A Note from the

Continuing Education Coordinator

Happy New Year! We’ve received many inquiries about the New Supervisors' Academy, and I’m excited to share that registration is now open! Based on valuable feedback from past participants, we’ve made updates to enhance this year’s program..  This year’s academy begins on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at the Twinsburg Public Library and ends in September. The academy consists of 6 in-person classes and 2 webinars. Programs will focus on three key areas: leadership, communication and staff development. The Academy is appropriate for new supervisors in multi-type libraries and for those who want a refresher.  

 We kick off the academy with It All Starts with Attitude and Knowing Yourself where you have opportunity to talk with a seasoned panel of managers, the second day focuses on Leading with Assurance: Decision-Making and Effective  Supervision followed Changing the Course without Rocking the Boat and Servant Leadership: A Service First Approach to Supervising & Developing People next is a webinar on Time Management Yours and Theirs. In June we have another in-person session concentrating on HR Stuff Every New Supervisor Should Know, then another webinar where you will learn Practical Budget Management: How to Avoid Disaster, Make Smart Moves, Report Responsibly, and Stress Less About your Budget. We are in person in August discussing Setting Performance Goals and Evaluations and Performance Planning. We end the academy by Boosting Your Leadership Self Confidence and bringing the panel back for a more in-depth conversation 

 Last year’s participants had this to say:  
 
"It was a great opportunity that allowed me to network and meet other library supervisors and increase my knowledge of how to be a leader in any role that I take on." 
 
"In general, this was a great academy where I learned a lot and it pushed me to think about where I needed more help and helped me to develop some new ways of doing things that will hopefully benefit everyone." 

Click this event link for a complete description of the New Supervisors’ Academy, seating is limited to 30 so don’t delay. You will notice in the description that we are missing some locations and speakers, this will all be posted shortly. 

Have a great day,  

Melissa  

Ring in 2025 and Register

January

What Does it Mean to be Anti-Racist? (A)

1/14/2025

Strategic Leadership (I)

1/22/2025

Going the Extra Mile: Making Your Library ADA-friendly Instead of ADA-compliant (F)

1/23/2025

Top 24 Titles of 2024 (F)

1/28/2025
Ohio Web Library - Hidden Gems and New Ways to Think About OWL Resources (F)

1/29/2025

Teen Summer Reading Program: Color Our World

1/30/2025

February

Success in Programming for Adults with Developmental Disabilities (DD)

2/4/2025

Foundations of Conflict Management

2/5/2025

Full Spectrum Communications for Libraries - How MessageBee Enables and Enhances Patron Communications(F)

2/6/2025

Leading from the Middle: Managing Up and Down Simultaneously (I)

2/12/2025

Adult SRP: Color Our World (I)

2/13/2025

Canva Essentials: From Ideas to Designs (F)

2/18/2025

Understanding Race and Racism (I)

2/19/2025

Building Joy-Centric Libraries: an Experiential Approach (F)

2/20/2025

NEW-New Supervisors' Academy (I)

2/26/2025

Understanding the Basics of Microsoft Excel (F)

2/27/2025

March 

NEW-Preparing for and Managing Difficult Patron Interactions

3/5/2025

How to Develop a Staff-Led Diversity Campaign:
Leading Community Change Through the Library(F)

3/6/2025
Cultivating Your Resilience to Avoid Burnt Out: Managing Stress, Appreciation Inequalities, and Workload Demands (F)

3/12/2025

Two Perspectives on Legal Reference Services (I)

3/13/2025

Checking out Software Licenses: Expanding Equitable Access and Maximizing License-Use Efficiency (I)

3/19/2025

Emergency Preparedness Stations: Staff Readiness in Emergency Response Situations (F)

3/20/2025

NEW-A Deeper Dive into the Science of Reading

3/26/2025

April

Sharpening Your Excel Skills (I)

4/8/2025

The Adult Programming Equation (F)

4/9/2025

NEW-AI Ethics: A Library Perspective

4/16/2025

Quiet Leadership:
Foster your identity as an introverted or quiet leader to inspire beyond words (F)

4/17/2025

New Mailing Address

Our mailing address has changed. Please direct all future correspondence, including payments, to the following address.
12701 Ravenwood Dr.  
Chardon, OH 44024

Thank you for your attention to this change!

Customer Service Simulation Survey

 We’re gathering real-life customer service stories from libraries like yours! 

We’re looking for: 

Positive experiences: Moments when staff went above and beyond to assist a patron. 

Challenging situations: Instances where resolving an issue was particularly difficult. 

Tell us what happened and how you, your colleague, or your team responded. Your stories will help us create realistic scenarios that reflect the unique dynamics of library customer service. By contributing, you’ll be playing a key role in shaping a training tool that empowers library staff to provide exceptional service while addressing the specific needs of library communities. 

Please click this survey link to provide your scenarios.   

Mark Your Calendar

Mark your calendar for Thursday, April 3, 2025 for the first ever NEO-RLS Customer Service Conference-Perspectives, Possibilities, and Practices.  Registration coming soon!

 Application now open for the 2025 Summer Library Program LSTA Grant

The State Library of Ohio is pleased to announce the 2025 Summer Library Program (SLP) grant.  The purpose of this Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant initiative is to empower libraries to enhance their 2025 summer programs with library-led activities that spark creativity and learning, engage individuals of all ages, and benefit their communities 

Libraries may apply for up to $2,000 in federal LSTA funds to support summer programs for children, teens, and/or adults. Grant funds may be used to purchase program materials, supplies, and/or contractual services for presenters and programs offered to the community during the 2025 SLP.  Please refer to the FAQs page for specific guidelines on the use of awarded funds.  Applying libraries are encouraged to collaborate with other community entities, organizations, or agencies that also serve the targeted age groups. 

All applications must be completed by 11:59 p.m., Tuesday February 18, 2025. The grant term runs from April 1 – August 31, 2025. The grant application process requires the completion of an online application. 

Questions on the grant or LSTA grant process should be addressed to LSTA Coordinator Jeff Regensburger at LSTA@library.ohio.gov. 

Questions about developing SLP activities aligned with the purpose of this grant may be addressed to Youth Services Consultant Janet Ingraham Dwyer at jdwyer@library.ohio.gov, or Adult Services Consultant Katy Hite at khite@library.ohio.gov. 

Upcoming FY2025 E-Rate Deadlines and Form 471 Workshop Registration

Lorrie Germann has a few reminders about E-Rate to share (below), including registration links for her Form 471 training sessions for libraries.

In addition, please note that the results of the OPLIN consortia bid for hotspots are available. We are emailing our E-rate contacts with login information, or you can contact us at OPLIN Support if you need details.

As you consider your options for E-rate and hotspots, please keep this recent guidance from the FCC in mind. You must seek a competitive bid for hotspot service or any new hotspots that you are planning to purchase if you wish to use E-rate funds.

As always, please let us know if you have questions: https://support.oplin.org!

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Northeast Ohio Regional Library System | 12701 Ravenwood Dr | Chardon, OH 44024