NCompass Live - April 1, 2020
http://nlc.nebraska.gov/NCompassLive/
The Rural Library Service & Social Wellbeing project is moving from data collection to resource development - and we need your help! In this session find out what we've learned through talking with hundreds of rural community members around the country, how it could influence rural library service, and how YOU can help by beta testing resources developed from this research.
Presenters: Margo Gustina, Special Projects Librarian, Southern Tier Library System and Eli Guinnee, State Librarian, New Mexico State Library.
Librarians and library workers are critical actors in shaping the future of our communities and libraries. In this session, we will talk about what it will take for each of us to lead our libraries in this environment. By engaging local community members in authentic conversations and making their aspirations and concerns the reference point for taking action, we open up new possibilities for increasing our impact. We will use tools prepared by the American Library Association’s “Promise of Libraries Transforming Communities” initiative--a partnership between ALA and the Harwood Institute of Public Innovation--and other frameworks to unleash possibilities for occupying a more visible, valued role in our communities.
This is a great aid available to help us initiate and inform such conversations. It’s in the form of a flipbook called “Service To Humanity”. Themes like “Pathway of Service”, “Twofold Moral Purpose”, “Constructive and Destructive Forces of Society”, “Educating Younger Generations”, etc. provide compelling launch pads for rich, meaningful conversations with both youth and adults.
Librarians and library workers are critical actors in shaping the future of our communities and libraries. In this session, we will talk about what it will take for each of us to lead our libraries in this environment. By engaging local community members in authentic conversations and making their aspirations and concerns the reference point for taking action, we open up new possibilities for increasing our impact. We will use tools prepared by the American Library Association’s “Promise of Libraries Transforming Communities” initiative--a partnership between ALA and the Harwood Institute of Public Innovation--and other frameworks to unleash possibilities for occupying a more visible, valued role in our communities.
This is a great aid available to help us initiate and inform such conversations. It’s in the form of a flipbook called “Service To Humanity”. Themes like “Pathway of Service”, “Twofold Moral Purpose”, “Constructive and Destructive Forces of Society”, “Educating Younger Generations”, etc. provide compelling launch pads for rich, meaningful conversations with both youth and adults.
Description of Women Transcending Boundaries' plans for A-OK (Acts of Kindness) Weekend in Syracuse, New York, September 11-12. Organization background, statement of need, contribution to community building, desired outcomes, action steps, outcome measures, relation to existing programs, timetable, and sustainability plan
Cultural Communities Essay
Ideal Community to Me Essay examples
Essay on Commitment to Community
Essay on Community Profile
What is a Community? Essay example
Defining Community Essay
Essay on Community
NCompass Live - January 29, 2020
http://nlc.nebraska.gov/ncompasslive/
Innovation encompasses far more than technology. One of the most exciting trends in 21st century libraries is the emphasis on restructuring and reinventing our roles in our communities. A huge part of this discussion revolves around the term "Community Engagement". And while this sounds grand and fancy, things often get blurry when we are pressed to define it, implement it, and (the most daunting of all) measure it.
It’s time to cut through ambiguity and put concrete parameters around this evasive topic. This discussion will center around the following questions about community engagement: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and HOW?
Participants will leave with a clear definition of Community Engagement, along with the framework for how to build a Community Engagement plan. One size doesn’t fit all. Your library is uniquely special and to honor this fact, this interactive hour will include brainstorming about what’s right for your library and community. This discussion will be supported by concrete examples and case studies from libraries who have implemented successful community engagement plans.
This conversation is for everyone in the public library. The secret to effective community engagement involves the whole team; we all have an important part to play.
Presenter: Erica Rose, Library Science Faculty/Program Coordinator, University of Nebraska at Omaha.
FIGURE 1.1 Every day, 7.5 million people use the railways arouChereCheek752
FIGURE 1.1 Every day, 7.5 million people use the railways around Mumbai, India. The vast majority of them don’t
know each other, but they share much in common as they move together. (Credit: Rajarshi MITRA/flickr)
CHAPTER OUTLINE
1.1 What Is Sociology?
1.2 The History of Sociology
1.3 Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology
1.4 Why Study Sociology?
INTRODUCTION A busy commuter train station might seem like a very individualized place. Tens of
thousands or hundreds of thousands of strangers flow through with a singular purpose: to get where they need
to go. Whether walking through main doors at a pace of a dozen people each second, or arriving by train
hundreds at a time, the station can feel a bit like a balloon being pumped too full. Throngs of people cluster in
tight bottlenecks until they burst through corridors and stairways and tunnels to reach the next stage of their
journey. In some stations, walking against the crowd can be a tedious, nearly impossible process. And cutting
across a river of determined commuters can be almost dangerous. Things are fast, relentless, and necessary.
But are those hundred thousand or half a million or, in the case of Tokyo’s Shinjuku station, 3.5 million people
really acting individually? It may seem surprising, but even with those numbers, strangers from across cities
can synch up on the same schedules, use the same doors, take one leg of the trip together every day before
separating into different directions. After just a few months, faces can become familiar, and senses can be
tuned. An experienced commuter can tell where another person is going according to their pace and whatever
announcement just went out; they may slow up a bit to let the other person pass, or hold a door open just a bit
1An Introduction to Sociology
longer than usual, certain that someone will grab the handle behind them. Many regulars don’t need to check
the schedule board; they sense whether a train is running late or whether a track has changed simply by the
movement of the crowd.
And then the customs develop: Which side to walk on, how fast to go, where to stand, how much space to leave
between people on the escalator. When you board early, which seat should you take? When you see someone
running for the train, do you jam the closing door with your foot? How does the crowd treat people who ask for
food or money? What’s the risk level in telling someone to be quiet?
Very few of these behaviors are taught. None are written down. But the transit hub, that pocket of constant flow,
is an echo of its society. It takes on some aspects of the city and country around it, but its people also form an
informal group of their own. Sociologists, as you will learn, may study these people. Sociologists may seek to
understand how they feel about their trip, be it proud or annoyed or just plain exhausted. Sociologists might
study how length of commute relates to job satisfaction or family relationships. They may study the ways ...
Defining Community Essay
What is a Community? Essay example
Ideal Community to Me Essay examples
Essay on Commitment to Community
Essay on Community
Essay on Community Profile
Essay On Social Issues | Social Issues Essay for Students and Children .... Essay about society problems. Essay on Understanding Social Problems | 1008CCJ - Understanding Social .... topics for human services research paper.
Presence To Contribution: A Welcoming Community For People With Intellectual ...LiveWorkPlay
This presentation formed the basis of a webinar delivered through the Community Networks of Specialized Care. The presenter is Keenan Wellar, co-leader and director of communications at LiveWorkPlay in Ottawa. Attending directly and remotely were representatives from about 20 organizations across Ontario.
From 2008-2010, the LiveWorkPlay charitable organization in Ottawa engaged in a successful process of "de-programming" by completing a shift from congregated programs to authentic community-based supports and outcomes based on flexible and individualized person-centered planning. They have been living this new way of being for the past three years and will share what they have learned, with a particular focus on life-changing outcomes for individuals who have an intellectual disability, as well as a "social capital" approach to partnerships with citizens and organizations in support of a more inclusive community.
NCompass Live - April 10, 2024
http://nlc.nebraska.gov/ncompasslive/
Libraries have been offering programming for decades, and in many cases the model has been, "Let’s plan a program, promote it, and see who shows up." This approach hasn’t changed much, even with social and technological changes, not to mention the pandemic and streaming programs. Program planning with a marketing mindset starts with identifying your customer’s needs and wants, then developing programs and services to meet those needs and wants. We’ll discuss how to use research – quantitative and qualitative – to plan and market programs that will engage your customers. We’ll talk about "bundling" programs and services for different audience segments. We’ll also cover how this more strategic approach can save time and resources for your library.
Presenter: Cordelia Anderson, Library Marketing and Communications Consultant, Cordelia Anderson Consulting.
Katarina Spears, Library Director; Baylee Hughes, Community Engagement Librarian, James L. Hamner Public Library, Amelia Court House, VA (Population served: 13,400)
Big Talk From Small Libraries 2024
February 23, 2024
http://nlcblogs.nebraska.gov/bigtalk
Katarina Spears, Library Director; Baylee Hughes, Community Engagement Librarian, James L. Hamner Public Library, Amelia Court House, VA (Population served: 13,400)
Big Talk From Small Libraries 2024
February 23, 2024
http://nlcblogs.nebraska.gov/bigtalk
Katarina Spears, Library Director; Baylee Hughes, Community Engagement Librarian, James L. Hamner Public Library, Amelia Court House, VA (Population served: 13,400)
Big Talk From Small Libraries 2024
February 23, 2024
http://nlcblogs.nebraska.gov/bigtalk
Description of Women Transcending Boundaries' plans for A-OK (Acts of Kindness) Weekend in Syracuse, New York, September 11-12. Organization background, statement of need, contribution to community building, desired outcomes, action steps, outcome measures, relation to existing programs, timetable, and sustainability plan
Cultural Communities Essay
Ideal Community to Me Essay examples
Essay on Commitment to Community
Essay on Community Profile
What is a Community? Essay example
Defining Community Essay
Essay on Community
NCompass Live - January 29, 2020
http://nlc.nebraska.gov/ncompasslive/
Innovation encompasses far more than technology. One of the most exciting trends in 21st century libraries is the emphasis on restructuring and reinventing our roles in our communities. A huge part of this discussion revolves around the term "Community Engagement". And while this sounds grand and fancy, things often get blurry when we are pressed to define it, implement it, and (the most daunting of all) measure it.
It’s time to cut through ambiguity and put concrete parameters around this evasive topic. This discussion will center around the following questions about community engagement: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and HOW?
Participants will leave with a clear definition of Community Engagement, along with the framework for how to build a Community Engagement plan. One size doesn’t fit all. Your library is uniquely special and to honor this fact, this interactive hour will include brainstorming about what’s right for your library and community. This discussion will be supported by concrete examples and case studies from libraries who have implemented successful community engagement plans.
This conversation is for everyone in the public library. The secret to effective community engagement involves the whole team; we all have an important part to play.
Presenter: Erica Rose, Library Science Faculty/Program Coordinator, University of Nebraska at Omaha.
FIGURE 1.1 Every day, 7.5 million people use the railways arouChereCheek752
FIGURE 1.1 Every day, 7.5 million people use the railways around Mumbai, India. The vast majority of them don’t
know each other, but they share much in common as they move together. (Credit: Rajarshi MITRA/flickr)
CHAPTER OUTLINE
1.1 What Is Sociology?
1.2 The History of Sociology
1.3 Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology
1.4 Why Study Sociology?
INTRODUCTION A busy commuter train station might seem like a very individualized place. Tens of
thousands or hundreds of thousands of strangers flow through with a singular purpose: to get where they need
to go. Whether walking through main doors at a pace of a dozen people each second, or arriving by train
hundreds at a time, the station can feel a bit like a balloon being pumped too full. Throngs of people cluster in
tight bottlenecks until they burst through corridors and stairways and tunnels to reach the next stage of their
journey. In some stations, walking against the crowd can be a tedious, nearly impossible process. And cutting
across a river of determined commuters can be almost dangerous. Things are fast, relentless, and necessary.
But are those hundred thousand or half a million or, in the case of Tokyo’s Shinjuku station, 3.5 million people
really acting individually? It may seem surprising, but even with those numbers, strangers from across cities
can synch up on the same schedules, use the same doors, take one leg of the trip together every day before
separating into different directions. After just a few months, faces can become familiar, and senses can be
tuned. An experienced commuter can tell where another person is going according to their pace and whatever
announcement just went out; they may slow up a bit to let the other person pass, or hold a door open just a bit
1An Introduction to Sociology
longer than usual, certain that someone will grab the handle behind them. Many regulars don’t need to check
the schedule board; they sense whether a train is running late or whether a track has changed simply by the
movement of the crowd.
And then the customs develop: Which side to walk on, how fast to go, where to stand, how much space to leave
between people on the escalator. When you board early, which seat should you take? When you see someone
running for the train, do you jam the closing door with your foot? How does the crowd treat people who ask for
food or money? What’s the risk level in telling someone to be quiet?
Very few of these behaviors are taught. None are written down. But the transit hub, that pocket of constant flow,
is an echo of its society. It takes on some aspects of the city and country around it, but its people also form an
informal group of their own. Sociologists, as you will learn, may study these people. Sociologists may seek to
understand how they feel about their trip, be it proud or annoyed or just plain exhausted. Sociologists might
study how length of commute relates to job satisfaction or family relationships. They may study the ways ...
Defining Community Essay
What is a Community? Essay example
Ideal Community to Me Essay examples
Essay on Commitment to Community
Essay on Community
Essay on Community Profile
Essay On Social Issues | Social Issues Essay for Students and Children .... Essay about society problems. Essay on Understanding Social Problems | 1008CCJ - Understanding Social .... topics for human services research paper.
Presence To Contribution: A Welcoming Community For People With Intellectual ...LiveWorkPlay
This presentation formed the basis of a webinar delivered through the Community Networks of Specialized Care. The presenter is Keenan Wellar, co-leader and director of communications at LiveWorkPlay in Ottawa. Attending directly and remotely were representatives from about 20 organizations across Ontario.
From 2008-2010, the LiveWorkPlay charitable organization in Ottawa engaged in a successful process of "de-programming" by completing a shift from congregated programs to authentic community-based supports and outcomes based on flexible and individualized person-centered planning. They have been living this new way of being for the past three years and will share what they have learned, with a particular focus on life-changing outcomes for individuals who have an intellectual disability, as well as a "social capital" approach to partnerships with citizens and organizations in support of a more inclusive community.
Similar to NCompass Live: Beta Testing for Social Wellbeing (12)
NCompass Live - April 10, 2024
http://nlc.nebraska.gov/ncompasslive/
Libraries have been offering programming for decades, and in many cases the model has been, "Let’s plan a program, promote it, and see who shows up." This approach hasn’t changed much, even with social and technological changes, not to mention the pandemic and streaming programs. Program planning with a marketing mindset starts with identifying your customer’s needs and wants, then developing programs and services to meet those needs and wants. We’ll discuss how to use research – quantitative and qualitative – to plan and market programs that will engage your customers. We’ll talk about "bundling" programs and services for different audience segments. We’ll also cover how this more strategic approach can save time and resources for your library.
Presenter: Cordelia Anderson, Library Marketing and Communications Consultant, Cordelia Anderson Consulting.
Katarina Spears, Library Director; Baylee Hughes, Community Engagement Librarian, James L. Hamner Public Library, Amelia Court House, VA (Population served: 13,400)
Big Talk From Small Libraries 2024
February 23, 2024
http://nlcblogs.nebraska.gov/bigtalk
Katarina Spears, Library Director; Baylee Hughes, Community Engagement Librarian, James L. Hamner Public Library, Amelia Court House, VA (Population served: 13,400)
Big Talk From Small Libraries 2024
February 23, 2024
http://nlcblogs.nebraska.gov/bigtalk
Katarina Spears, Library Director; Baylee Hughes, Community Engagement Librarian, James L. Hamner Public Library, Amelia Court House, VA (Population served: 13,400)
Big Talk From Small Libraries 2024
February 23, 2024
http://nlcblogs.nebraska.gov/bigtalk
Katarina Spears, Library Director; Baylee Hughes, Community Engagement Librarian, James L. Hamner Public Library, Amelia Court House, VA (Population served: 13,400)
Big Talk From Small Libraries 2024
February 23, 2024
http://nlcblogs.nebraska.gov/bigtalk
Katarina Spears, Library Director; Baylee Hughes, Community Engagement Librarian, James L. Hamner Public Library, Amelia Court House, VA (Population served: 13,400)
Big Talk From Small Libraries 2024
February 23, 2024
http://nlcblogs.nebraska.gov/bigtalk
Erin Crockett, Library Director, Carroll County Library, Huntingdon, TN (Population served: 4,433)
Big Talk From Small Libraries 2024
February 23, 2024
http://nlcblogs.nebraska.gov/bigtalk
Alec Staley, Branch Manager, Worcester County Library – Ocean City Branch, Ocean City, MD (Population served: 6,900)
Big Talk From Small Libraries 2024
February 23, 2024
http://nlcblogs.nebraska.gov/bigtalk
Katarina Spears, Library Director; Baylee Hughes, Community Engagement Librarian, James L. Hamner Public Library, Amelia Court House, VA (Population served: 13,400)
Big Talk From Small Libraries 2024
February 23, 2024
http://nlcblogs.nebraska.gov/bigtalk
Amber Sweetland, Director, Kimball Public Library, Kimball, NE (Population served: 2,500)
Big Talk From Small Libraries 2024
February 23, 2024
http://nlcblogs.nebraska.gov/bigtalk
Abbie Steuhm, Research & Scholarship Librarian, Karl E. Mundt Library, Dakota State University, Madison, SD (FTE: 2,000)
Big Talk From Small Libraries 2024
February 23, 2024
http://nlcblogs.nebraska.gov/bigtalk
Karen Mier, Library Director, Plattsmouth Public Library, Plattsmouth, NE (Population served: 6,620)
Big Talk From Small Libraries 2024
February 23, 2024
http://nlcblogs.nebraska.gov/bigtalk
Jennifer Chess, Communications & Marketing Librarian; Lori Mullooly, Events and Programming Librarian; Lisa Gomez, Exhibition Librarian; U.S. Military Academy Library, West Point, NY (FTE: 4,400)
Big Talk From Small Libraries 2024
February 23, 2024
http://nlcblogs.nebraska.gov/bigtalk
NCompass Live - March 13, 2024
While every library is unique, they all seem to share one thing in common: they could use more money! Grant funding might be the just thing to help buy technology for STEM programming, get a new service initiative off the ground, or complete a renovation. But applying for grants can be overwhelming – and that’s assuming you can even find one for which you qualify. This session aims to introduce you to the tools to make the grant application process more easily navigable. In this session, Kathryn will provide tips for putting your best foot forward when it comes time to submit your proposal. Handouts include a roadmap to success and descriptions of various sections of the application.
Presenter: Kathryn Brockmeier, Grant Consultant.
NCompass Live - February 14, 2024
http://nlc.nebraska.gov/ncompasslive/
Nebraska’s statewide education network, Network Nebraska, has made great strides in expanding broadband services and fostering digital equity in the state. By significantly expanding access to eduroam* in community anchor institutions, such as K-12 schools, community colleges, and libraries, ConnectEd Nebraska has made an important impact on the state’s educational landscape. In addition, ConnectEd Nebraska is piloting innovative collaborations between school districts and local ISPs to expand access to eduroam in unique ways that go beyond traditional anchor institutions, reducing barriers to broadband access and enhancing educational opportunities. Attend this session to learn what eduroam is, where it's deployed throughout the state, and how your library can get involved.
More information is available at https://connectednebraska.com/
* eduroam is a secure, world-wide roaming access service developed for the research and education community that allows students, researchers, and staff from participating institutions to obtain Internet connectivity across campus and when visiting other participating sites.
Presenter: Brett Bieber, Assistant Vice President, IT Client Services, University of Nebraska.
NCompass Live - February 7, 2024
http://nlc.nebraska.gov/ncompasslive/
Do you have WiFi questions? Sherm has the answers!
On this episode on NCompass Live, the Nebraska Library Commission's Library Technology Support Specialist, Andrew 'Sherm' Sherman, will cover:
The current standards of WiFi technology
What WiFi standards and equipment libraries should be utilizing
The pros and cons of the different WiFi configurations in a library environment
The assistance Sherm can provide to libraries with their WiFi and other technology needs
NCompass Live - January 24, 2024
http://nlc.nebraska.gov/ncompasslive/
Brief book talks and reviews of new titles recommended to school and public librarians, covering both middle and high school levels, that were published within the last year.
Presenter: Sally Snyder, Coordinator of Children and Young Adult Library Services, Nebraska Library Commission and Dana Fontaine, Librarian, Fremont High School.
NCompass Live - January 17, 2024
http://nlc.nebraska.gov/ncompasslive/
Have you wondered if your library's website needs some work? How do you decide that, without being subjective? How do you know what to measure, or how to measure it? There are many current standards for content, images, navigation, usability, and more that can be readily applied to your website, allowing for a more objective analysis of what you currently have. A website audit can provide a valuable framework, especially before beginning a full or even partial redesign of your library's site. Learn about data-based principles that can guide your future work and discover some tools that can provide concrete specifics for elements that may need attention.
Presenter: Laura Solomon, MCIW, MLS is the Library Services Manager for the Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN). She has been doing web development and design for more than twenty years, in both public libraries and as an independent consultant. She specializes in developing with Drupal. She is a 2010 Library Journal Mover & Shaker. She's written three books about social media and content marketing, specifically for libraries, and speaks nationally on both these and technology-related topics. As a former children's librarian, she enjoys bringing the "fun of technology" to audiences and in giving libraries the tools they need to better serve the virtual customer.
NCompass Live - January 10, 2024
http://nlc.nebraska.gov/ncompasslive/
What is the Nebraska Library Commission? Who are we? What do we do?
To kick off 2024, we will introduce you to the people and departments of the Nebraska Library Commission.
In Part 2, you will meet Christa Porter, Library Development Director; Tessa Timperly, Communications Coordinator; Gabe Kramer, Talking Book & Braille Service Director; and Devra Dragos, Technology & Access Services Director.
NCompass Live - January 3, 2024
http://nlc.nebraska.gov/NCompassLive/
What is the Nebraska Library Commission? Who are we? What do we do?
To kick off 2024, we will introduce you to the people and departments of the Nebraska Library Commission.
In Part 1, you will meet Rod Wagner, Library Commission Director; Vern Buis, Computer Services Director; Lisa Kelly, Information Services Director; and Mary Sauers, Government Information Services Librarian.
Read| The latest issue of The Challenger is here! We are thrilled to announce that our school paper has qualified for the NATIONAL SCHOOLS PRESS CONFERENCE (NSPC) 2024. Thank you for your unwavering support and trust. Dive into the stories that made us stand out!
Francesca Gottschalk - How can education support child empowerment.pptxEduSkills OECD
Francesca Gottschalk from the OECD’s Centre for Educational Research and Innovation presents at the Ask an Expert Webinar: How can education support child empowerment?
2024.06.01 Introducing a competency framework for languag learning materials ...Sandy Millin
http://sandymillin.wordpress.com/iateflwebinar2024
Published classroom materials form the basis of syllabuses, drive teacher professional development, and have a potentially huge influence on learners, teachers and education systems. All teachers also create their own materials, whether a few sentences on a blackboard, a highly-structured fully-realised online course, or anything in between. Despite this, the knowledge and skills needed to create effective language learning materials are rarely part of teacher training, and are mostly learnt by trial and error.
Knowledge and skills frameworks, generally called competency frameworks, for ELT teachers, trainers and managers have existed for a few years now. However, until I created one for my MA dissertation, there wasn’t one drawing together what we need to know and do to be able to effectively produce language learning materials.
This webinar will introduce you to my framework, highlighting the key competencies I identified from my research. It will also show how anybody involved in language teaching (any language, not just English!), teacher training, managing schools or developing language learning materials can benefit from using the framework.
Introduction to AI for Nonprofits with Tapp NetworkTechSoup
Dive into the world of AI! Experts Jon Hill and Tareq Monaur will guide you through AI's role in enhancing nonprofit websites and basic marketing strategies, making it easy to understand and apply.
June 3, 2024 Anti-Semitism Letter Sent to MIT President Kornbluth and MIT Cor...Levi Shapiro
Letter from the Congress of the United States regarding Anti-Semitism sent June 3rd to MIT President Sally Kornbluth, MIT Corp Chair, Mark Gorenberg
Dear Dr. Kornbluth and Mr. Gorenberg,
The US House of Representatives is deeply concerned by ongoing and pervasive acts of antisemitic
harassment and intimidation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Failing to act decisively to ensure a safe learning environment for all students would be a grave dereliction of your responsibilities as President of MIT and Chair of the MIT Corporation.
This Congress will not stand idly by and allow an environment hostile to Jewish students to persist. The House believes that your institution is in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and the inability or
unwillingness to rectify this violation through action requires accountability.
Postsecondary education is a unique opportunity for students to learn and have their ideas and beliefs challenged. However, universities receiving hundreds of millions of federal funds annually have denied
students that opportunity and have been hijacked to become venues for the promotion of terrorism, antisemitic harassment and intimidation, unlawful encampments, and in some cases, assaults and riots.
The House of Representatives will not countenance the use of federal funds to indoctrinate students into hateful, antisemitic, anti-American supporters of terrorism. Investigations into campus antisemitism by the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Committee on Ways and Means have been expanded into a Congress-wide probe across all relevant jurisdictions to address this national crisis. The undersigned Committees will conduct oversight into the use of federal funds at MIT and its learning environment under authorities granted to each Committee.
• The Committee on Education and the Workforce has been investigating your institution since December 7, 2023. The Committee has broad jurisdiction over postsecondary education, including its compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, campus safety concerns over disruptions to the learning environment, and the awarding of federal student aid under the Higher Education Act.
• The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is investigating the sources of funding and other support flowing to groups espousing pro-Hamas propaganda and engaged in antisemitic harassment and intimidation of students. The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is the principal oversight committee of the US House of Representatives and has broad authority to investigate “any matter” at “any time” under House Rule X.
• The Committee on Ways and Means has been investigating several universities since November 15, 2023, when the Committee held a hearing entitled From Ivory Towers to Dark Corners: Investigating the Nexus Between Antisemitism, Tax-Exempt Universities, and Terror Financing. The Committee followed the hearing with letters to those institutions on January 10, 202
Embracing GenAI - A Strategic ImperativePeter Windle
Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies such as Generative AI, Image Generators and Large Language Models have had a dramatic impact on teaching, learning and assessment over the past 18 months. The most immediate threat AI posed was to Academic Integrity with Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) focusing their efforts on combating the use of GenAI in assessment. Guidelines were developed for staff and students, policies put in place too. Innovative educators have forged paths in the use of Generative AI for teaching, learning and assessments leading to pockets of transformation springing up across HEIs, often with little or no top-down guidance, support or direction.
This Gasta posits a strategic approach to integrating AI into HEIs to prepare staff, students and the curriculum for an evolving world and workplace. We will highlight the advantages of working with these technologies beyond the realm of teaching, learning and assessment by considering prompt engineering skills, industry impact, curriculum changes, and the need for staff upskilling. In contrast, not engaging strategically with Generative AI poses risks, including falling behind peers, missed opportunities and failing to ensure our graduates remain employable. The rapid evolution of AI technologies necessitates a proactive and strategic approach if we are to remain relevant.
1. Social Wellbeing:
resources for
libraries in
action
Eli Guinnee
State Librarian, New Mexico
Margo Gustina
Special Projects Librarian
Building on Strengthening Networks, Sparking Change: Museums and Libraries as Community Catalysts (Norton and Dowdall,
2017) https://www.imls.gov/sites/default/files//publications/documents/community-catalyst-report-january-2017.pdf
1
2. Pathways to Contribution Personal Reflection
Take a minute to think about one community member who has lived an interesting
life.
Think about the unique talents and knowledge they have. Is the community able to
benefit from these?
Now multiply that across the whole population and consider what would your
community would look like if it were able to use all of its collective knowledge.
Reflect on your thinking: do you have a good sense of the skills contained in your
community?
2
3. Pathways to Contribution Personal Reflection
The next time a new resident walks into the library looking
for a library card, what thoughts or aims do you want to
hold in your head as you talk to them about the library and
about the town?
3
4. Pathways to Contribution Personal Reflection
Think about the young people who have moved away from
town. When they leave do you assume they will never be
back? Is there some small thing you can do to to help
maintain their connection to their hometown?
4
5. Hope Decker
Member Services Liaison
Pioneer Library System (NY)
Rick Bonney – Cornell University,
Consulting Methodologist
Bharat Mehra – University of
Alabama, Advisory Board
Cynthia Nikitin – Project for Public
Spaces, Advisory Board
Madeline Peña – REFORMA Past-
President, Advisory Board
Meredith Wickham – ARSL, Advisory
Board
Ebonie Alexander
Black Family Land Trust
Naomi Bishop
AILA Past-President
Miriam Jorgensen
Native Nations Institute
Michael Norton
Reinvestment Fund
Loriene Roy
University of Texas
This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services [RE-96-18-0134]. The
views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the
Institute of Museum and Library Services.
5
6. Are public libraries a component
of social wellbeing in resource-
poor geographies?
If so, what practices do they
employ?
6
8. Building Pathways with Intentionality
Every community is different and no library can do everything perfectly. The previous
steps have hopefully helped you (and your team if this is a collaborative effort) think
about your strengths--and your community's strengths--and potential new pathways you
could build that would have the most meaning.
A pathway is built with intention to make travel possible and meaningful. It encourages,
but cannot force, a journey to happen. It might have a trailhead at the start of the path
with a picture of the destination and signposts along the way to keep travelers on track.
The pathway might make the journey more rich and meaningful through grand vistas that
put things in perspective or by focusing attention on a single point of interest.
Reflect now on the thinking you’ve done, and consider that which most aligns with your
heart, your passions, and your talents. What speaks to you? What aim can you hold to
remember this as you go forward now, and into the future in your career and in your life?
Image: Elk River valley by Amy Rivers – used with permission
8
9. “How Working-Class Life Is Killing Americans, in Charts”
By David Leonhardt and Stuart A. Thompson
March 6, 2020
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/03/06/opinion/working-class-death-
rate.html
9
11. 1870
If we see this image as a graph, then we can see how it interprets social wellbeing aggregated out to our four categories for our
example community over the past 150 years.
11
12. And that were we to zoom in on this image, each of those more nuanced indicators of wellbeing might appear as their own wavy
lines.
Notice that at both the category and the finer dimension level, social wellbeing measures don’t all run parallel. Some might not
lead to others. Some might. And others might work against wellbeing in other categories.
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13. Yes!
Public libraries build
pathways to social wellbeing
in rural communities.
Oh! Here I should tell you that the answer is Yes! We found consistent evidence across all eight of our case study communities
that public libraries improve social wellbeing in their communities. In order to see how and what we can do to improve those
outcomes, we have to hang out for a minute more describing what is going on in that social fabric weave and how it relates to the
social wellbeing indicators we discussed before.
13
14. When I moved here. With being basically a
shut in with no transportation. And I came
into the library it was like I could breathe
again. Because there were books.
Community member interview – direct quote, September 2019.
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15. But when I feel like to understand who
you are like yourself as a person you kind
of need to be able to step away from
distraction you know. So it's at least for
me I know that like let's say I'm struggling
with something or whatever emotionally
even it's helpful to not fill my time to such
an extent where I can't listen to my own
general like feelings like.
Community member direct quote, June 2019.
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17. Belonging
& Home
Belonging and feelings of home are both outcomes of community actions AND a reason for community action.
17
18. Belonging
& Home
Mutualism
Self-determination
Two of the most common strong paths we observed after the point of belonging were mutualism and self-determination. There are
others you can read about in our findings, but these were so evident across communities, you might even recognize how they work
in your own community or neighborhood.
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19. Mutualism
Belonging
& Home
“Everyone here
would give the shirt
off their back for
you.”
Mutualism, or support, mutual aid, dynamic reciprocity, or “they’d give the shirt off their back for you” has an important place in
providing a sense of physical and emotional security in the town where one lives. Deep running mutualistic networks that are
complex, distributed throughout the community, connecting between individuals, family groups, organizations and institutions –
are built over long time spans, through both routine interactions and special circumstances.
They feed social connections, making them easier to see and the more culturally pervasive mutualism is, the easier it is for a
newcomer to enter the network deeply and more quickly.
19
20. The culture that we saw on display during our field visit was deep mutualism. It was pervasive and evident in every conversation,
even in the built structures throughout the town. In Helvetia, the general store and post office is community owned. The village
may not be incorporated with a state recognized government, but they are organized. Through a collection of committees, nearly
everyone in town contributes to the creation of the village, and participates in decision-making about its future.
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21. Meservey, Iowa is quite a bit bigger than Helvetia with a long standing history of mutualism. One of the social markers a resident
pointed to was attendance at funerals. As a community, folks in Meservey grieve together. That cultural norm shows up in action
when there is an accident. In a different story, a resident shared that when her husband was injured in a tractor accident, neighbors
throughout the region showed up to harvest for the family. The community is its own insurance, its own structure of care and
security.
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22. Self-determination
Belonging
& Home
“like you can be who
you want to be here
without too much
judgment.”
“there’s
equal
opportunity
here.”
An other observed strong pathway was of Self-Determination. Self-determination is closely tied to being heard and having access
to infrastructure. This pathway was most obvious in communities which provided infrastructure necessary for residents to access
opportunity and social services, and have multiple outlets for community members to express their opinions and ideas. We saw
this in action through libraries which were connecting residents around topics of common concern, and also common passion.
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23. Needs of permanent full-year residents could be easily lost amid those well-heeled people who come and go with second and third
houses in other locations. The library, since its inception when the local school closed, has provided the routine daily gathering
place for residents, the after school kids for town youth, and, the internet for the community at large. Elk River Internet is the ISP
owned by the library to guarantee that the people who live in the valley have access at affordable rates to anything they need to
know or want to interact with. Combined with open hours specifically designed to serve the permanent full year resident
population, gathering them to discuss regional news and local decisions, the library is the sole facilitator of self-determination in
Elk River.
23
24. In addition to the infrastructural support for resource access and decision-making power, the library director actively engages in
building the continuous path of belonging to self-determination. She engages every newcomer (and every new baby – see the
Marshfield case study), not only with info on the library, but by asking about them. She sees each community resident as a
resource to the life of the community and investigates those resources for their unique qualities. She invites contribution in person
specific ways, connects them to others with intention, and broadcasts their expression in public forum – art shows, poetry
readings, performances, movie nights, lectures, roundtable discussions, and civic dialogues.
24
25. Image above: “How Working-Class Life Is Killing Americans, in Charts”
By David Leonhardt and Stuart A. Thompson
March 6, 2020
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/03/06/opinion/working-class-death-
rate.html
Image below: “Attendance in City Schools Plummets Amid Coronavirus Concerns”
By Jillian Jorgensen New York City
PUBLISHED 7:31 AM ET Mar. 15, 2020
https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2020/03/15/attendance-in-city-
schools-plummets-amid-coronavirus-concerns
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26. The Process
•Potential: Rural Libraries can and do positively affect social
wellbeing in their communities
•Humility: While all libraries are doing some things very well,
none are doing everything perfectly
•Self-Value: We recognize that we are not perfect, and that our
colleagues are not perfect, but that we all contribute valuable
knowledge, skills and life experience to our work
•Intentionality: The way we can improve our capacity to
support community members and our collective decision
making is by making thoughtful, meaningful, intentional
choices
•Pathways: The way in which rural libraries affect social
wellbeing is best described as creating pathways, which are
sign-posted, sometimes guided, always self-determined, and
facilitated by infrastructure.
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27. Since June 2019, the research team has been working to refine our understanding of how libraries impact social wellbeing in their
communities. Since March of 2020 our local library partners in the 8 case study communities have worked with the research team
to take that understanding and turn it into something of practical use.
Communities, libraries, and pathways are infinitely complex, relational, and context dependent. What is incredible about
Abiquiu’s development of self-determination pathways for the pueblo’s youth is not was is incredible in neighboring El Rito.
When we share tools for use and examples of how they work, they are not prescriptions, best-practices, or even programs you
should do.
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28. Margo Gustina – research@rurallibraries.org
Please visit our project site, email me, interact on this topic, and, if you feel compelled, call shenanigans on the whole package. I
think we only get nearest the truth when we have the most perspectives. And how we practice so that our practice does the most
good is a truth I am very interested in getting to.
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