Mohawk Valley Library System

Blog

  • 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: An Introduction to iMovie: Basic Editing and Beyond!

    Date: Tuesday, June 15, 2021
    Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
    Place: Online at https://www.senylrc.org/IntroToiMovie
    Presenters: Veronica Reynolds, New City Library

    The ability to create simple and attractive videos with clear sound is a skill that can benefit any library. Whether it’s for public relations, programming, or internal staff training, a polished product can get your message across. iMovie comes pre-installed on all Apple computers and has easy to use auto features, along with some intermediate features like recording voice overs and background editing for green screen footage. Learn the ins and outs of editing in iMovie with a live demonstration.

    Veronica Reynolds is the Head of Community Relations at the New City Library, planning adult programming and managing promotional materials. During the early days of the pandemic, she moved all adult programming online and found new ways to reach out to the community. YouTube was a core component of that outreach and thanks to the hardworking and creative staff of the library over five hundred videos were posted on the New City Library’s channel in the past year.

     

  • 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.

  • Free Webinar – Being Rational About Summer Reading

    Date: Tuesday, May 25, 2021
    Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
    Place: Online at https://clrc.org/event/webinar-rational-summer-reading/
    Presenter: Scott Jarzombek, Executive Director, Albany Public Library
    Cost: Free for ESLN members

    Summer Reading is often a capacity-challenging exercise for many libraries. In 20**, Albany Public Library partnered with the school district and the Albany Promise to examine the program’s actual impact on the “summer slide.” The findings were not nearly as exciting as anyone expected. APL found out that the program does have an impact on students. However, that positive impact is overstated by the library community. We will look at how the library as an organization has changed its approach to summer reading and how other libraries are earnestly taking on the challenge of the summer slide.

  • Free Mini-Conference – Fundraising for Friends and Foundation Groups

    Date: Wednesday, June 09, 2021
    Time: 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
    Place: Online at https://www.eventbrite.com/o/18804361522
    Cost: Free

    COVID-19 caused many of us to have dramatic decreases in our fundraising efforts over the course of 2020 but it also provided an opportunity for most Friends and Foundation groups to pivot and completely revisit their fundraising and development strategies.  Join us for this virtual mini-con to hear about some of these strategies and programs.  It is our hope that you will be inspired to replicate an idea or two from our mini-con and build those budgets back up.  And the mini-conference is free!

    As an added bonus, New York Times Best-Selling author of “The Paris Library” Janet Skelsien Charles will be joining us live all the way from Paris, France!

    Registration is required, deadline to register is June 01.