Although we haven’t quite gotten to Memorial Day yet, I want to fill you in on what will be happening for the 2021 Virtual Emerging Technology Symposium in September.  This will be our 8^th annual Symposium and like last year, we will be hosting featured speakers and poster sessions virtually throughout the entire month.  New this year is the fact that the event is being sponsored by the four regional library systems in Ohio (NEO-RLS, NORWELD, SERLS and SWON) and the State Library of Ohio.  We are all working together to bring you innovative ideas from each of the regions and from states across the country.  Our theme is Explore | Adapt | Transform and will be kicked off with Innovation in Libraries presented by Dr. Roslyn Dean, Broward County (FL) Library, on September 8^th.  Dr. Dean will address what is next for library innovation and discuss Broward County Library’s recently implemented and innovative initiatives designed to expand access to the library in unique ways and reach customers beyond the walls of the library.  Our next featured speaker on September 15^th is Rebecca Millerjohn, Madison Public Library (WI), who will talk about Insights into Innovation (and why this "innovator" really just wants a warm brownie and a nap).  Addressing all of the reluctant innovators out there, she will provide tips on pushing through the trepidation of new ideas in order to successfully co-build opportunities with your communities to enhance learning.  On September 17^th we welcome Julia Maddox, founder of the iZone at the University of Rochester Libraries (NY), leading Prototype Your Professional Life.  She will show us how to use Stanford’s Design Thinking process to prototype out-of-the-box solutions for addressing challenges in our library and profession and help us continue the spirit of experimentation, agility and risk-taking.  Our month-long dive into exploration, adaptation and transformation using emerging technologies will end on September 30^th with Michael Hibben, Roanoke County Public Library (VA), and his presentation, Why Not Us? The Case for AI in Libraries.  In his session, Michael will explain why libraries must lead the way with AI literacy and will talk about his library’s award-winning work with AI and high tech.  In addition to the above, we will also feature poster sessions from around the state and country.  The Symposium is FREE and open to all.  You don’t need to be in emerging technology in order to benefit from the lessons shared and the tips for exploring, adapting and transforming your services and communities.  Register today!  Together we are maximizing library potential.  Have a wonderful week!

Betsy Lantz

Don't forget about CE @ a Glance.  A simple one-page flyer to share with your staff.

7/13/2021
Disability 101
7/14/2021
Empathy in Enforcement: 10 Rules for Handling Difficult Situations
7/16/2021
Human Resource and Fiscal Officer Virtual Networking Meeting
7/21/2021
Understanding Bias: A nuanced approach to a vital news literacy topic
7/28/2021
Social Media in the Library: Think Before You Post?
7/29/2021
Anti-Racist Policies and Procedures – How to Build and Maintain an Anti-Racist Organizational Culture

Contact Ohio Senators to Restore Library Funding 

The Ohio House Finance Committee accepted an omnibus amendment to the draft state budget. Unfortunately, it does not include language to maintain the Public Library Fund (PLF) at 1.7%. The draft budget now moves on to the Senate for their consideration. 

Please contact your Senator as soon as you’re able in your role as a private citizen and ask your friends and family members to do the same.

OhioDIG wants to hear about your recent digitization projects and ideas at our upcoming poster session meeting on May 27, 2021 form 10:30-12. Tell us about your digitization project that you are working on, just finished, or are looking to start! OhioDIG is looking for 4-6 speakers to share information about their digitization projects in virtual poster session presentation. Each speaker will provide a 1-2 minute intro to their project, and then we will divide into breakout rooms to hear more about each project. Participants will be given the opportunity to visit different breakouts to hear about each project in a conversation style, just as if we were gathered around a poster a conference. Proposal submissions will be accepted until end of day on May 21, 2021.

Please submit any proposals to Penelope Shumaker at pshumaker@library.ohio.gov.

See what's new!  View Job Postings on the NEO-RLS website. 

Customers Without Masks:
Simple strategies that get customers to follow your COVID-19 policies (without a fight!)

It is specifically geared towards addressing the following problems:

1. People who don’t want to wear masks (or wear them improperly).
2. People who won't social distance.
3. People who walk past barriers.

 

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