 NEO-RLS News-May 10, 2021 | |||||||
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After reading the article, “The Library Employment Landscape,” in the May 2021 issue of American Libraries (pg.34-37), I was struck once again by how quickly expectations have changed for the role of libraries in our communities. By extension, the skill sets needed by library employees have also changed. As libraries take on new roles, library tasks and the knowledge required to perform those tasks must adapt equally quickly. Developing new skills can be interesting, exciting, fulfilling and challenging. Doing so while pivoting constantly can be time-consuming, exhausting, difficult and discouraging. An on-going demand for new and different skills can make it more difficult for job seekers to find employment, and for libraries to find qualified employees. In the article, John Keister of the executive search firm, John Keister and Associates, talks about how the expectations for library directors in particular, has been steadily changing, to the extent that many no longer aspire to be a director. Thinking as we always have about the qualifications and expectations for library positions at all levels may no longer be viable or effective. If we are going to continue to fulfill the needs of our communities in the manner to which we aspire, we need to make certain that we are thinking critically about the skills needed when we write job descriptions, post jobs, recruit and develop our staff and ourselves. NEO-RLS promises that we will pay equal attention to the changes in order to ensure that our continuing education and services are current and relevant. Together we are maximizing library potential. Have a wonderful week!
| NEO-RLS Statewide Salary Survey Closed May 7th Thank you to the 133 libraries that participated in the recent compensation and benefits survey. We are appreciative of the time and effort you took to submit your data. We have noted every question and every comment that we have received in the course of libraries working on the survey so that we can improve the experience moving forward. |
NEO-RLS Open Board Seat Elections Continue Through May 31st The election of Board members for Zone 2, Zone 3, Zone 4 and Academic Library continue through May 31, 2021. Designated member representatives were sent links to vote in their zone or category on Monday, May 3rd. Please make your voice heard by voting for those who will represent you on the Board of Trustees. |
Don’t Forget to Nominate a Shooting Star, Rising Star or Advocate Descriptions of the Awards and the online nomination form may be found on our website. The deadline for nominations is June 30th with honorees selected for the Shooting Star and Rising Star by the State Librarian of Ohio. The Advocacy Award honoree is selected by the NEO-RLS Awards Committee. |
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Funding Opportunities
| The ALA COVID Library Relief Fund will assist public, school, academic, and tribal libraries across the United States and US Territories that are experiencing substantial economic hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has impacted their ability to serve their community, especially traditionally underserved populations. The deadline for applicant submissions is May 20, 2021. |
Zoom's Grants Assistance Team Explains the Latest with the American Rescue Fund and Libraries Having a difficult time understanding the last COVID-19 relief funding? Let Zoom’s dedicated Grants Assistance Team review the current funding and how this funding can be used. The American Rescue Fund allocates 200 million for libraries through the Institute of Museum and Library Services, an independent federal agency that provides grants to libraries and museums. |
Ohio Preservation Council (OPC) is pleased to announce its 2021 Mini Grant! Are you looking to join a professional organization such as the American Institute for Conservation or the Society of American Archivists? Have you been eyeing one of the many professional development webinars or conferences to build your skillset being offered but it is not in your budget? |
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From OPLIN
At this point, more than half of Ohio's libraries have been migrated from Lynda.com to LinkedIn Learning for Library (LiLL), and we've learned a few things over the week.
LinkedIn previously told us that migrations begin at 9:00 a.m. and last about two hours; we've been seeing that they can start much later in the day, and last longer than indicated. The best way for a library to track the change is to keep checking their existing Lynda portal link. When the migration is done, the Lynda portal will redirect to https://www.lynda.com/upgrade/completed, and the "Get Started" button will send users to your new LinkedIn Learning login page.
LinkedIn previously told us that migrations begin at 9:00 a.m. and last about two hours; we've been seeing that they can start much later in the day, and last longer than indicated. The best way for a library to track the change is to keep checking their existing Lynda portal link. When the migration is done, the Lynda portal will redirect to https://www.lynda.com/upgrade/completed, and the "Get Started" button will send users to your new LinkedIn Learning login page.
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