Summer is in full swing and the months following the Annual Conference signal a period of transition for RILA.  At the conference business meeting in June, our membership voted in a new slate of officers and I officially took the reigns as President.  Join me in welcoming RILA's new Board for the 2013-2015 term:  

Aaron Coutu: Vice President/President-Elect

Amy Greer: Secretary

Patricia Lombardi: Treasurer

Julie DeCesare: Member-at-Large

Chris Wallace Goldstein: Member-at-Large

Eileen Dyer: ALA Councilor

I want to take this opportunity to thank the Executive Board members whose terms recently ended.  Their time, energy, and support over the years helped RILA reach new heights and provided the momentum required for the organization to move forward under new leadership.

As the state chapter of the American Library Association, RILA unites people over their shared love of libraries and their support for the Rhode Island library community.  RILA strives to be a vibrant, dynamic, and innovative professional organization that champions all library types and offers something for everyone.  We're gearing up for a busy year and plan to deliver on RILA's mission of active engagement.  Stay tuned for a wide variety of RILA activities this fall, starting with the launch of the Geek the Library campaign in September.  Read on for more info! 

Please contact me if you have questions or suggestions regarding RILA's goals, initiatives, or member benefits.  Member feedback shapes RILA's future!

Cheers,

Jenifer Bond

It is with great pleasure that the RILA Board announces our 2013 award recipients!  Two individuals were honored in person at the Annual Conference for their valuable contributions to Rhode Island's library landscape, and a third recipient was honored in July.

Howard Boksenbaum received RILA's Achievement Award for his 30+ years of library leadership, advocacy, and vision.  Recently retired from his position as Chief Library Officer at OLIS, he played a vital role in developing Rhode Island's cooperative library services and technology infrastructure.  A tireless promoter of the value of libraries, Howard's silver tongued manner positively influenced the outcomes of library issues at city and state levels of government.  Howard's accomplishments, along with his collaborative spirit, are celebrated with this award. 

Karen Mellor, Howard Boksenbaum and Jenifer Bond

Karen McGrath, Manager of Cranston Public Library's Auburn Branch, received RILA's Service Award in recognition of her two decades as RILA Conference Committee Chair.  Coordinating the annual conference is an incredibly time consuming job that requires tremendous teamwork, attention to detail, and creative problem solving.  Karen has the planning process and event management duties down to a science and her efforts have led to a more enriched community of library personnel with each conference program.  Karen's long term commitment to this endeavor is deserving of a place in RILA's Hall of Fame! 

Karen McGrath Photo Credit Dhana Whiteing

RILA's third and final award of 2013 was bestowed upon Eileen Dyer, current Past President of RILA.  Eileen was selected as this year's Outstanding Librarian for her demonstrated level of dedication to the organization.  During her tenure as President, she successfully mediated discussions on library issues with patience and diplomacy, focused on active advocacy, and forged new partnerships for RILA.  Her efforts energized the organization and attracted many new members.

Since July 1, public libraries across the state have begun the planning phase as they join us in bringing the Geek the Library campaign to the state this September. With weekly emails full of ideas and tips for making the campaign successful in each community, the PR Committee is doing its best to keep every participant informed and involved, and hopes to take some of the stress off of planning while spreading its enthusiasm for the campaign.

With less than two months to go before the campaign launch date, the RILA PR Committee has already made significant progress in what we hope will be our most successful awareness campaign to date. By now, most participants are aware that the PawSox mascots, Mr. Paws and Ms. Sox, and Walt Mossberg have happily added their faces to some of our content. Stay tuned for more RI faces, including a well-known author, a pair of sibling producers, and a nationally recognized actress.

For those who have been too preoccupied to take a look, check out rilibraries.org/geek-library for more information about the campaign and its timeline. And remember, it's never too late to add your name to the 26 other libraries already on board! At a school or academic library? Partner with your local public library as part of the campaign.  

Contact Chelsea Dodd (chelsea.dodd@gmail.com) for more information.

In January 2013, at the beginning of the Spring semester, the James P. Adams Library at Rhode Island College launched a 30 iPad lending program for campus students, faculty, and staff.  More information about the iPad lending program can be found here.  At the end of the Spring semester, we conducted a survey and iTunes gift card raffle to find out how our campus community (primarily students) were using the iPads.  This article will discuss the results of this survey.

The James P. Adams Library's iPad survey consisted of 6 questions total and was designed to pull quantitative and qualitative data.  It was conducted over the month of April and we had 84 participants.  In the first question, participants had to select as many options as they liked from a set of predefined answers.

Question 1: What do you use the library's iPads for? (Check all that apply)

• Checking your RIC Email:   69 (out of 84 respondents)

• Surfing the Web for school work:   62 (out of 84 respondents)

• Using Blackboard:   57

• Surfing the Web for personal interests:   45

• Performing Research using Google:  45

• Using Facebook and / or Twitter:  42

• Performing Research using Library Databases:  33

• Taking Notes for Class:  23

Question 2 was designed to pull qualitative data where students explained in their own words how they used the library's iPads.  Here are some of the highlights:

Question 2: Please tell us other ways you use the library's iPads:

"Using the iPad at my job. I work with the elderly doing activities and I used the iPad with the residents I work with."

"I am currently student teaching and when I am able to have one, I bring it into the classroom and I use apps to enhance the learning of my students. It's a great tool for the classroom!"

"These iPads help me keep up with the latest technology, without me actually spending the money to buy the device myself. It's an awesome piece of technology =) "

"To find ideas for my lesson plans"  

The James P. Adams Library iPads come pre-loaded with two screens worth of core educational apps.  The complete list is available here: In Question 3, we asked survey participants to list their favorite 3 apps from this list.

Question 3: Please list 3 apps that came pre-loaded on the library's iPads that you liked and tell us why:   (10 most popular answers below)

Blackboard Mobile: 38 respondents

Safari: 23

Notes: 14

Facebook: 14

Youtube: 11

RIC Email: 10

RIC Website: 7

HigherOne Funds (RIC students use this to manage their college funds): 7

Dropbox: 6

Google Drive: 6  

Question 4 was an optional question which asked participants to identify any additional apps they would like to see pre-loaded onto the library's iPads.  This question did not receive a huge response not only because it was optional, but possibly because users are free to download any additional apps they like to the library's iPads with their own iTunes / Apple Account, so do not need us to pre-load the iPads with every app they might want to use.

Question 5 was similar to question 1 in that it asked users to select as many options as they liked from a predefined set of answers.

Question 5: What are some other types of technology you would like the library to lend out of the building? (Check all that apply) *

Laptops (lend out of the building): 50 respondents

Apple Laptops: 47

Cameras: 36

Video Cameras: 33

eReaders: 33

Question 6 was a qualitative question which asked participants to give any other additional feedback about the library's iPad lending program.  It provided a lot of useful data.  The complete report is available here: http://www.ric.edu/adamslibrary/pdfs/ipad_survey.pdf .  For any questions or comments about this survey, please feel free to email Kieran at kayton@ric.edu. 

Senator Jack Reed visited Cranston Public Library on June 14 to announce his Workforce Investments through Local Libraries (WILL) act. Reed, a staunch supporter of libraries in Rhode Island, was joined by RI Department of Labor and Training Director Charles Fogarty, CPL Director Ed Garcia, and Rhode Island's recently retired Chief Library Officer Howard Boksenbaum. 

The legislation will assist Rhode Island libraries to improve what they've already been doing - serve the unemployed and those searching for jobs. Public libraries would be recognized as "One-Stop" partners with existing statewide workforce investment strategies. This will make it easier for to implement pilot projects to establish employment resources in public libraries.

Coincidentally, the Reed event took place while the Cranston Public Library was hosting a Broadband Rhode Island Digital Literacy training course. Broadband Rhode Island is a federally funded initiative that trains instructors to assist all Rhode Islanders to gain access to the internet. Although many Rhode Islanders have the education, experience, and resources to allow them to keep up with the rapid pace of technological change, many others struggle to get started or to use the Internet. While the Digital Literacy Program is open to all Rhode Islanders, it is particularly aimed at people with disabilities, the unemployed and underemployed, low-income individuals and families, those with limited English skills, and senior citizens. 

"Public libraries provide important resources for job seekers, such as free access to computers and wi-fi connections, as well as job preparedness programs.  We want to give Rhode Islanders the skills they need to be more competitive in the job market.  The WILL Act strengthens the connection between our public libraries and the "One-Stop" system to better serve job seekers with more targeted services," said Reed.  "The WILL Act would give library users better access to workforce activities and information related to training and employment opportunities, including resume development and job bank searches.  Enabling libraries to utilize Workforce Investment Act resources will help them provide targeted job search support in communities all across America." 

Last fall, the Rhode Island Library Association held a reception honoring Senator Reed for his longtime advocacy and support of libraries in the state. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with him in our shared goal of assisting Rhode Islanders in gaining job skills and seeking out employment opportunities.

Don't let the hot days of summer get you down, cool off and rejuvenate at a conference! Every year, RILINK hosts a summer conference for professional development for education and library professionals. This year's conference, Strengthening the Core: SLMS as Curriculum Leader, will be held August 13 & 14 at the East Bay Educational Collaborative in Warren, RI. For the first time, RILA members will be able to receive a discounted registration rate to the conference. There are limited number of slots are available for this option, so register soon to take advantage of this special opportunity on a first-come, first-served basis. Attend one day for only $25.00; both days for $40.00 (save $10.00!). Registrations must be postmarked by August 1st.

Starting off this year's conference will be keynote speaker Renee Hobbs, Professor & Founding Director of Harrington School of Communication & Media at the University of Rhode Island. Dr. Hobbs will be presenting "Messy Engagement: The Heart of the Common Core". Join her as she "identifies the host of interdisciplinary competencies that enable teacher-librarians to create robust learning environments that motivate learners, support critical thinking, and inspire the kind of intellectual curiosity that lasts a lifetime". Dr. Hobbs will also be presenting an additional session later in the day on moving beyond "drill and kill video games on the whiteboard", and sharing lesson plans as well as other online resources for K-6 educators and their students.

During the two day conference, RILINK will be offering a variety of workshops addressing current topics on the melding of education, libraries, technology, and collaboration. Some of the issues covered in sessions on day one will include Blog the Book: Motivating Readers in a Digital Age; Secondary Library Media Specialists and the Common Core; and eSolutions to the Common Core/Literature Puzzle: Practical Suggestions on Combining Literature, Informational Text, and the Common Core. Day two continues with sessions on the Ins-and-Outs of AskRI.org: Learn About What ASKRI.org Has to Offer and How to Use it in Your Classroom; eBooks in the Elementary School Library; and K12 Library Curriculum & The Common Core.

Teen programming in public libraries has seen a resurgence in popularity within the last year as youth and young adult librarians have begun creating learning labs and makerspaces with little more than a hammer and some re-wiring. Inspired by the YOUmedia project at the Chicago Public LIbrary, librarians have built makerspaces from scratch, simply beginning with  computers and equipment that they already own. The concept that the makerspace has proved more important than what the libraries, themselves, own and can offer. As libraries move forward in trying to prove their worth in their own communities, the makerspace or learning lab is a concept that will continually grow and expand the library's future.

Discover the latest and greatest Makerspaces & Learning Labs!

 YouMedia @ Chicago Public Library  

 Wesport Library - Building a Makerspace   

Learning Labs @ CLP  

App This, App That!

Why not offer programming based on a popular phone app? The Teen Librarian's Toolbox thought this was a great idea. Using the instagram app as inspiration, they compiled a giant list of programs. There's nothing quite like using popular technology, especially mobile apps, to excite and engage teens.

Books are Still Cool!

Teen Book Clubs might be struggling, but books and teens still jive together in harmony when the right ingredients come together. As all youth and young adult librarians know, a selection of great snacks are key to most programs. Apart from snacking, teens also love being exposed to new activities. Combining literature and activities such as photography, design, arts and crafts, and fashion truly works! Take the Hunger Games, Hobbit parties and edible book festivals, for example.

More Top Knotch Teen Program Ideas

Passive Programming with the Programming Librarian 

Mod Podge Rocks Blog 

Teen Iron Chef Contest 

Teen Library Programs Collaborative Board on Pinterest 

WorldBook has several functional areas included in its databases. There is WorldBook Web for Schools, three WorldBook specialty databases, WorldBook Classroom and the three WorldBook Digital Libraries.  

WorldBook provides a search and advanced search functions to assist in finding encyclopedic articles as well as additional links within each article offering primary sources, related magazine articles, special reports and websites that may be of interest on any topic. All WorldBook databases allow patrons to print, view documents and articles in PDF format, email articles, change font sizes, save (must create an account and log in), and options to read portions of an ariticle aloud or to translate it into different languages.

WorldBook Web for Schools includes Advanced; primarily for high school students and others, which allows for a variety of searching options, including limiting searches to primary sources or by Lexile level, Student; optimized for iPad, it's the mainstay for any school library's research needs and includes thousands of articles and extensive multimedia to help engage students, and Kids; which includes content and tools developed specifically for younger students. All three school databases provide similar encyclopedic information to the students and researchers; it's the language and layout that are geared toward each specific age group.

WorldBook has four specialty databases; Academic WorldBook, new to AskRI.org, is tailored to the needs of university level students is a comprehensive reference tool that includes encyclopedia, multimedia, e-book, and primary source databases, fully integrated in a single search and WorldBook Discover is an instruction site for individuals with reading levels below grade level. There are also two Spanish sites; Gran Enciclopedia Hispánica, a comprehensive encyclopedia and Enciclopeida Estudiantil Hallazgos, a media-rich, interactive, informational database.  

WorldBook Classroom is another database where Dramatic Learning, in the form of classroom plays, extends traditional class work. The plays on this site have been written to work in concert with accompanying lesson plans tied to state achievement benchmarks. They function as a catalyst to engage students in the adventure of learning, encouraging them to pursue further research and exploration long after their classroom experience is over. The Classroom also offers materials for younger learners in the Early World of Learning and includes narrated stories, puzzles, and videos that teach early childhood themes; colors, numbers, shapes, and more. There is a section where students are provided with reading practice to strengthen phonics, vocabulary, and other reading skills. The Early Learner Classroom also includes a visually interactive encyclopedia for fact finding.

There are also three WorldBook Digital Libraries. Each includes facts, activities that can be conducted at home, school, or within the community, sidebars, and biographies of famous inventors and professionals appropriate to each Library. This part of WorldBook also includes a translation tool that generates content in 30 languages, an English text-to-speech feature, video tutorials and animations, interactive Flash activities, printable materials for continued learning, and correlations to states and provincial standards and educational benchmarks.  

The Living Green digital library examines the environmental impact of every aspect of modern life, from the water bottles we purchase, to the cars we drive, to the food we buy. This section reveals how governments and individuals can work together to reduce our collective carbon footprint. It includes areas such as Consumable Goods, Forests and Wetlands, Green Buildings, Pollution, Producing and Obtaining Food, and others.    

The Early Peoples digital library contains sections about the origins and rise of each civilization or culture; social structure and the role of women; methods of warfare; daily life and customs; diet; housing; legal system; religion, spiritual beliefs, and holidays; advances in science; arts and crafts; eventual decline; and the culture's legacy in the modern world. Sections include Africans of the Ghana, Mali, Ancient Egyptians, Indians of Eastern North America, The Inca, Peoples of the Arctic and Subartic, and others.    

The third WorldBook digital library focuses on Inventions and Discoveries. Each section in this library is organized chronologically within a subject area to show the progression of inventions and discoveries that have advanced civilization. Each topic introduces the historical background and cultural significance of each invention or discovery and discusses the science behind it. The volumes include Architecture and Engineering, The Arts, Astronomy, Communication, Economics, Mathematics, Medicine, Personal and Household Items, and Warfare, and others.

Suggest one of WorldBook databases to teachers looking for lesson plans, students needing help on a variety of topics or curious patrons. They're sure to find something appropriate to their needs and of interest!

--Public libraries in communities statewide responded to the RI Emergency Management Agency's (RIEMA) invitation to be listed as cooling centers during days with high heat and humidity. In a collaborative action with RIEMA, the Office of Library and Information Services sent messages to public library directors and branch librarians inviting them to contact RIEMA if they were willing to be listed as a cooling center. They responded enthusiastically and libraries quickly populated the RIEMA List of Cooling Centers. The list is distributed to the press and multiple social services agencies including 211ri.org.  

The list is issued at least twice a day during periods of extreme temperatures and/or humidity. Libraries can be added at anytime, but do not remain listed if there is an interval of cooler weather. There is no cost to the library if they are listed as a cooling center and there is no expectation of additional services or refreshments. The library is offering its cool environment and all its usual fantastic educational and entertaining resources.

During extreme summer weather, if you would like your building to be included as a cooling center, contact Annemarie Beardsworth at RIEMA 462-7096 or annemarie.beardsworth.nfg@mail.mil 

--OLIS welcomes Karen Andrews as Assistant Administrative Officer. Karen worked previously in the private sector and as a paraprofessional in the Libraries of Foster. Karen will provide administrative support to the Chief Library Officer and the Library Board of Rhode Island.

--On June 17, 2013, the Library Board of Rhode Island adopted new Minimum Standards and Regulations for Rhode Island Public Libraries. The "Standards" are in effect 20 days after they are adopted but public libraries will not certify compliance until they file the Annual Report in 2014. The new Standards will be posted on the OLIS website and supersede the Minimum Standards published in 2000. [Electronic copies of the Standards may be requested from Karen Andrews until they are available on the OLIS Website.]

--Chief Library Officer Howard Boksenbaum retired in June after, in his words, "having sojourned here among Rhode Island's library and information communities for nearly 34 years." On June 20, the library community sent Howard forward into retirement with a party at the Providence Athenaeum. Approximately 75 librarians, trustees, Library Board of RI members, coworkers, and friends joined in sharing good wishes for Howard. The celebration included tributes to Howard by OLIS staff, current and former chairs of the Library Board of Rhode Island and Senator Jack Reed. Chris Albert, from the Senator's RI office, represented the Senator and read from a Tribute paid by Senator Reed on June 13 and posted in the Congressional Record (113th Congress, Congressional Record, article 18 of 53). 

Howard speaking with Sheila Carlson, Ann Grealish-Rust

Tom Viall, Chair Library Board of RI, Brigitte Hopkins, Director, West Warwick Public Library, Dr. Gale Eaton, President of COLA

--OLIS and project partners for Protecting the Past - RI are pleased to announce an extension to the grant-funded program for disaster preparedness for libraries and other cultural heritage organizations. The extension, granted by the Institute of Museum and Library Services in May, will allow the project to offer additional training including Disaster Response Planning & Preparedness; Disaster Response & Triage of Wet Materials; Collections and Property Risk Assessment, Appraisal, and Insurance; and A Table Top Exercise for Your Disaster Plan. Look for these programs on the OLIS Fall Continuing Education roster. Theresa Woodmansee will continue as Project Manager.

--The Library Board of Rhode Island is pleased to announce the appointment of two new members. Louise Herrington-Bright represents General Library Users (Public Member) and assumes the position previously held by Mark McKenney. Monica Nazareth-Dzialo represents Users of the Talking Books Plus and assumes the position previously held by of Regina Connor. Members of the Library Board of Rhode Island are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, in accordance with Section 29-3.1-2.2 of the RI General Laws.