Freedom to read issues are generating legislation—both library-adverse and library-protective—across the country
Iowa’s 2024 legislative session lasts 100 days, and it’s a busy and nervous time for Julie Finch and Sam Helmick, leaders of the Iowa Library Association (ILA). Many of their colleagues across the country know just how they feel.
Starting in January, Iowa lawmakers introduced five library-adverse bills. These are defined by the American Library Association (ALA) as “impairing the ability of libraries, their staff, and library boards to acquire and provide diverse materials, resources, and programming.” As ILA’s president and chair of governmental affairs, respectively, it’s Finch and Helmick’s responsibility to monitor the progress of these bills and choose how and where to deploy advocacy resources...
Every spring, thousands of library advocates from around the country call on their elected officials to provide crucial funding for US libraries. This effort is part of the American Library Association’s #FundLibraries campaign, now in its eighth year.
This year, the campaign for the fiscal year (FY) 2025 federal budget kicked off April 15 and concluded May 10. During that time, members of Congress signed “Dear Appropriator” letters requesting increased funding for specific library programs. Advocates sent more than 20,000 messages to their elected officials—a figure up 11% from last year—in a single month.
ADVOCACY CENTER
Sign Up with the Virginia Library Association as an Advocate!
Click HEREand sign up for the VLA Advocacy Center Mailing List to make sure you're receiving Virginia action alerts and updates on policy issues related to the library field. This will help you keep abreast of legislation that could affect your local library and community.
Voting is one of the greatest privileges and responsibilities of citizenship in the United States. Yet, turnout in national elections is consistently lower than two-thirds of eligible voters. Participation rates among multiple demographic groups and in state or local elections are often lower still. There is frequent talk about the critical role of libraries in our democracy. What does that look like in practice? Libraries are nonpartisan, but they are not indifferent. As institutions that provide access to information, resources, programs, and public spaces for all members of a community, libraries are a cornerstone for civic engagement and more important than ever. Click on the image above to learn more.
UNITED FOR LIBRARIES RESOURCES
Virginia library staff and stakeholders (folks like you!) have access to a whole host of resources from United for Libraries.
Join us as we discuss ways to proactively build relationships with your community. Building on the Get Ready Stay Ready Toolkit, the IMLS-funded READCON project is a curriculum equipping library workers, Trustees, and Friends of the Library groups with skills to partner with their communities more effectively for advocacy. Learn about this highly adaptable, open-source learning tool developed by experts in academic, public, and school librarianship, education and family law, crisis communications, community advocacy and relations, and youth leadership. Find out how the curriculum can help library workers, Trustees, and Friends engage in constructive dialogue on potentially divisive aspects of library programming, service, and material challenges.
Tuesday, July 30 - Thursday, August 1, 2024 -- 11:00a- 4:00p
Register HERE -- FREE FOR ALL VIRGINIA LIBRARY STAFF, TRUSTEES, FRIENDS, and FOUNDATION MEMBERS
This interactive three-day virtual event will feature expert speakers on current topics facing library Trustees, Friends, Foundations, and staff who work with them. Programming runs from 11:00 am Eastern to approximately 4:00 pm Eastern daily with scheduled breaks. Registrants may participate in some or all program sessions live, and/or watch recordings on-demand.
Themed Days:
Tuesday, July 30, 2024 -- Trustees / Library Board members
Wednesday, July 31, 2024 -- Library Foundations / Fundraising
Thursday, August 1, 2024 -- Friends of the Library Group
Participate in live Q&A sessions with presenters.
Network with colleagues across the country in roundtable discussions.
Enjoy exclusive access to keynote speakers and authors.
Receive a certificate of attendance (for live participation or on-demand viewing).
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Using Public Data to Make Decisions
Census Bureau subject matter experts will present data sourced from Public Sector programs and the American Community Survey. You will learn about the different types of business and demographic data available and how it can help guide many decisions. Discover statistics on public employment and payroll, state and local government finances, demographic characteristics, along with guidance on data access and utilization. Engage with our experts via live chat and the Q&A segment...
The Dementia Friendly Library: Increasing Belonging in Virginia Libraries
The Dementia Friendly Library Challenge, held in January and February of 2024, served as a an opportunity for library workers in Virginia to gain a better understanding of dementia and how to best serve patrons with dementia and their care partners. Join Nan Carmack, Ed.D., from the Library of Virginia, to learn about Virginia dementia and mild cognitive impairment data, resources to support folks with dementia, examples of library practices and the challenge itself. Replication of the challenge and broad sharing are encouraged!
Regardless of the board type, there are common responsibilities such as policy, budget, facilities, and HR. To ensure effective board management, it's important to have a well-organized agenda, follow a regular order, and use parliamentary procedures. Committees can help kill bad ideas and enhance good ones, and committee structure matters. Beyond committee work, board members can also be ambassadors for the library...
Please note, if you register with a non-library issued e-mail address, someone from the Library of Virginia will follow up with you to confirm that you are affiliated with a Virginia library before you can access the content.
BOOKS
titles
Click on the image to learn more about each title, and then use your local library to request them from the Library of Virginia.
June 10, 2024 - The UncommonWealth Public Library Spotlight
If we had to guess, you probably have boxes or drawers full of outdated media. Don’t worry, we do too! And we have a solution for digitizing older media to preserve history for future generations at Roanoke County Public Library (RCPL), and of course, it is all available for free with your library card.
As Summer Reading came to an end in 2023, staff at Vinton Library, a branch of RCPL, were gearing up for a new initiative for the community – the DigiLab. After much brainstorming and talking with staff and patrons, the Vinton Library wanted to create a space for patrons to use the library to digitize older media – from photographs and film to vinyl records and audio cassettes – to preserve history for future generations...
QUOTED
"There's absolutely going to be the chilling effect of people being so afraid of ordering or having any sort of book that could possibly offend somebody. A well-curated public library has something in it to offend everyone."
- Huda Shaltry, branch manager at Boise (Idaho) Public Library, in "Librarians Say They Face Threats, Lawsuits, Jail Fears over Ongoing Book Battles," ABC News, April 13.
This newsletter is brought to you by the Library Development & Networking Division of the Library of Virginia. Funding for this is provided through the Virginia General Assembly and the Institute for Museum and Library Studies (IMLS).
