Blog

By Maridith Yahl, July 10, 2020, NK Tribune. When Erin DeSantis took a yoga class over five and a half years ago, little did she know it would change her life. Practicing yoga brought a self-awareness she had never known. “I really got to know myself just from that practice. Just coming within my own self. Before I did yoga, I really didn’t have the best body image or self-confidence. Yoga was the thing to solidify how I was,” DeSantis says. [ Please click here to read more. ]

By Summer Horan, July 21, 2020, ABC 57. BUCHANAN, Mich.-- One Michiana Library has created a new initiative to lend out more than just books to their community. The concept of a library of things has been in the works since before the pandemic began. “It was donated my Ohana music out in California. They donated 6 ukuleles to us, middle of March, we were really rearing to go and then obviously everything got shut down," said Buchanan District Library Director, Meg Paulette. [ Please click...

By Marva Hinton, May 28, 2020, School Library Journal. Figuring out to how to handle classics that critics say haven’t aged well can be tough for librarians charged with putting together school collections. Students have been reading To Kill a Mockingbird, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn , and the “Little House” series for generations, and for many years, having these “classics” available in school libraries was a given. But today, some media specialists are questioning the proper place for...

By Rachel Looker, June 8, 2020, NACo - county news. When looking to find new ways to promote library services to the public, staff from Orange County, Calif. Public Libraries knew they would need to go beyond the typical promotional items to bring awareness of what libraries can offer to the community. Regional Services Manager Matthew Patsel and his team launched the Pop-Up Libraries Program in 2018 to raise public awareness of the services that are available at Orange County libraries. The...

By Shawna Sherman, June 3, 2020, USA Today. I may not be a medical professional but I am a member of this community. The work of contact tracers can help ease distress and even save lives. Just three months ago, I worked as a librarian at the San Francisco Public Library's Main Branch, where I answered questions on a reference desk. Now, I spend my days calling strangers to ask: Have you had any novel coronavirus symptoms in the last three days? Are you able to stay at home? Can we monitor...

Press Release may 26, 2020, Urban Libraries Council. Public libraries across the U.S. and Canada are taking bold and innovative measures to mitigate the inequitable impact of COVID-19 on children, low-income families, communities of color, people experiencing homelessness and other high-risk populations. Through dynamic partnerships with local government, new digital service models, reimagined library spaces and other innovative approaches, these new efforts reflect a rapid evolution of the...

June 1, 2020, Urban Libraries Council Newsroom Blog. The Urban Libraries Council President & CEO Susan Benton has issued the following statement today (June 1): “The Urban Libraries Council stands with the #BlackLivesMatter movement and all who are calling for immediate, collective action to end the systemic racism and inequity entrenched in our communities. “While the unprecedented impact of COVID-19 has set the stage for a “new normal,” the past months have been filled with...

June 1, 2020, Urban Libraries Council Newsroom Blog. In a strong act of commitment to a more equitable society, 164 public libraries across North America signed the Urban Libraries Council’s Statement on Race and Social Equity . This statement serves as a baseline upon which libraries can build policies and actions that make their communities more inclusive and just. [ Please click here to read more. ]

May 26, 2020, Urban Libraries Council Newsroom Blog. Public libraries across the U.S. and Canada are taking bold and innovative measures to mitigate the inequitable impact of COVID-19 on children, low-income families, communities of color, people experiencing homelessness and other high-risk populations. Through dynamic partnerships with local government, new digital service models, reimagined library spaces and other innovative approaches, these new efforts reflect a rapid evolution of the...

Join the SELF-Leadership Cohort Your inner-state makes all the difference, as a care provider and/or leader. We are in a time of disruptive change that has us challenged and facing higher stress loads. We can turn to the N.E.A.R. Sciences to help us upgrade our practices for navigating change (N.E.A.R. = Neuroscience, Epigenetics, ACEs, and Resilience). Are you ready for new strategies and self-care practices? Join the six-week SELF-Leadership Cohort . The cohort launches June 9 th with...

By Deborah Fallows, March 31, 2020, Atlantic America’s public libraries have led the ranks of “ second responders ,” stepping up for their communities in times of natural or manmade disasters, like hurricanes, floods, shootings, fires, and big downturns in individual lives. Throughout all these events, libraries have stayed open, filling in for the kids when their schools closed; offering therapeutic sessions in art or conversation or writing after losses of life; bringing in nurses or...

Teen (Grades 7-12) About this Event Are you looking for new ways to look at challenges? More positive ways to express yourself? Interested in learning about healthy coping skills? Social Advocates for Youth will host a series of 1-hour drop-in groups once a week for teens ages 12-19. We'll focus on supporting mental wellness and healthy ways to cope with challenges. Come make art and share, or just listen. All teens welcome. Please sign up online or drop-in to check it out . Ask at the...