Good day! Please excuse cross-postings. Here are a couple excellent training opportunities coming up this month especially for rural and small libraries:
13 Months of Advocacy for Small and Rural Libraries
Thursday, November 16, 2023
2:00 pm ET
Facilitated by Amy Stone, Library Director, Bridgton Public Library & ARSL Advocacy Committee
Free for ARSL Members and nonmembers
Interested in advocacy but don't think you have the time? We are all busy and our days are full. But taking a little time each month to get some advocacy into your everyday can help you build your connections, focus your work, and communicate with your best
supporters.
Learn more about what you can do with a few minutes each month, or maybe more time if you can set it aside, for big impact with "Intro to 13 Months of Advocacy". Consider these research-based activities, and real-world experiences, as a great starting place
for you to think about your community, your connections, your supporters, and your work.
https://maine-msl.libcal.com/event/11533499
Safety in Rural & Small Libraries
Learn practical approaches and creative ideas for keeping safe while on the job in small or rural libraries from an experienced trainer in crisis intervention with special consideration and resources
for small and rural libraries.
Kate Laughlin, Executive Director, Association for Rural & Small Libraries
Kate has worked in service and management for more than 30 years, most of those spent working in or with libraries on the front lines, in circulation and reference provision, branch management,
staff training, strategic planning, and association management. Kate has a passion for service excellence and the furthering of libraries and their missions. Before "going rogue" in 2007, Kate was the Staff Training Coordinator for The Seattle Public Library,
where she and her team trained over 700 staff in crisis intervention safety training. Since then, she has trained in and consulted with many dozens of libraries, including a year spent offering safety training in small and rural libraries around Washington on
behalf of the State Library. Kate went on to serve as the Continuing Education Coordinator and then Director for the WA Library Association. She has also worked with the national Association for Rural & Small Libraries since early 2018 and became its first
ever Executive Director in January 2020.
https://maine-msl.libcal.com/event/11535077
Remember to also register for Fall Council if you have not already!
Register for Fall Council!
Plan on joining colleagues from across our region via Zoom on Tuesday, November 14 from 2:00-4:00.
What will we talk about?
Libraries are seeing an increase in patrons who need information about community services including affordable housing, addictions counseling, mental health support, and food insecurity among other
issues. Library staff in turn need to have up-to-date relevant resources on hand. Fall Council will focus on pulling together information from experts and from library staff who have found creative solutions to an ongoing challenge.
Nikki Williams from United Ways of Maine will discuss 211 Maine so you can leverage the tools and free resources available through that program. Nikki will be followed by a round robin discussion
featuring Diana Furukawa, director at Millinocket Memorial Library, Ben Treat, director at Bangor Public Library, and Myles Robert, Business & Government Librarian at Portland Public Library.
https://maine-msl.libcal.com/event/11347775
Lisa M. Shaw [she/elle/ella/ye/그녀/iyada/вона/ea]
Small/Rural Libraries & Workforce Development Specialist
Division of Library Development
Maine State Library
242 State Street
SHS 64
Augusta ME 04330
(207 ) 747-8717 (text or call)
What I’m reading:
Suddenly a Murder by Lauren Muñoz
What I’m listening to: “Paradigme” – La Femme; “Wairua” – Maimoa; “Sell the World” – The HU
“If you want to see something clearly, look in the opposite direction.”
[Midsomer Murders]