Rhode Island Library Association

Media Smart Libraries Workshop Announcement

Wednesday, September 23, 2015 10:21 AM | Anonymous

URI’s Graduate School of Library and Information Studies is the recipient of an IMLS grant to implement the Media Smart Libraries program. One of the goals of the program is to advance the digital and media literacy skills of librarians through a series of free continuing education workshops. We invite you to the first FREE workshop:

TWITTER 101

MEDIA SMART LIBRARIES WORKSHOP

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

East Providence Public Library

Presenter: Catherine Damiani, Digital Services Librarian, East Providence Public Library

Libraries of all kinds are already using Twitter to good effect.Whether it is to broadcast your library events, converse with other professionals, or follow experts and resources, Twitter should be one of your library's communication tools. In this session you will learn how to use Twitter and discuss ways that this micro-blogging tool can facilitate the exchange of information. We recommend that you create a Twitter account ahead of time and bring your own mobile device.

This workshop is part of the Media Smart Libraries program which was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Grant # LG-07-14-0045-14

We encourage you to BYOB - Bring Your Own Buddy and start tweeting to #mediasmartri

RSVP off list to:

Mary Moen, Media Smart Libraries Program Director mary_moen@uri.edu

Thank you.

--

Mary Moen

Research Assistant Professor of Library Studies

Media Smart Libraries Program
Funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services

Graduate School of Library and Information Studies

Harrington School of Communication and Media

University of Rhode Island

Kingston, RI

Join the Conference Committee

Monday, September 21, 2015 11:42 AM | Anonymous

The RILA Conference committee is looking for new members!!! Are you interested in helping to shape the new look of the RILA conference? Do you have ideas for speakers, sessions, or activities that conference members will love? If you are passionate about networking, professional development, or current trends in the field, then we want to hear from you! Contact co-chairs Melissa Chiavaroli (melissa@cumberlandlibrary.org) or Erin Creighton (elcreighton@gmail.com) for more information about meetings, the time commitment required, or if you would like to join us!

Melissa Chiavaroli

Reference Services Coordinator

Cumberland Public Library

1464 Diamond Hill Road

Cumberland, RI 02864

(401) 333-2552 ext. 201

www.cumberlandlibrary.org

You Are Invited: Life is Good Founders and CEOs Bert and John Jacobs Talk and Booksigning at B&N Warwick

Wednesday, August 19, 2015 11:08 AM | Anonymous

LIFE IS GOOD: The Book: How to Live with Purpose and Enjoy the Ride

Barnes & Noble Warwick is pleased to host founders and CEOs of Life is Good Bert and John Jacobs for a talk and booksigning for their new book LIFE IS GOOD: The Book: How to Live with Purpose and Enjoy the Ride on Tuesday, September 1st at 7pm at 1350 Bald Hill Rd. Warwick. For over two decades, the much-loved Life is Good® brand has brought smiles, hope and help to millions. Over the course of their business career, founders and brothers Bert and John Jacobs have learned that optimism isn't a marketing tactic - it's the force that drove them to overcome tremendous obstacles and build a $100 million clothing company with just $78 and a used minivan. LIFE IS GOOD: The Book: How to Live with Purpose and Enjoy the Ride is the story of the Jacobs brothers' journey and the secrets to their success.

Beginning with their tough upbringing in working-class Boston, LIFE IS GOOD: The Book charts the trajectory of their lives and the company they built. A key influence was their mother, Joan, who could always be counted on to put a humorous and positive spin on everything. "I like running out of money," she would say. "Then I don't have to worry about what I need to buy." This undaunted optimism became the driving force of the Life is Good brand.

As they note in their introduction to the book, studies have demonstrated a strong link between optimism and increased mental and physical health, greater resilience in the face of stress and adversity, and a higher overall quality of life. "Optimism is a powerful and pragmatic strategy for accomplishing goals and living a fulfilling life. By acknowledging obstacles and opportunities - but focusing on the opportunities - optimism enables us to explore the world with open
arms and an eye toward solutions, progress and growth. It also makes life a hell of a lot more fun," they write.

LIFE IS GOOD: The Book offers lighthearted, practical self-help that will inspire and empower readers to embrace life with delight and daring. Bert and John use their experiences to illuminate the 10 Life is Good superpowers that drive optimism:

Openness is transformative, allowing us to discover new ways of being and acting by withholding judgments and preconceptions.
Courage is our inner resolve to try new things.
Simplicity sheds unnecessary complications and distractions.
Humor is a universal connector.
Gratitude is the practice of taking stock of the many things that are good, right and working in our lives.
Compassion is an act of connecting and sharing in the hard stuff, helping ease the pain, heal the hurt and right the wrongs.
Fun is the irresistible spark that connects and inspires us to feel truly united and alive.
Creativity enables us to reach beyond conventional thinking to make things better.
Authenticity is knowing who you are and acting like it.
Love is the most powerful force in the world.

About Bert and John Jacobs:
In 1989, brothers Bert and John Jacobs designed their first T-shirts. They began selling their designs in the streets of Boston and out of an old van at colleges and street fairs. Today, Life is Good® is a $100 million positive lifestyle brand focused on spreading the power of optimism. Ten percent of Life is Good's annual net profits go to helping kids overcome poverty, violence and illness. The Life is Good Kids Foundation partners with leading childcare organizations to positively impact the quality of care delivered to the most vulnerable children. Bert and John both reside in Boston. For more information, visit
www.LifeisGood.com.

For additional information contact Katie Rendine, Community Business Development Manager Barnes & Noble at 826.4261 or crm2159@bn.com

RI Children's Book Award Committee Seeks Member

Monday, July 06, 2015 9:39 AM | Anonymous

The Rhode Island Children's Book Award Committee is seeking a RILA member to serve a three-year term as a RILA representative on the committee. This group meets monthly from September through April to discuss current children's literature and select nominations for the Rhode Island Children's Book Award. Serving as a committee member is a great way to keep up with the latest in children's literature. It does require a significant time commitment as all members are expected to read between six and ten children's chapter books per month. If you are interested please contact OLIS Youth Services Coordinator, Danielle Margarida at Danielle.Margarida@olis.ri.gov.

RILA Announces Winners of Annual Awards at Conference

Monday, June 08, 2015 11:31 AM | Anonymous

NEWPORT, R.I. – The Rhode Island Library Association announced the winners of this year’s awards of recognition for those serving the patrons of libraries of Rhode Island at the association’s conference at Salve Regina University.

This year’s Outstanding Librarian Award was given to Julie DeCesare. DeCesare is an Assistant Professor and Commons Librarian, Head of Education & Research at Providence College's Phillips Memorial Library, where I currently coordinate instructional and educational opportunities between the library, campus community, and beyond. As a Member at Large for RILA since 2011, she’s been a co-coordinator Money Smart Week - RI. When looking at her role in the profession, DeCesare said, “I am committed to Information and Financial Literacy initiatives, as well as positive outreach and awareness of library services on a statewide level.”

The Trustee of the Year Award was shared by Nancy Chaput of the Cumberland Public Library and Mary Elizabeth “Betsy” Mercer of the Ashaway Free Library.

Chaput has been a trustee at the Cumberland Public Library since 2007, serving as the board’s chair for the past four years. She has also been a Friend of the library for over 15 years, serving as president for most of that time. She also serves on the library’s Cumberland Library Fund, a non-profit group that started as a capital building campaign committee and evolved into overseeing the lirbary’s endowments.

Mercer has served on Ashaway Free Library’s board of trustees for over 25 years. She is the resident historian for the library and the community whil also playing roles in helping to make sure the library gets the funds it needs while serving on the board’s physicial plant, development, and community relations committees. She has also served as the board’s secretary and chair.

Also during the Business Meeting at the conference, the membership elected a new Executive Board. The following is the result:

President: Aaron Coutu (2015-2017), Cumberland Public Library
Vice President/President-Elect: Julie A. DeCesare (2015-2017), Providence College
Past President: Jenifer Bond(2015-2017), Bryant University
Treasurer: Brigitte Hopkins (2015-2017), Westerly Library & Wilcox Park
Secretary: Kieran Ayton (2015-2017), Rhode Island College
ALA Councilor: Jack Martin (2014-2016), Providence Public Library
Member-at-Large: Andrew Creamer (2015-2017), Brown University
Member-at-Large: Beth Ullucci (2015-2017), Jesse M. Smith Memorial Library

MSW RI 2015 Kick Off: Library & Financial Education Professionals Networking Event

Tuesday, April 07, 2015 1:56 PM | Anonymous

Date: Saturday, April 18, 2015
Time:1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Location: William Hall Library, Cranston(link is external)

RILA & OLIS invite financial literacy and library professionals from across the state to a networking & information sharing event that will officially launch Money Smart Week RI 2015. The event is a chance for librarians, representatives from community organizations, and state agencies to meet and discuss how we can work together to empower RI citizens of all ages to be “money smart” through financial education programming, outreach, and services. The event also offers an opportunity to learn more about about various financial literacy resources. Speakers at the event include:

General Treasurer Seth Magaziner
Cranston Mayor Allan Fung
individuals from the RI Library and Financial Literacy community

Money Smart Week - RI 2015 takes place April 18-25 and currently has over 40 events scheduled(link is external) in libraries and community spaces throughout the state. Money Smart Week (MSW) is a national initiative from the Chicago Federal Reserveand the American Library Association that promotes financial literacy awareness. Please join us to celebrate the beginning of the 4th annual MSW RI!

Registration required(link is external)– please RSVP by April 16. Intended Audience: Money Smart Week programmers, Librarians and library staff, & the financial literacy community.

Is your library planning a MSW-RI program or event? Let RILA’s MSW co-chairs know! Contact Chris Wallace Goldstein(cgoldstein@woonsocketlibrary.org(link sends e-mail)) or Julie DeCesare (jdecesa1@providence.edu(link sends e-mail)).

RILA Annual Awards - Nominations Due April 10, 2015

Thursday, April 02, 2015 1:55 PM | Anonymous

The annual RILA awards process provides the opportunity for special recognition of the accomplishments, service, and commitment of trustees, librarians, and others. The RILA Executive Board encourages you to nominate a deserving colleague or associate for this year’s awards.

This year’s nominations are due no later than May 9, 2014. Nomination letters should be emailed to RILA Awards Committee Chair and RILA Past President, Eileen Dyer, eadyer@gmail.com(link sends e-mail)

Criteria for Trustee of the Year Award

Any trustee of any library who has served on his/her board for at least three years is eligible for this award. These are suggested guidelines, but by no means the only ones, upon which a nomination may be made:

• Nominee worked in a readily identifiable way to develop/improve library service to a community, or to a specific segment within the community.

• Nominee successfully lobbied for increased funding and/or resources for his/her library.

• Nominee fashioned a plan that successfully enhanced the library’s role in the community.

• Nominee was instrumental in networking with trustees of other libraries to foster cooperative planning or activities.

Criteria for Outstanding Librarian Award

This award honors the career accomplishments of a librarian who has demonstrated an outstanding record of service to both his/her library and to the library profession. The nominee must be a member of the Rhode Island Library Association. Guidelines for nomination include:

• Development of outstanding service in (a) field(s) of expertise, e.g. children’s, administrative, technical.

• Involvement in statewide library activities.

• Record of professional library leadership.

• Encouragement of community/institutional support for library.

Criteria for Citation of Merit and or Meritorious Friends of the Library Award(s)

This award is conferred upon citizens who are neither librarians nor library trustees who have made outstanding contributions to quality library service. This award may be given to an individual or group.

The RILA Executive Board will determine award recipients based on the letters of recommendation. The Board reserves the right not to present these awards in any given year.

2015 New England Library Leadership Symposium (NELLS)

Tuesday, March 31, 2015 1:54 PM | Anonymous

EXTENDED DEADLINE!!!!
The application deadline has been extended to Monday, April 6.

Offered every 2 years, The New England Library Leadership Symposium (NELLS) is jointly sponsored by the New England Library Association (NELA) and the six New England state library associations. The purpose of the symposium is to foster the mentoring and development of members of the library community who are eager to grow leadership skills. This is a week-long summer academy and leadership retreat for early to mid-career librarians (3-15 years’ experience), paraprofessionals, Trustees and Friends of Libraries. NELLS is a valuable experience for anyone working in or connected to the library field.

The Rhode Island Library Association and Office of Library & Information Services seeks applicants to represent Rhode Island at the 2015 NELLS session. Individuals interested in this immersive professional development experience are encouraged to apply! Attendees may be recommended by someone or may make their own application Each applicant must be a current member of RILA or NELA to be eligible. Deadline is April 6. Selected attendees will be notified in late spring and this year’s session takes place in early August.

NELLS 2015
August 3-7, 2015
Rolling Ridge Retreat & Conference Center
North Andover, Massachusetts
Facilitator: Maureen Sullivan, ALA Past President

For more information and to download an application form: http://nelib.org/advance-your-career/nells/