WSL Updates for July 27, 2017

Volume 13, July 27, 2017 for the WSL Updates mailing list Topics include: 1) STEM PROGRAMS – FIRST TUESDAYS 2) WASHINGTON READS – ONE STATE/ONE BOOK 3) WELCOME TO SKILLPORT 4) LIBRARIES READY TO CODE 5) IMLS GRANTS WEBINAR 6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1) STEM PROGRAMS – FIRST TUESDAYS

There is a wealth of information available regarding STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) but how does one decide what type of STEM program(s) to implement into the classroom, library, grade level, school or district? This free webinar explores possible ways to implement STEM ranging from simple to complex depending on the amount of time and energy you feel that you can allocate to STEM. “Implementing STEM Programs: to fit your time constraints and comfort levels,” will be presented by Jane Rizika, Teacher Librarian, East Olympia Elementary School, August 1, 2017, 9:00 a.m., Pacific Time. sos.wa.gov/q/FirstTuesdays. First Tuesdays is designed as a continuing-education opportunity for staff of libraries in Washington State. This free web presentation allows attendees to share their skills and successes and learn about new topics. The special-subject presentations, lasting about 60 minutes, are recorded so that others may listen at their own convenience. Past sessions are archived here: sos.wa.gov/q/Broadcasts. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2) WASHINGTON READS – ONE STATE/ONE BOOK

By now we hope you’ve heard about the new partnership between the Seattle Public Library and the Washington State Library – the Washington Center for the Book. A major goal for this partnership is to bring all of Washington State and all types of libraries together through literature. We are in the early stages of planning a statewide Washington Reads program and your library’s information and input would be very helpful to us as we move forward. If they haven’t already done so, please ask your community reads coordinator to help us with our planning by filling out a short survey or fill it out yourself, if you’re that person. Here’s the link: www.surveymonkey.com/r/N6QMJ7D. Thank you! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3) WELCOME TO SKILLPORT

Staff of all types of libraries in Washington now have free access to Skillsoft (via Skillport), a learning management system with access to online self-paced courses and instructional videos. There are hundreds of available topics ranging from using Microsoft Office and Windows, to leadership essentials, to creating budgets. It’s easy to set up a series of classes on a specific topic, too. Register for free and select Washington as your state – you qualify through the Washington State Library’s partnership with OCLC WebJunction. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4) LIBRARIES READY TO CODE

Applications are being accepted through August for Libraries Ready to Code grants from ALA and Google. The goal is to fund a cohort of school and public libraries to develop resources to help get U.S. libraries “Ready to Code.” The $500,000 pilot program is part of Phase III of Libraries Ready to Code, an ongoing collaboration between ALA and Google to ensure expert library professionals are prepared to develop and deliver programming that promotes computer science and computational thinking among youth, two skills that will be required for challenges and jobs of the future. 25 to 50 participating libraries will receive funding from ALA, along with consulting expertise and operational support from Google. Individual libraries may use funding for devices, staffing, marketing and other costs associated with piloting an educational toolkit developed in partnership, by libraries, for libraries. The toolkit, set to release in conjunction with National Library Week in April 2018, will consist of computer science resources that libraries find most useful for designing and implementing youth computer science programming. This cohort of libraries will also initiate a community of practice to sustain momentum and build expertise across thousands of school and public U.S. libraries. To apply for Libraries Ready to Code grants, visit www.ala.org/tools/readytocode. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5) IMLS GRANTS WEBINAR

Learn more about the National Leadership and Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Grants programs from IMLS (the Institute of Museum and Library Services) during the third informational webinar to be held on Monday, July 31, 12:00 p.m. PDT. Use this shortcut link to join the webinar: sos.wa.gov/q/GrantsWebinar. National Leadership Grants for Libraries (NLG-L) support projects that address significant challenges and opportunities facing the library and archives fields and that have the potential to advance theory and practice. Successful proposals will generate results such as new tools, research findings, models, services, practices, or alliances that will be widely used, adapted, scaled, or replicated to extend the benefits of federal investment. The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program (LB21) supports developing a diverse workforce of librarians to better meet the changing learning and information needs of the American public by: enhancing the training and professional development of librarians, developing faculty and library leaders, and recruiting and educating the next generation of librarians. For more information on IMLS grants, visit www.imls.gov/grants. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

Monday, July 31 Tuesday, August 1 Wednesday, August 2 Thursday, August 3 Friday, August 4 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DISCLAIMER: The State Library regularly highlights third-party events and online resources as a way to alert the library community to training and resource opportunities. By doing so, we are not endorsing the content of the event, nor promoting any specific product, but merely providing this information as an FYI to librarians who must then decide what is right for them. Subscribe to WSL presents: News from Washington Libraries! The Washington State Library has gone social! Friend/follow us at:
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