From the State Library of Ohio

From the State Librarian
We were contacted by the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI) to help expand access to materials and assistive technologies that can provide support to children and caregivers who may benefit from these resources. We are in the very beginning stages of this partnership and would like to gauge possible interest by libraries that may wish to explore this in more depth. If there is an interest, OCALI will provide materials and assistance to libraries to expand support for Ohioans with Autism Spectrum Disorders. OCALI created the following survey to help identify potential partner libraries. If you’d be interested in learning more and exploring this possibility for your library, please complete the short (less than 10 minutes) survey at https://forms.office.com/r/WYQdBiLfWC by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 8.

We will follow up with interested libraries in the coming weeks.

Ohio is one of six states piloting the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant-funded initiative Building Equity Based Summers Through Libraries & Communities (BEBS).

Public libraries nationwide offer summer programs and services for learning and leisure. These programs aim to engage youth and adults meaningfully throughout the summer months.

BEBS will empower library staff to weave equity into their summer library programs. The goal of this project is to build library staff skills and confidence, which will equip them to create summer programs and services that are equitable and that promote equity across the communities served by their library.

BEBS will build upon the work of the California Library Association and the California State Library in developing a shared language of equity and a set of tools and resources for library staff to create community-centered, equitable summer programs and services.

The State Library of Ohio is looking for five public libraries to participate in the first year of this three-year initiative. Each participating library will be represented by a team of two staff members, typically the coordinator of the summer library program and a manager or administrator. Larger teams are permissible. Teams may also include one library staff member and a community partner.

Through training and codesign, all BEBS participants will work with their state youth services consultant and the other project teams to address these questions:

Do summer programs demonstrate attention to equity?
How are libraries determining how and if summer programs are achieving equity goals?
What impact are summer programs having on those that need them the most?

Each participating library will receive a $500 stipend to support its participation.

Participation in the BEBS initiative will require, of all team members:

Attendance at four (4) 2-hour learning sessions with other Ohio participants. The sessions will run from January - April 2023. Session dates, times, and locations (virtual and/or in-person) will be agreed upon by Ohio participants and the Ohio youth services consultant.
Participation in a Community of Practice with the teams and state youth services consultants from the other pilot states (CT, ID, MD, RI, WA) and the BEBS project coordinators. This will involve once-monthly Zoom meetings and access to a network of peers in other states.
Work within your library to begin to consider and assess your existing and planned summer programs and services through an equity lens.

Note: Year one participants are not being asked to change their summer plans, but to evaluate current summer programs and services in light of equity goals.

If you are interested in being a part of this project, complete this application by close of business Monday, November 21, 2022:

www.surveymonkey.com/r/Ohio_BEBS_year1

This is expected to be a competitive process, and not all applicants may be selected. The BEBS leadership is looking for a diverse group of cohort members representing all library and community sizes, various geographic areas, and various demographic community composition. Applicants will be notified of selection decisions by Friday, December 16, 2022.

Learn more about the BEBS IMLS project.

Learn more about California's BEBS project.

Please contact Janet Ingraham Dwyer, Youth Services Consultant, at jdwyer@library.ohio.gov with any questions.

This announcement is also available on the State Library of Ohio website.

As a friendly reminder if you have not had a chance to provide your feedback regarding your experience with the Ohio Secretary of State’s Outreach In A Box initiative, please do so by Friday, November 4, 2022, by 3:00 p.m. You may access the survey from this link https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/OutreachInABoxBanner Thank you.


From the State Library of Ohio From the State Librarian We were contacted by the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI) to help expand access to materials and assistive technologies that can provide support to children and caregivers who may benefit from these resources. We are in the very beginning stages of this partnership and would like to gauge possible interest by libraries that may wish to explore this in more depth. If there is an interest, OCALI will provide materials and assistance to libraries to expand support for Ohioans with Autism Spectrum Disorders. OCALI created the following survey to help identify potential partner libraries. If you’d be interested in learning more and exploring this possibility for your library, please complete the short (less than 10 minutes) survey at https://forms.office.com/r/WYQdBiLfWC by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 8. We will follow up with interested libraries in the coming weeks. Ohio is one of six states piloting the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant-funded initiative Building Equity Based Summers Through Libraries & Communities (BEBS). Public libraries nationwide offer summer programs and services for learning and leisure. These programs aim to engage youth and adults meaningfully throughout the summer months. BEBS will empower library staff to weave equity into their summer library programs. The goal of this project is to build library staff skills and confidence, which will equip them to create summer programs and services that are equitable and that promote equity across the communities served by their library. BEBS will build upon the work of the California Library Association and the California State Library in developing a shared language of equity and a set of tools and resources for library staff to create community-centered, equitable summer programs and services. The State Library of Ohio is looking for five public libraries to participate in the first year of this three-year initiative. Each participating library will be represented by a team of two staff members, typically the coordinator of the summer library program and a manager or administrator. Larger teams are permissible. Teams may also include one library staff member and a community partner. Through training and codesign, all BEBS participants will work with their state youth services consultant and the other project teams to address these questions: Do summer programs demonstrate attention to equity? How are libraries determining how and if summer programs are achieving equity goals? What impact are summer programs having on those that need them the most? Each participating library will receive a $500 stipend to support its participation. Participation in the BEBS initiative will require, of all team members: Attendance at four (4) 2-hour learning sessions with other Ohio participants. The sessions will run from January - April 2023. Session dates, times, and locations (virtual and/or in-person) will be agreed upon by Ohio participants and the Ohio youth services consultant. Participation in a Community of Practice with the teams and state youth services consultants from the other pilot states (CT, ID, MD, RI, WA) and the BEBS project coordinators. This will involve once-monthly Zoom meetings and access to a network of peers in other states. Work within your library to begin to consider and assess your existing and planned summer programs and services through an equity lens. Note: Year one participants are not being asked to change their summer plans, but to evaluate current summer programs and services in light of equity goals. If you are interested in being a part of this project, complete this application by close of business Monday, November 21, 2022: www.surveymonkey.com/r/Ohio_BEBS_year1 This is expected to be a competitive process, and not all applicants may be selected. The BEBS leadership is looking for a diverse group of cohort members representing all library and community sizes, various geographic areas, and various demographic community composition. Applicants will be notified of selection decisions by Friday, December 16, 2022. Learn more about the BEBS IMLS project. Learn more about California's BEBS project. Please contact Janet Ingraham Dwyer, Youth Services Consultant, at jdwyer@library.ohio.gov with any questions. This announcement is also available on the State Library of Ohio website. As a friendly reminder if you have not had a chance to provide your feedback regarding your experience with the Ohio Secretary of State’s Outreach In A Box initiative, please do so by Friday, November 4, 2022, by 3:00 p.m. You may access the survey from this link https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/OutreachInABoxBanner Thank you.
Newsletter - NEO-RLS News-November 2, 2022