ILA Advocacy Day March 7th

The Iowa Library Association urges library trustees, directors, and staff at all levels to attend Advocacy Day, this year scheduled for Tuesday March 7^th.  This annual event takes place at the State Law Library, housed inside the Capitol Building in Des Moines from 12:00-2:00PM. 

From ILA’s 2023 Legislative Agenda “Libraries provide essential public services not available elsewhere. In libraries across the state, Iowans can access the Internet, attend early childhood education programs and homework help, and find resources for lifelong learning, career development, and personal enrichment. To support these vital services, the Iowa Library Association asks the General Assembly to meet the following goals in 2023: 

• Safeguarding intellectual freedom and the freedom to read in libraries of all types
• Upholding education requirements for School Librarians, recognizing them as essential instructional staff
• State funding to ensure the ongoing success and growth of the IAShares Delivery System
• Increased funding for the State Library’s Direct State Aid Program (funding awarded for meeting public library standards)
• Increased funding for the State Library’s operating budget

Read the complete ILA 2023 Legislative Agenda  

Whether it’s public libraries, K-12 libraries, college/university libraries, or the State Library of Iowa. ILA works to defend challenges to intellectual freedom, while also advocating for critical funding, access to information, local control, and the importance of teacher-librarians in every school.  Moreover, ILA works to inform legislators about the vital role that libraries play communities all across the state.  

From an ILA bulletin: “This year more than ever, we need librarians and trustees to join us in person to advocate for libraries and Intellectual Freedom. Your voice matters and legislators want to hear from librarians in their districts.  As soon as you know you're coming to ILA’s Legislative Day on March 7, please personally invite your legislators and let them know you're coming to the Capitol. Also, reach out to every librarian and library supporter you know and ask them to come. This event is NOT just for librarians. We want to show our legislators that there is strong voter support for libraries…”  

Read More About ILA Advocacy Day 2023

Virtual Author Visits This Summer

Continuing Education Consultant Samantha Bouwers has "Save The Date" news regarding summer programming: "We know promotional calendars for summer programming are starting to fill up and get printed, so we wanted to take a moment to remind you to save the dates for Virtual Author Visits with all three All Iowa Reads authors this summer:

• June 13. 7:00-8:00PM 
  How High We Go In the Dark with author Sequoia Nagamatsu
• June 14. 2:00-3:00PM
  The Golden Hour with author Niki Smith
• June 15.  4:00-5:00PM 
  Firekeeper’s Daughter with author Angeline Boulley

Sam goes on to say: "these are great events to use with your book clubs or writing groups.  Librarians will have a chance to register a group viewing party.  Or individual patrons from your library can register and watch at home."

Do take advantage of these easy, ready-made programs to add to your summer event calendars.  Note that registration will open in early April.  Watch this space and other State Library communication channels for registration news and links. 

In the meantime, Save the Dates and share them with your patrons, teachers, and book clubs.  

All About All Iowa Reads

AARP Community Challenge Grants

Applications Due In March

AARP is sponsoring Community Challenge Grants this spring.  Public libraries are encouraged to apply and encourage community partners to do the same. 

Launched in 2017, the annual AARP Community Challenge provides small grants to local governments and nonprofits in order to fund quick-action, ready-to-implement projects designed to help communities become more livable for people of all ages.  These grants seek to foster community engagement, enhance local housing and transportation options, improve public spaces and support "smart cities" solutions.

In 2023, the AARP Community Challenge is accepting applications across three different grant opportunities, two of which are new this year. New grant opportunities in 2023 include opportunities to host walk audits and to start or enhance a community garden. The application deadline is March 15 by 4:00PM central time. Find a link to the application at the button below.

About Livable Communities

Approximately 45 million Americans are age 65 or older. By 2030, that number will reach 73 million Americans. At that point, fully one in five Americans will be older than 65. By 2034, the United States will — for the first time ever — be a country comprised of more older adults than of children. AARP Livable Communities supports the efforts of neighborhoods, towns, cities, and rural areas to be great places for people of all ages. We believe that communities should provide safe, walkable streets; age-friendly housing and transportation options; access to needed services; and opportunities for residents of all ages to participate in community life.”

Since there’s some time to ponder this, you can find ideas and inspiration on AARP’s Community Challenge webpage.  The site includes news about these Challenge Grants, including a listing of cities and towns that have submitted successful applications in the past.  Among past recipients in Iowa are Estherville, Avoca, Glidden, Manning, Perry, and more.  

The AARP website also offers a great variety of informational brochures that you can order directly or download.  Your library can take the lead and apply for an AARP Community Challenge Grant for your town—the application form is linked below.  

AARP Community Challenge Grant

This Week ... Webinars & Workshops

Boardroom Series 2023 | Policy Watch: Policies Lost and Found Part 2. 
February 28. 6:00-7:30PM.

The Boardroom series begins a new year with a continued discussion of some policy topics not commonly addressed.  The topic discussed last November was board’s role in disaster preparedness policies.  This month, State Library consultants Bonnie McKewon and Samantha Bouwers point to policy issues surrounding library programming, using social media, and managing volunteers.  Also gain an assist with writing by trying “The 4 Parts of a Policy” on for size.  Attendance at The Boardroom webinars helps satisfy Standard #8: “All members of the library board of trustees participate in a variety of board development programs each year.”

 Check It Out.  February 28.  11:00AM-12:00PM  

Check It Out is back—a webinar series spotlighting the best new books for ages 0-18. Join Janeé every month for booktalks on the latest titles. Check It Out! gives you collection development ideas and looks at trends in publishing and more. We always have a lot of fun and after every session, both your shelves and your TBR list will be full!

Register for Both Webinars in IALearns

STEM Fairs and Summer Reading Summits Start This Week in Ames—March 2^nd and 3^rd   These programs are happening in each District throughout the month of March.  The STEM fairs had limited enrollment and have since filled up everywhere.  However, the Summer Reading Summits do not have similar registration limits, so there’s still time to register for those.  

Info STEM Fairs / Summer Reading Summits