Research Institute for Public Libraries – Scholarship Opportunity
The Research Institute for Public Libraries (RIPL) will take place July 27-30, 2015 in Colorado Springs
The Colorado State Library and the Colorado Library Consortium are offering an immersive institute on public library research and evaluation in a sequestered environment for intensive, experiential learning. This three-day event will offer hands-on workshops on topics such as:

·         designing outcome-based evaluation of programs and services

·         assessing the needs of your community

·         techniques for tracking public library data and using these data for planning, management, and proving worth to your community

·         using data and stories to demonstrate the library’s impact

·         practical methods for measuring library outcomes

·         aligning research efforts with national initiatives such as Edge Benchmarks and the Impact Survey
The vision is to create a culture shift in public libraries to be purposeful in gathering, analyzing, and using data for decision making, strategic planning, and to prove library impact. This institute will educate change agents who return to their state libraries with the tools, competencies, and commitment to lead evidence-based practice.

The Maine State Library will be sending 2 Maine State Library staff, one representative from Portland Public Library and one representative from Bangor Public Library (ARRCs) plus a scholarship supported public librarian.


To apply for this one scholarship, please fill out the application at Survey Monkey:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RIPL


Once this group goes through training we intend to design and share training throughout the state later in 2015 and early 2016.
This is a great opportunity and we would love applications from people with existing skills and interest in utilizing data to measure outcomes for public library services.
If the Colorado State Library repeats this training in the summer of 2016, MSL will try to sponsor 3 scholarships at that time.
If you are not selected for this scholarship, and funds are available, you can apply on your own at the RIPL site from January 5, 2015 to March 31, 2015.  http://ripl.lrs.org/

Feel free to email me with any questions.
Happy New Year!

Janet


Janet McKenney
Director of Library Development
Maine State Library
64 State House Station
Augusta, ME  04333

207-287-5620
207-287-5624