Partnership Opportunity with books and stipend, apply by May 10

ALA invites library workers to apply for “Imagining Tomorrow: Building Inclusive Futures.” This brand-new series in ALA’s Great Stories Club will feature science fiction books that explore questions of equity, identity and alternate futures.

• Visit the project guidelines and apply online by May 10, 2023
• 35 libraries will be selected
• Applications will be accepted from all types of libraries (public, school, academic, special, etc.) in the United States
• Participating libraries must work in partnership with, or be located within, an organization that reaches underserved teens (e.g., alternative high school, juvenile justice facilities, tribal library, drug/alcohol rehabilitation centers, nonprofits serving teen parents, alternative high schools, agencies serving teenaged foster children and shelters serving young adults and families experiencing homelessness).
• Selected libraries will receive 11 paperback copies of theme-related books to use in the reading and discussion groups as well as a $500 programming stipend, online training, an array of program resources and support throughout the grant term.

This Great Stories Club theme asks: How can we imagine and dream of our shared futures together, alongside each other, in order to create better tomorrows? The books in this series point toward the ways that we might build shared futures while acknowledging the lessons of our origin stories. Selected libraries may choose up to four books from the following reading list:

• “Victories Greater Than Death” by Charlie Jane Anders
• “Across a Field of Starlight” by Blue Delliquanti
• “The Marrow Thieves” by Cherie Dimaline
• “The Sound of Stars” by Alechia Dow
• “War Girls” by Tochi Onyebuchi

Questions? Please email publicprograms@ala.org. Online application: https://www.ala.org/tools/programming/greatstories/apply

Passport Program Update

Both CVTC and Cornell will be participating in the Explore MORE Passport Program this year! Welcome to them both!

• Cornell’s official start date isn’t until early July, so MORE cards won’t work at Cornell until then. Please encourage folks to visit our newest MORE member libraries!
• CVTC is our only Academic Library, and they’re open to the general public. They’re excited to show people their research section and Library of Things.

Your physical library kits will be put in courier at the end of next week, as soon as we have all the printed materials in hand. Reb will make a little how-to video to let you know how all the pieces work. Feel free to contact Reb with questions and concerns! kilde@ifls.lib.wi.us

Coming Up

Wisconsin Libraries Talk About Race series

Support your equity and inclusion skills with these free webinars and workshops. All the details are on the IFLS Calendar.

• April 18, 11-12pm; Beyond Diversity 101: Micro-inequities, Implicit Bias, and Moving Toward Equity REGISTER
• May 4, 1-2pm; How to Move Past Midwest Nice Towards Safety and Belonging REGISTER
• May 17, 1-2pm; Build Skills & Take Action to Stand Up for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion REGISTER
• 2 Workshops, “Becoming an Active Ally”, registration info coming soon
  • June 15, 2023; 10am-3pm; Waunakee Public Library
  • June 16, 2023, 10am-3pm, L.E. Phillips Memorial Library in Eau Claire

On the IFLS calendar