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September 2022 | Vol. 6 No.9 | |
Initiatives & Announcements | | |
CT Libraries & Partners for Digital Equity | |
CT Digital Inclusion Week Activities!
Digital Inclusion Week, this year held October 3-7, 2022, is an annual national week of awareness, recognition, and celebration. Organizations and individuals across the country host special events and campaigns to promote digital equity in their communities. This year’s national theme is “Turning Our Moment into Movement,” signaling a turning point and time of action for the digital inclusion movement.
Save the Date! CT Libraries & Partners for Digital Equity will be celebrating Digital Inclusion Week with a statewide event and panel discussion on October 5, 2022, starting at 9:30 am, in the Community Room of the Hartford Public Library. Our keynote speaker will be Tracey D. Hall, Executive Director of the American Library Association. Hall has written about the role of libraries in the fight to end information poverty, about community disinvestment and digital redlining as a civil rights issue, regarding the need for libraries to serve the incarcerated and their families, and today’s crisis of digital inequity. She will open a panel of community leaders from the health, adult education, workforce development, ESL, housing, re-entry, and other fields who will speak about their need for a robust state digital inclusion plan. The panel will advertise digital inclusion information sessions, community digital equity discussions, and other activities to be scheduled at libraries around the state during the month of October.
If you would like to talk about how your library can participate by hosting an event, please contact Christine Gauvreau, christine.gauvreau@ct.gov, or Sarah Morgan, SMorgan@easthartfordct.gov, for a conversation.
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Digital Equity News
CT Libraries and Partners for Digital Equity (CTLPDE) submitted comments in response to the CT State Broadband Infrastructure (BEAD) Request for Information (RFI) on August 26, 2022. The comment said, in part:
- Based on data from many studies, CT Libraries & Partners is convinced that a broadband infrastructure buildout unaccompanied by a comprehensive Digital Inclusion program will fail to achieve the levels of adoption by underserved residents that are understood to lead to significant social and economic change. That is, it has been demonstrated that equity cannot be achieved with infrastructure alone. The aim of a BEAD investment plan, we believe, must not be access but “meaningful internet access.” The latter is a dynamic concept that combines high-speed internet service; computing equipment of sufficient computing power for multiple household residents to use for work, education, and government access; technical skills; and digital literacy skills at the level that will allow residents to improve their lives.
The three library consortia heads and 20 other library leaders were listed as supporters of the comment. Many others sent their own responses to the RFI. The CTLPDE text argued that funds not needed to ensure that broadband infrastructure is built out to reach each unserved and underserved household should be used to fund digital inclusion measures including navigators, a 211 system to get digital navigation help in multiple languages, and the provisioning of home computers to those who need them. Read the whole comment on the CTLPDE website.
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“Digital Equity is about everyone having access, everyone being able to use a device to do their homework, to do their work” said Dawn La Valle, Director of the Division of Library Development of the CT State Library in conversation with CT Latino News on Friday, August 12. Dawn was featured on an CTLN Opinion+ episode, where major issues facing local Latinx and underrepresented communities are discussed.
Watch and read CTLN Opinion+: Dawn La Valle.
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New CT Pages!
Watch the new CT Pages and meet Kimberly McNally, Library Director, and Anne Henriques, Reference Librarian, at the Berlin-Peck Memorial Library in Berlin who share their experience creating and delivering a series of Courageous Conversations. Courageous Conversations is a small-group discussion series that provides an opportunity for people of all backgrounds and viewpoints to discuss important local, cultural, social, and political issues in a safe environment where differing opinions, patient listening, and respectful discussion are welcome as a necessary part of building connection and identifying shared values. Through reading short articles, books, or listening to podcasts and abiding by shared discussion guidelines, participants come in both informed and ready to engage.
CT Pages is a channel for sharing community engagement success stories by libraries with and for their communities. We partner with CT libraries to create and release short video conversations with the library staff who make things happen.
Do you have a creative program, service, activity, partnership, or project that you want to share with your library neighbors? We are always seeking submissions for consideration – Submit your idea!
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CT Library for the Blind Outreach Request Form
Interested in learning more about the services and resources of the Connecticut State Library for the Blind (LBPH) and how they can benefit your library patrons? LBPH offers virtual and in-person outreach sessions for library staff. Sessions can be offered to individuals, departments, or the entire staff of a library.
To learn more or schedule an outreach session for your library, complete the LBPH Outreach Request form, now available on the LBPH website. LBPH staff will follow up with outreach form submissions within 1-2 business days to discuss your request.
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Professional Development & Continuing Education | | |
Growing Equitable Library Services (GELS)
Fall Series with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
3-part series presented by John McCarthy, Community Relations Officer USCIS District N-11
Immigration 101
Tuesday, September 13 | 11 am-12:30 pm
Join us for this webinar with the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service (USCIS) providing an overview of the U.S. immigration system. What agencies are involved and what do they do? How do immigrants obtain immigration benefits in the U.S.?
Naturalization 101
Wednesday, September 28 | 2-3:30 pm
Join us for this webinar with the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service (USCIS). This session will help lawful permanent residents and others interested in naturalization learn about the naturalization process, eligibility requirements, testing, and citizenship rights and responsibilities.
USCIS Online Tools
Wednesday, October 12 | 10-11 am
Join us for this webinar with the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service (USCIS). This session will provide an overview of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and online tools and resources.
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Introduction to Scratch Coding
Thursday, September 15 | 9:30-11 am
Are you intrigued by the thought of starting a library coding club for kids or teens but have absolutely no idea about coding? Do you feel STEM programs would enhance your Library’s offerings, but feel out of your depth and have often said, “I’m not a computer person”? Then this class is for you. This workshop will introduce participants to Scratch computer coding, and the only experience you need is how to use a mouse and the internet. Participants will identify a few online resources suitable for youth coding, then work through basic Scratch projects to build confidence as a Coding Club leader. Discuss potential topics for your coding club and ways to host remote classes. This hands-on class - specifically and only for true beginners - will help you develop a marketable skill and attract new patrons to your library.
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Beginner Book Trailers with WeVideo
Tuesday, September 20 | 9:30-11 am
Libraries need online publicity and marketing tools more than ever. Learn to make book trailers to promote your collections using the WeVideo online site with this hands-on workshop. Learn about the WeVideo environment, then mix images, music, and text to make a quick and easy booktrailer. Since this is a small group class, participants will need a computer with a camera and microphone so they can share thoughts and ask questions throughout the class. This is a beginner class for those who have little to no prior experience with WeVideo or movie making. Participants will receive info about signing up for a free WeVideo account before the workshop.
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borrowIT CT Regulations Refresher*
Tuesday, September 20 | 2-3 pm
Thursday, September 22 | 2-3 pm
*Participants only need to attend one session.
Did you know that libraries participating in borrowIT CT must:
- lend museum passes, hotspots, Chromebooks, and other physical items to non-residents under the same terms you lend them to residents?
- include a specific future expiration date on borrower cards?
- file a non-resident lending report with the State Library each year and certify the accuracy of that report?
- file an expenditure report with the State Library each year to show how you spent the previous year's reimbursement?
In this webinar, you'll learn the requirements of this statewide reciprocal lending program that benefits all Connecticut residents. Make sure your library's policies are in compliance with the rules by March 15, 2023, to ensure that you continue to receive reimbursements.
This program will be recorded and made available on DLD's YouTube Channel.
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Customer Service Tune-Up
Wednesday, September 21 | 1-4 pm
Tips to help you care for yourself as you care for others.
You already know a great deal about customer service. You’ve experienced a wide range of behavior as you do your best to satisfy your patrons. But sometimes it can feel a bit lonely as you struggle to balance your library’s policies with the endless requests that make up your job. In this three-hour Zoom workshop the goal is for you to make small, sustainable changes that will keep you focused and energized. You’ll share best practices, experiment with a range of strategies for resolving conflict, learn why investing in yourself is critical, and to top it off you’ll have fun as you help each other. At the end of the session you’ll have a personalized plan to help you maintain the essential balance of providing excellent customer service while caring for yourself.
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How to Complete the 2022 Public Library Annual Report
Tuesday, September 27 | 11 am-12:15 pm
In this webinar, Maria Bernier, State Data Coordinator, will provide an overview of the 2022 Public Library Annual Report: how to use the Excel form, changes to questions and form layout, what goes where, and some common mistakes and misconceptions. The 2022 Annual Report form is now available for download from the Annual Report webpage, and is due on November 1 by 4:00 pm.
This program will be recorded and made available on the Data playlist on DLD's YouTube channel.
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Annual Report of Connecticut Public Libraries
Information on completing the 2022 Annual Report to the State Library was e-mailed to all public library directors in mid-July. The Annual Report is critical for state and national data gathering on public libraries.
Libraries will again be using an Excel report form (an .xlsx file) which you will fill out and then send back to me. See the Annual Report webpage for:
- A printable list of the questions on the report form
- An instruction sheet
- The report form itself
The firm DEADLINE for submission is 4 pm on Tuesday, November 1, 2022. Public libraries are required by statute CGS Sec. 11-25 (a) to submit an Annual Report in order to receive borrowIT payments, or other state appropriations.
This year’s report has some changes from last year, as explained in recorded webinars.
A final webinar showing how to complete the report and addressing some common questions is scheduled for September:
- Tuesday, September 27, 11:00 am - Register
Recordings of the earlier webinars covering this same material are available on the Data playlist on DLD's YouTube channel.
Please contact Maria Bernier, maria.bernier@ct.gov, with any questions.
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deliverIT CT Drivers Delivered Over 1.53 Million Items in FY2022
Starting in July 2017, the CT State Library asked libraries receiving deliveries to count their incoming and outgoing items daily and report those numbers quarterly. By the last quarter of FY2022, 139 libraries submitted data (65% of libraries that receive delivery). Extrapolating to all 215 libraries and rounding off the numbers, the service delivered over 1.53 million items in FY2022 (1,536,182 items incoming and 1,516,427 items outgoing).
Visit the deliverIT Volume LibGuide page to view a chart that shows the monthly estimates of incoming volume and find a spreadsheet with details.
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researchIT CT – FY2022 Statistics and Cost Benefit Posted
The usage statistics for researchIT CT's licensed full-text databases for FY22 were posted in July. There was a total of 3,141,381 page views (a measure of when search results are actually viewed), with 201,710 (or 6%) from public library patrons; 702,312 (or 22%) from school library patrons; and 2,237,351 (or 71%) from academic library patrons. While academic and public libraries showed a decrease in usage, school libraries saw a 68% increase in usage over FY21. In addition, public libraries viewed Connecticut State Library Collections in Ancestry.com 10,670,593 times in FY 2022. The researchIT CT program Saves the State's Libraries and Municipalities $4,480,464 annually (See the Cost Benefit).
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The eGO CT Program – Get Ready for Fall and the New School Year!
Content purchased by the CT State Library supports public libraries through the eGO CT Palace Project for public libraries and the eGO Community Share program for school libraries. We currently have 78 libraries that are live in the Palace app and sharing this amazing free resource with their patrons and 30 school sites that are participating in eGO CT Community Share. If you are unsure of your school or library’s status, please contact us.
During the month of August, we purchased a total of 347 items for both platforms. We focused on content that supports the school curriculum and titles that allow for pleasure reading for students as well.
DLD will continue to work with Baker & Taylor to connect Follett Destiny schools here in Connecticut to eGO CT content purchased by the Connecticut State Library as part of the eGO CT Community Share Program.
For about more information about the eGO CT Program, please contact Brad Bullis at the Connecticut State Library/Division of Library Development,bradley.bullis@ct.gov.
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New Titles: Books on CD Collection
These new titles are now available in the Middletown Service Center’s Books on CD Collection. (These titles are also available in the Palace Project app!) Find these titles and more in our catalog.
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New Professional Development Titles | |
Stay Connected! Join our Email Lists
Our many email discussion lists for the library community help you connect with your peers. Conntech has the greatest reach across the state, and both Goodnightmoon for children's services and Speak for YA services have lively discussions and professional interchange.
Scout the full list and subscription information.
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Middletown Library Service Center
Open Hours: Monday-Friday | 8 am-4:30 pm
MLSC will be closed Monday, September 5 in observance of Labor Day.
MLSC staff, whether in the office or telecommuting, are responding to voicemail and e-mail during business hours of 8 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday, except for state holidays.
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Connecticut State Library | Division of Library Development
Middletown Library Service Center
786 South Main Street | Middletown, CT 06457
(860) 704-2200 | libguides.ctstatelibrary.org/dld
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