Active Shooter Awareness Training!

In light of the recent events in Orlando that have become far too common in our society, ASCLA would like to invite you to an active shooter awareness training at Annual this year. In addition, our past president was featured on the Dewey Decibels podcast in May discussing this topic. Information about the program and access to the podcast are below.

Active Shooter Policies in Libraries Program: Be able to complete an environmental scan to identify potential risk areas at your library, as well as write an active shooter policy/procedure for your library. Most libraries have policies dealing with a problem or unruly patrons. Find out how to protect your patrons and staff from a darker problem, someone intent on inflicting actual physical harm. The NDSL active shooter procedure will be presented as a model as well as tips for writing your policy. Speaker:  BreAnne Meier, North Dakota State Library, Date: Saturday, June 25, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Location: Orange County Convention Center, W101B. Schedule it.

ASCLA Past-President in the News: Active Shooter Training: ASCLA Past-President Kathleen Moeller-Peiffer (director of New Mexico State Library) speaks in the Dewey Decibels, episode 2 podcast, May 23, 2016, about library security and making your space safer!  Listen to the podcast here (at about 38.23) as Kathleen explains about some of the active shooter training programs she made available to her staff at the New Mexico and New Jersey state libraries. She talks about the programs’ usefulness for frontline staff and the model that was used at Scott County (Ky.) Public Library.

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. 

The link to submit a conference program/preconference/institute proposal is here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ASCLA2017Proposals.  

Once collected, the ASCLA office will send the proposals to the ASCLA Conference Programming Committee to oversee, organize and recommend for approval to the ASCLA board at Board Meeting II at the Annual Conference in Orlando FL, 2016.

Please spread the word to anyone who you think would like to present a valuable program for ASCLA. Our conference program committee is specifically looking for proposals that would appeal to:

  • ASCLA interest group members.
  • Librarians who serve people or youth who are incarcerated or in detention
  • Library consultants and independent librarians
  • Library staff who serve people with disabilities
  • Staff of library cooperatives and consortium
  • State library staff

Please feel free to contact Susan Hornung at shornung@ala.org if you have any questions.

 

Seeking stories for the 2016 Spring Issue of Interface.

The Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies wants to share your story!  Our Spring Issue of Interface is going to highlight the great work that State Libraries do to help transform and strengthen our communities.  We are looking for stories related to:

  • Current  Projects you’d like to get the word out about
  • Outreach to special populations in your state
  • Innovations at your library and their impact on the community
  • Community Partnerships

If you would like to submit a story for this issue, please email Christina Wray at ccwray@indiana.edu by February 19, 2016 with your story title and a brief description.  Story submissions are due by March 15, 2016.  Ideally, stories will be 400+ words, however if you have something to share that isn’t quite that long, please contact Christina.

 

Call for ASCLA Online Learning Proposals!

Submit by March 8, 2016 

Access the online course submission form here.

Download this PDF of the online course form to help you prepare your submission.

ASCLA invites ALA members who are subject matter experts and experienced librarians with knowledge of interest to ASCLA members, to submit proposals for ASCLA online learning to be presented between April 2016 and August 2016, as a part of ASCLA’s outstanding online learning offerings. See the list of suggested hot topics below. All proposals must be submitted electronically.

ASCLA members include, but are not limited to: 

  • Library staff providing services to special populations, including library users with disabilities and adults and youth who are incarcerated or detained
  • Independent librarians and consultants
  • State libraries and their employees
  • Public libraries serving or working with the populations above
  • Library networks and cooperatives

What courses are we currently offering? Check them out at the ASCLA online learning webpage.
Webinar presenters and online learning instructors are compensated for their work and will receive training and support for Adobe Connect, the webinar technology platform used by the division.

Proposal topics for courses and webinars may include, but are not limited to the following:

  • ADA updates for libraries
  • Assessing accessibility knowledge
  • Basics and best practices for prison/jail libraries
  • Basics of running a hospital/medical library
  • Benchmarks and evaluation
  • Budgeting for the first time manager
  • Collaborative digitization
  • Adult programming in correctional libraries
  • Correctional/prison librarianship 101
  • Creating training for patrons who use accessibility tools
  • Data analysis and assessment
  • Designing effective surveys
  • E-books and cooperatives –  best practices
  • Future trends in library service
  • Grants: how to find grant funding and write your proposal
  • Helping library users with learning disabilities
  • How to be a consultant
  • How to be a futurist
  • How to deliver online training
  • How to hire a library consultant
  • Innovative service ideas for library cooperatives
  • Law librarianship for correctional librarians
  • Library cooperatives: basics of managing services
  • Low-literacy adults
  • Marketing library services to special needs populations
  • Marketing on a shoestring budget
  • Mobile and emerging technologies for those with special needs, including apps and ipads
  • Nonprofit leadership
  • Outcomes-based education
  • Outreach to visually or physically handicapped populations
  • Partnering with community organizations
  • Serving library patrons with cognitive or mental impairments
  • Standards and guidelines to improve library services
  • Training staff to serve library users with disabilities
  • Utilizing focus groups to prioritize services for people with disabilities
  • Working with refugees

Questions about submissions or about ASCLA’s online learning programs should be sent to Andrea Hill, ASCLA web manager and primary online learning contact at ahill@ala.org

New District Dispatch website to highlight federal legislation and policy news that impacts libraries!

December 9, 2014 the American Library Association’s Washington Office launched a new and reinvigorated District Dispatch website that will highlight federal legislation and policy news that impacts libraries. The new District Dispatch makes it easier for library advocates to find important library news, search articles, share news with friends and learn more about library policy issues. Best of all, the new and improved site includes a “Breaking News” feature that makes it easier for library advocates to find the critical information they need to take action. Additionally, the new blog makes it easier for library staff to find free educational webinars.

As we head into a new Congress, ALA members are encouraged to subscribe to the District Dispatch to keep abreast of relevant library policy news, such as library funding opportunities, copyright reform, open access legislation, FCC proceedings and much more. Visit the blog today: http://www.districtdispatch.org.

ASCLA seeks Online Course and Webinar proposals for 2015!

ASCLA encourages subject matter experts and experienced librarians to submit proposals for ASCLA Online Courses and Webinars to be presented November 2014 through August 2015. 

Proposals must be submitted by October 24, 2014 for presentation November 2014 through August 2015. Online Courses and Webinars submitted during this open call period will be reviewed and approved by November 14, 2014.

ASCLA welcomes proposals on topics that will assist our diverse membership in improved service delivery and job performance. ASCLA’s members represent libraries serving special populations, including library users with disabilities, and adults and youth who are incarcerated or detained; independent librarians and consultants; state library agencies and their employees, public libraries serving or working with the previously cited populations and institutions; and library networks and cooperatives. Staff of these libraries and agencies include librarians, library paraprofessionals, and library support staff.

The online course proposal form can be accessed here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/asclaonlinecourse2015

Attendees are charged a fee to participate in the course and receive a certificate upon completion. The fee includes ongoing access to an archived version of the course. Instructors will be paid a one-time course/curriculum development fee of $1,000 to set up the course initially, and $40 per participant thereafter.

The webinar proposal form can be accessed here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/asclawebinar2015 .
Webinar presenters will be paid $150 for each webinar presented and will receive training and support for Adobe Connect, the webinar technology platform used by the division. Webinars are generally 1-1 ½ hours long.

Proposal topics for online courses and webinars may include, but are not limited to the following:

  • ADA updates for libraries
  • Adult programming in a correctional library
  • Basics of a good prison/jail library
  • Best practices in correctional librarianship and providing services to the incarcerated
  • Consulting: marketing your services
  • Demonstration and review of current accessibility products
  • Ebooks
  • Emerging technologies in accessibility products and services, including screen readers, mobile devices, IPADS, etc.
  • Evaluating and improving cooperative services;
  • Future trends in library service;
  • Grants: best practices for finding funding and writing proposals
  • Group purchasing best practices
  • Hiring library consultants: best practices
  • How to be a futurist
  • Marketing library services to people with disabilities
  • Marketing on a shoestring budget
  • New apps that assist library users with special needs
  • Providing library services to people with cognitive or mental impairments
  • Review of best practices, standards and guidelines to improve library services
  • Technology trends for people with disabilities

Questions about submissions or about ASCLA’s online learning and webinar programs may be sent to Andrea Hill, ASCLA web manager and online learning liaison at ahill@ala.org.

ASCLA is now accepting nominations for its 2015 awards! 

Each year, ASCLA offers five awards honoring professional achievement in the areas of work represented by our diverse membership.

Projects focused on library services to people with disabilities: The ASCLA/KLAS/NOD Award, sponsored by ASCLA, the National Organization on Disability (NOD) and Keystone Systems, Inc. This award recognizes an innovative and well-organized project that successfully developed or expanded services for people with disabilities. The award can be for a specific service(s) program or for a library that has made its total services more accessible through changing physical and/or attitudinal barriers. The winner receives $1,000* and a citation provided by Keystone Systems, Inc. Download the award nomination form.

Outstanding contributions to the advancement of library service for the blind and physically handicapped: The Francis Joseph Campbell Award honors a person or institution for significant contributions in this field of service with a medal and a citation. Contributions include but are not limited to: an imaginative and constructive program in a particular library; a recognized contribution to the national library program for blind persons; creative participation in library associations or organizations that advance reading for the blind; a significant publication or writing in the field; or imaginative contribution to library administration, reference, circulation, selection, acquisitions, or technical services. The award is administered by the Libraries Serving Special Populations Section (LSSPS) of ASCLA, and is supported by Keystone Systems, Inc. Download the award nomination form.

Extension and Outreach Services: The ASCLA Exceptional Service Award recognizes exceptional service to patients in a medical facility, to persons who are homebound, to inmates, to older adults and to adults with a physical or mental disability who live in group homes or residences, as well as to recognize professional leadership, effective interpretation of programs, pioneering activity and significant research. The recipient receives a citation. Download the award nomination form.

Cooperative, Consulting and State Library Services: The ASCLA Leadership and Professional Achievement Award is a citation presented to one or more ASCLA members exemplifying leadership and achievement in the following areas: consulting, library cooperation, networking, statewide service and programs and state library development. Download the award nomination form.

Service to ASCLA: The Cathleen Bourdon Service Award is a citation presented to an ASCLA personal member for exceptional service and sustained leadership to the division. This includes participation in activities that have enhanced the stature, reputation and overall strength of ASCLA and have also cultivated the division’s relationship with other appropriate organizations, institutions or governmental agencies. Download the award nomination form.

Those interested in submitting a nomination can download the appropriate award nomination form (s) from the awards section of the ASCLA website Nominations for all awards must be received by Feb. 8, 2015. Submission information is included on each form.

*Monetary award amounts are subject to change without notice and are contingent upon donor funding supplied at the time the award is presented. Questions about these awards should be directed to the committee chairperson, Linda S. Lyshol (lindal@firstcitylibraries.org) or to Marianne Braverman, ASCLA Marketing & Programs Manager (mbraverman@ala.org).

ASCLA, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is a diverse organization of librarians and support staff who work in academic and public libraries, state agencies, specialized libraries and multi-type cooperatives, as well as those who are self-employed. Not an ASCLA member, but interested in discounted registration rates on conference, ASCLA preconferences and other ASCLA events? Join, renew or add ASCLA to your ALA membership at www.ala.org/membership.

Travel with ASCLA to France and Italy this October!

Say au revoir to the gloomy fall weather and bonjour to lavender fields, vineyards and outdoor markets! Destinations for this Mediterranean adventure include Nice, Cannes and Monte Carlo. This is a fundraising trip hosted by ASCLA, a division of ALA. Previous adventures include Spain, France, Ireland and Italy.

A complete travel itinerary and instructions for reserving your spot are included in this downloadable flyer.
Deposits must be paid by August 1, 2014 to reserve your seat, and space is limited!

This adventure is open to the library community; there are no membership requirements in order to participate. Previous travelers have brought spouses, siblings and friends along.

To reserve your spot, you can download the application form here or make your reservation by contacting Michael Stillwell at Lyceum Tours (lyceum46@yahoo.com). You can also contact ASCLA Executive Director Susan Hornung (shornung@ala.org) for information.