NNLM has a new page with resources for public libraries. The page features health information, programming, collections, and other resources specifically for public library staffs. The landing page features recorded webinars they have hosted on conducting virtual health programming.
NNLM Health Resources for Public Librarieshttps://nnlm.gov/national/guides/publibs
Niche Academy Webinars
Did you know that Niche Academy has webinars? You may be interested in:
GovInfo Phobia: How to Get Over That “Deer in the Headlights” Feeling with Christopher Brown
Library Leadership Your Way with Jason MartinNext: Fostering Engagement and Building Information Literacy Competencies for Students and Patrons of Various Cultures with Drs. Judy Henning and Sherry Crow on Wednesday November 18th at 2 pm Eastern time,11 am Pacific Time
Libraries Supporting Online Learning: New Strategies and Best Practices in Response to COVID-19 with Christine Mune on Wednesday December 2nd at 2 pm Eastern Time, 11 am Pacific Time
All of their previous webinars are archived on HERE
Let’s Talk – Facilitating Crucial Conversations with Students from Teaching Tolerance
ACTIVITY KIT: EMBRACE DIFFERENCE, MAKE A DIFFERENCE
“This fall, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group invites you to embrace difference! From our favorite foods and activities to how our families look and the stories that we know, everyone is different. These differences, from the small and simple to the large and complicated are important. Check out some of our favorite books to start the conversation!” ~ Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group
Celebrating November
I am currently working on the kick-off for a year-long project of mine in 2021.
It is currently called Let’s Celebrate. I may change that but what won’t change is the Celebrate. What does it mean to celebrate?
verb
- Acknowledge (a significant or happy day or event) with a social gathering or enjoyable activity.
After 2020–we NEED more joy, happiness and fun. Each month I will be focusing on some National Celebration Month or Days and suggest some program ideas. If you have a favorite book, activity or program for a particular month or day you would like to share with me–I thank you!
Here is a picture I saw and have permission to share that came from my friend Kimberly Usselman from the Cumberland Public Library in Rhode Island. They are celebrating Dinovember at CPL and some Dinosaurs came in for a library card. Are you celebrating Dinovember at your library?
November is often known as the month of Gratitude. Check out the 30 Days of Gratitude Toolkit from the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Moment
Perhaps this would be a great time to hold a De-stressing Program. Who can you partner with in your community to offer a meditation, yoga or mindfulness program? Can you raise awareness to services available to help people in your community to de-stress? How about flyers to resources at your library that promote well-being? Maybe some aromatherapy bookmarks or stress-ball take & make kits might be helpful right now? I don’t need to tell you how many DIY stress ball & mindfulness jar ideas there are on Pinterest.
Colleges are great inspiration for de-stressing programs. I saw one college advertise Donuts & Dogs to de-stress at finals. While this idea might have to wait to a time when we can gather once again, you can easily transfer Spa Day DIYs and Coloring Clubs to online and make and takes.
One thing this year has taught us is how important outreach and collaboration is–libraries can and should be much more than just a place. Even if your patrons are unable to come into your library in the same way they have in the past, your library can still share resources and host programs that will leave them saying, “That was Just What I Needed”.
Family Engagement – Family Learning -STEAM – Community Dialog
Thinking ahead to next year, continuing to engage with the families in your community virtually, creating take and make programs and perhaps opening up to in-person programs–here are some resources to inspire you no matter what stage in the game you are at (including thinking about applying for a Summer Learning Grant next year).
Responding to COVID-19: Seven Practices to Guide Funding and Programming ~ Global Family Research Project.
Family Creative Learning Facilitators Guide ~ Family Creative Learning
How do you know what will engage your families? What do they need? Through Community Dialog. Ask yourself:
1) What audiences in my community are not making full use of library resources?
2) How does my library provide equitable and relevant programming for diverse audience segments? (Latinx, LGBTQ, Homeless populations, etc.)
3) Who in my community has the ear of the groups we wish to serve better?
4) Who are my go-to partners who could help plan and implement a Community Dialogue?
StarNet webinar Community Dialogues to Support Equitable Programming, Access, and Action in YOUR Library Presentation Slides | YouTube Recording | Link Bank
STEM in Libraries – Collaboration Opportunities ~ StarNet
Are you a Guide on the Side or a Sage on the Stage. For more on being the Guide on the Side another great webinar from StarNet STEAM Learning in Public Libraries: A “Guide on the Side” Approach for Inclusive Learning Presentation Slides | YouTube Recording | Link Bank
U.S. Department of Education Releases Parent and Family Digital Learning Guide
WASHINGTON – On October 23, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education released a new Parent and Family Digital Learning Guide, a resource to help parents and guardians understand how digital tools can provide tailored learning opportunities, engage students with course materials, encourage creative expression, and enrich the educational experience.
“As technology continues to iterate and benefit every part of our lives, all students need more opportunities to leverage the potential of technology in education,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. “We hope families can use the information we release today as many of them are relying on technology more so than ever before and are navigating learning from home.”
Digital learning can help families and educators meet the specific needs of individual students, understand a child’s progress, and connect families and students with resources in their school community and beyond. As an increasing number of school systems implement digital learning both inside and outside of the traditional classroom, this guide demystifies digital learning for parents and empowers them to be effective advocates for high-quality digital learning.
The Parent and Family Digital Learning Guide includes guidance and best practices for caregivers around topics including:
- How to leverage flexibilities and innovations technology and digital tools provide, such as accessibility options, to meet the unique needs of every learner — including students with disabilities and English language learners.
- Simple steps parents can take to keep their children safe online and foster safe online behavior, such as accessing security features on a child’s device, keeping track of log-in information, and keeping children safe while videoconferencing. The guide also discusses the importance of digital citizenship and offers parents resources to help their child navigate online bullying or encounters with troubling content.
- How a competency-based learning approach, which measures a student’s knowledge of a subject rather than time spent on the subject, can harness technology for the benefit of students. Digital resources like online assessments, periodic check-ins, and more can update parents on their child’s learning progress, and they can provide instructional flexibility in the event of a school disruption.
- Easy-to-understand primers on major federal laws governing student privacy and safety, such as FERPA, IDEA, and COPPA.
The Parent and Family Digital Learning Guide was informed by the feedback and contributions of digital learning experts representing researchers, parents, educators, and school leaders, as well as Digital Promise and Learning Heroes. This publication is the first in a series that will ultimately provide digital learning knowledge and resources to educators and school leaders in addition to parents and students.
The guide can be viewed here.
Libraries Role in Making a Better World
Low Literacy Rates in the US and how improving them would improve our economy: https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2020/09/09/low-literacy-levels-among-us-adults-could-be-costing-the-economy-22-trillion-a-year/#124cfd3c4c90
Bitmoji Library – You can build one!
Librarians are joining the online learning environment and using a Bitmoji Library to share their online content in a fun visual way. Read more about it in SLJ: https://www.slj.com/?detailStory=virtual-libraries-bitmoji-classrooms-bring-new-kind-book-browsing-covid-19-coronavirus
My Bitmoji office (located at the top of my blog https://nhlibraries.org/youthservices) was fun and quick to create. I will be adding more to it in the near future. If you just need a quick stress reliever and are into cats, click on the orange cat for a video of some funny felines.
The Facebook page Bitmoji Craze for Educators was highly recommended
Choose Love Movement
Courage Toolkit access here
