MLA/DLA 2016 Conference Notes - Desk Yoga

About 63 conference attendees took the chance to unplug and De-Stress with Desk Yoga on Friday Morning, May 6.  Everyone did a great job of listening and moving thorough a series of short seated and standing routines, demonstrating everyone's ability to refresh during the work day using a break or lunch period without wearing spandex, learning Sanskrit, or standing on our heads. 

Participants learned 

1. 4 quick ways to calm and activate using simple breathing techniques 

2. Easy routines to be completed during a 5, 15, 30, or 45 minute break  

3. DIY ways to address work day stiffness or discomfort in the head and neck, back, arms and hands

4. A 5 - 7 minute deep rest period that relaxes each part of the body

Valerie Diamond

Collection Management

If you would like copies of the handouts from the class, please email Valerie at vdiamond@prattlibrary.org

MLA/DLA 2016 Conference Notes - Homelessness and Libraries

At MLA/DLA conference I attended two workshops, "Best Practices for Serving the Homeless" and "Improving Library Service for Our Homeless Patrons," about library service to the homeless. These workshops were excellent presentations, which helped participants understand that homelessness is a complicated social problem. Library's can help by providing information, programming and a welcoming attitude.

"The Homeless" is  a term frequently used as a catch all for customers who are not blending in with the typical user population. It covers a range of behaviors such as coming to the library as frequently as all day, every day, bringing a large amount of personal belongings, attempting to sleep in the library and more. Their problems include joblessness, housing insecurity, homelessness, mental health issues, addiction, no facilities to maintain personal hygiene and exposure during extreme weather.

The pre-conference workshop began with  a presentation by David Prittle, a formerly homeless  advocate for the homeless in the DC area. Sharing his story gave a human face to the complicated problem of homelessness. Participants in the workshop took the opportunity to ask “Why do the homeless not go to shelters?” , "what did you read?" "Did you ask the library staff for help?"and other practical questions. In Mr. Prittle's experience, the library was a peaceful safe place as long as he did not fall asleep too often. Eventually he was asked to leave the library.

Librarians need to raise awareness that our customers who are under stress need information and assistance from the library staff, although they may not know to ask staff directly for help. Policies must welcome all members of the community. The public areas need to be managed fairly.  Library policies should always consider how to create/maintain access to the library by all members of the community.

What helps  homeless/stressed community members?

Inclusive Programming – customers who are experiencing stress such as homelessness do not feel invited to typical programs. Scheduling Adult programing in day time helps. Fun programs are appreciated.  Movie screenings, chess boards, Art classes for adults and even “Meet the Staff” style programs are successful.  Staff may have to encourage attendance with specific verbal invitations to individuals. Job hunting and work skills oriented programming is appreciated. Programming such as health screenings and “Lawyer in the Library” are very useful to customers who have many needs.

What hurts the homeless/stressed community members?

In some cases, well intended policies may prevent community members from using the library. All libraries need to have policies which allow them to issue library cards to customers who have no fixed address. All policies that are implemented need to be applied equally at all library users. [For example, if the book club members can eat in the public areas of the library, so can every other customer.]  Policies that target specific sectors of the community can hinder positive service attitudes of the staff towards the community.

What can Librarians do?

Librarians can review proposed and existing policies to consider how the policies impact the entire community. Library staff may need training to recognize (and respond to) information needs that customers do not articulate clearly.  Staff may need to adopt a less formal style; for example, actively invite community members to attend daytime adult programming. Library staff should also be aware of the wide variety of help that is available in the community. This is a challenge.  Resources, organizations and social service programs are constantly changing. There is no one resource for all our customer’s needs.

Sarah Kuperman

Collection Management

MLA/DLA 2016 Conference Notes -- SOLID Conference Discussion

During the session "Lessons From Non-Library Conferences," Scott Reinhart & Bob Kuntz from the Carroll County Public Library shared some very interesting technology innovations from the SOLID Conference.  Some notable examples included the following: 

• custom 3D printed cell phone cases available through vending machines in Japan
• an electronic "smart plate" that keeps track of your eating habits and calorie intake
• 3D printed automobile chassis made from carbon fiber.  (This was an example of using technology to create products locally.)

Mr. Reinhart & Mr. Kuntz discussed how the field of biology is influencing technology in the notion that "binary diversity" can potentially help improve computer security and how DNA may be used as a high capacity storage unit in the future.  The presentation provided an insider's glimpse into some of the innovations from Silicon Valley that could impact society in general and library service specifically.

Greg Fromme
Herring Run Branch

MLA/DLA 2016 Conference Notes - Beyond Session Attendance

Since I’ve been going to MLA for a few years now as a Conference Committee member, I’d like to talk about some of the other aspects of MLA I’ve found valuable, especially as a SLRC outreach provider.

Presenting

Jeanne, Ray, and I organized a panel on outreach to adults titled “Connecting Resources: Becoming a Link to Local Industries.” We had very good attendance (exact numbers TBD), and I received two requests for SLRC services on the spot with a third following a few days later. There is often a lack of understanding for what SLRC does, and while that was not the central topic of the panel, it gave us a chance to explain what we do to a statewide audience. Also, I think I get CEUs for my own presentation?

Volunteering

This was my fifth (maybe sixth?) MLA conference, though it was my first year volunteering at the registration table. One of the main reasons I go to MLA is to network with other librarians in the state and learn directly from the source about the new things happening in their regions. Volunteering at the registration table turned out to be by far the best way to do this. Not only did I get to see all of the attendees I already knew, but I was also able to meet several new people via the other volunteers working at the table. I was able to coordinate with my co-presenters, field questions about SLRC services, and ask about upcoming presentations. I can’t even remember the number of business cards I received. I found it an extremely valuable two hours of my life and I highly recommend it.

Vendor Presentations

MLA is a smaller conference and the vendor presentations are often poorly attended as a result. I attended three presentations: OverDrive, a library architectural firm, and a bilingual teen magazine “Motivos.” I was able to ask direct questions about their services and hear about the new and upcoming features (especially in the case of OverDrive).

Aryn Dagirmanjian

Social Science and History Department

MLA/DLA 2016 Conference Notes - "Legal Resources for Public Librarians"

I took an informative course called "Legal Resources Training for Public Librarians." Many of the poor and indigent come to the public library looking for legal information. Often they expect us to know the answers to the legal questions they seek. As librarians, we cannot give legal advice, but we should be able to provide good resources. Please keep in mind that there is a misperception that the poor have access to free representation in court; this is only true in regards to criminal matters, not civil. It is our duty to help them as best we can.

With that in mind, here are some good online sources:

• Maryland Courts.  mdcourts.gov.   Best starting place.
• The Maryland People's Law Library.  peoples-law.org.  Think "Wikipedia" for Maryland law - but maintained by the Maryland State Law Library. Try the "Get Help" link.
• Google Scholar.  scholar.google.com   Best for finding cases nationwide and for legal articles.
• Maryland State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Services.   msba.org/public/lawyer-referral.aspx    For finding a lawyer.
• Code of Maryland (aka Michie's)  https://www.lexisnexis.com/hottopics/mdcode/  In case you don't have it in print at your location.
• Maryland Legal Aid. http://www.mdlab.org/   Private, non-profit law firm providing free legal services to low-income people statewide.
• Family Law Assistance. http://mdcourts.gov/family/familylawassistance.html    Family Services Programs & Self-Help Centers

Morgan Stanton
Edmondson Avenue Branch

CEU Requirements and Guidelines - An Overview

The decision regarding the appropriateness of any activity focuses on the following questions:

     Does the activity meet the minimum requirements for CEUs?
     Is the activity appropriate for library staff?  Is it appropriate for the attendee's position?
     What are the learning objectives of the activity?
     Will participating in the activity improve the skills of the attendee and improve library services?

Minimum Requirements for CEUs:

• The program must pertain to the person's position (current or future) or improve library services.  For example, a course on databases, or a course on supervision if looking at a future position as a supervisor.
• CEUs will only be given for activities that have clear and appropriate learning objectives.  Attendees need to be able to obtain behaviors, skills, or knowledge from the activity.  These may be new or an update of existing skills (for instance, reference interview skills or renew CPR certification).
• Credit will only be given for full contact hours and half hours beyond the first hour, not including lunch and breaks.

Approved program formats (from State Guidelines):

• Attending academic courses and accumulating semester hours (in appropriate fields)
• Attending a seminar, or library-sponsored or commercial workshop
• Participating in e-learning course and earning continuing education credit through contact hours as defined by the e-learning course sponsor
• Serving on the Blue Crab Award Committee or the Maryland Author Award Committee (Credit for this activity can only be earned once every five-year period)
• Creating a workshop, seminar or class that meets the criteria for receiving CEU credits (Contact hours for this activity can only be earned once for each training created and are limited to the number of contact hours awarded to the actual training)
• Creating and implementing a learning portfolio activity

Formats NOT approved:

• Meetings and/or committee service (except as above)
• Webinars or programs where the purpose is not specifically training/education (e.g. sales presentations)
• Preparation for programs/classes except as part of a learning portfolio.
• Any program/presentation that fails to meet the minimum time and/or learning objectives requirement(s).

Please Note:

Not every activity qualifies for CEU hours, even if it seems to be educational.

All CEU forms for programs offered by EPFL staff will have the signature of the coordinator.  If your form does not have a signature then the program may not be eligible for credit.

All programs/webinars/training from non-Pratt sources must be reviewed and approved by the coordinator.  If you aren’t sure if your activity meets the requirements, ask the coordinator before participating in the activity.

The Staff Development Coordinator must review and approve all continuing education activities that are submitted to meet state certification requirements.

MLA/DLA 2016 Conference Notes - Pratt Staff Share Knowledge at MLA

The Library had a strong presence at this year's MLA/DLA conference.  Not only did we have 25 attendees, but our staff participated in a number of presentation and panel discussions. 

Aryn Dagermanjian, Ray Cruitt, and Jeanne Lauber presented “Connecting Resources: Becoming a Link to Local Industries.”  

Linda Thompkins-Baldwin participated in the session on "Digital Maryland and Digital Partnerships -- Developing Collaborative Digital Collection."

Erin Kelly was on the panel for "Improving Library Services for Our Homeless Patrons (and Those Facing Housing Crises)."

Valerie Diamond shared her "De-Stress with Desk Yoga" program with MLA attendees.

Kaitlin Peterson connected with her former colleagues at Frederick County Public Libraries for  "From Traditional to Transformed: An Interactive All Ages Summer Reading Program for Any Community." 

Congratulations to all the staff who presented at the conference this year!