5 Things You Need to Know About Grant Writing for School Libraries: Consider applying for a grant to support your school library. It's a great way to be able to expand your programs, strengthen your resources, and even build new relationships and partnerships. Check out these approachable resources and strategies that can simplify this process and help you to feel supported and confident in your efforts.

Redefining the Library Experience: Global Insights for Future Planning: During the past year, OCLC Global Council and OCLC Research explored the idea of the changing library experience by focusing on topics such as community engagement, collaboration, and innovative programs that meet library users’ evolving needs and expectations. The resulting report provides an overview of how these findings relate to what resources and services libraries offer, how libraries engage with their communities and partners, and the evolving needs of library workers. Read this article to learn more and access the full Redefining the library experience report.

Advancing IDEAs: Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, 19 September 2023: This is the latest Hanging Together blog post, part of a regular series on issues of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility, compiled by a team of OCLC contributors.

WebJunction Webinars

These upcoming webinars are open for registration. If you can’t attend a live session, all WebJunction webinars are recorded and available for free in the Course Catalog.

Climate Justice

Tuesday, October 3, 2023 ◆ 2:00 pm Eastern / 11:00 am Pacific ◆ 90 minutes

Registration: https://www.webjunction.org/events/webjunction/climate-justice.html

Climate justice recognizes the disproportional impacts of climate change on the people and places least responsible for the problem: systematically oppressed communities and communities of color. Libraries that approach climate action through the lens of climate justice can accelerate necessary work in communities to ensure all are heard in disaster preparedness and emergency management work. Learn how to think like a 21st century economist and how libraries can help lead the way to a just transition of our communities to strengthen community resilience and livability not just in the aftermath of climate change-driven disasters, but well before they ever happen.

Revitalizing Morale: Cultivating a Supportive Library Culture

Wednesday, October 11, 2023 ◆ 3:00 pm Eastern / 12:00 pm Pacific ◆ 90 minutes

Registration: https://www.webjunction.org/events/webjunction/revitalizing-morale.html

Building on research and insights presented in the webinar, Low Morale in Libraries: Impacts and Countermeasures, this panel discussion delves deeper into essential facets that foster a healthy and supportive library culture, exploring institutional and individual solutions to countering low morale. Examining how organizational culture, library hierarchies, and management styles affect the workplace experiences of library staff, we’ll explore various strategies for library staff working to navigate power dynamics and advocate for positive personal or organizational change. Recognizing the trauma, stress, and burnout experienced by library staff, we’ll consider how to:

Assertively communicate needs while embracing change, set boundaries to address toxic positivity, and foster a compassionate environment
Explore visionary leadership approaches for inclusive libraries and promote collaboration for library staff at all levels
Gain insights on trauma-informed practices and collective care to help recover from burnout and foster empathy and resilience

Join this panel of researchers, library practitioners, and changemakers as they share experiences, research, and practical strategies to help foster a healthier, empowered library environment.

Building Community Relationships for Better Library Services

Tuesday, October 24, 2023 ◆ 3:00 pm Eastern / 12:00 am Pacific ◆ 60 minutes

Registration: https://www.webjunction.org/events/webjunction/building-community-relationships.html

Many libraries are increasingly focused on planning library services collaboratively with their communities. Connected Learning, Participatory Design, and Community Led-Libraries are becoming standard practice, but to successfully embark on that work, the first (and ongoing!) thing library staff need to do is build robust and meaningful connections within their communities. In this session, we will explore strategies for finding community partners and building relationships with them with the goal of truly working in collaboration with people they serve. We will discuss strategies for small rural libraries up through large urban systems. You will hear from library staff who have successfully started doing this work in their own communities with partners who serve all ages. You will also learn about the importance of this work and why it needs to be supported by administrators and supervisors.

This program is supported in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Thank you,

Cathy Lancaster

Youth Services Coordinator

Library of Michigan
702 W. Kalamazoo St.
Lansing, MI 48915
My Pronouns: She/Her/Hers - See www.mypronouns.org to learn more.

LancasterC5@michigan.gov | 517-335-8129 | www.mi.gov/libraryofmichigan
Follow us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Join the MiYouth Listserv, created for Michigan public library staff to share and discuss children and teen programming and services.