From the State Library

Vocational Awe
The State Library of Ohio and OhioNET hosted Vocational Awe: Examining the Cost of Your Service on October 7.  The virtual event garnered a huge response with over 250 tuning in live!  A recording of the event is now available to view on the State Library of Ohio’s YouTube page. https://library.ohio.gov/services-for-libraries/library-programs-development/critical-conversations/
 
The program is in three parts. First, Fobazi Ettarh gives a presentation explaining the term she coined “vocational awe” and how it is prevalent in library work. In the second part of the program, Fobazi engages in a dialog with librarian Erin Kelsey from the State Library of Ohio to dig deeper into the concept and themes of advocacy, culture change, and vocational awe and white supremacy. Lastly, Fobazi addressed questions from the audience.
 
In an effort to create a supportive learning experience for participants, we have curated a resources webpage with helpful articles on vocational awe and related topics.  Don't forget NEO-RLS's Self-care resource page. 

If you have trouble accessing the video or have ideas for future Critical Conversations topics, email Erin Kelsey, library consultant at the State Library of Ohio at ekelsey@library.ohio.gov.

SLP
A preliminary 2020 Ohio Summer Library Program evaluation report is available for download. A fuller report, including anecdotes and analysis from Ohio librarians, will be available by year’s end.
 
Obviously, this was a year like no other. I chose not to compile and publish statewide participation numbers, which ordinarily are the core data of the state SLP report. Since 2020 was a singularly anomalous year, those numbers wouldn’t be helpful in tracking long-term trends in SLP participation. And frankly, these numbers would just be discouraging at a time when we are already hurting from the inability to serve our communities the way we want to and provide the programs and hospitality we want to. Anecdotally, both in Ohio and nationwide,  SLP participation per library averaged only 10-25% of participation in a typical year.
 
But there is a lot to celebrate about summer 2020. Really! Most libraries were able to offer SLP, and those that didn’t made their decisions thoughtfully and with public safety in mind. A large majority of survey respondents said they considered their 2020 SLP a success, given the circumstances. Libraries statewide implemented many new emergency practices that were so successful that they will become standard practice. Library staff creativity, flexibility, and resilience made it possible for Ohio’s libraries to engage, support, and comfort their communities in a pandemic. Read the preliminary report to learn more:
https://library.ohio.gov/documents/2020-ohio-summer-library-program-preliminary-report/