From the State Library of Ohio

Ohio is one of six states piloting the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant-funded initiative Building Equity Based Summers Through Libraries & Communities (BEBS).

A reminder that applications for Building Equity Based Summers participation are due by Monday, November 21.

Public libraries nationwide offer summer programs and services for learning and leisure. These programs aim to engage youth and adults meaningfully throughout the summer months.

BEBS will empower library staff to weave equity into their summer library programs. The goal of this project is to build library staff skills and confidence, which will equip them to create summer programs and services that are equitable and that promote equity across the communities served by their library.

BEBS will build upon the work of the California Library Association and the California State Library in developing a shared language of equity and a set of tools and resources for library staff to create community-centered, equitable summer programs and services.

The State Library of Ohio is looking for five public libraries to participate in the first year of this three-year initiative. Each participating library will be represented by a team of two staff members, typically the coordinator of the summer library program and a manager or administrator. Larger teams are permissible. Teams may also include one library staff member and a community partner.

Through training and codesign, all BEBS participants will work with their state youth services consultant and the other project teams to address these questions:

Do summer programs demonstrate attention to equity?
How are libraries determining how and if summer programs are achieving equity goals?
What impact are summer programs having on those that need them the most?

Each participating library will receive a $500 stipend to support its participation.

Participation in the BEBS initiative will require, of all team members:

Attendance at four (4) 2-hour learning sessions with other Ohio participants. The sessions will run from January - April 2023. Session dates, times, and locations (virtual and/or in-person) will be agreed upon by Ohio participants and the Ohio youth services consultant.
Participation in a Community of Practice with the teams and state youth services consultants from the other pilot states (CT, ID, MD, RI, WA) and the BEBS project coordinators. This will involve once-monthly Zoom meetings and access to a network of peers in other states.
Work within your library to begin to consider and assess your existing and planned summer programs and services through an equity lens (this will continue beyond year 1).

Note: Year one participants are not being asked to change their summer plans, but to evaluate current summer programs and services in light of equity goals.

If you are interested in being a part of this project, complete this application by close of business Monday, November 21, 2022:

www.surveymonkey.com/r/Ohio_BEBS_year1

This is expected to be a competitive process, and not all applicants may be selected. The BEBS leadership is looking for a diverse group of cohort members representing all library and community sizes, various geographic areas, and various demographic community composition. Applicants will be notified of selection decisions by Friday, December 16, 2022.

Learn more about the BEBS IMLS project.

Learn more about California's BEBS project.

Please contact Janet Ingraham Dwyer, Youth Services Consultant, at jdwyer@library.ohio.gov with any questions.

The November Ohio Youth Services meetup was held on Wednesday, November 16, 2:00-3:00 pm.
There was a a special presentation and focused discussion about the 2023 CSLP All Together Now summer program theme and ideas for programming and decorations to receive a recording of this please contact Janet Ingraham Dwyer.

Cultivating Affirmation and Belonging for LGBTQIA+ Youth

Tuesday, November 22, 2:00 pm EST

This webinar will be presented by Amanda Erickson, Director of Education and Outreach at Kaleidoscope Youth Center right here in Columbus. Amanda has strategies and advice to help us improve the general climate of libraries and summer reading programs through various strategies from simple word choice to organizational policy change. Participants will learn about implicit bias, the complexity and depth of gender, and explanation of acronyms. Participants will be given strategies to create a welcoming environment in their Library and their Library’s summer reading program for LGBTQIA+ youth.

Direct registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_U8NQW1wcSdy1HxWJv3kl5g


From the State Library of Ohio Ohio is one of six states piloting the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant-funded initiative Building Equity Based Summers Through Libraries & Communities (BEBS). A reminder that applications for Building Equity Based Summers participation are due by Monday, November 21. Public libraries nationwide offer summer programs and services for learning and leisure. These programs aim to engage youth and adults meaningfully throughout the summer months. BEBS will empower library staff to weave equity into their summer library programs. The goal of this project is to build library staff skills and confidence, which will equip them to create summer programs and services that are equitable and that promote equity across the communities served by their library. BEBS will build upon the work of the California Library Association and the California State Library in developing a shared language of equity and a set of tools and resources for library staff to create community-centered, equitable summer programs and services. The State Library of Ohio is looking for five public libraries to participate in the first year of this three-year initiative. Each participating library will be represented by a team of two staff members, typically the coordinator of the summer library program and a manager or administrator. Larger teams are permissible. Teams may also include one library staff member and a community partner. Through training and codesign, all BEBS participants will work with their state youth services consultant and the other project teams to address these questions: Do summer programs demonstrate attention to equity? How are libraries determining how and if summer programs are achieving equity goals? What impact are summer programs having on those that need them the most? Each participating library will receive a $500 stipend to support its participation. Participation in the BEBS initiative will require, of all team members: Attendance at four (4) 2-hour learning sessions with other Ohio participants. The sessions will run from January - April 2023. Session dates, times, and locations (virtual and/or in-person) will be agreed upon by Ohio participants and the Ohio youth services consultant. Participation in a Community of Practice with the teams and state youth services consultants from the other pilot states (CT, ID, MD, RI, WA) and the BEBS project coordinators. This will involve once-monthly Zoom meetings and access to a network of peers in other states. Work within your library to begin to consider and assess your existing and planned summer programs and services through an equity lens (this will continue beyond year 1). Note: Year one participants are not being asked to change their summer plans, but to evaluate current summer programs and services in light of equity goals. If you are interested in being a part of this project, complete this application by close of business Monday, November 21, 2022: www.surveymonkey.com/r/Ohio_BEBS_year1 This is expected to be a competitive process, and not all applicants may be selected. The BEBS leadership is looking for a diverse group of cohort members representing all library and community sizes, various geographic areas, and various demographic community composition. Applicants will be notified of selection decisions by Friday, December 16, 2022. Learn more about the BEBS IMLS project. Learn more about California's BEBS project. Please contact Janet Ingraham Dwyer, Youth Services Consultant, at jdwyer@library.ohio.gov with any questions. The November Ohio Youth Services meetup was held on Wednesday, November 16, 2:00-3:00 pm. There was a a special presentation and focused discussion about the 2023 CSLP All Together Now summer program theme and ideas for programming and decorations to receive a recording of this please contact Janet Ingraham Dwyer. Cultivating Affirmation and Belonging for LGBTQIA+ Youth Tuesday, November 22, 2:00 pm EST This webinar will be presented by Amanda Erickson, Director of Education and Outreach at Kaleidoscope Youth Center right here in Columbus. Amanda has strategies and advice to help us improve the general climate of libraries and summer reading programs through various strategies from simple word choice to organizational policy change. Participants will learn about implicit bias, the complexity and depth of gender, and explanation of acronyms. Participants will be given strategies to create a welcoming environment in their Library and their Library’s summer reading program for LGBTQIA+ youth. Direct registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_U8NQW1wcSdy1HxWJv3kl5g
Newsletter - NEO-RLS News-November 17, 2022