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In this Issue:
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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. |
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Welcome to spring! As things slowly start getting better (including the weather), NCLA is continuing to move forward with planning for our 64th biennial conference. The Executive Board met Friday, and took care of several matters of business. Conference planning is on track, and presentation proposals are being finalized for acceptance. If you are interested in presenting a poster session, the deadline for submissions is June 15th. Conference registration will open July 1st, and conference rates are posted on the NCLA Conference page. The Executive Board also approved a slate of officers for consideration. Watch your email (and make sure your dues are paid) to vote. Voting will begin soon, and will be open for thirty days according to our by-laws. Only members in good standing with all dues paid are allowed to vote. There is one more thing that I would like to bring to your attention. The NC Department of Technology has asked for help from NCLA in engaging the citizens of North Carolina to participate in a state wide broadband survey. Please share the following information with as many people as possible: “A year into the pandemic, we know how crucial high-quality, affordable Internet access at home is to work, learn, socialize and get medical care. But that infrastructure isn't available to many North Carolina residents. The Broadband Infrastructure Office (BIO) needs residents and businesses—both those who do and do not have internet service—to complete the North Carolina Broadband Survey to let us know about the availability and quality of their internet service. BIO will use the results to identify locations across the state with inadequate internet access and speed. The data will help us direct funding and grants to areas that are unserved and underserved, whether due to low population density, geographical barriers or cost. It will also inform research and policy recommendations. We ask for your help to engage the people and communities you serve in taking this survey. To help get the word out, we have compiled resources for print and social media, as well as an outreach guide and tips for communities looking to start localized survey campaigns. The survey takes only about 5 minutes to complete and is available in both English and Spanish. We need both those who do and do not have internet access at their location to take the survey. Those without internet service can do it by phone by texting “internet” to 919-750-0553 or calling and answering a series of short questions. Participants are also encouraged to take the optional internet speed test. That will let BIO connect survey data with broadband speed information. Early results can be seen on these dashboards. Press releases about the NC Broadband Survey and the dashboards are available for your reference. A previous press release is available for reference here. We recently launched dashboards to visualize survey data. The dashboards press release is available here. We would greatly appreciate it if you would use your communication channels to share this important tool to provide essential infrastructure to create digital equity for North Carolinians. Please let me know if you have questions, and thank you for your support of the survey! About NCDIT’s Broadband Infrastructure Office NCDIT’s Broadband Infrastructure Office leads the statewide initiatives to expand high-speed internet access, adoption and use for all North Carolinians and serves as a statewide resource for broadband access, first responder communications and state-led classroom connectivity initiatives. Beth Ann Gargan Deputy Communications Director N.C. Department of Information Technology Cell: 919.608-1625 Beth.gargan@nc.gov Slow internet? No internet? We need to know. Take the 5-minute survey. No internet? Call 919-790-0553 to take the survey.” Until next month, enjoy the beautiful weather, take a walk outside, and I hope to see you all in person soon.
Lorrie Russell
Your NCLA President
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RASS is seeking board member nominations for the 2021-2023 biennium!
We have multiple vacancies available on the RASS Committee! Join us today to help provide opportunities to learn, network and collaborate with other librarians, support staff and institutions across the state. Fill out the interest form here. |
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NCLA Seeking Scholarship Applicants
Deadline: Friday, May 31, 2021 Every biennium, NCLA awards scholarships to current and future library school students. Whether you are about to be a library school student, currently in library school, or already a librarian seeking to continue your studies, if you are reading this newsletter you are probably eligible! The scholarship and recommendation forms go live on February 1st and will remain open for submissions until May 31, 2021.
For more information scroll to the Scholarship section on the NCLA website. |
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Did you get your favorite section’s latest newsletter? Not sure? It may be because you are not subscribed to administrator updates through the NCLA website. Subscribing to administrator updates allows you to receive emails such as section newsletters and member-only emails, such as invitations to vote for the next biennium’s executive board. Go to https://nclaonline.org and use the person icon in the upper right-hand corner to login to your account. Click on “View Profile”.
On the “My profile” page, click “Email subscriptions” and ensure there is a check mark next to “Mass emails from administrators, such as newsletters and other important notifications”. If it is not checked, click the “Edit profile” button, click the check box to subscribe, then Save. You should now receive the emails sent through the NCLA website. If you have any questions or issues, you may contact the NCLA Web and Technologies team at web@nclaonline.org |
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The State Library posts position announcements as a service to libraries in the state of North Carolina. For more information regarding a position please contact the hiring library or organization in the provided link. Check out current openings here. |
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COVID-19 and Libraries How is your library responding to the COVID-19 pandemic? Do you have valuable resources to share? We’re compiling information in a document for all to use - feel free to add things! |
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From the NC Department of Health and Human Services: Find your COVID-19 vaccine group! Information can be found here. |
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Check out these special podcast episodes from Durham Tech Library's Library Fest: |
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Denise Jones State Publications Clearinghouse Liaison State Library of North Carolina 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!” While in library school, in the mid 1980’s, I had an internship at Burroughs Wellcome – and loved it. Until then I didn’t realize such library jobs existed. It expanded my view of the careers a librarian could pursue. 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? There is so much I like about my job. I like working with the many state agencies to communicate the importance of their publications and the importance of our collections. I like the variety of my workdays and the ever-changing technology that challenges me to keep up. In particular, I like the chance to work with and know librarians around North Carolina and the U.S. 3. Who are your library heroes in North Carolina and beyond? I have too many North Carolina librarian heroes to begin naming them. Those library heroes are in academic, community college, public and special libraries. I am sure I would forget some if I began listing them. Outside of North Carolina I greatly admire Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress. I first heard of Hayden when she was head of the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore. During the Baltimore riots following Freddie Gray’s death, Hayden insisted on keeping the library open to provide the community a safe place and access to the internet. I continued to be impressed when I heard her speak at ALA in New Orleans. Her values for community and access are something we should all strive toward. 4. Tell us a little about your interests and hobbies outside of the library. I enjoy being outside, whether it is walking our dogs, working in the yard, taking grandkids to the park or boating on Falls Lake. Four of our six kids live in the area and we have been lucky to maintain a safe bubble with them during COVID. After the past year I believe we have all come to value family more than ever before. Are you interested in being featured in the “Librarian Interview” section of the NCLA Newsletter? We are looking for members who want to share their experiences and advice with our membership. If you would like to be considered, please provide your name and contact information on this form. |
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Featured section of the month: RASS (Reference & Adult Services Section) Submitted by Susana Goldman, Chair
1. Who are the primary people that your section serves? Who should join?
We have a special interest in librarians and staff who work with adult library patrons. And although reference is in our title, it isn’t meant as a restrictive descriptor that only means reference interactions! We want to support all types of adult needs including reference, readers’ advisory, technology assistance, programs, supporting students and teachers, and, of course, offer a network of librarians and library staff that are experiencing the same issues in their adult services! 2. What types of programming do you offer? We organize monthly Buzz Sessions during the Spring of each year from February through May. These are targeted discussion sessions for people to brainstorm and share their ideas surrounding specific topics. In the past topics have included non-traditional collections libraries circulate such as cake pans or bicycles, programming subject matter, trending such as Green projects and programs, readers’ advisory tips and tricks, and more. We also attempt to plan an occasional webinar and partner with other sections to assist with conferences and training days. 3. What's one thing you want people to remember about your section? We are always interested in hearing about continuing education requests, topics of interest, humorous patron or library stories, program ideas, resource sharing or requests and anything else that may help you during your time working with adults in your libraries! Find us on the website and on our Facebook page. |
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Signs Preceding The End Of The World
by Yuri Herrera
"Yuri Herrera does not simply write about the border between Mexico and the United States and those who cross it. He explores the crossings and translations people make in their minds and language as they move from one country to another, especially whenthere's no going back. Traversing this lonely territory is Makina, a young woman who knows only too well how to survive in a violent, macho world. Leaving behind her life in Mexico to search for her brother, she is smuggled into the US carrying a pair of secret messages--one from her mother and one from the Mexican underworld."
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North Carolina Library Association
265 Eastchester Drive
Suite 133, #364
High Point, North Carolina 27262
www.nclaonline.org/ |
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