It occurred to me, as I was thinking about what to write for today’s newsletter, that I have never actually written anything about our Letters of Intent.  Upon reflection, this seemed like a huge oversight on my part as the NEO-RLS Letter of Intent, affectionately referred to as the LOI in our office, is the primary document used to plan our annual budget.  The LOI is emailed out to libraries in October of each year and includes information regarding membership dues, fees for various services such as the e-Tech Kits, CE events, and consulting, etc.  The LOI covers the NEO-RLS fiscal year which runs from July 1 – June 30 and asks the library to state their “intent” regarding NEO-RLS membership.  We ask that the Letters of Intent be returned by December 31^st.  The more we receive by the deadline, the easier it is for us to confidently and realistically plan the programs and services we want to offer you in the coming year.   The libraries of Northeast Ohio have been incredibly supportive of NEO-RLS and we are always looking for new, cost-effective and meaningful ways in which we can support you.   The Letters of Intent ensure that we are able to make the most of our resources in service to our members.  Together we are maximizing library potential.  Have a great week and stay well!

Betsy Lantz

Please take a moment to share CE at a Glance with your staff.  There is something for everyone.

10/27/2020
The Show Must Go Online: Virtual Performances at Your Library
11/12/2020
Organizing Chaos: Training for a Library Service Platform Migration
12/1/2020
Youth Book Buzz Presented by Penguin Random House
12/9/2020
Adult Book Buzz Presented by Penguin Random House

Click the calendar to see all of our continuing education opportunities.

How To Be An Effective Anti-Racist
Tuesday, December 8th from 10 am - noon
When engaging in conversations around race and racism in our society, a common point that is made is “I don’t see color” or “I treat everyone the same.”  However, we know that “not seeing color” means ignoring an important part of a person’s identity.  This session will introduce the topic of anti-racism and discuss some strategies to effectively engage in anti-racism. 

Topics will include: 

• Racial Identity Development
• History and Impact of Segregation
• Hierarchy, Power, and Passivism
• Anti-Racist Resources
• Anti-Racism In Action

"I wrote Novels in Verse for Teens for teachers and librarians, to give them ideas for reaching all teens, especially marginalized teens and reluctant readers, with novels in verse. My book includes research-based information on why novels in verse are helpful, as well as a large reader's advisory section with corresponding poetry activities. CCSS and AASL standards are included for ease of lesson planning.  -Lisa Krok"

Archived Webinars When registering for an archived webinar you will receive a confirmation with the link to the webinar.  If there are two choices, please click the link that says for a mobile device.  That link will work on all devices including your computer.  Also, if the webinar is longer than 60 minutes you will need to download the video as Drop Box only allows you to view the first 60 minutes.  If the webinar cuts off after 60 minutes you will know that it is longer and needs to be downloaded.

Heading into the Annual Performance Review Season? The NEO-RLS 2020 Award recipients will be announced and honored at the annual Membership and Appreciation Meeting on November 17, 2020.  The annual performance review is the perfect time to be thinking about who might be our next Rising Star, Shooting Star or Advocacy Award winners.  The online nomination forms for all three awards are available for you to use from now until the deadline of June 30, 2021.  As you reflect on the work being done within your library and community, take a few minutes to nominate those individuals that you feel are making an impact on the Northeast Ohio region.  Together we are maximizing library potential!

The State Library of Ohio and OhioNET hosted Vocational Awe: Examining the Cost of Your Service on October 7.  The virtual event garnered a huge response with over 250 tuning in live!  A recording of the event is now available to view on the State Library of Ohio’s YouTube page. https://library.ohio.gov/services-for-libraries/library-programs-development/critical-conversations/ In an effort to create a supportive learning experience for participants, we have curated a resources webpage with helpful articles on vocational awe and related topics.  Don't forget NEO-RLS's Self-care resource page.

A preliminary 2020 Ohio Summer Library Program evaluation report is available for download. A fuller report, including anecdotes and analysis from Ohio librarians, will be available by year’s end. Obviously, this was a year like no other. I chose not to compile and publish statewide participation numbers, which ordinarily are the core data of the state SLP report.   Since 2020 was a singularly anomalous year, those numbers wouldn’t be helpful in tracking long-term trends in SLP participation.

From Webjunction: 
Collections and Facilities: Caring for Your Resources During COVID-19
Amid COVID-19, many archives, libraries and museums are reopening and expanding access to services in their communities. The challenges of reopening during a pandemic have led to many questions about the handling of materials as well as the management of building operations. From allowing the virus to die naturally, to using disinfectants, to applying UV light or heat treatment—there are many options to consider. Join this 60-minute webinar from the REopening Archives, Libraries and Museums (REALM) project to hear how some organizations are implementing policies and procedures around the use of these various treatments and considerations that could inform your own local decisions. You’ll also hear an update on REALM testing efforts and the development of project resources.  Click HERE to access the webinar.