LibraryAware

In this Issue:

Welcome to the North Carolina Library Association’s monthly eNewsletter! A production of the NCLA Marketing Committee, the eNewsletter is devoted to highlighting professional events and programs, librarians making exceptional differences in their communities, and how the association is working to serve YOU! Please subscribe and your feedback is always welcome.

PRESIDENT'S CORNER

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! I hope everyone had a safe and restful holiday season and that you are looking forward to a healthy and productive 2019. Last year we participated in many successful initiatives related to the promotion of our profession and advocating for the enduring values that we uphold. Much of this comes in the form of developing relationships with local, regional, and national leaders and lawmakers. Together this impact produced the following:

Increased federal funding by $2 million for libraries and the passage of the Museum and Library Services Act
Ratified the Marrakesh Treaty, helping to make reading materials more widely available in accessible formats
Improved Congressional Research Service reports available to the public
Passed the Music Modernization Act
Introduced the Federal Depository Library Program Modernization Act
Defended Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden’s hiring authority for the Register of Copyrights
Advocated to protect a free and open internet

These are important issues for the profession and our support and efforts in North Carolina help make a difference.

Locally we celebrated the accomplishment of many of our own including:

Wanda Brown from Winston-Salem State University was named ALA President-elect
Nancy Daniel from Western Piedmont Community College Library was named one of the 2018 “I Love My Librarian” award winners
Madison County Public Library was named Best Small Library of the Year by Library Journal

These are a few of the outstanding accomplishments and achievements both by individuals and by our libraries within the state, please recognize great efforts such as these when you see them and let them know how proud we are of everything they do for North Carolina.

Last year also saw a host of great programming by our sections and committees, and this year the planning is already underway for some wonderful events. Please plan to join your colleagues and participate as you are able. Our biennial conference is this year in Winston-Salem from Oct 15-18, 2019. It will be a great venue to interact with friends and fellow library workers while information sharing and learning from each other. Start planning for your attendance now!!!

Finally, Happy New Year to all of you and best wishes for 2019!!

Mike

UPCOMING EVENTS

NCLA Distance Learning Section Meeting

Thursday, January 10 • 10 am-3:30 pm

Central Carolina Community College

NCLA Distance Learning section invites all interested parties to join them for their section meeting which will include lightning talks on topics related to online learning, networking opportunities, and breakout sessions.

To register please visit this link.

NCLA DLS Discusses!:

Virtual Events for Online Students

Monday, January 28 • 12 pm

Online Meeting

NCLA Distance Learning Section has created a series of brown bag lunch virtual meetings for librarians to get together and have a conversation about topics to do with online learning and e-learning. There will be a moderator of the session, but these sessions are meant to be a conversation between a group of librarians. They are not recorded in order to encourage open conversation. This session will be moderated by Elizabeth Dobbins.

To register please visit this link.

LIBRARIAN INTERVIEW

Colleen Pinyan

Media Specialist

Brooks Global Studies

1. What was the first library job you had that made the little voice in your head go, “Yes—I have found the profession for me!”

For me, it was a volunteer opportunity at my children’s school that made me decide to pursue the library career path. I really enjoyed working with children. I particularly liked the challenge of volunteering with children who did not necessarily like reading and helping them connect with the right book.

2. What part of your job keeps you going to work every day? How do you continue to find inspiration and passion in the library field?

I love the variety of what I do. Being a school librarian is like being a soccer goalie. You never know what is coming your way, and you always have to be ready and alert for what’s next. I love it when students come to the library and ask for book recommendations or when teachers ask me to collaborate on lessons. The unpredictability of my position keeps me energized!

3. Who are your library heroes in North Carolina and beyond?

I have two library heroes. First, when I was at Wake Forest University, I worked part-time at the library. My favorite supervisor was Jim Nicholson, the Circulation Librarian. He was the public face of the library, and even though he had an incredibly difficult job, I always found him to be incredibly warm and personable. Even when things were going crazy around him, he never flinched. He did an amazing job managing lots of different personalities and getting things done. Mr. Nicholson continues to be a role model for me.

My other library hero is Tammy Miller. When my son was young, Greensboro opened a brand-new library close to our home. Other moms and I made story time at that branch part of our weekly routine. As the Children’s Librarian, Tammy Miller opened my eyes to the power of story. It was fascinating to watch her mesmerize a group of chatty, active children with her puppet shows, finger plays, and picture books. She also organized outstanding programming for older children. She seemed to have infinite energy and ideas for engaging children.

4. Tell us a little about your interests and hobbies outside of the library.

I am a sports junkie! I love watching football, basketball, and tennis. This year, for the first time, I joined a fantasy football league. It was a lot of fun, but I definitely need to come up with a better draft strategy for next season! Also, I have spent the past year trying to improve my fitness. Much to my surprise, I have grown to love working out and going to fitness classes.

SUCCESS STORIES

Passive Geography Program Success at Cabarrus County Public Library

Have you ever used an amazing visual for a program that you wanted to share with all of your patrons, but not everyone attended your program? We found ourselves in a similar situation after a Geography program that included a giant printout map of the United States. We used National Geographic’s Mapmaker website (https://mapmaker.nationalgeographic.org/) and printed large maps of the United States and North Carolina. We repurposed those maps in our Children’s Room to create a passive program titled Patron Geography. The objective was for everyone to see where our patrons have lived before coming here. We asked that patrons use a sticker and mark all the places they have lived. If you were the first to mark a city in a state then you got to color in that state. We challenged participants not to use the same color for states that share a border.

We had one instance where a patron noticed that no one had lived in Wyoming thus far and called their friend to come to the library to color in the map. That friend even brought their children down to the library and they colored in two states. In November, we had 174 stickers placed, who combined have lived in 47 states and Cuba. However, we engaged more patrons than those numbers indicate because families were participating. The program’s success encouraged us to expand it to the Adult and Teen areas. In the Teen Area, we asked that teens indicate where they have visited.

Rowan Public Library Collects over 1,400 Cards for a Cause

Every year, Rowan Public Library collects “Cards for a Cause” – holiday cards that are delivered to active service members and veterans of the United States Armed Forces. For the second year in a row, the campaign has collected over a thousand cards.

“Our final count on the cards was 1, 448,” said Tammie Foster, RPL East Branch children’s associate. Foster has helped with the “Cards for a Cause” program since its inception in 2015 and has coordinated the program since 2017.

It’s a responsibility that she takes seriously. Foster works on the program year-round, gathering supplies and making contacts. This time, “Cards for a Cause” began in October and ran for 10 weeks. Foster anticipates a similar timeline for 2019.

Patrons are able to create cards on-site at any RPL branch or they can bring outside cards to the library for delivery. Cards are delivered to veterans at the W.G. Hefner VA Medical Center or to active members currently serving in a branch of the USAF (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, or Coast Guard). There is an early deadline for those who want to ensure international delivery, with later deadlines allowing for Stateside and Hefner VAMC deliveries.

Foster sees a lot of goodwill coming out of the program. “I am very thankful that I live in a community that will rally around our military members and veterans to extend our appreciation and holiday greetings,” she said.

Throughout the season, RPL staff routinely sort the cards and arrange delivery to the respective recruiting offices; the offices will then forward the cards on to service members. For example, the US Coast Guard Recruiting Office in Greensboro sent the “Cards for a Cause” that it received to members going through boot camp last year.

BOOK PICK

Ask a Manager
by Alison Green

The creator of "Ask a Manager" answers questions about tough decisions and awkward workplace interactions, covering scenarios that include getting drunk at the Christmas party, micromanagement, and being caught in a lie.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Looking for something new to offer? Check out these awesome programs!

STX Fit
Monday, January 28 • 6:30 pm
Hickory Public Library

Get a workout while learning to wield the sticks for self-defense and cardio for self-preservation. STX Fit is a martial arts based cardio high intensity workout to music. Instructor Diane Christensen will provide escrima sticks for participants to use for mixing some powerful martial arts basics to the beat of the music. Wear comfortable clothing for movement.

North Carolina Library Association
1811 Capital Blvd.
Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
(919) 839-6252
www.nclaonline.org/