News in Brief

Dec 13, 2023

standing graphicToday’s Document from the U.S. National Archives
The National Archives has all kinds of treasures in its stacks, and one way they share them with the public is through their social media account, “Today’s Document.” Available to follow on Twitter, Tumblr, and Facebook, Today’s Document highlights all sorts of records from the curious to the mundane every single day.

Let’s Polka! Explore the Sackett Folklore Collection Online
Just in time for the holidays, a collection of audio recordings featuring polka music, folk stories, oral histories, and more are now digitally available in the Samuel J. Sackett Folklore Collection at Fort Hays State University’s Forsyth Library. This online archive brings history to life with recordings from Dr. Sackett and his graduate assistants who interviewed immigrants, homesteaders, and other community figures between 1954-1977. Listen to the sonorous tones of dulcimer music, hear folk songs in Swedish, Volga German, Czech, etc., and enjoy poems, stories, and jokes from a bygone era.

Knowing the Health Consumer from Public Libraries Online
The Medical Library Association’s Consumer Health Information Specialization(CHIS) second core competency is “Know the Health Consumer.”  This article from Public Libraries Online offers valuable information to define consumer health and health literacy and make clear the role of the library in helping the health consumer.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Staff Learning Resources from WebJunction
In their work to support library learning, WebJunction is committed to an approach which looks to create and sustain diverse, equitable, inclusive spaces where libraries and communities can thrive. The OCLC 2023 Annual Report features some of their most popular webinars from the past year that can help inform your library’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Find DEI resources from WebJunction.

PLA Accepting Proposals for How-To Stage at 2024 Conference Until December 18
The Public Library Association (PLA) opened a call for proposals for the How-To Stage at the PLA 2024 Conference, to be held April 3–5, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. The How-To Stage, located in the Exhibits Hall of the Greater Columbus Convention Center, will feature 20-minute sessions intended to teach practical, hands-on skills to conference attendees. The stage is a platform for a cooperative learning experience where attendees will learn something new and actively participate in conference learning.

ALA Spectrum Scholarship Program Application now Open
The American Library Association Spectrum Scholarship Program application is open until March 1. At least 50 Scholars are selected each year, each receiving a $5,000 scholarship and expenses associated with the Spectrum Leadership Institute during ALA Annual valued at approximately $1,500 (hotel/flight/conference registration/a ground travel stipend), and access to a network of over 1,300 Scholars across the globe. Eligible applicants must identify as American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Middle Eastern/North African, and/or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander; attend an ALA-accredited graduate program in library and information studies or an AASL-recognized School Library Media Program; be enrolled in an accredited program and begin no later than September 1 or Fall Semester upon acceptance of the award; have full or part-time status; and plan to maintain a minimum course load of two classes per semester while receiving scholarship funds

2024 National Día Program Registry Now Open
The 2024 National Día Program Registry is now open, and ALSC invites libraries, schools, and community organizations to register their upcoming programs. By using the national registry, program planners help build a searchable database that showcases all types and sizes of programs that highlight El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day) and Diversity In Action.

Time to Change the “Checklist”: A Toolkit for Reimagining School Readiness
Libraries are perfect places for children to develop early learning skills and practices in programs such as storytimes, play groups, and STEM/STEAM workshops. The Bay Area Discovery Museum has published a free, online Reimagining School Readiness Toolkit, with an easy-to-use structure for incorporating important skills and practices into programs in your library. The Toolkit is organized around three skill areas: Talk & Play, Body & Brain, and Science & Math.

New ALA Report Maps Increasingly Complex Digital Public Library Ecosystem
With a 34 percent increase in digital book borrowing since 2019, the size and scope of the digital content ecosystem for public libraries and patrons have made transparency more important than ever, according to a new report released by the American Library Association (ALA). Explaining the nuts-and-bolts of digital lending as well as the bigger picture, the Digital Public Library Ecosystem 2023 report will assist library and publishing professionals as they work to connect growing audiences to their preferred materials, in their preferred formats. Competition and innovation have improved patrons’ access to digital books through a diverse array of distributors, apps and library-enabled subscriptions.

Mental Health Resources for Libraries
Many people turn to libraries in times of crisis, and mental health concerns are no exception. This collection of resources can inform and support the work you’re already doing to serve your community, and help support your own well-being as you continue the important work you’re doing in the process.

If you have a question about this or any other article, please contact us at statelibrary@wyo.gov

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