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Assisting Hearing Impaired Library Users

By Donna DiMichele | March 22, 2018

March is Telecommunications Access Awareness Month recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). By being aware of the needs of deaf or hard of hearing library users, library employees can make a difference in thier patrons experience and perception of the library as a welcoming space for everyone.

Library employees are often not aware that a person approaching them for assistance is deaf or hard of hearing until the person begins to communicate. Deaf people communicate in a variety of ways: speaking, writing, signing, gesturing, or a combination of these. Patrons may also request accommodations people may need in order to enjoy participating in library programs.

ADA Title IV requires the establishment of telephone relay services for individuals who use teletypewriters (TTYs, also known as telecommunications devices for deaf persons or TDDs) or similar devices. The Federal Communications Commission has issued regulations specifying standards for the operation of these services.

State and local agencies that provide emergency telephone services must provide “direct access” to individuals who rely on a teletypewriter (TTY, also known as a telecommunication device for deaf persons or TDD) or computer modem for telephone communication.

For more information and helpful tips on making your library more accessible to patrons who are deaf or hard of hearing, please visit ASCLA’s resources and the ADA website.

For information on working with the deaf and hard-of-hearing community in Rhode Island, contact Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

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ALA Announces The Great American Read grant opportunity

By Donna DiMichele | March 14, 2018

[March 13, 2018] ALA Announces The Great American Read grant opportunity

Public libraries may apply for grants to host public programs around the PBS series The Great American Read, an eight-part television and online series designed to spark a national conversation about reading and the books that have inspired, moved, and shaped us, the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office announced.

The Great American Read will engage audiences with a list of 100 diverse books, encouraging audiences to read the books, vote from the list of 100, and share their personal connections to the titles.

Fifty U.S. public libraries will be selected through a competitive application process to receive a cash grant to support programs and events related to “The Great American Read.” Selected libraries will also receive a programming kit, developed by ALA and PBS, that will help public libraries participate in a national conversation about reading and books, including those featured in the series that highlight themes of love, heroes, villains, other worlds and self-discovery.

Selected libraries will be required to hold at least three public programs related to The Great American Read series May and November 2018. Collaboration with local PBS member stations is strongly encouraged.

Read the full project guidelines and apply online by April 17.

The Great American Read will premiere May 22 on PBS stations with a two-hour launch, kicking off a summer of reading and voting. In fall 2018, seven new episodes will air, featuring appearances by celebrities, athletes, experts, authors and everyday Americans advocating for their favorite book, culminating with a finale that reveals America’s best-loved novel as chosen by the American public.

In addition to the cash grant, selected libraries will receive a DVD collection of the eight-part series with public performance rights; a hardcover copy of the companion book, The Great American Read: The Book of Books by PBS (Black Dog & Leventhal, August 21, 2018); print materials for local program promotion and publicity; a programming guide developed by ALA, PBS and a panel of librarian advisors; and more.

The libraries will also have the opportunity to host private screenings of the series premiere and six fall episodes before they broadcast to the public.

The Great American Read is a production of Nutopia for PBS. PBS Funding for The Great American Read is provided by The Anne Ray Foundation and PBS.

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Center for the Future of Libraries Fellowship

By Nicolette Baffoni | March 8, 2018

ALA issued the following regarding the Future of Libraries Fellowship call for proposals:

CHICAGO – The American Library Association’s Center for the Future of Libraries invites applications for its Fellowship program.

The Future of Libraries Fellowship will provide an individual or group with a stipend of $10,000 to advance new ideas and perspectives for the future of libraries through the creation of a public project – report, white paper, video, resource, tool – that will help library professionals envision the future of library collections, services, spaces, technologies, or partnerships. Projects may build on existing work, research, or initiatives of the Association, its Offices, Divisions, and Round Tables, or explore new directions and interests.

The deadline for proposals for the 2018 fellowship is May 15, 2018.

The fellowship is available to individuals in the library profession as well as those from other disciplines with a demonstrated interest in libraries and their futures. The fellowship does not include a residency requirement and international colleagues are encouraged to apply.

Further information, including considerations for those interested in applying, instructions for submitting an application, evaluation and selection information, and a timeline for the fellowship, are available at the Future of Libraries Fellowship page.

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Digital Commonwealth’s Annual Conference

By Donna DiMichele | March 8, 2018

Digital Commonwealth Annual Conference, Creativity and Accessibility: Digital Trends in 2018, will be held at the Hogan Center at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester on Tuesday, April 10th, from 8:00 AM to 3:45 PM.

Keynote Speakers:

The conference program covers topics ranging from data mining to copyright education. Information on all breakout sessions can be found on the Conference website.

Register online Early registration ends on March 12, 2018.

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Tech Tools In Context

By Donna DiMichele | March 2, 2018

The Rhode Island Library Association Information Literacy Action Round Table is hosting a lesson swap on Wednesday, March 14 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at Rhode Island College, Adams Library. The theme is Tech Tools In Context and will feature presenters from public, school and academic libraries showcasing their favorite free or freemium web or technology tools and how they use technology in their teaching.

The Lesson Swap is an opportunity to connect librarians across library types to share pedagogy and exchange effective lessons, materials, and ideas.
Each presenter will provide a short sample of their lesson as if the audience (you!) is their class. A QandA session will provide an opportunity for questions, feedback, and discussion.

Wednesday, March 14, 2018, 4:00 – 6:00 pm
Adams Library
Rhode Island College
600 Mt Pleasant Ave.
Providence, RI 02908

To register, please fill out the following form. Enrollment is limited.

REGISTRATION

Topics: Continuing Education, Digital Literacy, Events, Literacy, Technology | Comments Off on Tech Tools In Context

Stipends Available-Symposium: Health Information for Public Librarians

By Donna DiMichele | February 28, 2018

Free Registration and $500 in travel funds are available to attend the Health Information for Public Librarians symposium which is taking place in conjunction with the Medical Library Association Conference. Deadline extended but act quickly, stipends are awarded on a first-come basis and available until funds run out.

When: Tuesday, May 22, 2018, 7:00 AM to Wednesday, May 23, Noon. (plan to arrive by the end of the day on May 21)

Where: Hyatt Regency Atlanta, 265 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30303

One hundred fifty public librarians will be joining the Medical Library Association (MLA) annual meeting for a public health information symposium that runs concurrent with the last day and a half of MLA’18, including the Tuesday Silver and Gold Networking Dinner.

The symposium, of interest to both public librarians and health sciences librarians, offers programming in the area of health information for the public. It also provides a unique opportunity for public and health sciences librarians to network.

Learn more & Apply

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New opportunity from RI Foundation

By Donna DiMichele | February 23, 2018

The Rhode Island Foundation (RIF) has a new, flexible grants program. Responsive Grants will open funding opportunities to more Rhode Island nonprofits and will respond to expressed community needs.

Nonprofit organizations that are interested in applying should be working to address urgent community need, emerging opportunity, to test new ideas, and to support proven programs. The grants will support organizations that may not be working in areas that are directly aligned with RIFs Strategic Initiatives – Economic Security, Educational Success, and Healthy Lives.

Grants made through this program will start at $10,000 and the grant term will generally be one year.  Organizations can apply any time, but are only eligible for one award per calendar year from this program. Responsive Grants are designed to support organizations across the nonprofit sector – including those working in the arts, or to serve children & families, or to provide affordable housing, or to protect the environment. The program will also support organizations that are focused on other areas of need.

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Grants (2) Available for the Preservation of Historical Documents

By Donna DiMichele | February 9, 2018

RI Supreme Court Historical Society Fund

The Rhode Island Foundation is now accepting applications for the RI Supreme Court Historical Society Fund.
The Rhode Island Supreme Court Historical Society Fund supports nonprofit organizations that wish to do the following:

Organizations should provide matching resources in funds or through in-kind services. Funds may not be used for the purchase of equipment.

The deadline to apply is March 09, 2018. Please click here to apply for the Rhode Island Supreme Court Historical Society Fund. If applicable, you may apply for funding from both funds.

Applicants are also encouraged to look at the Joseph O’Neill Ott Fund (see below) to see if their project meets that fund’s similar requirements.

Questions? Contact Kelly Riley, Donor Services Administrator 401-427-4028

Joseph O’Neill Ott Fund

The Rhode Island Foundation is now accepting applications for the Joseph O’Neill Ott Fund.

The Joseph O’Neill Ott Fund supports the preservation of historical manuscripts, documents and municipal records dating from the 19th century and earlier from the smaller cities and towns in Rhode Island.

Grants generally range from $250-$750 and support direct conservation efforts for paper-based documents, photographs, and other two-dimensional historical evidence (excluding artwork). This can include restoration, preservation, or to defray the costs associated with the acquisition of documents. Proposals that demonstrate concern about long-term storage issues or have planned document storage will be looked upon most favorably.

All historical and preservation societies from the smaller cities and towns of Rhode Island are eligible to apply.

The deadline to apply is March 09, 2018. Please click here to apply for the Joseph O’Neill Ott Fund.

Applicants are also encouraged to look at the Rhode Island Supreme Court Historical Society Fund (see above) to see if their project meets that fund’s similar requirements.

Questions? Contact Kelly Riley, Donor Services Administrator 401-427-4028

There are many other grant opportunities available on the RIF website www.rifoundation.org.

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Disability on the Shelf

By Donna DiMichele | February 6, 2018

Disability on the Shelf: Looking for Representation in Library Collections

Presented by Tegan Mannino, Circulation Supervisor and Cataloger at the Monson (MA) Free Library

Date: Monday, February 12, 2018

Time: 2:00pm to 3:00pm

Location: Online, Webinar

Hosted by the Massachusetts Library System but open to non-members.

Register now!

When asked, we all can think of a book, movie, or TV show that features a disabled character, but we don’t often think about the representation itself. With diversity and representation increasingly a part of our Collection Development practices, it is important we don’t continue to overlook this aspect. In this webinar, we invite participants to learn about disability, to gain an awareness of representation, and learn vocabulary and resources to evaluate materials.

Learning Outcomes:

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RARI 2018 Kick-Off for The Hate U Give

By Nicolette Baffoni | February 2, 2018

On Saturday, January 27 at The Pavilion at Grace in Providence, the RI Center for the Book hosted the kick-off event for 2018’s Reading Across Rhode Island (RARI) selection The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.

The program opened with performances by AS220Youth and Living Literature. AS220Youth works with at-risk and-beyond risk young people age 14 -21, providing mentoring and educational activities while encouraging creative and artistic expression. Living Literature is a live Readers’ Theater group that has been working with RARI for several years to adapt the book selections and perform around the state at libraries and schools.

as220

AS220 Youth performed original raps and poetry

livinglit

Living Literature shared a scene from book

Two speakers followed, introducing the themes of The Hate U Give.  RARI Honorary Chair Jordan Seaberry, Director of Public Policy and Advocacy at the Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence spoke about the legacies of racism and oppression following from slavery to mass incarceration and police brutality.  Keynote speaker Shawn A. Christian, Associate Provost, Associate Professor of English, African American, & American Studies, Wheaton College focused more specifically on the novel, discussing the importance of listening to and amplifying the voices of young black women.

RARI 2018 Honorary Chair Jordan Seaberry

shawnchristian

Keynote Speaker Shawn A. Christian

Holly Harriel of Civic Salon LLC closed the program by discussing the “digital archive” of RARI 2018 that Civic Salon will create through Twitter chats, unified social media tags, and online resources.  The first RARI #CivicChat will take place on Twitter on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 from 8-9 pm.  You can use the handy image of hashtags and @’s for Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to follow and amplify RARI2018.

The Hate U Give Resource Guide compiled by the RARI committee is available for download, while additional resources for the book can be found at Civic Salon’s Civic Lab.

Angie Thomas will visit RI on April 12th and 13th; her schedule will be released soon so keep an eye out for that! For more information about borrowing sets of books for your classroom, library or book group, or to help purchase additional copies of the book to meet the high community demand, contact Kate Lentz (kate@ribook.org).

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