Below are the headlines from the May 7, 2021 - 📢 Nic News Weekly:

• 2021 Rural Libraries Summit: May 25-26
• Submit PLA Webinar Proposals through May 31
• ADANN 30th Anniversary Spotlight on ADA Resource Portals
• Grant Opportunities
  • WiLS 2021 Ideas to Action Fund Application Period Is Open
  • ARSL Conference Scholarship Applications Now Accepted
• Programming Resources
  • ARSL Program-Palooza Round Table: May 20th
  • CSLP Newsletter: April 2021
  • Stealing Away: Stories (by Wisconsin author Kevin Revolinski)
• The “Marketing Funnel” Approach to Customer Engagement
• Don’t Forget: Encourage Your Library Patrons to Share their Stories

Kewaunee Public Library has been selected as one of 300 libraries to participate in Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries, an American Library Association (ALA) initiative that helps library workers better serve their small and rural communities.

The competitive award comes with a $3,000 grant that will help the library to meet with the Hispanic community, gain their input, highlight library services available, and then purchase materials to meet their needs.

“We are so proud to be chosen for this amazing opportunity,” said Library Director Carol Petrina. “This grant will allow our library to get to know our Hispanic residents better and help us build a more complete collection to serve their needs and the needs of our community overall.”

As part of the grant, Kewaunee Public Library staff will take an online course in how to lead conversations, a skill vital to library work today. Staff will then host a community conversation with residents about library services offered and the desired materials needed by the Hispanic community, and use the grant funds to acquire desired materials to meet the needs expressed.

“More literature in Spanish would attract more Spanish speakers to the library, bringing with them their children," said bilingual educator and Kewaunee resident, Aaron Sisneros. “Spending time in a library surrounded by books fosters a love for reading. EL (English Learner) students often struggle in reading, and anything we can do to encourage them to read more is imperative. If we give parents a reason to come to the library, a culture and an appreciation of literature naturally develops. Appreciation of multiculturalism makes for a more inclusive society. Adding more Spanish resources to the Kewaunee Public Library would benefit not only Spanish speakers, but the entire Kewaunee community.”

If you are interested in getting involved or taking part in the conversation, please contact the library at (920) 388-5015 or visit www.kewauneepubliclibrary.org for more information.

Since 2014, ALA’s Libraries Transforming Communities initiative has re-imagined the role libraries play in supporting communities. Libraries of all types have utilized free dialogue and deliberation training and resources to lead community and campus forums; take part in anti-violence activities; provide a space for residents to come together and discuss challenging topics; and have productive conversations with civic leaders, library trustees and staff.

Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries is an initiative of the American Library Association in collaboration with the Association for Rural and Small Libraries.

Below are the headlines from the March 26, 2021 - 📢 Nic News Weekly:

• Indigenous Representation Newsletter
• Nominate someone exceptional for the WI Library Hall of Fame!
• Participate in WiLS’ Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion (EDI) Survey
• Spring Webinar Series
• 2021 ARSL Conference
• Save the Date to Apply for WiLS Ideas to Action Funds
• Humanities Collections and Reference Resources Grants (HCRR)

Below are the headlines from the February 12, 2021 - 📢 Nic News Weekly:

• Kewaunee Public Library Receives ALA Community Engagement Grant
• Embracing Special Needs, Building Inclusive Communities: A Program offered by Miss Wisconsin 2020-2021
• Apply for the ARSL Outstanding in Their Field Leadership Institute

Below are the headlines from the September 25, 2020 - 📢 Nic News Weekly:

• TeachingBooks' Diverse Books Toolkit: Recording Now Available
• WiLS Cooperative Purchasing Advisory Committee Seeks New Members
• $3,000 Grant Opportunity for Rural and Small Libraries

A June Library 2.0 mini-conference that is being co-organized by TechSoup. It is "Small, Rural, and Independent Libraries," which will be held online (and for free) on Wednesday, June 17, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Central time. Register for this free event here.

This mini-conference will focus on innovation and innovative thinking in rural, independent, tribal, and other small libraries, as well as the many unique challenges that libraries face in these strange times. A diverse array of keynote panelists and curated presenters will cover topics that will include:

• Innovations to provide Internet access and training to rural patrons
• New ways that small libraries can offer services that the big urban libraries offer
• Taking community partnerships to the next level
• How workers from small and rural libraries can easily connect with each other to get ideas and keep innovating
• Novel ways to fund special programs
• Unique Internet of Things offers that are tailored to specific communities
• Safety, security, and ways to deal with emergencies when the sheriff's department is far away

This event is being organized in partnership with Jim Lynch from TechSoup for Libraries, Kate Laughlin from the Association for Rural and Small Libraries, and The School of Information at San José State University, the founding conference sponsor.