Resources to Recognize and Counter COVID-19 Vaccine Mis/Disinformation
As the COVID-19 vaccine inches closer to widespread distribution, help your patrons and community find reputable and reliable information about the vaccine with these resources from the Texas State Library and Archives. Also included are some helpful tutorials on spotting fake news and evaluating information found on the web.
2020 Wyoming Kids Count Data Book Now Available
The Wyoming KIDS Count Data Book takes a county-by-county look at the well-being of Wyoming children and families. It includes information ranging from health to education and much more. KIDS COUNT is a project of the Annie E. Casey Foundation designed to track the well-being of children by providing high quality data and trend analysis.
Malcolm Wallop Civic Engagement K-12 Curriculum Virtual Library
As schools across Wyoming face a growing need for virtual education resources, the University of Wyoming Wallop Civic Engagement Program shifted its focus to address the need. Through the creation of a virtual curriculum catalog, new free resources will be available for Wyoming teachers. The virtual library includes short video presentations across a range of topics, such as civics, civic engagement, government, history, geography and economics — all from UW faculty and partners from Wyoming community colleges and public experts.
Association for Rural and Small Libraries Launches Leadership Institute
The Association for Rural and Small Libraries has launched its inaugural ARSL Outstanding in Their Field Leadership Institute. They will be looking for 30 people who are currently working in rural and/or small libraries throughout the country. All participant travel, materials, and instructional expenses are paid for by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The application period will open in January 2021.
Space Planning Resources for Renovations and New Libraries
The Massachusetts Libraries Board of Library Commissioners released a brand-new resource for library space planning. Library Space: A Planning Resource for Libraries specifically focuses on the step-by-step process of public library design and includes illustrations of seating, room types, shelving, and more. It empowers librarians, administrators, and designers with the tools for planning and redesigning public libraries. Find more space planning resources in the Wyoming State Library’s handbooks for boards and directors.
Call for Applications for Community History Web Archiving Program
The Internet Archive invites public libraries in the United States and cultural heritage organizations in U.S. territories to apply to join its Community History Web Archiving program. Apply by January 31st, 2021 to join a diverse network of 150+ public libraries and librarians who are documenting local history, growing their professional skills and increasing institutional technical capacity, and building a public understanding of web archiving.
Book Clubs in Lockdown: New Research, Free Report
“Book Clubs in Lockdown” examines how book clubs have responded to the challenges of 2020 and how some of these changes will impact book groups for the long term. It is based on original research analyzing over 3,400 survey responses collected this October with many findings particularly relevant for public librarians. The report is also relevant to those in book clubs, so librarians may wish to share findings or the download link in their own communications.
Copyright Tools, Best Practices, and More
Whether you’re teaching students the basics of copyright or trying to make sure you don’t run afoul of the law yourself, the Alaska State Library can help. As part of their Online With Libraries (OWL) project, they’ve put together an extensive set of resources on copyright. OWL is a longstanding project here for supporting broadband, videoconferencing, and more.
Six Copyright Concepts Your K-12 Students Should Know
The Library of Congress, with the U.S. Copyright Office, has assembled six points to remember when teaching students about copyright. Incorporating copyright concepts into your lesson plans can help engage a student’s creativity and foster an appreciation for the importance of protecting creative works.
Registration Opens for 2021 AASL National Conference
Registration is now open for the 2021 American Association of School Librarians (AASL) National Conference. The conference, taking place Oct. 21-23, 2021, in Salt Lake City, Utah, convenes school library professionals for in-person learning and networking opportunities. Content provided at the conference will be rooted in AASL’s “National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries.” Wyoming librarians needing assistance with conference expenses are encouraged to apply for a Carol McMurry Library Foundation grant.
White Paper on Serving non-English Speakers and Newcomers to the U.S.
The American Library Association’s New Americans Library Project explored the landscape of literature and resources about library services for new Americans, studied how libraries can more effectively serve new Americans, and made recommendations about this topic for the library field. This white paper provides a synthesis of the project to help library professionals understand opportunities for libraries’ work with new Americans.
LSCUTC Toolkit for Spanish-Speaking Populations
The Library Service to Underserved Children and Their Caregivers committee is devoting the 2020-2021 calendar year to creating a vibrant, dynamic toolkit with up-to-date resources for working with marginalized populations. This month, the LSCUTC Toolkit focuses on resources for serving Spanish-speaking populations. Most of the resources focus on creating an inclusive space for Spanish-speaking families through materials, programs, and outreach.
Guide to Law Online: U.S. States and Territories
The Law Library of Congress has announced the launch of a redesigned Guide to Law Online: U.S. States and Territories at its new Library of Congress Research Guides location. This project originally started in 1999 as an outgrowth of the nation-specific guide portal, with the state pages created to provide quick links to primary and selected secondary free online resources. The initial launch included Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, and Arkansas. Groups of 5-10 states will be added alphabetically each week.