https://mms.neo-rls.org/Calendar/moreinfo.php?eventid=148627&org_id=NEOL
 

A Note from the

Executive Director

 

It’s that time of year again! 

We are seeking passionate individuals to fill upcoming open board seats for the NEO-RLS Board of Trustees. Four seats are open for election: Zone 3, Zone 5, and Academic Libraries (2). Board terms are three years, with new members serving from July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2028. 

 

Emails with a link to the nomination form were sent to library representatives on April 1st. Nominations will be accepted through April 30th, and elections will take place on May 1st. 

 

To be eligible to run for election, you must be the designated representative for your library.  

 

Library Directors may serve as the representative OR appoint another individual to serve. 

 

If you are interested in running for an open board seat but have not received an email invitation, please contact me at ragan.snead@neo-rls.org. We want to ensure that all interested individuals have the chance to participate. 

 

Serving on the board is an excellent opportunity to shape the future of NEO-RLS, advocate for regional libraries, and help guide our organization’s initiatives. 

 

If you have any questions about the responsibilities of a Trustee, feel free to contact me or visit our board page to see our current board members and ask them your questions.   

 

We appreciate your support and look forward to your participation! 


Ragan 

 

Exciting Events & CE You Can’t Miss!

 

April

Sharpening Your Excel Skills (I)

4/8/2025

Training / Staff Development Networking Meeting

4/8/2025

The Adult Programming Equation (F)

4/9/2025

IT Networking Meeting - Online Via Zoom

4/9/2025

AI Ethics: A Library Perspective

4/16/2025

Book Discussion Networking Meeting

4/16/2025

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

4/17/2025

Adult Services Virtual Networking Meeting

4/29/2025

Managing Challenging Interactions with Colleagues and Staff (I)

4/30/2025 

 

May

Guided Reading Round Table (GRRT): Historical Mystery Fiction

5/6/2025

Time Management Yours and Theirs

5/7/2025

A Day for Collection Management and Technical Services

5/8/2025

Google Forms: Gather all the Things for Action

5/13/2025

Youth Services (Children & Teen) Virtual Networking Meeting

5/13/2025

2025 Directors' Retreat: Working Through Uncertainty – Strategies for Adaptation and Support

5/22/2025-5/23/2025

Outreach Networking Meeting

5/28/2025

Construction and Facilities Networking Meeting

5/29/2025

 

June

Genealogy Networking Meeting

6/3/2025

Special Libraries Network Meeting

6/11/2025

Designing for Diversity in Your Library's Communications (I)

6/12/2025

Makerspace Networking Meeting

6/12/2025

Quiet Leadership 2.0: Distinguish your leadership capabilities, build confidence, and pathways to find support as a quiet leader

6/18/2025

View Full Calendar
 

Mark Your Calendars for Notary Training

 

This training is for new applicants, renewing, or current notaries who would like an updated refresher.

 

Scheduled:

Wednesday, April 23, 2025 | Avon Lake Public Library | 12:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Thursday, April 24, 2025 | Shaker Heights Public Library | 10:00 am – 2:30 pm

 

Looking for Space in Akron/Canton Area:

Tuesday, April 22, 2025 or Friday, April 25, 2025
Please email Melissa Lattanzi if you are interested in hosting.  

 

Time to Register for the 2025 Directors’ Retreat: Working Through Uncertainty – Strategies for Adaptation and Support

 

Dates:  Thursday and Friday, May 22-23, 2025

Location: Punderson Manor Lodge & Conference Center

 

Topics:

 

Pursuing Inclusion in an Anti-DEI Political Climate

Learning Objectives:

  • Review the current political landscape & legal realities facing DEI work
  • Examine what effective DEI work is and is not
  • Discuss common pushback & misconceptions about DEI efforts

 

Workplace Wellness

Learning Objectives:

  • Recognize and Manage Personal Stressors – Identify common workplace stressors and learn strategies to maintain personal mental well-being.
  • Support Employee Mental Health – Develop skills to foster a supportive work environment, recognize signs of mental health challenges in employees, and provide appropriate resources and accommodations.
  • Build Resilience and Workplace Wellness Strategies – Implement practical techniques to create a culture of wellness and improve team morale.

 

Friday morning will be a session with the State Library of Ohio followed by a Facilitated Discussion: Turning Insights into Action.

 

Sleeping room block closes on April 15th.  Secure your spot today for this timely Directors' Retreat—reserve your room and registration now!  Click this event link for more information and to register.

 
 

Register Now for the Reimagining School Readiness Workshop 

 

Registration is open now for 2025 Reimagining School Readiness Workshop Spring workshop which will be held on April 30, 2025 at the State Library of Ohio.

 

The Reimagining School Readiness Toolkit is a suite of research-backed resources created for library staff to help families prepare children ages birth to 8 years for success in school and in life.

 

Through an interactive presentation with hands-on activities, this training will introduce library staff to the research, practical implications, and resources offered in the toolkit. Library staff who work with children from ages 0 – 8 and their families will benefit most from this training. The workshop will be in-person at the State Library of Ohio.

 

The workshop topics include:

  • Key findings from current cognitive and developmental psychology research
  • The implications of those findings for library staff’s daily work
  • Practical ready-to-implement ideas for activities
  • Resources for staff training and for parents/caregivers

 

Registration and more information can be found on the State Library of Ohio’s website.

Contact Penelope Shumaker at pshumaker@library.ohio.gov with any questions.

 
 

OhioNet MakerFest Proposals Due April 7

 

OhioNet invites library practitioners to submit proposals for presentations on library making and makerspaces to share at “OhioNet MakerFest: A Summit for Library Makers + Makerspaces” on June 18, 2025. This in-person event, hosted at the State Library of Ohio, will explore the ways libraries can establish, maintain and enhance making programs or makerspaces in their institutions. Submit your ideas by April 7!  

 

We are looking for both individual and full panel presentations that highlight:?? 

  • Establishing a makerspace or maker program: Tips to get started in the face of resource restraints 
  • Programming and lesson plans for makerspaces/making
  • Issues of accessibility, sustainability or inclusion 
  • Makerspace collaborations and/or partnerships 
  • Makerspace/maker program assessment and advocacy  

See submission guidelines and online submission form here: https://loom.ly/5uFGsMk

 

Lorain Public Library's Library of Things Featured on Cleveland.com 

 

Cleveland.com recently shared a list of "10 unexpected items available to borrow from Lorain Public Library." Items mentioned include adapted toy backpacks, blood pressure kits, disc golf kits, night sky binoculars, and more.

 

Visit Cleveland.com to read the full article and learn more about Lorain Public Library's Library of Things here.

 

Find more library spotlights on the NEO-RLS website. Email Jill Grunenwald if you have a story from your library you want to share!

 

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