October Active Learning Communities.
 

A Note from the

Executive Director

 

The NEO-RLS team is excited to share the NEO-RLS 2024-2025 Annual Report! Thanks to your membership and support, this past year has been full of growth and collaboration. Highlights include:


  • Launching our new Annual Open House, providing updates, networking opportunities, and ways for members to get more involved with NEO-RLS.
  • Expanding our team by welcoming a Marketing and Engagement Coordinator, Programs and Services Associate, and a new Fiscal Officer.
  • Creating our 2025–2028 Strategic Plan in collaboration with our Board of Trustees and members.
  • Hosting two conferences, including the 2024 Technology Conference: AI and Cybersecurity for Forward-Thinking Libraries and the Customer Service Conference: Perspectives, Possibilities, and Practices.
  • Offering 127 live learning opportunities with a total of 8,869 participants. 


The full report also includes financial data, detailed participation stats, and this year’s Star Award winners. You can read it here: NEO-RLS 2024-2025 Annual Report. 

 

We look forward to working alongside you in the year ahead as we continue creating opportunities for learning and connection! 

 

Ragan 

 

Exciting Events & CE You Can’t Miss!

 

September

Introduction to Storytime: Planning for Success (I)

9/23/2025

Chair Yoga for Library Workers Series: Roles and Right Actions (F)

9/24/2025

Public Relations and Marketing Active Learning Community Meeting

9/25/2025

Time Management: Overcoming Procrastination (I)

9/30/2025

 

October

 2025-2026 Leadership Academy (I)

10/1/2025

Cybersecurity for IT and Mangers (I)

10/2/2025

Training/Staff Development Active Learning Community Meeting

10/7/2025

Doing What Matters: Values in the Library (I)

10/8/2025

 Directors/Deputy Directors Active Learning Community Meeting

10/8/2025

Back to the Book XXIV: Blurred Lines: A Genre-Blending Discussion (I)

10/9/2025

Academic Library Directors Active Learning Community In-Person

10/10/2025

 Diversity, Equity, Inclusin & Accessibility Active Learning Community Meeting

10/14/2025

NEW! Beyond the Stamp - Your Role, Responsibilities, and Risks as an Ohio Notary Public-Canfield

10/14/2025

NEW! Beyond the Stamp - Your Role, Responsibilities, and Risks as an Ohio Notary Public-North Canton

10/15/2025

Marketing and Outreach: Creating Engagement and Awareness (I)

10/15/2025

Circulation Active Learning Community Meeting

10/15/2025

NEW! Beyond the Stamp - Your Role, Responsibilities, and Risks as an Ohio Notary Public-Shaker Heights

10/16/2025

A Deeper Dive into the Science of Reading-Repeated (I)

10/16/2025

Holding My Own: Lessons Learned as a Neurodivergent Library Leader (I)

10/21/2025

Safe Space - LGBTQ+ Cultural Competence Training (F)

10/23/2025

NEO-RLS Open House -Featuring Mychal Threets

10/28/2025

Thriving at Work: Practical Strategies for Better Days in the Library (F)

10/30/2025

 

November

Time Management: Eliminating Time Wasters and Staying Organized (I)

11/4/2025

Adult Services Active Learning Community Meeting

11/4/2025

Supporting Neurodivergent Library Users (I)

11/12/2025

Building Strong Volunteer Programs: Library & Friends Group Perspectives (F)

11/13/2025

Youth Services (Children & Teen) Active Learning Community Meeting

11/13/2025

IT Active Learning Community Meeting

11/18/2025

 

December

Guided Reading Round Table (GRRT): Historical Literary Fiction

12/2/2025

You’re Not Alone: The Power of Peer Support in Management (I)

12/4/2025

Outreach Active Learning Community Meeting

12/9/2025

The Power of Storytelling and Empathy-Centered Communication (I)

12/10/2025

Special Libraries Active Learning Community Meeting

12/10/2025

Life Art: A New Horizon, Library Edition (I)

12/11/2025

View Full Calendar
A Deeper Dive into the Science of Reading (Repeated). October 16, 9:30-4:00 PM. Mentor Public LIbrary. Repeat Presentation.
 

Summer Reading Committee Volunteers Needed

 

Summer reading is in the rearview mirror, however for NEO-RLS we are starting to plan our 2026 Summer Reading Program workshops.  If you are childrens', teen, or adult library staff and interested in helping us plan the 2026 summer reading program workshops please contact Melissa Lattanzi at lattanzm@neo-rls.org.

 

Notary Registration Open

 

Beyond the Stamp - Your Role, Responsibilities, and Risks as an Ohio Notary Public-Canfield

10/14/2025

 

Beyond the Stamp - Your Role, Responsibilities, and Risks as an Ohio Notary Public-North Canton

10/15/2025

 

Beyond the Stamp - Your Role, Responsibilities, and Risks as an Ohio Notary Public-Shaker Heights

10/16/2025

 
Holding My Own: Lessons Learned as a Neurodivergent Library Leader. October 21, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM. Online via Zoom. Presented by Renee Grassi
 

State Library Monthly Report Now Available

 

The latest edition of the State Library Monthly Report, featuring recent updates, upcoming programs, information, and resources designed to support our patrons and community partners. This month includes ongoing usage of several resources, as well as activities and presentations from the State Library.

You may view the report here.

 
2024-2025 Annual Report Now Available
 
NOTSL Logo

Register Now for the NOTSL Fall General Meeting

 

The NOTSL Fall General Meeting: Tectonic Shifts: Technical Services of Today via Zoom is happening October 3, 2025. Visit the NOTSL website for full program information and to register.

 

Keynote speaker Steve Kelley, Head of Continuing Resources & Database Management at Wake Forest University, and CORE President Elect, will present “Tectonic Shifts: The Changing Landscape of Technical Services”.  His presentation will discuss the state of technical services in libraries today. Topics will include the growth of electronic collections/the shrinkage of physical collections, the increase in subscription models of acquisitions, AI in technical services work, the changing staffing needs of technical services departments, and more.

 

Lacie Griffin, Collection Development Manager, Johnson County Library, and Past President of CORE’s Metadata and Collections Section, will present “Technical Services in Public Libraries”.  Public libraries are navigation a shifting landscape in technical services, where decisions around outsourcing versus in-house processing, digital access, and metadata ownership are more critical than ever. This program explores the evolving role of technical services in supporting access and discovery in both physical digital collections.

 

Cynthia M. Whitacre, Sr Metadata Operations Manager at OCLC (recently retired), will present “Musings on Past, Present, & Future of Technical Services.” Cynthia will discuss the major changes she has seen during her career in cataloging and will emphasize the shifts that she sees occurring now with use of artificial intelligence and the ongoing move to linked data.

 

Daniel N. Joudrey, Professor and Director of the Libraries and Librarianship Concentration, Simmons University, will present “Technical Services: The Next Generation.” This session offers an inside look at how new librarians view cataloging and metadata work. Drawing on real conversations, Joudrey shares their hopes and concerns in a candid discussion about the evolving future of technical services.

 

Registration is now open. All are welcome; membership is conferred on all attendees.

 
Library Spotlight

Hubbard Public Library Celebrates Completion of Reimagined Sensory Garden

 

Last month, Hubbard Public Library celebrated the completion of the ‘re-imagination’ and ‘re-creation’ renovation project for its beautiful Sensory Garden. New features include a Pollinators Garden, a Reading Nook, an awning (for shade, to increase the use of the Garden on very hot, sunny days), and more!

 

To learn more about this project, and to see a video of the Sensory Garden in action, visit the NEO-RLS Library Spotlight page.

 

--Submitted by Cynthia H

 

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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