La Hora Virtual: How to Develop a Virtual Program to Promote Spanish Resources (PCI Webinar)
2024-02-07 13:00 - 14:30 (America/Chicago)
This hour-and-a-half webinar will guide attendees on how to develop and implement a virtual program designed to promote Spanish resources at your library. Engage in interactive exercises that will help you draft your future virtual drop-in hour in español…step by step.

As a result of this program, attendees will learn how to:

– Address digital literacy from culturally competent frameworks

– Increase the use of Spanish library resources and programs

– Amplify community building through virtual interactions

Ana Villapando ~ Biography

Ana Villalpando is a doctoral student at University of California, San Diego. Since her career in public libraries started in 2016, Ana has prioritized advocating for language justice, equal access to information and addressing systemic inequities through conscious library programming. Ana’s work has been presented at Reforma National Conference, California Library Association Conference, Seguimos Creando Enlaces Binational Conferences, and California Libraries Learn Academy.

Reframing Failure: How to Keep Calm and Carry On (MALA Webinar)
2024-02-07 14:00 - 15:00
Presented by Caitlin McMahan, Eugene Public Library

Wednesday, January 7th 2024 at 2 p.m.

This session is about reframing how we look at “failures” and how we as staff can learn from our “mistakes,” give ourselves grace, and create a more realistic understanding of what it means to lead programs in libraries.

Register here (Sign up for free as a member via NEKLS)

Autism: A Conversation with Carly Danesh-Jones (Ryan Dowd Webinar)
2024-02-08 13:00 - 14:00
If you would like to receive a registration link directly to your email address, from Ryan Dowd, you should go to http://bit.ly/MonthlyWebinarSignup to signup.

Or you can register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/7116469294105/WN_qHE0kVbbRrqCmcYLcajNXw#/registration

About the Guest:

Carly Danesh-Jones is an autistic woman and advocate, shaping policy and practice related to autistic women and girls since 2008.

Over the last 15 years, Carly’s books, films and advocacy campaigned for greater acceptance, equality of diagnosis, education and safeguarding of autistic women globally. She was the first British autistic women to address the UN on rights in 2014. In 2021, her book, Safeguarding Autistic Girls, was distributed to all UK police forces to use.

Carly was awarded an MBE for her services to the autistic community in 2017 and recognized with a honorary doctorate from Sheffield Hallam University in 2022.

During the interview, Carly will share her experience of how homelessness and autism intersect after previously being homeless as a teenage mother.

Adventure Summer 2024: Best Ideas for Library Staff Serving Youth & Families
2024-02-09 10:00 - 11:30
Register at: https://forms.gle/gm41e9RvfbcnAg1CAYou will receive the link to the webinar by email before the event.

Adventure begins on your computer screen at this summer library program webinar!Get inspired with new ideas for your summer program. Featuring topics such asreading tracking, incentives, storytimes, and programming, you will come away fromthis webinar with practical and reproducible ideas to use at your library this summer.Liz Karstadt has over 12 years of experience as a public librarian and is currentlyemployed as the children’s librarian at Rahway Public Library in Rahway, New Jersey.For 5 years, she served as the co-chair for the New Jersey Statewide Summer ReadingCommittee and hosted several summer reading workshops for hundreds of librariansall over NJ. Liz lives in Aberdeen, NJ with her husband and two adorable cats.

What's New in Readers Advisory with Becky Spratford (PCI Webinar)
2024-02-14 13:00 - 14:00
Helping leisure readers is a core service at all public libraries. It is something library staff do each and every day, often without changes in how they perform this service for years, if ever.

But there is a lot more “new” in the tried-and-true world of Readers Advisory than you may realize.

Join international Readers’ Advisory expert, Becky Spratford, as she walks you through some of the biggest trends in publishing and shows you how to best serve your leisure readers in 2024, starting immediately.

Becky Spratford ~ Biography

Becky Spratford [MLIS] is a Readers’ Advisor in Illinois specializing in serving patrons ages 13 and up. She trains library staff all over the world on how to match books with readers through the local public library. She runs the critically acclaimed RA training blog RA for All. She is under contract to provide content for EBSCO’s NoveList database and writes reviews for Booklist and a horror review column for Library Journal.

Known for her work with horror readers, Becky is the author of The Reader’s Advisory Guide to Horror, Third Edition [ALA Editions, 2021]. She is on the Shirley Jackson Award Advisory Board and is a proud member of the Horror Writers Association and currently serves as the Association’s Secretary and organizer of their annual Librarians’ Day. You can follow Becky on Twitter @RAforAll.

TEEN Adventure Summer 2024: Great Ideas & Tips for Library Staff Serving Teens
2024-02-16 10:00 - 11:30
Register at: https://forms.gle/qFY9JkidtrMwseBB7You will receive the link to the webinar by email before the event.

Adventure into the world of summer programming for tweens and teens. We’ll discusssome overall directions you can take your summer and some specific ideas that willinspire you.Jennifer McCulley is the Youth Services Coordinator for the McPherson Public Library.She loves pandas and hates orange M&Ms and has been working in Kansas librariesfor well over a decade.

Level Up Your Library with AI: Practical Uses for Library Staff and Patrons (PCI Webinar)
2024-02-21 13:00 - 14:00
The future is here – learn how artificial intelligence is transforming libraries! Join our insightful webinar to discover how leading libraries leverage AI to improve programs, empower patrons, streamline operations, and offer cutting-edge services.

We’ll explore real-world examples and demo the latest AI applications for tasks like research, readers’ advisory, marketing, data analysis and routine writing. Take advantage of this opportunity to prepare your library for an AI-enabled future.

As a result of this program, participants will be able to:

Share actionable strategies to implement AI in ways that augment (rather than replace) human expertise

Understand how libraries big and small can make the most of AI to create more valuable, personalized experiences for patrons and new efficiencies for staff

Kira Smith ~ Biography

Kira is a Virtual Reference Specialist for Florida’s Ask A Librarian service and helps coordinate Florida’s statewide delivery service. With Master’s Degrees in Library Science and Education, Kira brings a strong educational foundation to her work. She is passionate about helping people find the information they need. Additionally, she freelances as a research consultant for journalists. Her background includes experience as an elementary school teacher and childbirth educator. Kira’s interests lie in teaching, technology, and travel. She is also an aspiring prompt engineer, and she is excited to see what the future holds for this emerging field.

Building Community Partnerships (Registration Full)
2024-02-23 11:00 - 13:00 | NEKLS Office, 4317 W 6th Street, Lawrence, KS, 66049, United States
Please save the date for a new Continuing Education opportunity on Friday, February 23rd. NEKLS is hosting a presentation and lunch with Darci Hildebrand, Director of the Wamego Public Library, on Building Community Partnerships. This CE opportunity will expand on the very popular presentation that Darci made at the November KLA Conference. The session will be from 11 AM-1 PM, including lunch provided by NEKLS. Due to space limitations, NEKLS will offer this exclusive in-person opportunity for the first 35 that register. Open to Directors or Library Staff—one staff member from each Library please. Details and registration to come in the next few weeks. We hope you can join us!

Best Picture Books Published in 2023 (PCI Webinar)
2024-02-28 13:00 - 14:00
Are you looking for new picture books to share in your classroom, curriculum, or collection? This presentation will feature the “best of the best” from the 2023 publishing crop (for ages 1 -6).

A variety of books will be featured, including quality read aloud books, distinguished illustrations, and picture books about diversity and inclusion. Log-in and enjoy this hour-long event.

As a result of this program, attendees will:

Develop a list of new picture books that connect to the preschool and kindergarten audience, both as read-aloud performance and one-to-one reading sessions

Learn how to choose diverse books for collections and programming, with a wide variety of themes, tones, subjects, and illustration styles. Acquire simple techniques to analyze picture book art

Identify books that align with kindergarten readiness skills and make connections to other books while discovering new authors and illustrators

Katie Clausen ~ Biography

Katie Clausen is the Early Literacy Services Manager at Gail Borden Public Library. She completed her MLIS from Dominican University and holds an M.A. in Children’s Literature from Simmons College.

She has presented at the Illinois Library Association’s Annual Conferences, ALSC Institute, Opening Minds Early Childhood Conference, and the National Network of Medical Libraries (NNLM). Check out Katie’s articles in the ILA Reporter and Children & Libraries: The Journal of ALSC. Katie’s specialties include: early literacy, children’s literature evaluation, play-based learning, and best storytime practices.

KORA Training at Lawrence Public Library (Registration Full)
2024-02-29 10:00 - 11:30
Lawrence Public Library has contracted The League of Kansas Municipalities to provide in-person Kansas Open Records Act (KORA) training for their library staff members. Nicole Proulx Aiken, who provided KOMA training in 2023, will lead this presentation, and be able to field questions about KORA compliance for public libraries. Registration is limited, one participant per library – NEKLS is subsidizing up to 14 spots for our member public libraries. Deadline to register is February 16.

10 AM Start, February 29, at the Lawrence Public Library Auditorium – training should last approximately 1.5 hours.

No online access or recordings will be available.

Attendees will receive a 2023 KORA Manual.

Let Dan (dalexander@nekls.org) know if you have any questions.

Register here: https://forms.gle/tJi5LmUG2yEAB6waA

Providing Accommodations for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Patrons in Your Library (PCI Webinar)
2024-03-06 13:00 - 14:00
This session unpacks the legal requirements for communication access under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and provides a guide to effective use of accommodations such as interpreters, captioning, front-line communication techniques, and more. We’ll also cover easy and inexpensive solutions that can be used by library staff at all levels.

At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to:

Describe their library’s legal requirements for providing communication access

Name at least accommodations that can be deployed by staff at all levels

List three (3) factors to consider when communicating through an interpreter

Kathy MacMillan ~ Biography

Kathy MacMillan (she/her) is an American Sign Language interpreter, instructor, consultant, writer and signing storyteller. She holds National Interpreter Certification (NIC) from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. Kathy is the author of the Little Hands Signing board book series (Familius Press) and Little Hands and Big Hands: Children and Adults Signing Together (Hands Up Press), as well as many other books for children, teens, and adults. She has worked in school and public libraries for over 25 years, and has trained thousands of library staff members on serving the Deaf community, signing in storytime, and engaging programming techniques. Kathy holds a Master of Library Science from the University of Maryland, a Bachelor of English from the Catholic University of America, and a Certificate of American Sign Language Interpreting from the Community College of Baltimore County. She lives in Baltimore, MD.

An Introduction to Passive Readers’ Advisory (PCI Webinar)
2024-03-13 13:00 - 14:00
Readers’ Advisory is not always face to face or in real time . . . Some patrons will not ask for help while in the library or want to start their search at home. For these reasons and because it’s not possible to reach everyone for one-on-one help, a robust program of passive readers advisory can fill in the gap.

Join Passive Readers’ Advisory expert Lila Denning for an hour of all the ways that you can help patrons find their next great read with passive readers’ advisory tools such as book displays, bookmarks, shelf talkers and lists. You will learn the features that both guide patrons with specific needs and wants while also marketing your collection.

She will also show you how to design social media posts and online lists of your physical and digital collection that will be a guide for patrons seeking help with a particular genre or subject.

Attendees will learn how to:

Understand what Readers’ Advisory is as well as how Passive Readers’ Advisory differs from active readers advisory

Identify best practices for creating Passive Readers’ Advisory tools for patrons, both online and offline

Discover some ideas for how to market every part of your collection using Passive Readers’ Advisory

Learn where to find ideas to inspire your Passive Readers’ Advisory efforts

Lila Denning ~ Biography

Lila Denning is a librarian in Florida specializing in Passive Readers’ Advisory for patrons of all ages. She is the acquisitions coordinator for the St. Petersburg Library System and has worked in circulation, reference, and youth services. She serves as the volunteer coordinator for the Horror Writers of America. You can find her on Twitter @Vantine and on BlueSky @Vantine.bsky.social. On her blog, bookdisplays.blogspot.com, she talks about ideas for book displays and other forms of Passive Readers’ Advisory and how to best use it to serve your patrons.

Creating a Person-Centered Library: Supporting Patrons While Avoiding Burnout (WebJunction)
2024-03-13 14:00 - 15:30
Are you feeling the strain of serving patrons with complex needs? Is your library seeing increased patron behavioral issues and mental health concerns? This session reviews ideas and approaches for how libraries can support both high-needs patrons and staff. As a result of this webinar, you will be able to:

Articulate the changing needs of library patrons and how these impact staff

Learn strategies for assessing your library’s unique needs

Discuss helpful programs, collaborations, and/or services for high-needs patrons

Apply person-centered strategies to begin creating cultural change in your library

Anticipate potential barriers to change

Presented by: Beth Wahler, PhD, MSW, Social Work Consultant with Public Libraries, Founder and Principal Consultant, Beth Wahler Consulting; and Sarah Johnson, MLIS, LMSW, Adjunct Lecturer, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, both co-authors, Creating a Person-Centered Library: Best Practices for Supporting High-Needs Patrons

https://www.webjunction.org/events/webjunction/creating-person-centered-library.html?utm_source=SFMC&utm_medium=email&utm_content=February+7+2024+Crossroads&utm_campaign=wj-crossroads-fy24&utm_term=WebJunction%20Crossroads

Circulation Desk Spanish (PCI Webinar)
2024-03-20 13:00 - 14:00
Would you like to be able to say a few phrases in Spanish to help Spanish-speakers feel welcome? In this webinar, you will learn some basic vocabulary to greet patrons, discuss various components of circulation, such as check-in and checkout, that will get Spanish-speakers started using the library.

As a result of attending, participants will be able to:

Greet patrons in Spanish

Answer directional questions that will help Spanish-speakers get started using the library

Refer patrons to someone who does speak Spanish for more in-depth questions.

This program is part of PCI’s collaborative learning project with California Libraries. (CALL).

Ana-Elba Pavon ~ Biography

A librarian for over 30 years, Ana-Elba Pavon has worked at public libraries throughout the Bay Area, including San Francisco, South San Francisco, San Mateo City and County, and Oakland. A Spanish-Services and Children’s Specialist, she has provided service to a wide variety of populations of all ages in English and Spanish.Programming has been one of Ana’s fortes, and she co-authored a book about children’s crafts and related programming. Ana has taught Spanish for Non-Spanish Speaking Library Staff at the Oakland Public Library, is active in REFORMA, having served as its National President, and is an Elizabeth Martinez Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.

Happiness at Work (PCI Webinar)
2024-03-27 13:00 - 14:00
Happiness, a wonderful and elusive emotion linked to a better quality of living can be developed. Being happy changes your thoughts and emotions which ultimately changes your behaviors. Happy people are more fun to be around, tend to be healthier, and more productive!

In this lighthearted look at happiness discover the science of happiness, the health benefits, and specific ways to boost happiness while being mindful of the conundrum that directly pursuing happiness can backfire and leave us less happy.

This program will explore:

The science of happiness

Steps you can take to become happier

Ways you can help others become happier

Laura Greco ~ Biography

Laura Greco, RN, MEd is a certified wellness coach and speaker who facilitates learning and changing habits. She helps professionals eliminate burnout, manage stress, create life balance, and rekindle their sense of purpose and joy. Self-care (body, mind, and spirit) is the basis for well-being and we all have the capacity to make positive lifestyle changes are 2 of her foundational beliefs.

Library Giving Day
2024-04-03 00:00 - 23:59
Join the movement!

Your local public library is a place where you and your neighbors belong. Beyond the doors of your library lies a treasure trove of facts, figures, and feats of the imagination. Plus, there are people who are always ready to help.

Learn more and donate here: https://foundation.nekls.org/lgd

2024 Spring Directors Institute
2024-04-12 09:30 - 16:00
Northeast Kansas Public Library Directors, please join us on April 12, 2024, for the Spring Directors Institute at the NEKLS Office. This will be an in-person retreat, though we hope to have resources to share with those who cannot attend. The deadline to register to attend was April 1st, contact Dan Alexander (dalexander@nekls.org) if you have any questions.

Our special guest will be Dr. Beth Wahler! Check out out her new book, Creating a Person-Centered Library from the NEKLS Professional Collection: https://nextkansas.org/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=1376956.

Morning: Trauma-Informed Library Management: Practical Strategies for Supporting Both Patrons and Staff, facilitated by Dr. Beth Wahler. Workshop topics will include: Trauma-informed librarianship, Trauma-informed leadership skills to reduce staff stress and trauma, and Self-care strategies for library leaders.

Lunch: NEKLS will provide lunch, and will contact registrants about dietary needs before the retreat.

Afternoon: We will discuss the NEKLS Mental Wellness Grant, and other mental wellness topics. Following the facilitated group discussion, three directors from our region, Marie Pyko (Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library), Rachael Hissong (Paola Free Library), and Erin Verbick (Morrill Public Library), have agreed to share about partnerships and outreach. We will end the day with time for more group discussion.

About our Guest: Beth Wahler, PhD, MSW is a social work consultant, researcher, trainer, and experienced administrator whose primary focus is trauma-informed librarianship, public library patrons’ psychosocial needs (needs related to mental health, substance abuse, poverty, etc.), library staff needs related to these types of patron issues, and various kinds of collaborations, services, and programs to meet these types of patron and staff needs (such as social work programs). Dr. Wahler has worked with multiple public libraries- urban, suburban, and rural- as well as large library systems and state library associations to provide personalized training opportunities, conduct needs assessments, complete program evaluations, and to develop individualized plans to help meet the needs of their patron populations and staff. She has completed extensive research on existing public library/social work collaborations and programs throughout the United States, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. She has also published and presented internationally on library patron and staff needs, library-based social work practicum placements, and library/social work collaborations. Dr. Wahler has a book forthcoming in December 2023, “Creating a Person-Centered Library: Best Practices for Supporting High-Needs Patrons,” published by Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited, which focuses on strategies for supporting patrons with psychosocial needs while simultaneously supporting library staff. Prior to her current roles, she has 14 years of experience as a social work practitioner and administrator, working with organizations serving individuals who have barriers to economic mobility and stability including homelessness, mental health problems, substance use problems, intimate partner violence and other experiences of trauma, disabilities, and chronic health problems, and as an academic researcher, professor, and administrator in schools of social work for 11 years.

Next Users Group, Osage City Library
2024-04-16 10:00 - 12:00
Quarterly Meeting for Next libraries.

2024 NEKLS Competitive Grant Q&A
2024-05-01 14:00 - 15:00
This meeting is to discuss the 2024 NEKLS Competitive Grants. Information about the grants can be found here: https://www.nekls.org/nekls-competitive-grants/.

NEKLS staff will do our best to answer questions over Zoom. You can register here: https://kslib.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUrcu-qrT4jH9CgFDvWP-tVFN1MrgCJmYI2

We will meet at 2:00 PM on the 1st, see you then!

After-lunch course: Advocacy in a Polarized World with Peter Bromberg
2024-05-30 13:30 - 14:30
How can we effectively communicate with all decision-makers, and stakeholders about the important work happening at your library regardless of their political beliefs? In this session you will learn the principles of “The Three Languages” of politics, and how to apply them when communicating with people from across the political spectrum. We will build upon these principles and learn how to effectively use data, stories, and research to craft compelling, resonant messages.

Please join us Thursday May 30th, 1:30 – 2:30 PM over Zoom; this presentation will be recorded.

Registration: https://kslib.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0vdO-hqzwrGtbhDuOLV6i2nvbhURot2ppv

Cost: Free for Kansas Librarians

Host: Kansas Regional Library Systems

Presenter: Peter Bromberg, Associate Director, EveryLibrary Institute

Peter has over 30 years of experience applying a human-centered approach to the transformation of library services, creating value and positive experiences for people and communities while fostering healthy, equitable, and effective organizational climates. As a library advocate on local, state, and national levels, he coaches and consults with library leaders, boards, grassroots groups, and associations to develop effective messaging and build strong community and political support for library funding. As a library director in Salt Lake City, Peter applied an equity lens to board development, operations, and policy development, garnering a Distinguished Service Award from the American Society for Public Administrators (ASPA) for his work in eliminating inequitable barriers to service. Peter tweets at @pbromberg and is on BlueSky at pbromberg.bsky.social

The Library Trustee Playbook: Building a Better Board
2024-06-01 10:00 - 11:30
Who needs a playbook? For any kind of team, from the Kansas City Chiefs to the board of a library, a playbook can help engage and strengthen its members and contribute to an organization’s success. A playbook outlines the who, what, how, and why a team works together to achieve a common goal. Join us to find out how you can be a better board member and work with your colleagues and your director to make your library a success in your community.

Register to attend, over Zoom, here: https://kslib.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwuc-2qqD8pG9O6OOfYqyST-4UU482ocpO8

Event Details: We will meet on Saturday, June 1st, from 10:00 to 11:30 AM. Can’t make it? This workshop will be recorded.

Gina Millsap is the retired chief executive officer of the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, the 2016 Gale/Library Journal Library of the Year. She previously served as the CEO of the Ames (IA) Public Library. She’s worked in libraries for 45 years and received her Masters of Library Science from the University of Missouri. She’s been recognized as a 2007 Library Journal Mover and Shaker and is Past President of the Library Leadership and Management Association, a division of the American Library Association. She currently works as a library consultant and executive coach. She has worked with boards for 25 years and currently serves as the board president of the YWCA of Northeast Kansas.

Hello, Goodbye: Reflecting on Onboarding and Offboarding Library Staff
2024-07-31 14:00 - 15:00
Only 12% of employees surveyed by Gallup believe their organization has a strong onboarding process, despite its critical impact on retention, productivity, and job satisfaction (SHRM). Join facilitator Dan Alexander in this webinar as we delve into the complete employment cycle—from effectively welcoming new team members to addressing challenges during employee departures.

Participants are encouraged to share their experiences, strategies, and lessons learned. Engage in discussions on organizational success and enhancing worker satisfaction through a consistent approach to managing staffing transitions.

Learning Outcomes

Practical strategies to enhance and structure onboarding and offboarding processes

Insights into improving organizational success and staff satisfaction

Best practices for account management and protecting institutional knowledge

Details

Facilitator: Dan Alexander

Target Audience: Public Library Managers and Administrators

Date: Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Time: 2:00 – 3:00 PM

Format: Live on Zoom

Registration: https://kslib.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcqf–tqj8uGtwbhCWwmbT91KZJxA5OVCul

Next User Group Meeting, Tonganoxie Public Library
2024-08-27 10:00 - 12:00
Quarterly user group meeting for Next libraries.

HR check-in meeting for NEKLS public libraries
2024-08-28 10:00 - 11:00
Questions? Please contact Michael McDonald! mmcdonald@nekls.org

Special Executive Board Meeting
2024-08-29 10:00 - 10:30
will be a special board meeting held on this coming Thursday, August 29th at 10am in order to approve Board nominations for the upcoming year. The agenda for this meeting can be found at

NEKLS_ExecutiveBoard_Agenda_SpecialMtg_29aug2024Download

The Zoom link for this meeting is https://kslib.zoom.us/j/82999961081

System Budget & RNR Hearing
2024-09-10 10:00 - 12:00
Save the date for the annual budget hearing and also the revenue neutral hearing. This meeting will be available online for NEKLS System Board members and the general public. If anyone wishes to attend the NEKLS office, please contact us at 785-838-4090. More details linked below.

Date: September 10

Time: 10:00 AM – Noon

https://www.nekls.org/2025-budget-hearing-and-2024-annual-meeting/

Libraries Transform Minds Conference
2024-09-12 09:00 - 15:30
Do you and your fellow public library staff frequently serve older adults at the library? Do you have a friend or relative facing memory changes? Do you wonder how you can best care for your own aging brain? Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library (TSCPL) and Northeast Kansas Library System (NEKLS) are hosting a conference for library professionals to explore memory care:

Libraries Transform Minds Conference: Learn, Connect, and Share about Library Services for Older Adults

September 12th, Marvin Auditorium, Topeka and Shawnee County Library

Attendees can expect to network and share with peers, and learn how they can strengthen memory care at work and at home.

Registration: https://forms.gle/qFXpsAa1A3N9Rvz17

Presenters

Connie Michaelis, Author of Just Now Old Enough (website)

Dr. Maritza Buenaver, MD, Director of Geriatric Psychiatry, Geriatrics Psychiatrist at the Oklahoma City VA healthcare system

Kelly G. Loeb, MSW, Community Engagement Coordinator, KU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center

Tami Hurst, Library Programming Specialist, Olathe Public Library (Memory Café program)

Details

Lunch will be catered by the Millennium Café, and there will be no cost to attend.

This will be a live, in-person, day-long conference – there will be no recordings. Presentation descriptions may be found at the bottom of this event page.

Date: Thursday, September 12

Time: 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM

Location: Marvin Auditorium, Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library

Address: 1515 SW 10th Ave, Topeka, KS 66604

Cost: Free for Library Staff to Attend

Contact: Dan Alexander, NEKLS or Brenda Hough, TSCPL

Registration: https://forms.gle/qFXpsAa1A3N9Rvz17

Schedule

9:00: Arrival, sign-in, light breakfast9:30: Welcome and Overview of the day9:45: You’re Just Now Old Enough! with author Connie Michaelis 10:30: Break 10:45: The Aging Brain with Dr. Maritza Buenaver 11:40: Table Activity12:00: Lunch1:00: Shelf Care: What Libraries Can Do to Support Caregivers with Kelly G. Loeb of KU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center1:45: Programming for Dementia with Tami Hurst of Olathe Public Library 2:30: Break2:40: Discussion Topic Tables3:20: Wrap-Up and Adjourn

Connie Michaelis

You’re Just Now Old Enough!

Description: Attitude is everything when it comes to aging. When we embrace the future and all that it brings, we are in the right mindset to age successfully. My career has allowed me to meet thousands of Seniors and their families. I’ve seen it all and determined that the biggest difference between those who are happy and engaged and those who are grumpy and angry is their attitude. Along with a positive attitude, I advocate lifelong learning, socialization, movement, and having fun.

“You don’t stop having fun because you’re old; you’re old when you stop having fun!”

Presenter: Connie is a passionate advocate for healthy aging. With years of experience in sales and marketing, including hospice, durable medical equipment, and retirement living, she has become a knowledgeable problem solver for life transitions. As a weekly newspaper columnist and author of Daily Cures, Wisdom for Healthy Aging, Connie speaks and writes to encourage and support seniors and their families. Connie has a BA in biology and history from the University of Kansas and a teaching degree in secondary education. Her family consists of six children and 15 grandchildren

Dr. Maritza Buenaver

The Aging Brain

Description: Library staff will learn about brain changes with aging, including normal changes and abnormal changes, as well as presentation of the most common types of dementia. Will understand risk factors for cognitive decline and review tips for healthy aging, including factors that libraries can help address such as staying active and engaged by learning as well as interacting with individuals who may be experiencing dementia.

Presenter: Dr. Maritza Buenaver is a Diplomat of the American Board of Psychiatry and neurology with sub specialization in Geriatric Psychiatry and Hospice and Palliative medicine. Completed Medical School and Psychiatric Residency at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City Campus. Trained in Geriatric Psychiatry fellowship at the University of Iowa Hospital and clinics, where she also received clinical practice in Hospice and Palliative care . Dr. Buenaver spent 11 years as a director of the Behavioral Health Community Living Center (Geriatric psychiatry care) at the Topeka VA. Currently, Dr. Buenaver provides care to Veterans in long-term care settings, namely State Veteran’s homes, through Clinical Video Telehealth and E-consults to the inpatient and outpatient settings as well as an expert Consultee for the VA National Expert Consultation & Specialized Services – Mental Health Geriatric Psychiatry Telehealth Program (NEXCSS-MH) reaching out to rural areas within the country. She is an assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN. Specialized in assessment and treatment of mental health disorders in the elderly, dementia evaluation and treatment, focusing on non-pharmacological interventions and education of caregivers of persons with dementia. Recipient of a Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program-HRSA grant for Dementia education, she has led multiple community conferences, has presented some of her work at the national level and has been a guest Speaker of the KACE (Kansas Adult Care Executives) Annual meeting in 2018 and 2022. Introduced Virtual reality into multidisciplinary education at the Topeka Veterans Administration as well as training of un-paid caregivers in rural Kansas. Currently runs 2 rural Dementia Caregiver support groups in Kansas. Dr Buenaver enjoys educating members of the geriatric interdisciplinary team, geriatric fellows, resident physicians, psychology interns, medical students, nursing students and caregivers in the community.

Kelly G. Loeb

Shelf Care: What Libraries Can Do to Support Caregivers

Description: Check out this session on how libraries transform the minds of family caregivers of people experiencing cognitive change. From cataloguing must-reads on dementia details to hosting educational forums on detection, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and cure, libraries are well-positioned to scaffold patrons. Presenter Kelly G. Loeb, MSW will share about how libraries can replicate innovative programs for caregivers – including the Family Series and the Breakfast Club – that don’t go by the book! Taking advantage of technology and maximizing community strengths don’t have to be overdue – renew your library’s commitment to reading between the lines for nurturing, empowerment and compassion.

Presenter: Kelly G. Loeb, MSW, is the Community Engagement Coordinator at the KU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, where she hosts the Weekly Webinar about brain health, writes and distributes the MyAlliance for Brain Health newsletter (in English and Spanish) and works alongside researchers advancing us to detection, treatment, prevention and cure of dementia. She is a member of the Community Leadership Board of the Alzheimer’s Association – Heart of America Chapter. Kelly has more than 20 years of experience educating, guiding and nurturing people experiencing cognitive change and their communities and she fervently works toward the day when Alzheimer’s disease (which both of her beloved grandmothers had) is just a memory.

Tami Hurst

Programming for Dementia

Description: Research shows that many people living with dementia can still read and benefit from a wide variety of library materials. Tami will share straightforward methods to create more dementia-friendly libraries, along with practical advice on selecting reading materials tailored to each individual.

Presenter: Tami Hurst has worked for the Olathe Public Library in Olathe, Kansas for 22 years. For the past 6 years, she has coordinated the Olathe Public Library’s Library to You service, a free home delivery service for individuals who can’t physically travel to the library. She and her coworker Roya Mortazavi also make monthly visits to local retirement communities and care centers to do outreach and literacy-based programming such as Tales and Travel Memories programs for older adults. Tami has a personal interest in improving the quality of life for people living with dementia as her father passed away from Alzheimer’s in 2019.

Fall Directors Institute
2024-10-04 09:00 - 15:00
Event Details

Audience: Northeast Kansas Public Library Directors

Date: October 4, 2024

Time: Doors open at 9:00 AM, Retreat 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM

Venue: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Lawrence

Room: Brazilian Ballroom section BC

Address: 200 McDonald Dr, Lawrence, KS 66044

Event Host: Dan Alexander, dalexander@nekls.org

Registration Form: 2024 Fall Directors Institute Registration (CLOSED)

RSVP Deadline: September 20, 2024

Cost: There is no cost for our guests to attend!

Registration is Closed

Purpose

The purpose of our upcoming retreat is to explore the strength and benefit of connections.

Agenda Highlights

At our retreat, we will explore concepts from The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker. Brenda Hough, Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, and former NEKLS consultant, will facilitate a discussion about how we might utilize these concepts in our work.

Priya hones in on the benefits of showing the fresh, raw, and honest sides of ourselves when we leave egos at the door. “Nowhere is puffed-up phoniness more palpable than at conferences. Nowhere else is the chance to have conversations across borders, identities, and professions so often wasted. Nowhere else are so many people with the influence to change things so frequently brought together, only for the resulting conversations to remain on the surface. They lurk there because everyone is presenting the best self they think others expect to meet.” At our retreat, let us prepare to engage with vulnerability.

Lissa Staley, Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, and a 2024 Library Journal Mover and Shaker, will facilitate a discussion on making meaningful connections with the community.

Logistics

No Recordings: There will be no recordings or online component. We encourage all member public library directors to register and attend the retreat from beginning (9:30 AM) to end (3:00 PM).

Meals & Refreshments: Lite breakfast bites will be available starting at 9:00 AM. A baked potato bar and salad bar will be provided at Noon. Water, tea, and coffee will be available throughout the day. Guests are welcome to bring their own favorite beverages.

Parking: Ample parking is available. Brazilian Ballroom section BC is closest to the southwest entrance. (DoubleTree Floorplan).

Accessibility: Accommodation requests can be noted when registering.

Preparation

Please consider the following prompts over the next few weeks before we gather:

What was a moment in your career that profoundly influenced your approach to librarianship? How did it shape your professional journey?

What’s one challenge you’ve faced in your role that led to significant personal or professional growth? How did you overcome it?

How do you stay inspired and motivated in your role, especially during challenging times?

What’s one piece of advice you would give to someone new to the field? How has this advice been relevant in your own experience?

Describe a time when collaboration with others in the field made a significant difference in your work. What did you learn from that experience?

Final Note

We’re looking forward to a day of meaningful engagement. If you have any questions or need further information, please contact Dan Alexander, dalexander@nekls.org.

The secret is out, our special mystery guests are our NEKLS member public library directors! This event is about leaning into our connections with each other.

Not Just Cute: Planning for Powerful Play a KLA Pre Conference
2024-10-30 09:00 - 11:30
Weave a Tale Workshop presents a KLA Pre Conference: Not Just Cute: Planning for Powerful Play featuring Amanda Morgan, nationally recognized play expert.

Date: October 30, 2024

Time: 9-11:30 AM

Location: Cypress A Classroom, Hyatt Regency Wichita

Registration: https://kslibassoc.org/

Canceled--Next User Group meeting, Mary Cotton Library--Canceled
2024-11-14 10:00 - 12:00
Quarterly users group meeting for Next libraries.

Due to illness: the Next Search Catalog meeting scheduled for November 14, 2024, has been postponed.A new date and time will be announced soon.
