According to Webster’s Online, community is defined as “a unified body of individuals”. As librarians in northeastern Kansas, we are involved in numerous communities. There is, of course, the local community our library serves. We are also, however, part of other communities – the NEKLS community, the Kansas library community, and more. This idea of community and connecting to community will be the theme for this year’s Spring Assembly.
Being a member of the Kansas library community provides connection not only with physical and electronic resources (like databases), but also with people and ideas. As the new State Librarian, Jo Budler will certainly be a key individual in the state library community. NEKLS is happy to welcome her to the state of Kansas and will look forward to hearing from her as the opening speaker at Spring Assembly.
NEKLS member librarians connect to their local communities in many ways. At this year’s Spring Assembly, you will have an opportunity to hear how.
• Royce Kitts, director of the Tonganoxie Public Library, will present a session on “Front Line Advocacy”. Advocating for the library does not just mean writing letters to legislators. It can be done most effectively in fact, by being thoughtful about everyday interactions that take place at the library.
• Diane Trinkle, director of the Nortonville Public Library, will present a session based on her experiences as a trainer on the Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets, which is focused on building great communities by working with and developing strengths in youth.
Please join us for all this and more at this year’s Spring Assembly! It will be held Thursday, April 22nd, from 9:00-2:30 at the Holiday Inn in Lawrence, Kansas.
Brenda Hough is the Continuing Education Consultant at NEKLS. You can reach her by email (bhough (at) nekls.org), phone, or on several instant messaging platforms (look Brenda up by her email address). Visit the 
