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PRODID://NEOL//211865
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260423T071126
VTIMEZONE:America/New_York
DTSTART:20210317T140000Z
DTEND:20210317T151500Z
UID:211865
SUMMARY:Virtual Outreach: Social Services and Public Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic
LOCATION:Online, Via Zoom
DESCRIPTION:Virtual Outreach: Social Services and Public Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic\n\n03/17/21 10:00 AM EST\n - 03/17/21 11:15 AM EST\Description:\nPublic libraries often are safe spaces for patrons seeking shelter, warmth, information, quiet, and a sense of community. But what happens when a public health pandemic impedes our abilities as librarians to provide outreach and supportive resources to patrons living on the fringes of our neighborhoods, cities and towns when our doors closed and traditional librarianship went virtual? Ally Dowds will discuss outreach efforts developed during the beginning months of the COVID-19 shutdown and how the Boston Public Library continued to reach patrons where they are while preserving existing partnerships with local organizations and forging new ones to maintain access and dissemination of supportive public health services to its community members. \n\nLearning Objectives:\n\n	Learn how Boston Public Library continued to reach patrons where they are while preserving existing partnerships with local organizations\n	Learn how Boston Public Library created new partnerships to maintain access and dissemination of supportive public health services to its community members\n	Find out how you can adapt this model for your library\n\nPresenter:\n\n  Ally Dowds is the Public Services Division Head for Reading Public Library in Massachusetts.  She was previously the Health & Human Services Librarian for the Boston Public Library. In that role, Ally fostered strategic partnerships with local public health organizations, emergency shelters, and human service agencies to provide supportive services to patrons experiencing homelessness, substance use and mental health. She also performed weekly outreach to local shelters to eliminate barriers to library access, programming and resources. Prior to this position, Ally worked in the BPL’s Teen Central and served as a consultant for ALA's Great Stories Club, where she facilitated a library-led book discussion group at a local middle school focused on the emotional, behavioral, and learning needs of its students. Discussions were designed around the theme of Empathy: The Cost of Switching Sides, allowing students to read, reflect, and share ideas on topics that resonate with them. \nAlly holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Loyola University of Chicago, a MLIS from Simmons College, and a Consumer Health Information Specialization through the Medical Library Association. Outside of work, she is happiest spending simple moments with her husband, 19-month old, and 8-year old rescue pup.\Details:\nWho should attend:  Anyone interested in virtual outreach\n\nCompetency:  Patron Awareness, Customer Service\n\nNon-Member Cost:      $40\nNEO-RLS Bronze Member/\nNORWELD, SERLS, SWON Member Cost:  $24\nNEO-RLS Silver Member Cost:   FREE\nNEO-RLS Gold Member Cost:    FREE\n\nCan't attend on the date or time listed? Sign up anyway! All of our webinars include archive access for later viewing at your convenience.\n\nIt’s never too late to save your library money. NEO-RLS Memberships are pro-rated! Call us today to join.\Location:\nOnline\nVia Zoom\n,
X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Virtual Outreach: Social Services and Public Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic<br /><br />03/17/21 10:00 AM EST - 03/17/21 11:15 AM EST<br />Description:<br /><img alt="" src="https://neo-rls.org/photos/76155_06022021143500.jpg" style="margin: 5px 15px; float: left; width: 100px;" width="100" />Public libraries often are safe spaces for patrons seeking shelter, warmth, information, quiet, and a sense of community. But what happens when a public health pandemic impedes our abilities as librarians to provide outreach and supportive resources to patrons living on the fringes of our neighborhoods, cities and towns when our doors closed and traditional librarianship went virtual?&nbsp;Ally&nbsp;Dowds&nbsp;will discuss outreach efforts developed during the beginning months of the COVID-19 shutdown and how the Boston Public Library continued to reach patrons where they are while preserving existing partnerships with local organizations and forging new ones to maintain access and dissemination of supportive public health services to its community members.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<strong>Learning Objectives:</strong>
<ul>
	<li>Learn how Boston Public Library continued to reach patrons where they are while preserving existing partnerships with local organizations</li>
	<li>Learn how Boston Public Library created new partnerships to maintain access and dissemination of supportive public health services to its community members</li>
	<li>Find out how you can adapt this model for your library</li>
</ul>
<strong>Presenter:<br />
<br />
&nbsp;</strong><em><img alt="" src="https://neo-rls.org/photos/59587_02242020110059.jpg" style="width: 100px; margin: 5px; float: left;" width="100" /></em><strong>&nbsp;</strong><em>Ally Dowds</em> is the Public Services Division Head for Reading Public Library in Massachusetts.&nbsp;&nbsp;She was previously the Health &amp; Human Services Librarian for the Boston Public Library. In that role, Ally fostered strategic partnerships with local public health organizations, emergency shelters, and human service agencies to provide supportive services to patrons experiencing homelessness, substance use and mental health. She also performed weekly outreach to local shelters to eliminate barriers to library access,&nbsp;programming and resources. Prior to this position, Ally worked in the BPL&rsquo;s Teen Central&nbsp;and served&nbsp;as a consultant for ALA's Great Stories Club, where she facilitated a&nbsp;library-led book discussion group at a local middle school focused on the&nbsp;emotional, behavioral, and learning needs&nbsp;of its students. Discussions were&nbsp;designed around the theme of <i>Empathy: The Cost of Switching Sides, </i>allowing students&nbsp;to read, reflect, and share ideas on topics that resonate with them.&nbsp;<br />
Ally holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Loyola University of Chicago, a MLIS from Simmons College, and a Consumer Health Information Specialization through the Medical Library Association. Outside of work, she is happiest spending simple moments with her husband, 19-month old, and 8-year old&nbsp;rescue pup.<br />Details:<br />Who should attend:&nbsp; Anyone interested in virtual outreach<br />
<br />
Competency:&nbsp; Patron Awareness, Customer Service<br />
<br />
<font face="Verdana" size="2"><font face="Verdana" size="2"><font face="Verdana" size="2"><font face="Verdana" size="2">Non-Member Cost: &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; $40<br />
NEO-RLS&nbsp;Bronze Member/<br />
NORWELD, SERLS, SWON&nbsp;Member Cost:&nbsp; $24<br />
NEO-RLS Silver Member Cost:&nbsp; &nbsp;FREE<br />
NEO-RLS Gold Member Cost:&nbsp; &nbsp; FREE</font></font></font></font><br />
<br />
Can't attend on the date or time listed? Sign up anyway! All of our webinars include archive access for later viewing at your convenience.<br />
<br />
<font face="Verdana" size="2"><strong><font face="Verdana" size="2"><font face="Verdana" size="2"><font face="Verdana" size="2"><font face="Verdana" size="2"><font face="Verdana" size="2"><em>It&rsquo;s never too late to save your library money. NEO-RLS Memberships are pro-rated! Call us today to join.</em></font></font></font></font></font></strong></font><br />Location:<br />Online<br />Via Zoom<br />,  
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