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- ArLA News Archive January 2021
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Support Libraries & Fight Racism With Humble’s Be The Change Book Bundle!
25 Jan 2021 2:17 PM Ronald Russ (Administrator)
In honor of MLK Day, celebrate black voices with Humble’s Be The Change Book Bundle, which offers best-selling books by today’s leading Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) authors, with a portion of every sale benefiting the Freedom to Read Foundation, American Library Association and Spectrum Scholars. From Black History to Afrofuturism with a dash of direct action, this bundle provides a great reading list to deepen your knowledge, expand conversations, and share the vision of building an anti-racist future. Get the bundle here: https://www.humblebundle.com/books/be-the-change-american-library-association-books
These books offer inspiration and education for helping our communities celebrate diversity and embrace positive change. Your support will help FTRF, ALA, and Spectrum Scholars raise the funds we so urgently need to serve our profession and our patrons. We hope nobody misses out on this important bundle.”
Don’t miss your chance to own this spectacular, one-of-a-kind book bundle! The Humble Book Bundle: Be the Change Supporting the American Library Association lasts through February 8, 2021. Get ebooks and audiobooks like Falling in Love With Hominids, Neveryona, and This Book is Anti-Racist.
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COVID-19 Vaccines for Library Workers
21 Jan 2021 12:22 PM Ronald Russ (Administrator)
ArLA has created a vaccination form letter for inclusion of library workers in group 1B. You can find it on the ArLA COVID-19 Library Resources page or directly at ArLA1BVaccinationFormLetter.pdf. Alternatively, you can send an email to ADH.CoronaVirus@arkansas.gov.
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Help A Library Worker Out Fund (HALO)
15 Jan 2021 1:28 PM Ronald Russ (Administrator)
Here's some information about a fund to help library workers during the current pandemic. The parent organization is not an affiliate of the Arkansas Library Association and this is just informational.
The EveryLibrary Institute is fundraising to support library workers, librarians, and staff who are facing unexpected financial difficulties because of the Coronavirus economic slowdown…Your tax-deductible donation will be bundled-up and will go to qualified library workers, librarians, and staff from public, school, and academic libraries who need help with household expenses and other needs. For more information, go to https://www.everylibraryinstitute.org/halo.
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2021 Pets of ArLA Calendar
13 Jan 2021 8:50 AM Ronald Russ (Administrator)
The 2021 Pets of ArLA Fundraiser calendar is ready to order!
Order your calendar at https://arlib.org/event-4094867.
In order to save on shipping, we recommend you have your calendar sent to your library if possible. Also, we're only accepting online payments at this time. Regardless of what shipping you choose, the cost of the calendar is $15. Funds raised will go to the ArLA operating fund.
We wanted to include as many pets, library types, and library workers as possible - so the cover of the calendar isn't indicative of the photos for each month! The specific monthly pets will be a surprise.
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ArLA Presidential Initiatives
11 Jan 2021 11:16 AM Ronald Russ (Administrator)
ArLA Executive Board Structure 2021
As with 2020, this year is already presenting its own unique set of events and challenges. We will continue to be faced with important questions and decisions related to how we and our libraries navigate these challenges, but through it all our mission remains the same - to provide valuable resources and a supportive environment where our students, patrons, and communities can learn and grow.
Despite these difficult times, I believe that the future of the Arkansas Library Association is a bright one. Over the past couple of years we have seen our organization look to the past for lessons and wisdom, move forward towards progress, and chart new waters as we have faced unprecedented challenges but also worked hard to lay a solid foundation for future success. It is my belief that now the time has come for us to build on these valuable efforts and embark towards new horizons, to be ambitious on purpose, and to boldly go where our members – the hardworking librarians of Arkansas and the communities that we serve – need us most.
Attached you fill find some thoughts that have been on my mind in recent years – ideas and priorities that I feel, as an association, we should emphasize in the months ahead. These initiatives represent important responsibilities that I will actively pursue during my time as your president, but they are certainly beyond the scope of one person’s capacity to achieve alone. It is important to remember that ArLA is NOT just the Board, ArLA is NOT just the conference, nor indeed any one group or activity that our members pursue. ArLA is ALL of us. The future is in all of our hands, and I look forward to traveling on this journey together.
Towards new horizons!
Philip C. Shackelford, ArLA President
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ArLA Executive Board Statement on the U.S. Capitol Breach
8 Jan 2021 7:26 PMRonald Russ (Administrator)
Statement from the Executive Board following the U.S. Capitol Breach on January 6, 2021
It is with heavy hearts that we join our fellow Americans in witnessing the tragic events that unfolded in our nation’s capital on January 6, 2021. The members of the Arkansas Library Association unite to condemn this violence, as well as disinformation that threatens open, secure democracy. We support the work of first responders and law enforcement in bringing the grievous events of this week to a safe and stable resolution, and we remain steadfastly committed to providing crucial services and resources in our local communities.
The tumultuous events of the past decade clearly demonstrate that the American people are subject to undue influence from those who would seek to undermine democracy, the well-being of the American people, and our nation’s security for their own private gain, as well as those who are willing to provide a stage for them in the interest of ratings and advertising revenue. As information professionals, our job as librarians is to stand in the gap. We are committed to providing the residents of Arkansas with the tools needed to understand, evaluate, and think critically about their world. Our professional responsibilities transcend politics as we remain dedicated to providing vital access to information and opportunity for those who seek it, and for those who may have nowhere else to turn.
Libraries are often referred to as the cornerstone of democracy. On the morning of Thursday, January 7, 2021, Arkansas library personnel went to work, joining their colleagues across the country in pursuing the age-old mission of libraries to supply a supportive environment for our students, patrons, and communities to learn and grow. Now more than ever this work is valuable and timely. Whatever the events of the day, we must persevere in our role as guiding lights to educate, encourage, and empower those around us – this mission does not end.
For those seeking to make sense of this moment, understand our current challenges, and navigate the future, take advantage of your local library. We are here for you.
Executive Board
Arkansas Library Association -
ARKLIB-L
8 Jan 2019 8:56 AM Ronald Russ (Administrator)
ARKLIB-L is an online mailing list for those interested in Arkansas Libraries and related topics. It is free and open to the public. It has also been used to disseminate information to ArLA Members. For more information and to sign up, go to http://mail.arlib.org/mailman/listinfo/arklib-l_arlib.org. You can also use that page for maintaining your subscription.