August 2019 Edition
Announcements
A Message from the Arizona Center for the Book
The Letters about Literature program has touched more than 1 million students in grades 4-12 during its 27-year history. Co-sponsored by the Library of Congress and the state centers for the book, this program wouldn't have existed without the teachers and coordinators who supported this program over the years. At its peak, more than 70,000 students entered their letters each year and wrote about how books have changed their lives for the better.

The Library of Congress is no longer administering the program, but is committed to developing new programs that fulfill a new strategic plan . We will share details of these programs as we have them.

Please visit our website at azcenterforthebook.org for other opportunities to support literature and libraries. Thank you for your invaluable support of the Arizona Center for the Book @ the Arizona State Library.
Arizona Summer Reading Program :
Final Evaluations Due September 6
Thank you for all your effort in preventing the summer slide and engaging your patrons in summer reading. The Arizona Summer Reading programs in Arizona libraries make a difference by:

·        Fostering a love of reading
·        Closing the achievement gap
·        Providing summer meals
·        Offering hands-on education
·        Promoting teen volunteerism
·        Encouraging lifelong learning for participants of all ages

Don’t forget to complete the Final ARP Evaluation and return to Donna Throckmorton at dthrockmorton@azlibrary.gov  by September 6. 

The Arizona State Library provides 2 forms to assist you in gathering patron feedback.

For more information about the importance of gathering summer reading data we have this short archived webinar available - Demonstrating the Value of Summer Reading .
Professional Development News
Join thousands of librarians on August 8, 2019 for the eighth annual SLJTeen Live! Virtual Summit without leaving the comfort of your home or work. This free, daylong event by School Library Journal will feature high-profile and up-and-coming YA authors talking about their latest titles for teens. You'll also have the chance to get advice from innovative librarians tackling timely issues relevant to your teens and services.

This year’s theme is  Knocking Down Doors. YA books provide readers with mirrors and windows, and teens, librarians, and authors are also pushing past established structures to forge a new path. Engaging author panels and library programming sessions will give you tools and ideas on how to continue the work of engaging with teens as they enter into an increasingly challenging world. The conference opens at 9:00 AM ET, and the webcast sessions begin at 10:00 AM ET. Come early to explore the virtual exhibit hall, download materials, enter contests, hear directly from publishers about their newest books, and live chat with staff, authors, and peers! Registration includes access to the SLJTeen Live! on-demand archives for up to three months! Check out the website to register and see the agenda. 
Leap into Science is a nationwide program that integrates open-ended science activities with children’s books, designed for children ages 3–10 and their families. Learn more at leap.fi.edu.

BENEFITS:
• Evidence-based science and literacy training and curriculum guide
• A kit of materials valued at $300 (1 per organization)
• Receive ongoing support from the Leap into Science National Network

EXPECTATIONS:
• Send at least two educators from your organization to the training when possible
• Host three Leap into Science workshops for children and families by next spring
• Lead programming during National Leap into Science Week next February
• Complete brief workshop reports
• Complete an annual survey next spring

Space is limited! Register now:
Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
for Library Staff
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Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to train people who work with youth on how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Taught by certified professional instructors from Southwest Behavioral & Health Services, this training is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people.

The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders. This is a full day of training with 30 minutes for lunch on your own.

Space is limited! Register now:

The State Library also hopes to bring Mental Health First Aid Training for Adults in the upcoming months.
Library Safety and Security
with Dr. Steve Albrecht
Spend a full day with one of the nation’s leading experts on library safety and security. Dr. Steve Albrecht has trained thousands of library employees on the dos and don’ts of handling challenging, entitled, odd, or even threatening patrons, including gang members, thieves, Internet hogs, and others who want to disrupt the library. His popular program offers practical and realistic tools which will make your facility a better, safer place to work.

Enjoy Steve’s real-life experiences as a law enforcement officer, mixed with his use of humor. Learn safe workplace behaviors, security measures, personal protection methods, and how to activate your high-risk customer service skills.

Space is limited! Register now:
Professional Development and Leadership Opportunities Available Through ALA
  • The Lois Ann Gregory-Wood Fellows Program is a mid-career conference scholarship program to give ALA members who have been working in libraries an understanding of ALA governance. The goal is to provide a larger pool of ALA members who are interested in ALA leadership. One to two fellows will be given stipends of $2,500 to offset the costs of attending ALA's conferences. Eligibility for this award and the online application can be found here.

  • Currently, the Association for Library Service to Children (a division of ALA) is seeking applications for the Bill Morris Seminar: Book Evaluation Training to be held on Friday, January 24, 2020, prior to the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The seminar will be facilitated by ALSC member leaders including past committee members and chairs of evaluation committees, and will focus on children’s book and media evaluation. Those selected will be able to attend the training seminar at no charge to the attendee. This includes all materials, breakfast and lunch. To help defray additional costs for hotel and other expenses, a $350 stipend for each attendee will be provided. Applications are open until September 2, 2019 and can be found online.

  • The American Library Association Emerging Leaders (EL) program is a leadership development program which enables newer library workers from across the country to participate in problem-solving work groups, network with peers, gain an inside look into ALA structure, and have an opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity. The EL program kicks off with a day-long session during the ALA Midwinter Meeting. Afterward, it grows and develops in an online learning and networking environment for six months. The program culminates with a poster session presentation to display the results of the project planning work of each group at the ALA Annual Conference. Applicants must be a new library professional of any age with fewer than 5 years of experience working at a professional or paraprofessional/support staff level in a library. The program is limited to no more than 50 participants each year. Applications are open until August 30, 2019.

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


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

August 27 - October 7
Through a variety of readings and other resources, assignments and optional activities, online discussion forums, and guided field practice, this six-week online course provides: best practices, tips and techniques, and the opportunity to put them into immediate action meeting your community's interests in reading and media discovery .

August 27 - September 23
Readings, discussions, online meetings and assignments will provide learners with the tools, resources and skills to be a better communicator. 

August 21, 12:00 - 1:00 PM
XR (extended reality) is the umbrella term for the emerging technologies of Virtual, Augmented or Mixed Reality. Understanding the state-of-the-art for use in libraries is crucial for those considering integrating XR into collections and programming. In this webinar we examine the technology and programs working in libraries today and offer a road map and playbook for either expanding or beginning to use XR in libraries.

September 12, 12:00- 1:00 PM
In this webinar, presenter Adilene Rogers will discuss how to create a Spanish-English bilingual storytime that is culturally inclusive and will strengthen the relationship with your Spanish speaking community. 
New WebJunction Webinars
Don't miss out on the great upcoming webinars being offered on Webjunction. 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.

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 14, 2:00 PM – 1:00 PM MST
In this webinar learn about the upcoming online training program Wikipedia + Libraries: Health and Medical Information. Wikipedia may be popular but library staff want to know how reliable it is and how to assess quality on behalf of their patrons. Join the webinar to learn about WikiProject Medicine, an organization of volunteers dedicated to developing, maintaining, and promoting accurate medical information on Wikipedia, and how the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM) supports strengthening the ability of public libraries nationwide to find reliable and authoritative medical and health information online for information seekers

August 27, 12:00 - 1:00 PM MST
In this webinar, learn the steps for creating a successful technology plan for your library.

September 12, 12:00 - 1:00 PM MST
The  ConnectedLib Toolkit  is a free resource aimed at building library staff capacity to engage and promote connected learning and 21st century skills among today’s digital youth. Learn more about connected learning and how you can use the Toolkit to create programming that engages teens in learning that aligns with their goals
Continuing Education Resources for Teacher Librarians
  • EdWeb.net is a site that provides free professional development webinars and podcasts for educators on a broad range of topics. There is a specific Professional Learning Community called School Library Network which is a great resource for Teacher Librarians working with students from grades Pre-K through High School. In addition to free webinars, many communities provide access to downloadable resources and discussion forums. Educators may also earn CE Certificates by participating in live webinars or by viewing pre-recorded content and successfully completing a short quiz.

  • The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) offers many online learning opportunities to meet the needs of busy Teacher Librarians. The online professional development collection available through eCOLLAB contains archives of AASL webinars, recorded concurrent sessions from AASL national conferences prior to 2015, and national institute presentations. Find a list of free webinars on the Complimentary Content page.

  • AASL has also announced its 2019 Best Apps and Best Websites for Teaching & Learning at the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference. These technology resources are chosen for their ability to foster the qualities of innovation, creativity, active participation and collaboration and for their support of AASL’s “National School Library Standards.” Make sure to check out Novel Effect for a fun addition to storytime. Links, descriptions and websites for both technology lists, as well as previously recognized apps and websites, can be found at their website.

  • School Library Connection (SLC) is an extensive learning resource center for school library professionals. SLC features self-paced professional learning Workshops & Webinars featuring leaders in librarianship. Curriculum Connection on SLC features curricular support resources and includes archived learning plans and related materials to support teaching. Some of these resources require a subscription but many of them are offered free. 
Grants & Opportunities
The application for the Louise A. Stephens Memorial Scholarship sponsored by AzLA is now open and the deadline is August 31 . Louise Stephens was a graduate of the University of Arizona School of Information and she worked for Glendale Public Library for 30 years. During that time she served as a children’s librarian and library manager. Louise passed away in July 2007, and an endowed scholarship was established in her memory.

The Arizona Library Association is charged with administering the scholarship fund, endowed with the University of Arizona Foundation. The Louise A. Stephens Memorial Scholarship is a $2,000 scholarship awarded to an Arizona resident who is a current member of AzLA and a student at UA School of Information. 
Resources
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At the recent ALA annual conference, the Public Library Association hosted a “News You Can Use Session.” One of the items presented was the data competency training resources developed by the 2018 Class of Emerging Leaders. The Emerging Leaders Team has created a resource guide of pathways intended to serve the needs of all library staff including but not limited to librarians, assistants, clerks, aides, pages, managers and administrators. The purpose is to gain the skills necessary for working with library assessment data. These resources were developed to meet library staff at their current skill level and to be able to use different types of data for decision making, advocacy and storytelling. 

At a time when funding for libraries is often scarce it is important for library staff to make data informed decisions related to programming, staffing and allocation of library resources. It has become increasingly important for library staff to be able to gather, analyze, and communicate data in order to navigate a data-rich world and make data-driven decisions related to funding, policies and other resources needed to support the communities we serve. This tool and resource guide can be used to help library staff capture better data about the value of their libraries. 
Reading Arizona Update:
Logos, Websites, and MARC records
LOGOS: Reading Arizona has a new logo to emphasize the connection to the Digital Arizona Library. Please review your websites for any old logo variations and replace with our new one. If you’d like to request the logo in a different file format, please contact Kori Tueller at ktueller@azlibrary.gov.

WEBSITES: We’ve provided some resources to help you and your patrons understand what Reading Arizona has to offer. You can use the following text on your website near our logo or when sharing Reading Arizona resources on social media.



MARC RECORDS: Want to make 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
The Arizona Memory Project has several new collections spanning topics from tuberculosis sanatoriums - to the history of Arizona’s early legislature, from film festivals to historic newspapers. The Arizona Memory Project has been hard at work creating new partnerships with institutions across Arizona to ensure its mission of providing digital access to the wealth of primary sources in Arizona archives, museums, libraries, and other cultural institutions is met.

The newest collections to the Arizona Memory Project include:

Access to the Arizona Memory Project and its collections is free, and its collections searchable and viewable on any mobile device. For questions about these or any digital collection, or for institutions interested in sharing collections on the Arizona Memory Project for free, contact azmemory@azlibrary.gov
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