All posts by Susan

Archived Webinar: Understanding Teens 101



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November 2018; 56 minutes

View and download the slides and related resources.

New in our webinar training archive is Understanding Teens 101, with Catherine Boddie and Bridget Kiely, Young Adult Service Librarians from the Arapahoe Library District in Colorado. This video offers a crash course on understanding teen behavior and strategies for applying your know-how so all staff can offer the best teen services at your library. Catherine and Bridget touch on everything from adolescent neuroscience to behavioral issues. Whether you’re a teen expert or teen averse attend for some useful takeaways for your day to day work in the library.

Picture Book Picks and Pics from the WSL Crew



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Last week, Wyoming State Library staff members shared their favorite picture books and reading memories in honor of Picture Book Month. Here’s what our staff had to say about their favorites:

Susan Mark, Outreach Librarian, on The Big Tidy-Up by Norah Smaridge, illustrated by Les Gray: “I chose this book because it was my favorite when I was a kid. Before I learned to read on my own, I had it memorized, and I can still recite the opening lines — ‘Jennifer knew as well as you that everything had its place…’ Jennifer learned her lesson and cleaned up her room. Sadly, if you stop by my office, you’ll learn I never did.”

Susan also chose a beloved copy of Dog Heaven written and illustrated by Cynthia Rylant. “Picture books aren’t just for kids. I came across this book as an adult — I don’t know how. When my dog died several years ago, I was heartbroken. This book helped me through my sadness. Rylant wrote of dogs in heaven running, running, running through green fields, having all the biscuits they want, and every dog — even those who had no home on Earth — with a rug by a fire to curl up on. I still get teary-eyed when I read it.”

Abby Beaver, the WSL’s Information Services Manager, also chose to highlight a picture book she found as an adult; “I chose Julia’s House for Lost Creatures [by Ben Hatke] because aside from the adorable illustrations, this book teaches inclusivity, acceptance, and how diverse characters can work together to create a home for all.”

Acceptance and inclusivity are large educational themes for picture books. Digital Initiatives Librarian Danielle Price’s selection of Tacky the Penguin written by Helen Lester and illustrated by Lynn Munsinger is no exception, though hers is a childhood favorite that rings true through adulthood. “When I was a kid, I loved this book for its humor, and the message of being yourself. But when I reread it as an adult, I realized there’s an even deeper message about how embracing what sets you apart can benefit your community in ways no one could have predicted. And that makes me love it even more.”

Some picture book stories and illustrations stay with their readers long after the book itself is lost to the ravages of time, but a couple of our staff members were able to dig up their old copies — as well as a few beautiful memories — to share. Karen Kitchens, State Publications Librarian, remembers reading Whisper from the Woods by Victoria Wirth with illustrations by A. Scott Banfill with her son. “My favorite memory of this enchanting, touching book is reading it to my son Mark when he was little. We would sit together and talk about the magic of whispering trees. Shhhhh!! Can you hear the trees whispering? The lovely story, along with the warm memories is a reminder of the beautiful cycle of life.”

Our Database Instruction Librarian Chris Van Burgh says she was lucky enough to have all her grandparents living in one town during her childhood, and had a favorite book at each house. “Are You My Mother? [by P.D. Eastman] was my favorite book at one grandparents’ house, and The Bumper Book [by Watty Piper] was my favorite book at the other grandparents’ house.” Chris recounts how difficult it was to find copies of each of these classics — but Gay Purr-ee, based on the motion picture of the same name, has stayed in her collection throughout the years.

Another staff member to hold onto her favorite picture book as a child is Collections Technician Jessica Dawkins. “I chose The Sleeping Lady by Ann Dixon and Elizabeth Johns for the memories I have growing up in Alaska. After reading this local legend, I remember daydreaming about the Sleeping Lady every time my family would drive by Mount Susitna. Now that I’ve grown up, I realize this isn’t a story people around the country are familiar with, and I love sharing the tale with my friends and their children.”

Jessica also chose to bring a borrowed copy of the more well-known Plant a Kiss written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds, which she found a few years ago while taking a children’s literature class. “This has got to be the cutest book I’ve ever seen; it’s a lovely poem, the illustrations are adorable, and some of the pages even have glitter!”

In addition to tales from the Pacific Northwest, the WSL’s Bibliographic Services Librarian Bobbi Thorpe brought in a collection of unique picture books special ordered from the United Kingdom. “I think this frog one might be my favorite. I found the butterfly one first, and was so enthralled by the unfolding pages that I bought all four in the series. They had to ship over from the United Kingdom, but it was worth it!”

Overall, our staff’s collection of favorites spans generations, cultures, genres, and geography, illustrating the timeless importance of and love for picture books at any age.

Librarians at Wyoming Innovations Conference



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(L to R) Paige Bredenkamp, Wyoming State Library School Library Consultant; Julie Erickson, TIE (Technology and Innovation in Education) South Dakota; Megan Dingman, Campbell County School District 1 Coordinator of Library Professional Development

The 2nd annual Wyoming Innovations in Learning conference happened on November 7-9 in the Evanston Roundhouse facility. School librarians (as well as one public library director) from Wyoming were among the attendees and presenters. Maggie Unterseher, Megan Dingman, and Richard Landreth shared about Breakout EDU in the school library. Maggie and Megan also presented about integrating technology into the school library and shared practical ideas that can be utilized right away.

Some key sessions focused on:

  • Breakout EDU
  • Integrating tech into the school library
  • Google vs databases
  • Password organization
  • Coding
  • Course design
  • Subject matter teaching strategies
  • Digital skills

This was a fantastic conference attended by more than 200 participants that included librarians, K-12 teachers, college instructors, tech directors, and administrators. This annual conference is sponsored by Wyoming Department of Education, WyDECC, WyTEC, e-Volution, and the Wyoming State Library. WSL School Library Consultant serves on the conference committee. The 2019 conference will be held in Gillette, Wyoming. A call for conference session proposals will be sent out early next year.

The team who organized the Innovations conference. The WSL’s Paige Bredenkamp is fourth from the right.

Studying History Through Native American Newspapers



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According to the Library of Congress, the first Native American newspaper, The Cherokee Phoenix, began publishing in 1828. The Phoenix is one of 14 Native American newspapers from the 19th and early 20th centuries that are available in Chronicling America.

Wyoming’s Native American newspapers are not included in the Library of Congress collection, but you can find them online in Wyoming Newspapers. In this digital collection you may find a limited number of issues of:

  • Arapahoe Agency Courier (1888)
  • Indian Progress (1909 and 1910)
  • Indian Paint Brush (1935)
  • Indian Guide (1887 and 1896-1897)

This Teaching with the Library of Congress blog post offers ideas on using Native American newspapers in the classroom. For more Native American Heritage Month resources, explore the heritage month portal.

Today is National GIS Day



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Image of the Interactive Oil and Gas Map of Wyoming from the Wyoming State Geological Survey.

Wednesday, November 14 is National Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Day, recognized since 1999. GIS is a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present spatial or geographic data.

This year’s theme is Discover the World through GIS, with a focus on demonstrating the real-world GIS applications that are making a difference in our society.  As one example, the Wyoming State Geological Survey offers several interactive maps of Wyoming. View them all on their website:

  • Groundwater Atlas — enables quick research and comparison of groundwater wells, groundwater quality, aquifers, and recharge.
  • Interactive Oil and Gas Map — emphasizes oil and gas fields, hydrocarbon reservoirs, and associated infrastructure.
  • Geochronology Map — enables quick research and comparision of published and other publicly available age data across the state.
  • Mines and Minerals Map — investigates mining and mineral data as an aid to understanding these resources.

GISday.com has several story maps available that allow users to experience the changes our world has undergone through the use of mapping. One in particular, 100 Years of the National Park Service, takes you on a chronological journey of the significant events in the establishment and growth of America’s unparalleled system of public parks.

 

 

 

Grants and Awards



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APA Librarian Conference Travel Awards
DEADLINE: November 30, 2018
The APA Librarian Conference Travel Awards are intended to support early- and mid-career librarians who are seeking to attend conferences in order to grow as professionals. Applicants must be currently employed as a librarian at an academic or health sciences library, and have less than 15 years of experience in a library after receiving their MLS.

Carol McMurry Library Endowment Individual Grants for Continuing Education
Deadline: November 30, 2018
Want to attend a conference or workshop to build your library skills? Take an online course? Start working toward that library media specialist endorsement or master’s degree in library science? Funds are available to those working or volunteering in Wyoming libraries through the Carol McMurry Library Endowment Individual Grants for Continuing Education. Applications are accepted six times during the year. The next deadline is November 30 for continuing education events starting no earlier than January 1, 2019.

Intersections in Health Equity ALA Midwinter Preconference Grants
DEADLINE: December 3, 2018
Implicit Bias, Health Disparities and Health Literacy: Intersections in Health Equity will be held on January 25, 2019 during ALA Midwinter in Seattle, WA. This interactive preconference will help participants learn how libraries can deepen their work in health literacy and ensure a lasting impact for improving health in their communities. Up to ten professional development awards for preconference attendance are available to public service and programming staff. Eligible costs for this award includes the preconference ticketed event, roundtrip coach airfare, lodging costs, and per diem for meals up to $1,000 total.

National Friends of Libraries Week Award
DEADLINE: December 4, 2018
United for Libraries coordinated the 13th annual National Friends of Libraries Week Oct. 21-27, 2018. Libraries and Friends across the country celebrated with city and statewide proclamations, and events including fundraisers, membership drives, author signings, and more. Two Friends groups will receive the National Friends of Libraries Week Award, $250 each, in honor of their celebrations during the week.

Carol McMurry Library Endowment Grants to Libraries
DEADLINE: December 15, 2018
These grants provide support to Wyoming librarians and publicly accessible Wyoming libraries in three areas: education and training, library resources, and library foundation development. Two grant deadlines annually in June and December. Contact Brian Greene, WSL Library Development Manager, with any questions at brian.greene@wyo.gov or (307) 777-6339.

Coretta Scott King Book Awards Donation Grant
DEADLINE: January 31, 2019
Underfunded libraries, schools and non-traditional organizations that provide educational services to children are invited to apply to receive one of three Coretta Scott King Book Donation Grants. The Coretta Scott King Book Awards Donation Grant was created to help build collections and bring books into the lives of children in preschool programs, faith-based reading projects, homeless shelters, charter schools, underfunded libraries and other community organizations.

Two New Database Webinars in the Archive



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We’ve just added two new Database of the Month webinars to our archive page.

U.S. History in Context and Native American Heritage Month
Gale pays tribute to their important contributions, histories, and unique challenges both past and present with Native American content featured directly on the homepage of US History In Context for the entire month of November.
November 2018; 18 minutes

Social Issues: Resources in GoWYLD.net
Let’s take a look at places to go in GoWYLD.net for information on the myriad social issues that are prevalent in our world. We will look at Opposing Viewpoints In Context, Global Issues In Context, CQ Researcher and SIRS Knowledge Source.
October 2018; 21 minutes

Free Continuing Education Events for the Week of November 12



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Free, online, continuing education events for the week of November 12 from the Wyoming State Library Training Calendar. Descriptions are below. You can subscribe and view the events in your calendar software, or you can find all the events at library.wyo.gov/services/training/calendar.

All times MST

Tuesday, Nov 13 (10-2 pm)
Connections Summit: Day One (SirsiDynix)
Open to all libraries and staff, our first day will feature David Lee King and will be followed by other thought leaders, industry experts, and library success stories and videos.

Tuesday, Nov 13 (10-11 am)
The Data We Don’t Collect: How It Drives Funding Decisions By People Who Don’t Use the Library (Colorado State Library)
We know from both the 2008 and 2018 iterations of “From Awareness to Funding” that the library user status of the voter does not matter on Election Day. Funding decisions for libraries are often made by voters with little-to-no familiarity with the library, or by elected officials who are themselves non-users. Join EveryLibrary executive director John Chrastka for an overview of the “From Awareness…” findings and participate in a discussion of how concerned library data professionals could cooperatively begin to fill in these missing data pieces.

Tuesday, Nov 13 (11-12 pm)
Leadership Styles & Impact on Your Nonprofit (Firespring)
The latest nonprofit leadership research shows how specific leadership styles impact nonprofit outcomes. And it reveals the most common style of leadership in nonprofits right now.

Tuesday, Nov 13 (12-1 pm)
Storytelling on Steroids With VideoScribe (InSync Training)
Research has shown that our brains wilt when we are experiencing death by PowerPoint or other static presentation of content. It’s tough to learn with a wilted brain. VideoScribe lets a story unfold before your learners’ eyes, improving learning retention by as much as 15%!

Tuesday, Nov 13 (12:30-1:30 pm)
How to Captivate and Engage Constituents with Your Website (Firespring)
Does your website captivate and engage people or is it merely an online brochure with a few photos and mission statement? In this session, we will share more than a decade of focus group research that reveals:The 5 elements of an engaging website; The one thing every nonprofit should be thinking about, but isn’t; Real-world examples of nonprofit organizations that have mastered their online presence.

Tuesday, Nov 13 (7-8 pm)
Cybersecurity, SL and RL (San Jose State University iSchool)
When considering cybersecurity, the technology that enables Second Life can be thought of as a chain of related systems, starting with your personal computer and working through various software and network layers that enable presence, communications, and amazing capabilities in a rich virtual world space.  This presentation walks through each link in that chain and considers some reasonable measures for security, safety, and privacy along the way.  Also covered are larger cybersecurity issues like cyberkinetics, digital currencies, and human-computer interaction.

Wednesday, Nov 14 (9-10 am)
Help Us Combat the World’s Most Dangerous Animal with an App! (National Network of Libraries of Medicine)
Mosquitoes are the world’s most dangerous animal, and there is something we can all do to reduce the threat of mosquito-transmitted disease in our communities. Join us to find out why mosquitoes are so dangerous and to learn how NASA Earth-observing satellite data is being used in an effort to predict, monitor, and respond to vector-borne disease around the world.

Wednesday, Nov 14 (12-1 pm)
A Good Night’s Rest: Government Resources Can Teach You About Adequate Sleep Habits (Federal Depository Library Program)
This webinar will present information on Government resources about what sleep is and how to get enough of it. Also covered will be insomnia, benefits and detriments of sleep medications, problems and conditions related to sleep, and sleep requirements for differing ages.

Wednesday, Nov 14 (12-1 pm)
3 Instagram Tips Successful Nonprofits Use to Raise Awareness and Win Supporters (Wild Apricot)
If you want to attract a larger audience of members, donors, fans and followers, please join our webinar on November 14 with digital marketing expert and social media specialist Lilach Bullock. Lilach will show you how some nonprofits are using Instagram to reach the young and socially-conscious generation, ensuring their organizations continue to grow well into the future.

Wednesday, Nov 14 (12-1 pm)
Introduction to Proposal Writing (GrantSpace)
This class will provide you with an overview of how to write a standard project proposal to a foundation.

Wednesday, Nov 14 (12-1 pm)
Big Programs, Little Budget: Forging Community Partnerships in a Small Town (Programming Librarian)
Drawing on her experience as director of the Meservey Public Library, Chelsea Price will share ideas for hosting “big” programs on a small budget and discuss how partnerships can be an invaluable resource for programming.

Wednesday, Nov 14 (1-2 pm)
Leadership in Youth Services, Part 1: Leading Outside Your Organization (Association for Library Service to Children)
This is one of a three-part Leadership in Youth Services webinar series brought to you by the ALSC Managing Children’s Services Committee. How can you obtain leadership experience in an entry or mid-level library position so that you can move forward in the leadership pipeline? Perhaps your administration can’t (or won’t) provide the support you need to advance. This webinar will explore how to add tools to your leadership toolbelt – in and outside of the library – without breaking the bank.

Wednesday, Nov 14 (2-3 pm)
Understanding Teens 101 (Wyoming State Library)
Join Catherine Boddie and Bridget Kiely for a crash-course on understanding teen behavior and strategies for applying your know-how so all staff can offer the best teen services at your library. We’ll touch on everything from adolescent neuroscience to behavioral issues. Whether you’re a teen expert or teen averse attend for some useful takeaways for your day to day work in the library.

Wednesday, Nov 14 (3-4 pm)
Collaboration Impacts Students’ Learning (edWeb)
In this edWebinar, Michelle Luhtala, Library Department Chair at New Canaan High School, CT, will share tools that promote collaboration among educators. Participants will explore how to demonstrate that collaboration is happening, that it is effective, and that it favorably impacts student learning.

Thursday, Nov 15 (11-12 pm)
Getting Your Donor Management Data In Order for 2019 (Idealware)
You have a donor management system, but how do you get the most out of it while maintaining it for optimal efficiency? Join us to learn about donor data best practices, including customizing your system to your organization’s needs, cleaning data, defining data standards and coding, and the importance of training staff to enter and extract data efficiently.

Thursday, Nov 15 (12-1 pm)
Moving Your Workload to the Cloud? What are the Right Tools for the Job? (GovLoop)
Join us online to learn how governments can successfully assess, plan and automate cloud transformation on time and on budget, and fast forward your data center consolidation or cloud migration.

Thursday, Nov 15 (12-1 pm)
Libraries Connecting You to Coverage (Public Library Association)
As part of its ongoing work to support the public library’s role in creating healthy communities, PLA is offering new resources for libraries to help more Americans participate in the Open Enrollment period of the Affordable Care Act. This free webinar will help public library staff plan for how they can promote the deadlines, educate their communities, find certified enrollment assistance, and support patrons’ efforts to enroll successfully. Learn how two very different public libraries are using free resources to offer essential guidance to their communities.

Thursday, Nov 15 (1-2 pm)
Onboard or Overboard! Increasing Employee Retention and Productivity (Training Magazine Network)
Employees are going overboard, leaving companies at a faster pace than ever before. You work so hard to recruit the right talent and yet 1/3 of employees quit their jobs in just the first six months! One major factor in this is lack of great onboarding.  Companies fail to realize the need to reinforce the “buying decision” – yes, onboarding is a key time for new associates to determine if they made the right choice or not.

Thursday, Nov 15 (1-2 pm)
Encore Career Search Strategies: Help Your Patrons Find Their Way to Meaningful Work (Infopeople)
We can help older patrons compete successfully for jobs by steering them toward resources that match their needs, and by helping them find (economical) ways to develop new job search skill. This webinar will give you information and resources to help patrons bridge the gap in knowledge and skills.

Thursday, Nov 15 (2-3 pm)
Fighting Fake News: How to Outsmart Trolls and Troublemakers (edWeb)
In this edWebinar, teachers will learn a practical approach to helping students avoid one of the major pitfalls of today’s digital media: falling for fake information.

Friday, Nov 16 (8-9 am)
Looking to the Cloud: Using Google’s G Suite at Your Library (Indiana State Library)
Learn how Google’s G Suite web-based software can bring simplicity, flexibility, and collaboration to your library through Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive.  We’ll also cover how to sign up for Google for Nonprofits, which brings this platform to your library for free.

Friday, Nov 16 (9-10 am)
The University of Michigan Ebook Collection: An investment in open source, community accountable infrastructure (Lyrasis)
LYRASIS is hosting a webinar to provide our members an opportunity to learn more about the University of Michigan Ebook Collection, a comprehensive collection of the University of Michigan Press’s scholarly ebooks for sale to libraries. The collection is fully accessible on Fulcrum, a leading community-developed, open source platform for digital scholarship developed with support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Please join us to learn how your investment in this newly available content supports the sustainability of open source, community accountable infrastructure.

Friday, Nov 16 (11-12 pm)
Marketing on a Small Budget (Indiana State Library)
Libraries are busy places. From programming to services, we want people to know about everything. The challenge? We often have very limited (if any) marketing budgets. See examples of what has worked and where your time is best spent. You do not want to miss this great presentation, so sign up to attend today!

2018 Teens’ Top Ten List Announced



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The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) has announced the official titles of the 2018 Teens’ Top Ten:

  1. Turtles All the Way Down by John Green. Dutton/Penguin. 9780525555360.
  2. One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus. Delacorte/Random House. 9781524714680.
  3. Warcross by Marie Lu. G. P. Putnam’s Sons/Penguin. 9780399547966.
  4. Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo. Random House. 9780399549731.
  5. Caraval by Stephanie Garber. Flatiron. 9781250095251.
  6. Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds. Caitlyn Dlouhy Books/Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster. 9781481438254.
  7. I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez. Knopf/Random House. 9781524700485.
  8. Paper Hearts by Ali Novak. Sourcebooks Fire. 9781492653363.
  9. Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor. Little, Brown and Company. 9780316341684.
  10. Once and For All by Sarah Dessen. Viking/Penguin. 9780425290330.

A video and list featuring the winning titles can be found on the Teens’ Top Ten page. Teens all over the world voted August 15 through Teen Read Week™ (October 7-13, 2018).

Teens aged 12-18 can nominate their favorite titles to be considered as a 2019 Teens’ Top Ten nominee via the public nomination form. Book title nominations submitted in the current year will be used for consideration of the following year’s list of nominees. Teens can submit a book title now through January 1, 2019 to be included in the pool of the 2019 nominee candidates. For books to be eligible for consideration, they must be published between January 1– December 31, 2018.

Webinar: Understanding Teens 101



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Tongue River High School Library on Wyoming Snapshot Day

The Wyoming State Library is holding a free webinar, “Understanding Teens 101,” on Wednesday, November 14, from 2-3 p.m. MST. Join Catherine Boddie and Bridget Kiely, Young Adult Service Librarians from the Arapahoe Library District in Colorado, for a crash-course on understanding teen behavior and strategies for applying your know-how so all staff can offer the best teen services at your library.

Register now.

We’ll touch on everything from adolescent neuroscience to behavioral issues. Whether you’re a teen expert or teen averse attend for some useful takeaways for your day to day work in the library.