A Note from the

Executive Director

As we prepare for the upcoming fiscal year, NEO-RLS is committed to making sure our services, resources, and programming align with the needs of our member libraries and their staff. That’s why we’re reaching out to hear from you. 

We know your time is valuable, so we’ve kept it simple—just one question to help us better understand what support and opportunities you’d like to see from us in the coming year. Your feedback will play a crucial role as we plan months in advance for continuing education webinars, in-person workshops, and events. Your insights will help us create meaningful, relevant programming that supports your work and professional development. 

In addition, your input will inform more than just next year’s offerings. We’re also in the final stages of developing our 2025–2028 Strategic Plan, and this is an opportunity to help shape our goals and priorities for the next three years. 

Click here to access the brief, one-question survey. 

 
Thank you for taking a moment to share your voice! 

Ragan 

Exciting Events & CE You Can’t Miss!

April

Notary Training - Shaker Heights Public Library

4/24/2025

Notary Training - Reed Memorial Library

4/25/2025

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

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

NEW DATE! Mental Health First Aid

6/10/2025

 Human Resources/Fiscal Officer Networking Meeting (In-Person)

6/11/2025

Human Resources/Fiscal Officer Networking Meeting (Virtual)

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

July

Practical Budget Management: How to Avoid Disaster, Make Smart Moves, Report Responsibly, and Stress Less About your Budget

7/16/2025

Last Call for Board Nominations

Nominations for the NEO-RLS Board of Trustees are closing soon. We are currently accepting nominations for Zone 3, Zone 5, and Academic Libraries.

Not sure which NEO-RLS Zone your library is in? Click here to find out.

If you're interested in running for a board seat, please contact Ragan Snead at ragan.snead@neo-rls.org by April 30th. 

NEO Sensory Support Group Survey

The Northeast Ohio Sensory Services Support Group would like feedback on what our group can do to offer support, training and networking in Northeast Ohio.  Please take the survey to share your thoughts.

CSLP Color Our World PSAs and Social Media Toolkit

Using the Color Our World theme this summer? Get ready to advertise your library’s Summer Reading program with CSLP’s Public Service Announcement video and Social Media Toolkit!

To access these resources, sign in to the CSLP manual website using your access code*, then check out the following:

Video PSAs: https://programs.cslpreads.org/videos-psas-for-2025-program/ 

Look for the “View all files” links. The bulleted red text is descriptions, not links (except for the YouTube links). Many versions of the PSA are available in English and Spanish for broadcast, social media, and other applications. You may share the Google folders of the radio and TV broadcast files with your local stations.

Social Media Toolkit: https://programs.cslpreads.org/2025-social-media-toolkit/

Use these hashtags: #ColorOurWorld or #LibrariesColorOurWorld

You can also access and share the YouTube versions of the video PSA without signing in to the CSLP manual website:

English: https://youtu.be/bM8Sagu37AQ?si=xl2KxLPec8NpGla7  
Spanish: https://youtu.be/kFzPUzXp450?si=NfoYiPHO2_qPRgRk

*If you do not know your CSLP manual access code, the person at your library who coordinates summer reading should have that info, and if they don’t, email Janet Ingraham Dwyer at jdwyer@library.ohio.gov.

Thanks A Brunch! with Christine Hà

Thursday, May 1, 2025 | 6:00 – 8:00 PM (Eastern Standard Time)

Cleveland Public Library – Louis Stokes Auditorium, Louis Stokes Wing
525 Superior Avenue, Lower Level, Cleveland, OH 44114

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Main Library and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the Cleveland Public Library and the Library for the Blind and Print Disabled are excited to announce a cooking demonstration from Christine Hà, known as the Blind Cook. 

She will be conducting a captivating cooking demonstration and will be sharing her remarkable journey of becoming a successful culinary artist. Learn more here.

This event is free and open to the public. Registration is highly recommended. For those unable to attend in person, the cooking demonstration will also be available via Zoom.

Accessibility Accommodations: CART/captioning services and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be provided. For additional requests or questions, please contact the DEIAB Department at diversity@cpl.org.

Library book donations support Portage County Jail library

This week's spotlight is on Portage County District Library, Kent Free Library, and Reed Memorial Library who have been collecting book donations for the Portage County Jail. Their joint effort has helped Deputy Sheriff Alice Beaver and the small library she has established for incarcerated individuals at the jail.

Thanks PCDL for sharing the story on Facebook!

Email our Marketing & Engagement Coordinator Jill at jill.grunenwald@neo-rls.org if you have a story from your library you want to share.

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