All posts by Mary Jordan

CMLE, Communication, Programs

Are you joining us? Let’s go eat and talk!

We are getting excited about our second regular social gathering for CMLE library people, and other friends!

Wednesday, March 15
5:30 pm
Old Chicago
4040 2nd St S, St Cloud, MN 56301

This was a common request from our members, to have time away from work, where we can meet people we only see online, to talk with other people who are doing what we do, and to help build bonds across the CMLE system. Whether you are alone in your library, or have lots of other people around, you are part of the CMLE system team!

We had fun last time, and are looking forward to meeting more people – and enjoying some tasty food! ? (I had a calzone last time, and it was great!)

We would love for you to attend! This is going to be casual, everyone paying their own way, and no agenda. The only purpose is to have a regular opportunity for all of us to get together, maybe meet some new people (or people you only know online), and to talk about library stuff. Of course, if photos of kids, pets, or vacations come out to be shared too – absolutely no one will mind!

We will be happy to see you, no matter what. If you can RSVP below, so we have an idea of how many to expect, that will make our planning easier!

Looking forward to hanging out with you!

Are you attending Wed 3/15?

 

Communication, Resources

Want to give back? Volunteer with RUSA!

The RUSA Reference Services Section is looking for committee volunteers.  Members of RSS committees participate in a range of virtual and in-person activities.  These include:

  • Organizing programs
  • Hosting discussion forums
  • Writing and maintaining RUSA Guidelines and Professional Resources that help libraries nationally
  • Developing tutorials, compiling indexes, and writing articles

If you are interested in joining a committee, complete the RUSA Volunteer Form and select RSS at the very bottom of the application.  You may also contact me, the RSS vice-chair, directly.

If you are presently on an RSS committee and your term ends in 2017, please also complete a volunteer form.  Maybe you want to be reappointed to the same committee or you would like to volunteer for a different committee.  If so, you can indicate that on your volunteer form, or, again, you can contact me, the vice-chair.

RSS is dedicated to providing value to its members, including virtual participation.  This allows the flexibility to be active in a national professional organization without the financial commitment to travel to multiple conferences. RSS committees regularly meet online and only meet once face-to-face each year at the ALA Annual Conference.

Please consider volunteering to take an active role in RUSA/RSS.  It truly is rewarding.

Thank you,

Rebecca

Rebecca Jackson, Associate Professor

Vice-Chair/Chair Elect, RUSA Reference Services Section

Head, Social Sciences & Humanities Dept.

Iowa State University Library

rjackson@iastate.edu

515-294-9030

Communication, School Media Specialist

An exciting award for K-8 school librarians!

 

K-8 school librarians are invited to apply now for a $5,000 ALA award recognizing outstanding humanities programming. See below for details, and email ALA’s Public Programs Office with any questions – publicprograms@ala.org. Thanks!

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School libraries are invited to apply for a $5,000 award recognizing outstanding humanities programming in kindergarten through eighth grade, the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office announced.

Nominations for the 2017 Sara Jaffarian School Library Program Award for Exemplary Humanities Programming will be accepted until May 5, 2017. Applications, award guidelines and a list of previous winners are available at: www.ala.org/jaffarian. Continue reading An exciting award for K-8 school librarians! →

Books, Resources

Reader’s Advisory Tools

Reading is fun.

Reading is good for us.

Reading is one of our fundamental missions.

Basically, we are a profession of people who like to read, helping others to read!

And of course, that is more complex that it might sound. Because while we like books, professionally, and we hopefully(!) are in touch with the books in our collection – more exciting new books come out every day.

How do you know what to recommend? If someone comes to you for a book suggestion in an area you know nothing about, what do you say? Reader’s Advisory (RA) is your professional strategy.

Fortunately, we have a variety of tools to help you give great answers! Have you used other resources? Tell us in the comments, so we all get better at RA work! Continue reading Reader’s Advisory Tools →

Resources

Write for Reference Reviews

Reference Reviews, an international journal reviewing new and updated print and electronic resources of value in a library reference setting, is seeking new review contributors. Published by Emerald Group Publishing in print and electronically 8 times per annum, the journal carries 40+ reviews an issue.

Reviewers are sought across all subject areas and for all types of reference related material, especially gratis websites and subscription electronic resources. Previous reviewing experience is not a prerequisite, but those who have not published reviews may be asked to write a trial review which will be used in the journal of the required standard.

Continue reading Write for Reference Reviews →