Category Archives: Annual Conference

May 2016

A note from ASCLA Executive Director, Susan Hornung

Dear ASCLA Members:

Before scrolling below to ASCLA Direct, I’d like to share the details of some of ASCLA’s signature events at the upcoming 2016 ALA Annual Conference. The annual conference is taking place in the home of the Magic Kingdom this summer and we hope you have an enchanting time! We have some charmed programming described here: http://www.ala.org/ascla/asclaevents/annual, ranging from Active Shooter Policies in Libraries to Library Consortia, e-books and the power of libraries: innovative shared e-book delivery models from a library consortium near you. All the programming looks spectacular, but I do want to make special mention of our President’s Program and ASCLA preconference:

Don’t Get Sued: What Librarians are Doing to Address the Physical, Programmatic and Web-based Accessibility Barriers for People with Disabilities is being sponsored by President Rhonda Gould this year as her President’s Program. This program, for librarians who implement accessibility policies in academic and public libraries, will offer insights about how to make physical, programmatic, and online presences more accessible to people with disabilities. Real-world experiences will be shared, include how one library responded to an audit from the U.S. Department of Justice about the accessibility of web pages and online resources. This takes place on Sunday, June 26, 2016, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m., Orange County Convention Center, Room W105B 

And if you are exploring whether being a freelancer is for you, I suggest attending Freelance Success: Building a Business as a Library Trainer, Educator, Writer, Researcher, or Consultant.  If you want to provide consulting, programs, services, and products to the library community or use your library-related skills in the larger market, you can learn what it takes at this preconference. You’ll take a look at testing the market, negotiating with customers, pricing your services and why great skills, education, and experience are not enough. Takes place Friday, June 24, 2016, 8 a.m. – noon at the Orange County Convention Center, Room W103A.

If you are a member of ASCLA, use special code ASCLA2016 to receive the price of $169. Register here.

Also, don’t forget to join us at the ASCLA/COSLA/FAFLRT Awards & Reception. Hang out with your ASCLA colleagues and celebrate this year’s first combined ASCLA and Federal Armed Forces Libraries Round Table (FAFLRT) awards ceremony. All conference attendees and guests are invited to this event! Takes place Saturday, June 25, 2016, 5:45 – 7:15 p.m., Hyatt Regency Orlando, Room Plaza BR D.

Have a magical time in Orlando; if you can’t make it this year, I hope to see you in Chicago in 2017!

Susan Hornung
Executive Director, ASCLA
shornung@ala.org


IN THIS ISSUE OF ASCLA DIRECT 


2016 Annual Conference

ASCLA President’s Program

Don’t Get Sued: What Librarians are Doing to Address the Physical, Programmatic and Web-based Accessibility Barriers for People with Disabilities.
Librarians who implement accessibility policies in academic and public libraries will offer insights about how to make physical, programmatic, and online presences more accessible to people with disabilities. They will share real-world experiences addressing the everyday needs of patrons with disabilities in the library and with responding to an audit from the U.S. Department of Justice about the accessibility of web pages and online resources.

At the end of the program, attendees will be able to identify resources and tools to use to help make their own libraries more accessible, as well as gain better insight on how to meet the accessibility needs of their patrons and why it’s important that they do.

This is an ideal program for Library Managers who are their library’s ADA coordinators; supervise staff members with disabilities and Library Information Technology Specialists who want to learn more about best practices for accessible web design. This program would also be of interest for all Librarians and other public services staff who want to learn how to best serve their patrons with disabilities.

Sunday, June 26 from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. at the Orange County Convention Center, Room W105B  Add to my schedule

ASCLA Preconference

Freelance Success: Building a Business as a Library Trainer, Educator, Writer, Researcher, or Consultant – Ticket Purchase Required
Do you want to provide consulting, programs, services, and products to the library community or use your library-related skills in the larger market? How will you know self-employment, freelance work, and/or building an enterprise is for you? Learn what it takes, from testing the market to negotiating with customers, from pricing your services to finding time to keep learning, and why great skills, education, and experience are not enough.

A new wave of library professionals are looking for ways to stay involved in supporting library success. In addition, even as the economy recovers, libraries are relying on independent librarians to provide one-time, temporary, and part-time support to libraries, particularly small, rural, and financially strapped institutions. Finally, the dramatic changes libraries are experiencing mean library leaders and managers are going outside their existing staff to seek people with experience in a variety of skills, including change management, instructional design, user experience, technology planning, and collection management. Library professionals need to master new roles outside of regular employment, and libraries need help from outside their walls. (A side issue is the demise of the system model. Consulting and training services that used to be provided by regional consortia and state libraries are still in demand, but the resources are fewer.) This program is geared towards those trying to decide or finding themselves in the position to work as independent librarians, rather than those who have already decided.

This Preconference is perfect for new library school graduates, directors, department managers, trainers, human resource personnel, staff development managers, job hunters, including those in the midst of career changes, IT personnel, self-employed and freelancers, subject matter specialists, part-timers, library school instructors, and consultants.

Friday, June 24 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Orange County Convention Center, Room W103A

Cost: Members $235, NonMembers $275, If you are a member of ASCLA, use special code ASCLA2016 to receive the price of $169. Register here

Brought to you by the Library Consultants Interest Group

ASCLA Signature Events

  • ASCLA 101 – Connect with other members. Read more here.
  • ASCLA Awards Reception– These awards recognize projects focused on library services to people with disabilities; the advancement of library services for the blind and physically handicapped; exceptional achievement in extension and outreach services; exemplary leadership and achievement in consulting, state library services and library cooperatives; and service to ASCLA.  Add it to your schedule here.

ASCLA meetings can be found here.
ASCLA programs can be found here.
ASCLA discussion and interest groups can be found 
here.
ASCLA’s whole line-up can be found here. 


 2016 ASCLA Award Winners Announced

Congratulations to the award winners!

The awards program recognizes outstanding achievement within the library profession by librarians and libraries for significant current or past achievements, including publications, program development and leadership in the profession. Read about the winners here.

The Awards Ceremony and Reception will be held from 5:45 – 7:15 p.m. on Saturday, June 25 at the ALA Annual Conference in Orlando, FL at the Hyatt Regency Orlando, Room Plaza BR D. This event is co-sponsored by the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA) and the Federal and Armed Forces Librarians Round Table (FAFLRT) and will include hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar.


2016 Election Results

Congratulations to the winners of the 2016 ASCLA elections!
Thank you to those who stood in for election and to all the ASCLA members who voted. Your votes help guide the leadership of ASCLA and contribute to the success of the organization and its mission.

This year’s election results can be found here.


Call for 2017 Midwinter & Annual Conference Proposals

Calling for 2017 Program, Preconference, Institute Proposals

Do you have innovative ideas, services and programs to share with your library colleagues? Why not present one at the 2017 ALA Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conferences? Submit a proposal to the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) today!

The 2017 Midwinter Meeting, January 20 – 24, 2017 will be in Atlanta GA, and the Annual Conference, June 22 – 27, 2017 will be in Chicago IL.

The deadline to receive online proposals for 2017 is June 13, 2016.

To access the link to submit and read all the details here.


Call for Volunteers

Interested in meeting new people? ASCLA’s committees are a great way to get involved at the national level and make an impact while having lots of fun. You can participate even if you can’t attend conferences; ALA’s online community, ALA Connect, and other tools offered by the division make virtual participation easy and engaging.

Below is a list of committees with current openings. As you can see, there are lots of ways to share your talents, influence major decisions for the association and make a difference in the library profession. I encourage you to review the list and find a place where you fit.

  • Awards Committee
  • Conference Programming Committee
  • Legislative Advocacy Committee
  • Membership Committee
  • Online Learning Committee
  • Publications Committee

If you have any questions about or are interested in serving on one of the committees listed above, please reach out directly to Michael Golrick at michael.golrick@gmail.com by May 15th with your preference(s). Members are needed to join these committees beginning July 1, 2016, for one and two-year terms (all terms start July 1 and end June 30)

Don’t forget about opportunities to be involved via ASCLA interest groups, too!


In The Margins

In the Margins (ITM), has selected its best fiction and nonfiction and its Social Justice Advocacy Award winners. ITM is a committee under the umbrella of Library Services for Youth in Custody (LYSC), which is an ASCLA interest group.

Read the full press release here.


Online Learning

Course

Captioning Instructional Videos
May 16 - June 12

Library staff have found short instructional videos to be an effective way to help readers use resources, even when the library is closed. However, patrons who are deaf or have hearing impairments cannot get the full benefit unless the videos have captions. Unfortunately, technology has not provided a flawless solution. Speech recognition is still an imperfect tool. Planning and attention to detail are needed to create useful and meaningful captions. Library staff in schools, public, college or special libraries would benefit from this course.  Read more here. Register here.

Pricing:
$130 for ASCLA members
$175 for ALA members
$210 for non-ALA members
$100 for student members and retired members
Group discounts are available! Rates for two or more registrants from the same library, library network or library system start at $110 per person.

Webinar

How to Establish an Accessibility Compliance Evaluation Program for Electronic Resource Acquisition
June 9th at 2 - 3:30 p.m.(EDT), 1 - 2:30 p.m. (CDT), Noon -1:30 p.m. (MDT), 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (PST)
Understand the basics of electronic resource accessibility compliance, and establish the necessary vocabulary to effectively communicate with your vendors. Read more here. Register here
Pricing:
Individual Registration Fees for Single Webinars*:
$40 for ASCLA members
$50 for ALA members
$65 for non-ALA members
$25 for ALA student members and retired members

Group Rates for Single Webinars:
To qualify for a group rate, you must have a minimum of 2 people registering from the same library, library system or network.
$99 single login
$38/person for multiple logins (min. 2 people)

State Libraries who are members of ASCLA receive the following rates:
$69 single login
$29/person for multiple logins (min. 2 people)

More information can be found here.

Travel to Prague & Vienna – September 2016

Two enchanting European cities await you! More information, view the full itinerary here.


 

March 2016

IN THIS ISSUE OF ASCLA DIRECT 


2016 ALA Annual Conference is 99 Days Away!

Don’t miss out on Early Bird Registration rates, which end at 12:00 PM (CST) on March 16, 2016. You can register for the conference using this link: ALA Annual Conference Registration.

The conference will be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, June 23–28. Celebrate the honorable work of your colleagues at the ASCLA Awards Ceremony & Reception, attend outstanding workshops and programs, network, and cruise more than 800 vendors in the exhibit hall. Register here.

ASCLA Preconference
Freelance Success: Building a Business as a Library Trainer, Educator, Writer, Researcher, or Consultant – Ticket Purchase Required
Do you want to provide consulting, programs, services, and products to the library community or use your library-related skills in the larger market? How will you know self-employment, freelance work, and/or building an enterprise is for you? Learn what it takes. Read more here.


2016 Elections

The 2016 ALA Elections will open on March 15th and close on April 22nd. Please click on this link to view the following ASCLA members who will be running for ASCLA offices in the 2016 Elections. For more information on the ALA Election process, please view this link: ALA Election Process.

We would like to thank these members for agreeing to stand in for election! Be sure to vote in the Spring elections!

If you have any questions, please email ascla@ala.org.


New Strategic Plan

ASCLA has announced a new strategic plan to guide the organization in its planning, activities, and initiatives. The strategic plan includes the organization’s mission, vision, strategic priorities, goals, and key objectives.

Read all about it here: http://www.ala.org/ascla/asclaourassoc/asclastratplan.

A very special thank you to:
Michael Golrick
Carrie Banks
Wendy Knap
Kathy Moeller-Peiffer
Chris Corrigan
Lily Sacharow
Greg Pronivitz


ASCLA Awards

ASCLA is accepting nominations for its 2016 awards – Deadline is April 1st
ASCLA recognizes projects focused on library services to people with disabilities; the advancement of library services for the blind and physically handicapped; exceptional achievement in extension and outreach services; exemplary leadership and achievement in consulting, state library services and library cooperatives; and service to ASCLA. Read more here.


ASCLA_Calendar_2016_ webpage image
2016 ASCLA Calendar

Exclusive 2016 Calendar 

ASCLA’s Exclusive Calendar – New low price!
After shooting hundreds of photos at some of the most beautiful libraries in Chicago, such as the Harold Washington Library, Newberry Library and the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, only a select few were specially chosen for ASCLA’s very first fundraising calendar. 100% of the proceeds go directly to the division that is committed to enriching the services and information that ASCLA provides to its members. Photography and design volunteered by Amy Stieve. Thank you for supporting ASCLA’s mission! Purchase one here.


Online Learning

Webinar
Tiny questions, big results: How to create rich assessment tools
Learn practical, time-saving techniques for getting the most information for the least effort. Register hereRead more here.

ASCLA invites and encourages you to participate in our informative and exciting courses — you can register online now. Registration starts at $40 for ASCLA members. Group discounts are available for two or more participants from the same library, library system or network. Learn more about these courses and other educational opportunities at the ASCLA online learning page. 


Travel with ASCLA

Come along with us to Prague & Vienna in September of 2016! We’ll visit gorgeous historical sites, indulge in local cuisine and wines, and try our own hand at local dishes with a cooking class!

Take a look at some of our previous trips here: ASCLA Travel.


Volunteers Needed

ASCLA is looking for experts who can help advise our project manager working on the second AccessAbility Academy Module. Our topic is: Improving Services to Library Users with Mental Illnesses.

Advisors will be asked to participate in at least one teleconference, review outlines of the online tutorial, and provide feedback on the free webinar that will be used to refine the final version, among other things.

If you have expertise in the area and are willing to serve as advisor, please contact ASCLA Executive Director, Susan Hornung at shornung@ala.org before February 8, 2016.

Want to make your library a more welcoming and empowering place for people with disabilities? Not familiar with ASCLA’s AccessAbility Academy? View here to learn more: AccessAbility Academy 

February 2016

IN THIS ISSUE OF ASCLA DIRECT 


The 2016 ALA Annual Conference is 140 Days Away!

Don’t miss out on Early Bird Registration rates, which end at 12:00 PM (CST) on March 16, 2016. You can register for the conference using this link: ALA Annual Conference Registration.

The conference will be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, June 23–28. Celebrate the honorable work of your colleagues at the ASCLA Awards Ceremony & Reception, attend outstanding preconferences and programs, network, and cruise more than 800 vendors in the exhibit hall. Register here.

ASCLA Preconference

Freelance Success: Building a Business as a Library Trainer, Educator, Writer, Researcher, or Consultant –
Ticket Purchase Required
Do you want to provide consulting, programs, services, and products to the library community or use your library-related skills in the larger market? How will you know self-employment, freelance work, and/or building an enterprise is for you? Learn what it takes. Read more here.


ASCLA Awards

ASCLA is accepting nominations for its 2016 awards. Deadline is March 1st
ASCLA recognizes projects focused on library services to people with disabilities; the advancement of library services for the blind and physically handicapped; exceptional achievement in extension and outreach services; exemplary leadership and achievement in consulting, state library services and library cooperatives; and service to ASCLA. Read more here.


Exclusive 2016 Calendar

ASCLA_Calendar_2016_ webpage imageASCLA’s Exclusive Calendar- New low price!
After shooting hundreds of photos at some of the most beautiful libraries in Chicago, such as the Harold Washington Library, Newberry Library and Pritzker Libraries, only a select few were specially chosen for ASCLA’s very first fundraising calendar. 100% of the proceeds go directly to the division that is committed to enriching the services and information that ASCLA provides to its members. Photography and design volunteered by Amy Stieve. Thank you for supporting ASCLA’s mission! Purchase one here.


Online Learning

How to Articulate your Library’s Value
Every librarian needs to be able to articulate his or her value at any given moment. Otherwise, you lose a chance to explain your work, to defend libraries, and to teach someone why the internet can never replace a library. If you cannot explain what your expertise is and why it’s vital in two or three brief sentences—in words that your listener will understand and remember—then you need this webinar. Register hereRead more here.

Arms Open Wide: Library Outreach to Customers with Print Disabilities
This webinar will focus on understanding the characteristics of patrons with print disabilities and how to make valuable community connections in order to reach the print disabled population. Participants will come away with a toolbox of quality library services to offer the print disabled population. Register hereRead more here.

ASCLA invites and encourages you to participate in our informative and exciting courses — you can register online now. Registration starts at $40 for ASCLA members. Group discounts are available for two or more participants from the same library, library system or network. Learn more about these courses and other educational opportunities at the ASCLA online learning page. 


Travel with ASCLA

Come along with us to Prague & Vienna in September of 2016! We’ll visit gorgeous historical sites, indulge in local cuisine and wines, and try our own hand at local dishes with a cooking class! Stay tuned for more details…

Take a look at some of our previous trips here: ASCLA Travel.


Volunteers NeededAccessAcademyLogo_Final

ASCLA is looking for experts who can help advise our project manager working on the second AccessAbility Academy Module. Our topic is: Improving Services to Library Users with Mental Illnesses.

Advisors will be asked to participate in at least one teleconference, review outlines of the online tutorial, and provide feedback on the free webinar that will be used to refine the final version, among other things.

If you have expertise in the area and are willing to serve as advisor, please contact ASCLA Executive Director, Susan Hornung at shornung@ala.org before February 8, 2016.

Want to make your library a more welcoming and empowering place for people with disabilities? Not familiar with ASCLA’s AccessAbility Academy? View here to learn more: AccessAbility Academy 

December 2015

IN THIS ISSUE OF ASCLA DIRECT 


An Important Message from Susan Hornung, ASCLA Executive Director. 

Dear ASCLA Members:

ASCLA has a wonderful surprise for the holidays for its members this year! We have created a 2016 Library Calendar. This beautiful calendar is especially for book lovers and librarians to remind you of the joy of reading and the pleasure and beauty to be found in libraries. Purchase one here for your library- and book-loving friends and family for the holidays! Members pay only $24.99; Nonmembers pay $27.99. Profits go to support ASCLA’s mission.

I hope those of you who will be in Boston for Midwinter will take time to visit with us at the ASCLA Happy Hour on Friday, January 8, 2016, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m., Westin Boston Waterfront, Birch Bar (cash bar). This is a great opportunity to network, mingle, meet up with old acquaintances (and find some new ones!) and have a little bit of fun. ASCLA’s leaders and volunteers will be available to talk about ASCLA, so be sure to bring a friend or anyone interested in learning more about or joining ASCLA. One of ASCLA’s strengths is that our small size allows us to network and connect with each other better than some of the bigger divisions, and with more fun! All members and visitors are welcome and encouraged to come.

Don’t forget about our Midwinter Institutes! There are still a few seats left if you (or someone you know would like to attend):

“Assembling a Consulting Toolkit: What You Need to Know to be a Successful Library Consultant”Ticket Purchase Required

This full day workshop is designed to prepare participants to begin – or advance – a successful consulting career. Friday, January 8, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, room 155. ASCLA Members, $279. Register here.

“Sustainable Staff Development: 5 Steps to Create a Culture of Learning”Ticket Purchase Required

Ticket Purchase required. A new half-day institute for those who want to learn five practical steps to create a culture of learning within their organization and be able to encourage staff learning and growth through the development of cultural learning norms. Sponsored by the State Library Development Interest Group of the Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies, (ASCLA) Division. Friday, January 8, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, room 156 C. ASCLA Members, $169.  Register here.

If you’re interested in volunteering for ASCLA, you might also want to attend the ASCLA All-Committee meeting held on January 9, 2016, 3:00 PM-5:30 PM, Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, room 254A. Many of our committees and interest groups will be meeting and this is a great way to learn more about ASCLA’s work. All are encouraged and welcome to come to these meetings.

Last but not least, the ASCLA board will meet twice in Chicago; please feel free to join us as our honored guests. The board meetings will be held:

Board of Directors Meeting I and II 

  • Board I Saturday, January 9, 8:00 – 10:00 a.m., Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, room 205 A (Leadership session follows immediately after Board I in the same room).
  • Board II – Monday, January 11, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m., Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, room 203.

It has been a wonderful year yet again working with ASCLA members. I want to thank every ASCLA member and volunteer for their dedication, loyalty and for just being such wonderful people! You are all a joy to work with and I consider it a pleasure and a privilege to work with you! Have a happy new year!

Susan Hornung
Executive Director, ASCLA
shornung@ala.org


ASCLA Awards

ASCLA is now accepting nominations for its 2016 awards.
ASCLA recognizes projects focused on library services to people with disabilities; the advancement of library services for the blind and physically handicapped; exceptional achievement in extension and outreach services; exemplary leadership and achievement in consulting, state library services and library cooperatives; and service to ASCLA. Read more here.


The Perfect Holiday Gift

ASCLA_Calendar_2016_ webpage imageASCLA’s Fundraising Calendar
After shooting hundreds of photos at some of the most beautiful libraries in Chicago, such as the Harold Washington Library, Newberry Library and Pritzker Libraries, only a select few were specially chosen for ASCLA’s very first fundraising calendar. 100% of the proceeds go directly to the division that is committed to enriching the services and information that ASCLA provides to its members. Photography and design volunteered by Amy Stieve. Thank you for supporting ASCLA’s mission! Purchase one here.


Midwinter Meeting 2016

ASCLA Institutes: 

Assembling a Consulting Toolkit: What You Need to Know to be a Successful Library Consultant
Ticket Purchase Required
This full day Institute is designed to prepare participants to begin – or advance – a successful consulting career. Seasoned consultants Nancy Bolt and Liz Bishoff will present an overview of the consultant’s role and guide participants through a self-assessment. Participants will work together in an active and engaging format to explore the different roles that consultants play; the variety of services consultants may deliver to clients, and how to align consulting opportunities with experience and skills. Register here.

Sustainable Staff Development: 5 Steps to Create a Culture of Learning
Ticket Purchase Required
This half day workshop addresses the ongoing need that all libraries face to encourage professional development and growth amongst staff. It is especially important now as libraries take on major strategic changes that are reshaping the role of the library. From maker-spaces to information commons, community outreach to campus outreach, technology to tool libraries, libraries must support a culture of staff learning to drive transformative strategic change in the library. This session will give library directors, consultants, managers, and staff the tools to help create and sustain a learning culture within their organization. Register here.

ASCLA Discussion Forums at the 2016 Midwinter Meeting here

Only 24 days until Midwinter Meeting 2016! Don’t miss out on the Advanced Registration rate by 11:59am CST. January 4, 2016. Register here     ‪


2016 Emerging Leader Announced

ASCLA announced Christina Golm as the 2016 Emerging Leader. Golm is currently the Library Director at the Newaygo Area District Library, in Newaygo, MI. Read the full press release here.


Online Learning

Stay tuned for a whole new line-up of online courses and webinars coming soon! 

ASCLA invites and encourages you to participate in our informative and exciting courses — you can register online now. Registration starts at $40 for ASCLA members. Group discounts are available for two or more participants from the same library, library system or network. Learn more about these courses and other educational opportunities at the ASCLA online learning page.

Travel with ASCLA

ASCLA traveled to Scotland this last October!
No need to fret, we are already working on our next fundraising trip…

Come along with us to Prague & Vienna in October of 2016! We’ll visit gorgeous historical sites, indulge in local cuisine and wines, and try our own hand at local dishes with a cooking class! Stay tuned for more details…


Volunteer Opportunities

Interested in meeting new people? ASCLA’s committees are a great way to get involved at the national level and make an impact, while having lots of fun. You can participate even if you can’t attend conferences; ALA’s online community, ALA Connect, and other tools offered by the division make virtual participation easy and engaging.

Below is a list of committees with current openings. As you can see, there are lots of ways to share your talents, influence major decisions for the association and make a difference in the library profession. Please review the list and find a place where you fit.

  • Awards Committee
  • Conference Programming Committee
  • Legislative Advocacy Committee
  • Membership Committee
  • Online Learning Committee
  • Publications Committee

If you are interested in serving on one of the committees listed above, please contact rhondakgould@gmail.com by December 31, 2015 with your preference(s). Members are needed to join these committees beginning July 1, 2015 for one and two year terms (all terms start July 1 and end June 30)

A special note: Consumer Health Librarians (CHIL) often work on their own in stand-alone libraries, in a larger library or library system. CHIL is a place where we can come together to discuss issues of common interest such as public heath crises, hard to find information, the question of balance and accuracy and where the line is between providing information and advice. Libraries from public, hospital, special, academic and other types of libraries can learn from and with our colleagues. Keep on top of trends and get the latest news. Share resources and information with other librarians through programs and resource pages. In our first year we plan to sponsor a program in Orlando. Let’s come together to grow healthy communities!

Don’t forget about opportunities to be involved via ASCLA interest groups, too!

November 2015

IN THIS ISSUE OF ASCLA DIRECT 


ASCLA Awards

ASCLA is now accepting nominations for its 2016 awards.
ASCLA recognizes projects focused on library services to people with disabilities; the advancement of library services for the blind and physically handicapped; exceptional achievement in extension and outreach services; exemplary leadership and achievement in consulting, state library services and library cooperatives; and service to ASCLA. 
Read more here.


The Perfect Holiday Gift

ASCLA’s Fundraising Calendar
Photos were all taken by Chicago’s very own photographer, Amy Stieve. After shooting hundreds of photos at some of the most beautiful libraries in Chicago, such as the Harold Washington Library, Newberry Library and Pritzker Libraries, only a select few were specially chosen for ASCLA’s very first fundraising calendar. Calendar’s cost $24.99 and 100% of the proceeds go directly to the division that is committed to enriching the services and information that ASCLA provides to its members.  Thank you for supporting ASCLA’s mission!


Midwinter Meeting 2016

ASCLA Institutes: 

Assembling a Consulting Toolkit: What You Need to Know to be a Successful Library Consultant
Ticket Purchase Required
This full day Institute is designed to prepare participants to begin – or advance – a successful consulting career. Seasoned consultants Nancy Bolt and Liz Bishoff will present an overview of the consultant’s role and guide participants through a self-assessment. Participants will work together in an active and engaging format to explore the different roles that consultants play; the variety of services consultants may deliver to clients, and how to align consulting opportunities with experience and skills. Register here.

Sustainable Staff Development: 5 Steps to Create a Culture of Learning Ticket Purchase Required
This half day workshop addresses the ongoing need that all libraries face to encourage professional development and growth amongst staff. It is especially important now as libraries take on major strategic changes that are reshaping the role of the library. From maker-spaces to information commons, community outreach to campus outreach, technology to tool libraries, libraries must support a culture of staff learning to drive transformative strategic change in the library. This session will give library directors, consultants, managers, and staff the tools to help create and sustain a learning culture within their organization.
Register here.

Only 55 days until Midwinter Meeting 2016! Don’t miss out on the Advanced Registration rate by 11:59am CST. January 4, 2016. Register here     


Seeking Proposals for the Position of Project Director

ASCLA is seeking an individual to serve as Project Director to oversee revision of the 2011 Revised Standards and Guidelines of Service for the Library of Congress Network of Libraries for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. The Project Director will facilitate and coordinate all phases of the standards development process including managing a working team and project advisory committee of consumers and librarians. Read more and get all the details here.


Online Learning

Stay tuned for a whole new line-up of online courses and webinars coming soon! 

ASCLA invites and encourages you to participate in our informative and exciting courses — you can register online now. Registration starts at $40 for ASCLA members. Group discounts are available for two or more participants from the same library, library system or network. Learn more about these courses and other educational opportunities at the ASCLA online learning page.

Travel with ASCLA

ASCLA traveled to Scotland this last October!
No need to fret, we are already working on our next fundraising trip…

Come along with us to Prague in Fall 2016! We’ll visit gorgeous historical sites, indulge in local cuisine and wines, and try our own hand at local dishes with a cooking class! Stay tuned for more details…


Volunteer Opportunities

Interested in meeting new people? ASCLA’s committees are a great way to get involved at the national level and make an impact, while having lots of fun. You can participate even if you can’t attend conferences; ALA’s online community, ALA Connect, and other tools offered by the division make virtual participation easy and engaging.

Below is a list of committees with current openings. As you can see, there are lots of ways to share your talents, influence major decisions for the association and make a difference in the library profession. Please review the list and find a place where you fit.

  • Awards Committee
  • Conference Programming Committee
  • Legislative Advocacy Committee
  • Membership Committee
  • Online Learning Committee
  • Publications Committee

If you are interested in serving on one of the committees listed above, please contact rhondakgould@gmail.com by December 31, 2015 with your preference(s). Members are needed to join these committees beginning July 1, 2015 for one and two year terms (all terms start July 1 and end June 30)

A special note: Consumer Health Librarians (CHIL) often work on their own in stand-alone libraries, in a larger library or library system. CHIL is a place where we can come together to discuss issues of common interest such as public heath crises, hard to find information, the question of balance and accuracy and where the line is between providing information and advice. Libraries from public, hospital, special, academic and other types of libraries can learn from and with our colleagues. Keep on top of trends and get the latest news. Share resources and information with other librarians through programs and resource pages. In our first year we plan to sponsor a program in Orlando. Let’s come together to grow healthy communities!

Don’t forget about opportunities to be involved via ASCLA interest groups, too!