“A sociologist named Patrick Sharkey coined the term, ‘collective efficacy,’ to describe how the institutions work together to create community. In that regard, [Director] Shaker said, ‘Our library team feels stupendously lucky to be operating in a community that has organizations and village staff who are so open to collaboration and idea sharing. It really makes Forest Park a great place to work in.'”
Category: library-and-info-science
Navigating International Conference Opportunities (Free Webinar) May 12
Description: Do you want to learn about opportunities to advance your career by networking with international professionals? After a special introduction by Jim Neal, current IRRT Chair, Loida Garcia-Febo, Mark Mattson, and Gina de Alwis will share different paths to expand careers with international platforms. The presenters will share tips on finding and connecting with professionals outside your home country. Through the panelists personal experiences discover the benefits and opportunities in international conference attendance and collaborations.
Scott County Library Permanently Eliminates Overdue Fines
“This is going to be getting more materials into the hands of more Scott County residents, which brings us closer to the library’s mission — connecting all residents with resources, support and opportunity,” Scott County Library Director Jake Grussing said. “I think one of the best ways to do that is to create a penalty-free, welcoming environment for anybody who wants to use the library.”
Public Libraries Across the U.S. Are Taking Note of this Richmond-area Branch’s Parent-and-Child-friendly Design
‘To have a space where children and parents are centered is truly rare in America. Parents are so used to everything being hard in this country.’
Roxbury Library Goes Fine-Free
In announcing the new policy, the library said its board of trustees “is dedicated to creating a library that is more open, equitable and understanding of our community,” and explained that “eliminating fines for overdue materials means more people in our community have greater access to the Library’s vital materials, resources and services.”
Cambridge Public Library Goes Fine Free
The Cambridge Public Library no longer charges fines on late returns or renewals. This ensures that everyone has access to library books and materials, regardless of their circumstances.
NYC Libraries Go Fine Free
“The simple fact that the library community knows well is that fines are an antiquated notion that doesn’t work… New Yorkers and people throughout the country love and trust their library—they understand it’s a public good, they respect it, and they bring their books back.”
Coos County Libraries to Offer Free Social Work Services
A social worker will be available in three Coos County libraries and it will be a free service.
Virginia Beach Public Library Drops Overdue Fines for Kids Moving Forward
“Equal and equitable access to information is a core value of libraries,” said Director of Libraries Eva Poole. “Removing overdue fines from youth accounts is a first step in removing economic barriers to accessing library materials, especially for children who may need us the most. Inability to pay fines may prevent families from returning materials or visiting the library at all. The goal is to get the materials back into our collection, and to encourage families to continue using the library.”
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Wants to Get Rid of Late Fines
“The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library intends to soon stop fining patrons for overdue books, joining a growing national trend to support some of the most vulnerable library patrons.”