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Fall Institute: People First
Education Sessions

Tuesday, October 27, 2020 Sessions

1:30 – 2:30PM    |   2:45 – 3:45PM

On-Demand Sessions

Live and on-demand education sessions will be available during the conference. Plus, attendees will have exclusive access to recordings of every live conference session to review on-demand approximately one week after the conference concludes.

View all sessions available on-demand during the conference

Tuesday | 1:30 – 2:30pm

quaRAntine

This spring, COVID brought us many things, including time, challenges and opportunities. We chose to use this unique situation to bring virtual Readers Advisory training to our entire staff. We will detail why RA training is important and beneficial, what worked well (and what didnt work!) for us, and other topics like changes in cultural approach and what we plan to do if we go BACK into quarantine. Join us as we share what worked well, as well as the resources we created and found along the way.

Objectives 

• Learn why Reader’s Advisory training is needed and important.
• Understand the benefits of this quarantine time for training and what to do if we go BACK into quarantine.
• Encourage staff to further their own training by providing resources.

Speakers

Ashley Smolinski
Kent District Library

Jenny Savage-Dura
Kent District Library

Inclusive Virtual Spaces and Services for Kids and Families

The Ypsilanti District Library strives to create spaces, programs, and collections that welcome and reflect our diverse community. As services shifted to online and outside the library, we continued to prioritize inclusion. See how we develop online asynchronous programs for kids with anti-racism and self-care as well as STEAM activities, multicultural activities that involved community members, and Build Your Own Storytime components and kits for parents with very young children. Learn how we use our connections and knowledge of our community when applying for funding and distributing supply kits for online youth programs to create inclusive, empowering virtual library services for all families.

Objectives

• Share ideas youth librarians can use to develop inclusive and empowering virtual library spaces and activities.
• Share tips about assessing community needs through connections with people and community partners to get activities, supplies, and services to under-resourced families.
• Provide a space for attendees to exchange ideas about how they are meeting needs in their communities during this time.

Speaker

Jodi Krahnke
Ypsilanti District Library

OneCard for Every Kalamazoo Student!

What if every student was automatically registered for a public library card? Discover how the Kalamazoo Public Library and Kalamazoo Public Schools worked together to develop the OneCard program; an initiative that ensured that every student was automatically registered for a public library card.

Objectives

• Hear about the plans for implementation of the OneCard program, as well as the obstacles encountered and how KPL was able to overcome them.
• Learn how to make the program work with their ILS.
• Discover how to promote and celebrate a similar program regardless of library size.

Speaker

Kevin King
Kalamazoo Public Library

Oral Storytelling in Virtual Programs

Many libraries have faced challenges while transitioning to virtual storytime this year. This session will focus on some ways to overcome obstacles such as copyright infringement, using oral storytelling, and public domain songs and rhymes.

Objectives

• Learn the history and tools to use Oral storytelling in your own storytimes.
• Develop strategies to record or live stream storytimes.

Speaker

Brittany Zuehlke
Kent District Library

Beyond the Desk: Information Literacy in School Outreach

Go beyond the desk with resources and practical applications for Information Literacy instruction from MeL, which will support your school outreach. Learn time-saving tips & tricks to take your youth programs & information services to a new level with eResources content such as forth-coming title lists, go-to information in personalized account folders, practice tests, & more. You will leave knowing how to recognize, locate, evaluate, and use information, and will walk away with a plan and the tools to tackle Information Literacy, putting your community first.

Objectives:

• You will leave confident in using specific MeL eResources designed for youth.
• You will learn time-saving tips and practical application ideas to use MeL for both programming and information services.
• Discover new ways to engage school-aged patrons using MeL eResources.

Speakers

Liz Breed
Library of Michigan

Cathy Lancaster
Library of Michigan

Tuesday | 2:45 – 3:45pm

Drag Queen Storytime

Drag Queen Storytime (DQS) is a program in which librarians and drag queens partner to produce a storytime promoting an inclusive, equitable and diverse world view. This session gives an overview of the rationale, methods, planning, implementation and best practices involved in DQS. It also addresses the unique challenges inherent in hosting a potentially controversial program, and the advance planning and precautions necessary to ensure community and local government buy-in, and safety for all involved.

Objectives

• Provide rationale, methods, planning, implementation and best practices involved in DQS
• Provide a list of unique challenges inherent in hosting a potentially controversial program
• Provide details regarding advance planning necessary to ensure community and local government buy-in, and safety for all involved.

Speaker

Joyce Krom
Huntington Woods Public Library

Digital D&D: Free Tools for Playing Online

D&D and other tabletop games have exploded in popularity in the last few years - so how can we bring that success to virtual programming? Learn about some of the top tools for playing online, including some made just for schools and libraries!

Objectives

• Learn how to successfully transition tabletop games to an online format
• Learn about online tools to help create tabletop game experiences

Speakers

Emily Marsh
Bay County Library System

Stephanie Reinhardt
Bay County Library System

Kale Schafer
Educator

“Stay in Your Lane” to “Blowing Up the Lanes”: Community Engagement and Outreach Mobile Library Services

A question and answer session designed to inspire other libraries to dream big when they create programs and events prioritizing underserved populations in their communities.

Objectives

• Gain an understanding of how to transition Outreach efforts toward serving under-represented populations within your communities and learn about important factors for success in Outreach efforts.
• Introduction of strategies for building rapport with underserved communities that can be implemented at your library system.
• Attendees will be introduced to at least one new resource for information regarding the representation of diverse groups and points of view and will be inspired to provide one new program that is identified as community need-driven.

Speakers

Joyanne Huston-Swanson
Kent District Library

Kevin Kammeraad
Kent District Library

Purposeful Programming in a Post-COVID World

Whether its in take-home kits, virtual or in-person, its easy as librarians to get in a rut with programming. We can end up just jumping from theme to theme with programs that are an array of crafts/activities/games, etc. that weve thrown together to occupy the promised amount of time. But what if we structured programming in a new and conscious way? What if we named our programs to be specific and convey purpose? What if in the wake of a post-COVID world we create programming that not only entertains children but enriches their entire childhood, when their childhood needs enriching the most. Lets take a look at some models of programming and reflect on how we can create different experiences for our families. We can shift our perspective from simply deciding what we do programming on, to how we program.

Objectives

• Encourage participants to initiate consciousness of how their programs are structured.
• Role-model reflection techniques for program creation.
• Increase awareness of how the naming of programming can affect how patrons perceive and interact with the program.

 Speaker

Amanda Vorce
Capital Area District Libraries – Webberville Branch

Teaching Students to Identify False Information They Find On The Internet

This program is designed to help students identify false information on the internet. It is easy for educators to give them reliable sources for good information, but what about the time they spend without supervision on social media? We will help them to develop the critical thinking skills required to analyze what they are seeing. This will be the same presentation as given to children in classrooms so attendees can hear the discussions and directions given to students.

Objectives

• Teach children to develop the critical thinking skills required to analyze what they are seeing in the media.
• Provide valuable resources to educators in the community.
• Help public librarians become a familiar presence in community classrooms.

Speaker

Danielle DiAmico
Bay County Library System

Meet Up and Eat Up!

Ever wonder what hungry children who receive free lunch do during the summer? They come to your library! Join Kent District Library librarians as they discuss the positive outcomes that hosting the Meet Up and Eat Up program and the difference it made in our libraries.

Objective

• Provide information about the Meet Up and Eat Up program.
• Provided encouragement and statistical information.
• Understand the resources, logistics, and ideas for making a program like this work in your library.

Speakers

Shay Krick
Feeding America

Leigh Verburg
Kent District Library

On-Demand Sessions

Library @ the Theater

This session will focus on the acquisition of the Rogers City Theater by Presque Isle District Library. The session will cover hurdles the library faced in transitioning of ownership and fitting the theater to our mission and services through programming that the district provides including partnerships with the area and regional organizations and finishing with the changing roles of libraries and being open-minded to creative ideas to engage with the local community by providing new services.

Primary Track: Create/Build
Secondary Track: Engage

Speaker:

Amber Alexander
Presque Isle District Library

Attendee Knowledge Level: Foundational (for those with no previous knowledge of the topic)

At the end of the session, attendees will…

• Have ideas of programs that they could provide.
• Engage with their local organizations for partnerships for programming.
• Leave with an open-mind on the changing roles of libraries.

Cultivating Early Literacy Partnerships in Your Community

In this session we will discuss our experiences with developing our relationships with other local organizations, describe how we created literacy initiatives to meet local needs, and share resources for developing those initiatives.

Primary Track: Engage
Secondary Track: Lead

Speakers:

Lynn Harper
Capital Area District Libraries

Samantha Ruth Huber
Capital Area District Libraries

Nicole Greiter
Ingham Intermediate School District

Attendee Knowledge Level: Foundational (for those with no previous knowledge of the topic)

At the end of the session, attendees will…

• Gain new ideas on ways to bring literacy initiatives to their communities.
• Learn about multiple resources for developing literacy programs.

MeLs New Programming & Promo Kits: Ideas to Expand Programming & Outreach

Have you ever wanted to offer a new program at your library but felt like it was too much to develop from scratch? Content from the MeL eResources can be used for more than just research! In this session, you will learn how to connect eResources to what you do every day, and in programs and services you provide to your patrons and community. New tools and ready-made promo kits designed to assist you in creating and promoting your programs, using MeL content, will be unveiled in this session.

Primary Track: Engage
Secondary Track: Innovate

Speaker:

Liz Breed
Library of Michigan

Attendee Knowledge Level: Applied (for those with some previous knowledge of the topic)

At the end of the session, attendees will…

• Increase knowledge and skill in understanding the benefits and application of information literacy principles.
• Learn how to connect content in MeL eResources, using MeL’s new Public Library Guide, to practical uses including the development or expansion of library programming, outreach and community engagement.
• Learn more about MeL’s new Promotions Kit and how to use the tools and strategies needed to effectively promote eResources.

Why Your Library Need Media Literacy and How to Provide It

In this engaging session provided by the author of Everyday Media Literacy: An Analog Guide For Your Digital Life, you will learn about the key concepts of media literacy and how to apply them to a variety of audiences, why it is important for your library visitors and how to integrate it into a variety of programs, from toddler storytime to health tips for seniors.

Primary Track: Create/Build
Secondary Track: Engage

Speaker:

Sue Ellen Christian
Western Michigan University

Attendee Knowledge Level: Foundational (for those with no previous knowledge of the topic)

At the end of the session, attendees will…

• Understand the key concepts of media literacy.
• Have applied the concepts to various media messages to build their skills.
• Have brainstormed ways to integrate media literacy into a variety of library programs.

Helping Kalamazoo County Become Ready to Read

Everyone in a community can play a role in building readers. Kalamazoo Public Library leads an early literacy outreach program called Ready to Read. Modeled after Reach Out and Read, KPL’s program reaches beyond pediatricians to engage preschools, libraries and more in building children in Kalamazoo that are ready to read when they start kindergarten. Having children ready to read in kindergarten, will help reach Read by Grade 3 standards and prepare children for a successful future.

Primary Track: Engage
Secondary Track: Lead

Speaker:

Jill Lansky
Kalamazoo Public Library

Attendee Knowledge Level: Foundational (for those with no previous knowledge of the topic)

At the end of the session, attendees will…

• Understand the importance of reading aloud to children.
• Be able to identify key partners in the community to work alongside within early literacy.
• See the importance of outreach outside the library walls and even the library district!

Implementing an Adult Special Needs Book Group

Learn how to implement a Next Chapter Book Club program which strives to expose persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities to books that promote a greater understanding of self-advocacy, employment, cultural engagement and other quality of life issues.

Primary Track: Innovate
Secondary Track: Engage

Speakers:

Adam Mueller
Chesterfield Township Library

Shane Stewart
Chesterfield Township Library

Attendee Knowledge Level: Foundational (for those with no previous knowledge of the topic)

At the end of the session, attendees will…

• Be able to implement a special needs adult book group program.
• Have a greater understanding of special needs readers advisory and collection development.
• Be able to demonstrate reading techniques to help special needs patrons in a book group program.

Board Bootcamp Part I: What Every Board Member Wishes They Knew Before They Joined a Board

In the first part of a two-part session, attendees will learn trustee responsibilities and duties for all library establishment types.

Primary Track: Lead
Secondary Track: Engage

Speakers:

Clare Membiela
Library of Michigan

Anne Seurynck
Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith

Attendee Knowledge Level: Applied (for those with some previous knowledge of the topic)

At the end of the session, attendees will…

• Have knowledge of a trustees legal duties for their librarys establishment type.
• Learn how library establishment types - and boards - differ.
• Understand the general role trustees play in the practical operations of each library type.

Board Bootcamp Part II: Boards & Directors – Create Lanes & a Team

This session provides a discussion on the complexities between boards and directors; at forming good relationships and at mending bad ones.

Primary Track: Lead
Secondary Track: Engage

Speakers:

Clare Membiela
Library of Michigan

Anne Seurynck
Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith

Attendee Knowledge Level: Applied (for those with some previous knowledge of the topic)

At the end of the session, attendees will…

• Gain an understanding of the legal intent of board duties vs directors with regards to library operations.
• Learn tips on forming strong board/director relationships.
• Learn options for handling board/director relationship problems.

Post-Pandemic Employment Law Issues

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the workplace environment. How have employment laws changed? And, what policies should be implemented or amended to comply? This presentation will discuss the legal challenges sure to face libraries in complying with post-pandemic employment laws, and strategies for complying with them.

Primary Track: Innovate
Secondary Track: Lead

Speaker:

Mike Blum
Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith

Attendee Knowledge Level: Applied (for those with some previous knowledge of the topic)

At the end of the session, attendees will…

• Have a better understanding of changes in employment laws as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Know what policies need to be implemented or revised as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Better understand and meet the needs of staff that have returned to work following the pandemic.