Join Us for the Newly Rebranded NEO-RLS Open House
We invite library staff, administrators, and trustees to the NEO-RLS Open House on Tuesday, November 19, 2024. Attendees will gain insights into NEO-RLS's financial progress, explore our range of services, and receive a special State Library update from Evan Struble, Associate State Librarian. The event will celebrate the contributions of those who supported NEO-RLS over the past year and honor the recipients of the 2024 Rising Star, Shooting Star, and Super Star Awards. Attendees will also have the chance to engage with members of the Board of Trustees, Board Committees, Advisory Groups, and Network Groups to learn more about participating in these exciting opportunities. We look forward to celebrating with you and sharing what's next for NEO-RLS!
What to Expect at the Open House:
Breakfast
Time to mingle and network with other library staff
Interactive stations to explore ways to get involved with the Board, Advisory Committees, Network Groups, and more
A recap of NEO-RLS achievements from the past year
An update from Associate State Librarian, Evan Struble
Congratulate the Star Award winners
Featured Presentation - Checking Out Despair: Librarians as Gatekeepers of Hope in a Digital Age
In an era marked by rising deaths of despair, librarians are positioned at a unique intersection between information and community well-being. This presentation explores how librarians across all sectors must take control of the narratives around their services—no longer seen as passive custodians of books, but as proactive warriors in the fight against isolation, addiction, and economic hopelessness. By reframing their role and engaging with communities on a deeper, more empathetic level, librarians can offer vital resources that combat despair and foster resilience.
Learning Objectives:
Understand the role of narratives in library advocacy
Be aware of the deaths of despair issue in the US
Devise next steps based on examples
Presenter:
R. David Lankes is the Virginia & Charles Bowden Professor of Librarianship at the University of Texas at Austin’s School of Information. He is the recipient of ALA’s Reference and User Services Association 2021 Isadore Gilbert Mudge Award for distinguished contribution to reference librarianship. His book, The Atlas of New Librarianship won the 2012 ABC-CLIO/Greenwood Award for the Best Book in Library Literature. Lankes is a passionate advocate for librarians and their essential role in today’s society. Recently he has also been a contributor to Library 2035: Imagining the Next Generation of Libraries.
Location
Hilton Garden Inn 8971 Wilcox Dr Twinsburg, OH 44087 UNITED STATES
We encourage you to register a minimum of three (5) days in advance for this event in order to ensure that we can accommodate your full participation in terms of seating, hand-outs, food, etc.
It’s never too late to save your library money. NEO-RLS Memberships are pro-rated! Call us today to join.
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