library Advocates (COLA), Cornucopia of RI (CORI), and the School Librarians of RI (SLRI). All three groups are now officially RILA Sections!

Thank you,
Kieran Ayton, RILA President
Save the Dates! Statewide Library Events
RI Library Day 2019 (#rilibraryday)

RILA invites you to participate in the 5th Annual Rhode Island Library Day on Saturday, April 13, 2019, which ties into ALA's National Library Week (April 7-13, 2019). This year's theme is “Libraries = Strong Communities,” and we encourage you to take this opportunity to highlight and celebrate the many ways you support the individuals and institutions within your communities.

As part of the celebration, we are asking all Rhode Island public libraries to participate in a fine amnesty day for those returning overdue materials on April 13th.

Visit the RI Library Day webpage for suggestions for library activities and tools that you can use to contact your legislators if you would like to invite them to your library day events.

Please contact the RILA Members at Large at membersatlarge@rilibraries.org with your planned events and activities by Friday, April 5th, so that we can promote them on the website.

Remember to promote this on social media and to use the hashtag #RILibraryDay !
Financial Literacy at Your Library


The Financial Literacy Roundtable continues to plan for the upcoming Money Smart Week (March 30 - April 6).

Check out their RILA Page to learn more about the multiple resources that you can use to host a Money Smart Event.
RILA Executive Board 2019-2021

We are pleased to present the slate of officers for the 2019-2021 RILA Executive Board. The slate will be voted on by members via electronic ballot during the month of April, and the final slate will be announced at the RILA Conference Annual Business Meeting on May XX
Vice-President: Rachael Juskuv
Rachael Juskuv has been a member of RILA since 2011. She has participated in the Public Relations (now Communications) Committee since 2014. Rachael currently is a Research & Instruction Librarian at Bryant University. In her free time, Rachael practices bookbinding and enjoys the outdoors.
Secretary: Chelsea Watts
Chelsea Watts, who has been serving as RILA Secretary since 2017, is a fairly recent graduate of URI, where she earned her MLIS and Master's in History. While in graduate school, she worked in URI’s Carothers Library at the Info & Research Help Desk and in Digital Initiatives. From this work and her library school classes, she gained a deeper appreciation for academic libraries as well as digital collections. She also pursued her interest in history and archives through work as an Adjunct Curator at the Bristol Historical & Preservation Society. Chelsea currently serves as a Library Assistant at both the North Kingstown Free Library and the CCRI Newport campus library. As a graduate student, she was an executive board member of URI’s Student ALA chapter and has always loved being involved in such organizations, which led her to join RILA. Her passion and excitement for libraries and the RI library community has encouraged her to become more involved with RILA as a board member. She is eager to bring her creativity, experience, and unique perspectives to RILA.
ALA Councilor: Jack Martin
H. Jack Martin has been working in public libraries since the age of 13. He started as a clerk in his hometown of Cornelia, Georgia, then went on to the Athens Regional Library in Athens, Georgia. After a brief stint at the Providence Public Library from 1999 to 2001, he moved to New York City where he worked as a young adult librarian and in various senior management positions at the New York Public Library. He came back to the Providence Public Library in 2014, and he is currently overseeing a $25 million renovation of its downtown location. As a member of the RILA Executive Board, Jack serves as a strong advocate for all types of libraries across the state and country. He's the current RI Chapter Councilor and represents RI on ALA's Steering Committee on Organizational Effectiveness, the ALA Conference Committee, and membership committees. Jack also serves as a member of RILA's legislation committee, where he works with other library leaders across the state to advocate and protect library services. He lives in Providence with his husband and three frisky cats.
Member-at-Large: Sandie Gauthier
Sandie Gauthier is a Reference Librarian at Cranston Public Library, William Hall Branch. A student at University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Library and Information Studies, she is scheduled to graduate with her MLIS in December 2019. Sandie began her library path as a circulation assistant with East Providence Public Library, and she hopes to continue her career in the public library setting after graduation. She is an avid reader and especially enjoys offering reader’s advisory services as well as leading book discussions.

Sandie is also a Registered Yoga Teacher specializing in trauma, PTSD, adaptive mobility, and TBI. She works with teens and military veterans experiencing anxiety and complex trauma. She is the founder of Yoga for Warriors and a former small business owner.
Member-at-Large: Megan Hamlin-Black
Megan Hamlin-Black is the Rhode Island State Librarian overseeing the State Library, a public legislative library located in the State House. Prior to her current position, Megan was a two-semester visiting faculty librarian at Providence College. Megan graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Madison’s Master of Library and Information Sciences program in August 2015. While completing her degree via the university’s distance program, Megan worked part-time at both Brandeis University Library's Research and Instruction Department and Coventry Public Library’s reference department. Megan is one of the American Library Association’s Emerging Leaders for 2019.
Megan is a Rhode Island transplant and has lived in Providence since 2014. She enjoys running, sewing, and scoping out witty tote bags in her free time. Her current favorite tote bag has a cat and a bird reading To Kill a Mockingbird on it.
Treasurer: Beatrice Pulliam
Beatrice Renée Pulliam is Director of Technology and Information Services at Providence Public Library (PPL) and Director of AskRI.org, Rhode Island's Statewide Online Reference Resource Center. Beatrice is responsible for directing the expansion of the Library's digital footprint, and re-envisioning impactful, technology-rich educational experiences for library users. Beatrice directs a team of 11 librarians, technologists and paraprofessional staff and is currently overseeing the overhaul of her library’s entire technical infrastructure and reimagining of the library’s pubic services. Before joining Providence Public Library and AskRI, Beatrice was Head of Technology and Access at the Providence College Library, and has 15 years of experience working with technology and staff in libraries. Beatrice is the current Treasurer of the Rhode Island Library Association and was a Rhode Island Foundation Emerging Nonprofit Leader in 2018. She also holds a BA from the University of Michigan and an MS in Library & Information Science from Simmons University in Boston.
School Library News
School Libraries Engage Students by Toggling Between Technology...
Tina Ash, school librarian at Riverside Middle School in East Providence, is working with her 8th graders to create book trailers for Literature Appreciation. Using Adobe Spark software, students create 1-minute trailers about a work of fiction they read in class, adding music, images, videos, and voiceovers. Students are encouraged to use a hook to discuss characters, setting, and a spoiler-free hint about the plot’s main problem or challenge. Book trailers are just one of the blended learning, project-based assignments that students are creating in the library to align with International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and American Association of School Librarians (AASL) Standards.
Images: Screenshot images of student book trailers from Riverside Middle School Library
Kindergarteners at Myron J. Francis School Library in East Providence are starting to learn coding under the guidance of librarian Suzanne Jordan. Initially, students build marble runs to learn about debugging, frustration, and perseverance. When they’re ready, they make the switch to coding on computers using CODE.org’s CS Fundamentals curriculum. “Students have enjoyed the unplugged lessons so far and are very excited to begin the computer coding lessons,” says Jordan.

Image: An example of a student-built marble run from Myron J. Francis School Library
…and Good Old-Fashioned Books
Melanie Roy, school librarian at Hampden Meadows School in Barrington, reports that, when her library gets a new batch of books, she creates a “Book Tasting” event to give all students the chance to look through the new titles and create their own interest-based reading plans. The library gets noticeably louder as the students excitedly engage with the books and each other, building a one-of-a-kind reading community. Students eagerly place holds and can’t wait for their turn with the new titles.


Image: A recent “Book Tasting” event at Hampden Meadows School Library
Over at Tolman High School Library in Pawtucket, school librarian Camille Nixon reports that the library has begun giving away books to students, courtesy of generous donations from the non-profit literacy organization Books Are Wings . The program has been a great success; Nixon reports that it is “such a great feeling to have to keep filling the cart each day!”

Image: The book donation cart at Tolman High School Library
News From RILA Sections
The Rhode Island Coalition of Library Advocates (COLA)
Save the Dates!

On Wed, April 10, 2019, from 2:30 -4:30 pm, at the State House COLA is hosting a table for Library Legislative Day. Please stop by to chat with us and visit the other exhibits.

On Wed, May 22, 2019, COLA will hold its Annual Conference @ Bryant University as part of the Rhode Island Library Association Annual Conference, May 22-23, 2019. Our business meeting and awards ceremony will start promptly at 4:15 pm. Wanda Brown, ALA’s new president, will be our guest speaker at 5:00 pm. Please join us and stay for the reception afterwards. COLA members who are attending the COLA conference only do not need to register for the RILA conference. Please come be part of COLA’s annual celebration.
News From the Public Library Community
New Hire at the Cranston Public Library
The Cranston Public Library (CPL) would like to welcome to our staff Dave Bartos as the Coordinator of Adult Services. Dave was previously the Head of Reference at the Morse Institute Library in Natick, MA. He officially started at CPL on February 19.
News and Events from Providence Community Library (PCL)
Micro-Courses Bring Humanities Studies to South Providence Library   

Long Story Short micro-courses are an exciting collaboration between PCL and the Department of American Studies and the Center for Public Humanities at Brown University. Once a month, faculty members visit South Providence Library from 6:00PM - 7:30PM to share an interesting text, give a short talk, and lead a discussion, inspired by the courses they teach at the university. To make things easier for busy families to participate, pizza will be served and a homework tutor provided to assist students in grades K-6.

Click here for a full list of forthcoming courses.
Celebrating Dia Day with a Story-Writing Contest

PCL has announced Pequenos Autores Bilingues , its annual bilingual story-writing contest for youth held in association with Día de Los Niños/ Día De Los Libros  (Dia Day).The competition is aimed at kids ages 7-12, with prizes awarded in two age categories. The winning entries will be announced at the Día de Los Niños/ Día De Los Libros  celebration at Knight Memorial Library on April 27. 

PCL has scheduled two workshops to help young authors master different parts of the creative process: a writing workshop on March 16 and an illustration workshop on March 30, both 10:00AM - 11:30AM at South Providence Library. Completed books must reach Caroline Briones at South Providence Library by April 18, Obtain more information and full contest guidelines in English and Spanish by visiting this page or contact Carolina Briones at cbriones@provcomlib.org  or 401-467-2700 x1608.
You Can Do It – Rappel for PCL!

The PCL community had an incredible time in June 2018 when 32 fearless people went over the edge and rappelled down the 12-story Regency Plaza apartments in Providence to raise money for PCL. This year, we are doing it again - and you can join us! Take on a memorable "bucket list" experience that supports libraries and will make a real difference for everyone living in Providence! 

No prior experience of rappelling is required. No climbing is involved; you do not need to be super fit and, providing that you weigh between 100 pounds and 300 pounds, you are good to go! Your fundraising goal is to raise $1,000 (we’ll supply help) to win a place on the ropes. As a little confidence booster, attend our special  Trial Rappel event on March 30, 10:00AM – 12:00PM . Rock Spot Climbing’s experts will show you how to rappel on their 40-feet-high indoor rock wall at their Lincoln location. The Trial Rappel is completely free, with no obligation, and is open to everyone.

Find out more about #RappelforPCL and sign up at provcomlib.org/edge .
PCL Appoints New Director of Philanthropy
 
Michael Bordonaro joined PCL in January and has 25 years of experience working with nonprofit organizations. Michael comes to PCL from the YMCA of Central Massachusetts, where he was Associate Director of Development of Major Gifts and Events. At the Y, Michael managed a portfolio of 100+ major donors and oversaw all signature events for the Association. Prior to that, Michael worked for the American Cancer Society in Framingham, Massachusetts as Senior Development Manager and, before that, as Hockomock Area YMCA's Director of Association Events and Volunteer Development. He holds a BA in Interpersonal Communication.

The new Director of Philanthropy is excited to apply his many skills toward creating greater sustainability for PCL. "I'm so happy to be joining the team at PCL as we enter our second decade of fulfilling community needs of language, literacy, and the discovery and enjoyment of continued lifelong learning. When we all come together, everyone is elevated," says Michael.
American Creed : A Film Screening & Community Conversation at Barrington Public Library
What does it mean to be American? How do Americans from diverse backgrounds understand and shape the American creed? What is your family's American story?

On Thursday, March 28, 6:30PM - 9:00 PM, Barrington Public Library will host a screening of the PBS documentary film American Creed , followed by a Community Conversation facilitated by Prof. Aaron C. Allen of the American Studies Department at Roger Williams University. Hear from and engage with fellow Americans from across the country and in your town, as we find answers to these questions.

Click here to learn more.
The Rhode Island Library Association
is a professional organization that serves its members through career development, education, advocacy, networking partnerships, and legislative action .
The RILA Bulletin is produced by the RILA Communications Committee. The RILA Communications Committee is responsible for publicizing and supporting Rhode Island Library Association activities using a variety of communication tools. Responsibilities include publishing the RILA Bulletin, managing social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, and exploring other mediums as needed.

Rhode Island Library Association members can contribute content to the RILA Bulletin by submitting an article or emailing the editors: communications@rilibraries.org.