Call for Proposals
The Academic Library Association of Ohio (ALAO) Conference Planning Committee invites you to submit proposals for the 47^th Annual Conference-Building Bridges: Dialogue, Deliberation & Connection in Academic Libraries-Wednesday-Friday, October 27-29, 2021

Conference Date: October 27-29, 2021
Conference Location: Online
Submission Deadline:  April 12, 2021
Call for Proposals: https://www.alaoweb.org/conferences/2021/proposals
Submission Form: https://tinyurl.com/alao2021submissions 
We encourage thoughtful, timely proposals from all areas of library work. Adherence to the conference theme is encouraged, but not required.
Possible topics include, but are not limited to:

• Civic engagement
• Collaboration
• Dialogue
• Libraries as space/third space
• Instruction modalities & virtual libraries
• Misinformation
• Service changes/transitions
• Emerging technology solutions
• Crisis management

One proposal form will be used for all presentation types:

• Presentation (or other 50-minute session) 
• Poster Session (brief, pre-recorded session)
• Lightning talk (brief live session)

If you have a unique format idea, not listed above, please submit it under the presentation option (Panel discussions, etc... )
We invite you to contribute your ideas to make 2021 the best ALAO conference yet. 


Next Live Ryan Dowd Webinar:
Prejudice: Responding to prejudicial comments from customers
 
    Some of the issues covered:

• Why most approaches to confronting prejudice actually increase prejudice (according to research!).
• How to use a “Peanut Butter Opener” with people who might react aggressively.
• Fifteen strategies to choose from depending on who the person is.

 
NOTE:  This training focuses on addressing prejudicial comments from customers/patrons/clients.  It is not designed to help you draft policies or more broadly create an anti-racist organization.  Those would be great topics, but they are beyond the scope of what we can cover in 90 minutes.
 
When: Thursday, April 8 at 2:00 PM EST

Length: 1 Hour
 
Pre-Registration Required: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/3015832712254/WN_LWBiOqgoSP-Y1ort0XdWwQ
 
Workbook: Emailed from ryan@homelesslibrary.com on Wednesday, April 7  
 
Anyone who misses a live event can watch it (with close captioning) on Niche Academy a few days later.
 
The Librarian’s Guide to Homelessness core training purchased by the State Library in in 2019 and was recently renewed for another year (access through August 2021). Subsequent archived webinars are now available as separate modules in Niche Academy.  The online training, authored by Ryan Dowd, is now available for all Ohio public and academic library staff.  The four-part training is an empathy-driven approach that provides best practices for library staff on how to understand the homeless population and serve them better. There are also practical tips on how to deal with and de-escalate common situations and issues, and make staff feel empowered and safe.  
 
A former director of a Chicago homeless shelter, Ryan Dowd is the author of The Librarians Guide to Homelessness: An Empathy-Driven Approach to Solving Problems, Preventing Conflict, and Serving Everyone.  He travels all over the United States speaking to libraries about how to best help homeless patrons using empathy and respect.  He also provides training to police departments, nonprofits and other organizations on how to compassionately manage problematic behavior from troubled individuals.
 
To access the training, go to the State Library of Ohio’s Training and Professional Development page and click the homelessness training link.  Once in Niche Academy, you will be prompted to create an account. Certificates will be issued within Niche Academy after the completion of the core training or webinar.
 
If you have trouble accessing the training or upcoming webinar, email Erin Kelsey, Library Consultant at the State Library of Ohio at: ekelsey@library.ohio.gov.