Libraries give their communities access to amazing online resources with enormous potential to improve lives and build skills, but these databases and digital courses are a challenge to promote and often underutilized. The St. Joe County Public Library has had success with Bendable, a life long learning platform that pairs online learning with in person connections. Community engagement and outreach are at the heart of our strategy, and we work directly with community members, organizations, and businesses to curate learning opportunities. These strategies focus on workforce development and partner networks. This webinar will provide an introduction to Bendable and also explore strategies for learning-centered engagement and outreach that can be implemented by any library.
Presenter Jennifer Henecke began working at the St. Joe County Public Library in 2018 in the Communications Department. She received her Master of Library Science in 2021 and currently serves as the Library’s Chief Engagement Officer. She loves working at the Library because it is the place where everyone truly belongs and you can find people from all backgrounds sharing the same space. She also loves fixing up historic homes and will drive hundreds of miles for good vegan food.
Date Recorded: 6/28/2023
Format: Archived YouTube Video
Presenter: Jennifer Henecke, Chief Engagement Officer / St. Joe County Public Library
The programming section on the Indiana Public Library Annual Report has always been a bit tricky to navigate – even before recent years saw the addition of virtual programming to the mix. In this webinar, we’ll focus on how to determine if something is considered a program, what statistics to track, and how to break them down for the report. We’ll also address common questions related to programming section and preview the (relatively minor) changes coming in the 2022 report.
More and more libraries are incorporating Makerspaces as part of the available resources for the public. With a focus on lifelong learning, creativity, and innovation, makerspaces can offer people an opportunity to explore new hobbies, interests, and job skills by providing tools and resources that they may otherwise not have access to. Is your library looking to begin or expand a makerspace? Not sure where to start or how to take the next step? In this presentation we will share an overview of the La Porte County Public Library Exchange, a makerspace located in La Porte, Indiana; what the Exchange offers; and lessons learned along the way that may be helpful to consider when starting or expanding your library’s makerspace.
The staff of the North Manchester Public Library strive to meet the needs of their community in a variety of innovative ways. Unique programs and resources strengthen community relationships, center the library as an integral part of community life, and undergird literacy. In this webinar, Sarah Morbitzer, Children’s Department head, will share the ways NMPL is working to promote food security, physical activity, sensory integration, accessibility, and curiosity in learning.
Libraries aren’t just hubs for learning and knowledge sharing, but places where imagination, curiosity and play should be front and center. Join Elan Lee, CEO and Co-Creator of award-winning gaming and entertainment company Exploding Kittens, as he explores how libraries can integrate gameplay in unique ways and demonstrates how to use regular objects to turn the ordinary into extraordinary.
Do you need summer program ideas for your youngest patrons? Look no further than the Indiana Early Literacy Firefly Award! This Indiana book award comes complete with an entire manual packed with ideas and resources for ages 0-5. This webinar will dive into the manual, discuss voting methods, and more about this great picture book award voted on by Indiana children ages 0-5.
In this webinar, Katie Lehman of the Muncie Public Library’s Ready Readers program will explore a variety of methods used by the program to engage children in reading in creative and fun ways. Participants will learn different ways that these approaches can be incorporated into their own library’s programming.
The Reimagining School Readiness Toolkit is a suite of research-backed resources created for library staff to help families prepare children ages 0 to 8 for success in school and in life. Through an interactive presentation with hands-on activities, this training will introduce library staff to the research, practical implications, and resources offered in the toolkit, which is available in its entirety for free online. Participants will understand key findings from current cognitive and developmental psychology research, reflect on the implications of those findings for their daily work, and gain practical ready-to-implement ideas for activities, as well as resources for staff training and for parents/caregivers. You will benefit from this workshop if you work with children ages 0 to 8 and their families and would like to learn more about how to offer research-backed programming in your library!