Mohawk Valley Library System

Category: Outreach

  • Free Webinar – Storywalks® for the Win-Win-Win : Programming, Partnerships, Pandemic Friendly

    Date: Tuesday, November 09, 2021
    Time: 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
    Place: Online at https://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/webinars/index.html
    Presenter: Mary Fellow, Upper Hudson Library System; Lorie Brown, Southern Tier Library System

    StoryWalks® are the perfect social-distancing outdoor literacy experience! In this webinar, you’ll learn:

    • Options for producing a StoryWalk® and their associated costs
    • Finding StoryWalk® partners and thinking creatively about locations
    • How to choose the best titles for StoryWalks® (and why some great picture books aren’t good StoryWalk® choices)
    • Essentials of StoryWalk® production & presentation
    • Not just for kids: StoryWalks® for different age groups

  • Grant Opportunity – Libraries Transforming Communities : Focus on Small & Rural Libraries

    Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC): Focus on Small and Rural Libraries is an initiative of the American Library Association (ALA) that seeks to provide community engagement resources and opportunities specific to the needs of library workers serving small and rural communities.

    Community engagement is the process of working collaboratively with community members – be they library patrons, residents, faculty, students or partner organizations – to address issues for the betterment of the community. 

    The goal of these grants is to:

    • Teach library workers facilitation skills, through the LTC: Facilitation Skills for Small and Rural Libraries asynchronous six-part e-course and facilitation guide, to lead a community conversation
    • Provide flexible funding to support libraries’ community engagement efforts

    Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries is part of ALA’s longtime commitment to preparing library workers for the expanding role of libraries. The initiative is offered in partnership with the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL). It is supported by a private donor.

    Up to 100 libraries will be selected in this application period (June – September 2021). THE DEADLINE TO APPLY IS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2021.

    Libraries selected for funding will receive:

    • $3,000 to support costs related to their community engagement project
    • Professional development consisting of the LTC: Facilitation Skills for Small and Rural Libraries asynchronous e-course and facilitation guide (required for all project directors)
    • A suite of online resources developed to support local programs including template press releases, social media messaging, logos, digital promotional materials and template letters that can be used to notify local leaders/officials about the library’s project.
    • Technical and project support from the ALA Public Programs Office throughout the grant term, such as access to:
      • Online learning opportunities for grantees intended to assist project directors in promoting their conversation, completing grant reporting requirements and participating in evaluation
      • Community of practice for project directors and staff

    Visit http://www.ala.org/tools/librariestransform/libraries-transforming-communities/focusgrants for complete grant details.

  • Free Webinar : Food Access and Seed Libraries in Rural Public Libraries

    Date: Wednesday, June 09, 2021
    Time: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
    Place: Online at https://www.webjunction.org/events/webjunction/food-access-and-seed-libraries.html
    Presenters: Panel
    Cost: Free

    Are you looking for ideas to “grow” a seed library and improve access to food for your community? Presenters from small and rural locations in South Carolina will share their experiences with seed libraries (inside branches, at outreach events, and on board a bookmobile) and community refrigerators, and highlight the value of partnerships. You’ll gain knowledge on how to start a seed library from the ground up, how to collaborate with community organizations not generally considered as library partners, and learn better practices for making your library an access point for those experiencing food insecurity.

    Presented by:

      • Rebecca Antill, Youth Services Consultant, Library Development, South Carolina State Library
      • Devon Andrews, Community Engagement Associate Director, Charleston County Public Library (SC)
      • Maddie Hibbs, Children’s Librarian, Fairfield County Library (SC)
      • Heath Ward, Library Director, Saluda County Library System (SC)
      • Jimmy Wooten, Community Engagement Manager, Greenville County Library System (SC)

    You can access recordings of past WebJunction webinars here.

  • Grant Opportunity – Libraries Transforming Communities : Focus on Small & Rural Libraries

    Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC): Focus on Small and Rural Libraries is an initiative of the American Library Association (ALA) that seeks to provide community engagement resources and opportunities specific to the needs of library workers serving small and rural communities.

    Community engagement is the process of working collaboratively with community members – be they library patrons, residents, faculty, students or partner organizations – to address issues for the betterment of the community. 

    The goal of these grants is to:

    • Teach library workers facilitation skills, through the LTC: Facilitation Skills for Small and Rural Libraries asynchronous six-part e-course and facilitation guide, to lead a community conversation
    • Provide flexible funding to support libraries’ community engagement efforts

    Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries is part of ALA’s longtime commitment to preparing library workers for the expanding role of libraries. The initiative is offered in partnership with the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL). It is supported by a private donor.

    At least 450 libraries will be selected in this application period (January – March 2021). THE DEADLINE TO APPLY IS MARCH 04, 2021.

    Libraries selected for funding will receive:

    • $3,000 to support costs related to their community engagement project
    • Professional development consisting of the LTC: Facilitation Skills for Small and Rural Libraries asynchronous e-course and facilitation guide (required for all project directors)
    • A suite of online resources developed to support local programs including template press releases, social media messaging, logos, digital promotional materials and template letters that can be used to notify local leaders/officials about the library’s project.
    • Technical and project support from the ALA Public Programs Office throughout the grant term, such as access to:
      • Online learning opportunities for grantees intended to assist project directors in promoting their conversation, completing grant reporting requirements and participating in evaluation
      • Community of practice for project directors and staff

    Visit http://www.ala.org/tools/librariestransform/libraries-transforming-communities/focusgrants for complete grant details.

  • Free Webinar – Outreach Outside the Box

    Date: Thursday, November 05, 2020
    Time: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
    Place: Online at https://infopeople.org/civicrm/event/info?id=937&reset=1
    Presenters: Liz McChesney, Marisa Connor, Sue Abrahamson, Amy Twito

    If 2020 has shown us anything it’s that, now more than ever, library staff need to find creative and flexible ways to bring resources and programming to families where they are in their communities. Additionally, we must continue finding new ways to serve families who have been left out of traditional library programming in order to build equity, develop inclusive practice, and encourage diverse voices.

    In this session, a panel of youth services presenters will share their approach to serving families in poverty, immigrant communities, and rural communities as examples of how library services and programs can be designed with the changing needs of today’s children and families in mind.

    At the end of this one-hour webinar, participants will:

    • Reviewed 7 keys of effective partnership
    • Gained insight into 5 innovative ways libraries are serving communities
    • Learn about co-design and its potential impact on involving community in program design
    • Develop an outreach mission statement for your community
    • Gain an understanding of the importance of Letters of Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding

    This webinar will be of interest to: Youth services librarians and outreach staff at all levels.

    Webinars are free of charge, you can pre-register by clicking on the Register Now button on the InfoPeople page. If registering with less than 30 MINUTES from the start of the webinar you can join directly from the thank you page by clicking the Join Now button. If you pre-registered you will receive an email with login link and a reminder email the day before the event. All webinars are archived for later viewing at http://infopeople.org/training/view/webinar/archived.