Mohawk Valley Library System

Author: sharon

  • Free Webinar – Media Literacy, Tech Mentoring, and Peer Learning : Helping Families Help Themselves

    Date: Wednesday, March 30, 2022
    Time: 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
    Place: Online at https://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/earlylit/webinars.htm
    Presenters: Dorothy Stoltz and Carrie Sanders
    Cost: Free

    Does your library harness the ability of families (no matter their starting point) by providing a foundation to grow their tech and media literacy skills alongside their general knowledge? In this webinar, you will learn tips and tricks for helping families grapple with the challenges of the current media and digital world through mentorship and peer learning! Attendees will be able to identify:

    • One common misconception around technology-centric learning
    • Two benefits of tech mentoring and peer learning to enhance media literacy and digital skill development
    • Three best practices through shared learning and discussion about peer-to-peer learning and customer mentorship

    About the Presenters:

    Dorothy Stoltz is serving on the advisory board for the IMLS Media Literacy PD Project for the Erikson Institute. She is retired director for community engagement at Carroll County Public Library in Maryland and previously worked in public libraries in Pennsylvania and Queens, NY. She was chair of the PLA/ALSC Every Child Ready to Read committee in 2014-2015, co-chair of the Maryland Family Engagement Coalition, 2014 -2021, and a member of the Maryland Early Childhood Advisory Council, 2014 -2021. Dorothy is a co-author for the ALSC white paper called “Media Mentorship in Libraries Serving Youth.”

    Since 2016, Carrie Sanders has been the Youth Services Coordinator for the Maryland State Library Agency, where she provides consultation and training to youth services coordinators for all Maryland public libraries in the areas of early literacy, STEAM programming, teen services, family engagement, and other initiatives surrounding youth services. Previous experience includes a decade of service as a school librarian and fifteen years of public library work as a children’s librarian. She is passionate about helping library staff develop the skills, strategies, and awareness critical in creating equitable, inclusive library programs and services for all ages and populations of youth.

    Questions?  Contact Sharon Phillips, Ready to Read at New York Libraries Program Director at Sharon.Phillips@nysed.gov

  • Grant Opportunity – Wish You Well Foundation

    The Wish You Well Foundation supports family and adult literacy (including early literacy) in the United States by fostering and promoting the development and expansion of new and existing literacy and educational programs.  Organizations with a 501 (c) 3 are eligible to apply.  Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and are reviewed several times per year.  Requests for funding generally range from $200 to $10,000.  Application forms and complete program information is available here.

  • Grant Opportunity – Walmart Foundation Local Community Grants

    Walmart local community grants are awarded through an open application process and provide funding directly from Walmart and Sam’s Club facilities to local organizations in the U.S. Award amounts range from $250 to $5000.  Application are accepted from February 1 through December 1 annually.  To learn more about the program visit the website above.

  • Grant Opportunity – Kids Need to Read

    Kids Need to Read provides books, periodicals, and literacy resources to schools, libraries, and other organizations that administer literacy programs to disadvantaged children and adolescents. A school, library, or organization receiving books from Kids Need to Read must be a governmental agency or 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization located in the United States or its territories. These organizations must serve at least 50% of children living at or below the national poverty rate. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis via this online form.

  • Free Virtual Conference – Big Talk from Small Libraries

    Date: Friday, February 25, 2022
    Time: 9:45 AM – 6:00 PM
    Place: Online
    Cost: Free

    This free one-day online conference is aimed at librarians from small libraries; the smaller the better. Each of the speakers is from a small library serving less than 10,000 people, or directly works with small libraries.

    Topics range from range from technology to programming to new roles for the library. This event is a great opportunity to learn about the innovative things your colleagues are doing in their small libraries.

    Everyone is welcome to register and attend, regardless of how big or small their library is, but if your library serves a few thousand people, or a few hundred, this is the day for you.

    All sessions are recorded and posted to the Previous Conferences page as soon as possible after the event. You do not need to register for the conference to access the recordings.

    Big Talk From Small Libraries will be broadcast online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. GoToWebinar login instructions will be e-mailed to registered attendees the day before the conference.

    This conference was organized and is hosted by Christa Porter of the Nebraska Library Commission and is co-sponsored by the Association for Rural & Small Libraries.