Library Service Highlights--Part 1

December lends itself to looking back at the year ending, while also looking ahead to a new year of possibilities.  With two more issues of Monday Morning Eye-Opener before the holiday break, I’m using this space to look back at State Library accomplishments this past year, along with local library news and previews of what’s coming in the new year.  It’s time for some unabashed horn-tooting from our place and from yours—this is our Library Service Highlight Reel for 2022—Part 1.

Welcome to State Library Staff

In March, the State Library welcomed Brenda Hall to our staff as the new Program Manager, the position vacated by Nancy Medema last year.  Brenda oversees the many programs and services provided to Iowa’s public libraries, as well as overseeing the agency’s federal funding.  She has 17 years of public library experience, formerly the Southside Branch Manager with Des Moines Public Library. 

And in September, the State Library welcomed Janeé Jackson- Doering to our staff as the new Youth Services Consultant.  Janeé brings 11 years of experience as a youth services librarian, in addition to working as assistant preschool teacher for Head Start.  She’s leading SRP webinars this month and ramping up to bring you plenty of youth services programming in 2023.

New Online Resources

Our annual Learning Circuit workshop in October took up the challenge of disaster preparedness.  Back as an in-person event, 215 people attended in six locations.  And through the magic of ZOOM, two keynote speakers joined in the presentations from Des Moines and Vermont. 

In connection to that workshop, we added a new resource to our website—The Disaster Preparedness Toolkit.  The premier piece of this new toolkit is a planning template, intended to bring many disparate aspects of emergency management into one place.  Like building and contents insurance information, library collection and equipment inventories, emergency contacts, and more.  This toolkit offers up best practices in emergency preparedness--take a look! 

This impressive resource also debuted this fall: The People’s Law Library of Iowa. This new website is meant for Iowa citizens and provides information on three main legal areas: family law, consumer law, and landlord-tenant law.  This project came together in 2022, the result of a partnership with the University of Iowa Law Library, paid for in part with funding from the 2021 ARPA grants. 

The People’s Law Library of Iowa is a great new resource for Iowa library staff to know about and to become familiar with, so that library staff can share this site with library patrons.  One way to learn more about it is by watching a short tutorial about how Iowans can best access the site. Find that and promotional materials on the site, too.

One of Many Education Events

For many years, the ILOC Conference has opened the State Library's annual program of continuing education.  And this year was no exception: 2022 marked the 15th year for the Iowa Libraries Online Conference, with over 150 people in attendance.  

Planning is well underway for ILOC in the new year: January 26, 2023.  Thanks to everyone who submitted a proposal for the ILOC 2023, we've received a great batch of submissions focusing on the theme "Productive Partnerships."  In fact, that will be the theme that carries us through the new year of education and training from the State Library.  Continuing Education Consultant Samantha Bouwers describes the C.E. year ahead: "While we focused on saying “yes” to opportunities last year, we do know that libraries cannot do all things.  So pursuing partnerships is one way to move the "yes" needle toward trying new programs or subscribing to new products.  Being purposeful in determining what ideas to pursue, and with whom to undertake those pursuits, will make partnerships more productive in the long run." 

ILOC is a day-long event with something for everyone, including an evening program for trustees.  Registration is now live--sign up at the link below and stay tuned for more information on all breakout sessions, keynote speakers, and more.

Register for ILOC 2023

More to come in Highlight Reel Part 2 next week

This Week ...

2023 Summer Library Program
Virtual Workshops  
December 13. 2:00-4:00PM  

Youth Services Consultant Janeé Jackson-Doering guides participants through best practices, activities, ideas, and resources for youth ages 0-18.  Come to get inspired, to share ideas with other youth librarians in breakout rooms, and to Find Your Voice.  That’s the theme for Summer Library Programs in 2023.  The first part of the webinar will be a presentation from Janeé, the second part will be spent in breakout room conversations.

I Didn't See that Coming! What to do With Your Collection
When Things Go Sideways.  December 13.  3:00-4:00PM

Neither mold, water, or other damage can stop your collection after disaster strikes if you're well prepared. Joy Stortvedt (from the IMALERT team) will demo the best ways to not only recover your collection during and after a disaster, but more importantly, prepare before disaster strikes. Learn more about IMALERT, how to prioritize collections for salvage and triage, and how to proceed with collection care during and after a disaster.

Register For Classes Above in IALearns

Endorsement Renewal

The end of the calendar year is a good time log into your IALearns account and check the end date of your endorsement.  Once logged in, click on PROFILE, then click on CERTIFICATIONS.  While we are working away from the everyone-renewing-on-New Years Eve scheme, many people currently endorsed will still have that 12/31/20XX end date on their profile.

So If you're looking at a December 2022 renewal deadline, it's time to get those last few credit hours earned and submit your renewal via the form on our website, including your IA Learns transcript showing the right number of hours for your renewal (45 for directors, 30 for youth services or general staff) Contact the CE Team with questions.

Endorsement Renewal Info