Free Speech on the Clock: A Case Study From Chattanooga
Have you ever considered the limits of your speech as a library worker? Intellectual freedom is a core value of the library and information science profession, however that does not mean that library workers have special privileges from other workers. As the Intellectual Freedom Manual explains, the freedom of expression guaranteed by the First Amendment traditionally has not been thought to apply to employee speech in the workplace. Learn more on the American Library Association’s Office of Intellectual Freedom blog.
On-Demand Online Training: Libraries as Community Hubs for Citizen Science
With support from the National Library of Medicine, SciStarter, a popular citizen science platform, assembled a team with expertise in instructional design, education, libraries, inclusive practices, digital design, micro accreditation, and, of course, citizen science to produce a free series of self-guided tutorials, trainings, and accompanying modules to help people from all walks of life discover and engage in authentic science.
PLA, AT&T Team up to Bring Digital Literacy Training to Families
The Public Library Association (PLA), a division of the American Library Association, and AT&T have announced a collaboration to improve digital literacy and promote broadband adoption among families and communities. A specially curated collection of digital literacy courses so parents and families can build the skills and confidence they need to help children navigate distance learning and participate effectively and safely in today’s digital world. The PLA/AT&T collaboration will launch in the summer of 2021.
When was the last time your trustee board engaged in intentional, organized trustee training? Both new and veteran library trustees can benefit from regular training on trustee duties, ethics, fundraising, strategic planning, succession planning, board management, HR issues, and more. The Vermont Department of Libraries has put together this resource list to help. Although some items are Vermont-specific, most are relevant to libraries in all states.
Emergency Broadband Benefit toolkit materials are now available for download. The outreach toolkit is a collection of social media, printables, and other content to assist communities, outreach partners, and grassroots organizers in raising awareness about the Emergency Broadband Benefit. Questions about the toolkit materials or the Emergency Broadband Benefit may be sent to broadbandbenefit@fcc.gov.
2021 Teens’ Top Ten Nominees Announced
The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association, has announced the 25 nominees for the 2021 Teens’ Top Ten. This is a “teen choice” list, where teens nominate and choose their favorite books of the previous year. Teens are encouraged to read the nominees throughout the summer to prepare for the national Teens’ Top Ten vote, which will take place August 15 to October 12.
PLA Now Accepting Proposals for PLA 2022 Conference
The Public Library Association (PLA) has opened the call for proposals for educational sessions to be presented at its next biennial conference, to be held March 23-25, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. The proposal submission portal will close at 9:59 p.m. Mountain Time on June 21, 2021.