Bringing Books for Boys into Barbershops in Las Vegas
Las Vegas-Clark County Library District

The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District is partnering with Barbershop Books and the National Football League (NFL) to create child-friendly reading spaces in 10 Las Vegas barbershops. This project is a part of the NFL's Inspire Change Super Bowl event.

More than 82% of Black male 4th-grade students in the U.S. today are not proficient in reading, and inequitable achievement gaps lead to lifelong limits on workforce opportunities and overall economic mobility. Public libraries are uniquely positioned to support reading achievement in Black boys and other under-resourced communities.

Like the NFL, ULC partners with Barbershop Books through a pilot program, supporting a small cohort of libraries as they work to provide reading opportunities to Black boys directly in barbershops in their local communities.

Barbershop Books founder Alvin Irby discussed the initiative and received a little surprise during his appearance on Good Morning Football. Watch the segment here.

Introducing New Harm Reduction Kits
Kansas City Public Library

The Kansas City Public Library is offering new harm reduction kits, which include essential hygiene products, first aid kits, fentanyl test strips and naloxone at all 10 library branches. The harm-reduction kits are part of a a joint effort between KCPL and First Call, an organization devoted in reducing and educating the public on substance abuse in Kansas City. Training is also being offered to library staff so they can spot signs of an overdose and administer naloxone.

"You can come in, the kits are available, you just grab whatever it is that you need, no questions asked," said Kim Gyle, director of branch services with the Kansas City Public Library.

The kits are free and paid for through a variety of state and federal funds, but due to limited funding only 500 kits have been distributed to KCPL branches. According to Mueller, depending on where you go, a bottle of Narcan can cost more than $70 a dose and these kits address affordability and accessibility.

The harm-reduction kits come after the Kansas City Public Health Department reported seeing an almost 1,000% increase in synthetic opioid deaths between 2017 and 2021. Learn more from KSHB Kansas City.

Approaching Pre-Pandemic Service Levels In Calgary
Calgary Public Library

Libraries all across North America are making strides to reach pre-pandemic service levels. In 2023, Calgary Public Library neared pre-pandemic visitation with more than 6.7 million visitors and more than 7 million items in circulation, representing a continued interest in using the city’s library system.

In addition, the library added 150,000 members over the year—exceeding the number of members added when CPL opened the new Central Library in 2018, and the Seton Library in 2019.

“Calgary should feel really proud because we are one of the largest library systems in North America, and we have one of the largest per capita captures,” said Mary Kapusta, Director of Communications and Engagement for the Calgary Public Library. “We also can’t pretend we’re the same city and the same community that we were in 2019. So, for us in 2024, it’s also understanding and appreciating what services are different.”

Read the full interview with Kapusta on Livewire Calgary.

Expanded Drop-In Counseling Services
Regina Public Library

Regina Public Library’s drop-in counseling services started in the Central Branch just five short years ago, but with the demand rising, the services are expanding. Walk-in and appointment sessions are now available at four additional branches.

The free rapid-access counseling services are offered in partnership with Family Service Regina’s Thrive Rapid-Access Counselling. Family Service Regina counselors are on-site at RPL for 60-minute walk-in conversations to help with concerns like anxiety, depression, addictions, stress, grief, relationship conflict, parenting, and other life challenges.

“It’s real counseling, but it is in sort of a neutral zone,” Ashley Booth, a community librarian at the Central Library, said. “Our libraries are our safe and welcoming spaces for everybody. There’s a little bit less of that stigma than walking into a clinic, a hospital or a doctor’s office.”

Read the full article from Global News Canada.

MetLib Learning Circle 2024 – Nominations by 15 February

MetLib Learning Circle is a 12-month talent development program initiated by the IFLA Metropolitan Libraries Section. The learning circle is designed for 15-20 library leaders from libraries serving urban areas with populations of more than 400,000. Participation in the program enables participants to build international networks, access cutting-edge library innovations worldwide, understand urban planning dynamics, and receive mentorship from experienced and innovative library leaders.

The 2024 cohort is the second learning circle. The first cohort was organized in 2023 with 18 participants from 17 cities. In a feedback survey, 100% of the respondents recommended the learning circle to their colleagues. The participants especially valued new insights gained through research, connections with colleagues around the world, and the in-person meeting.

The 2024 edition focuses on the role of libraries in urban transformation and civic engagement. Cities are places where the density of people and ideas fosters innovation, well-being, and diversity. At the same time, urban areas often exhibit stark contrasts between wealth and poverty. The program explores various strategies for how libraries can enable social mixing, sustainable growth, learning, and innovation.

Themes covered in the program include:

• Urban Creativity and Culture
• Public Safety
• Urban Mobility
• Equity and Inclusion
• Crisis Preparedness
• Urban Planning and Real Estate Development
• Public-Private Partnerships
• Health and Economic Impacts of Libraries
• Community Partnerships
• Civic Engagement

Library directors are encouraged to nominate a motivated member of their executive team, a librarian, or a leader. The applicant must be in charge of an urban transformation project (e.g., branch development, new main library, new major branch, strategic development, partnerships).

Participation is free of charge. However, participation in the learning circle requires that the participants can use working hours for participation, are committed to active participation throughout the year, and can engage in professional exchange in English. Nominating institutions are encouraged to seek ways to ensure that their participants can attend the MetLib conference. The organizing committee will seek ways to provide 1-3 travel stipends for participants from the Global South. Library leaders can indicate in their application if their participation is conditional on financial support.

The program runs from April 2024 to March 2025 and consists of:

• Monthly thematic online discussions of two hours, facilitated by Tommi Laitio, focused on peer learning and sharing. The sessions may occur outside normal office hours due to global participation.
• Preparatory reading and other assignments of up to 2-3 hours a month.
• Participation in the MetLib Conference from October 6-10, 2024, in Barcelona, Spain.
• 3-4 group mentoring sessions with an experienced city librarian/CEO.

Participants will receive a certificate for their participation.

MetLib Conference

The MetLib conference is organized from October 6-10, 2024, in Barcelona, Spain. The MetLib Learning Circle will have a one-day workshop for its members and will organize a workshop for all conference participants. During the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to showcase their work to international library leaders.

Advisory and Development Group

• Pablo Bruno D’Amico, Librarian, Asociación de Bibliotecarios Graduados de la República Argentina (ABGRA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Brian Bannon, Merryl and James Tisch Director, New York Public Library, USA
• Tommi Laitio, Public Space Expert, former Executive Director of Culture and Leisure, Helsinki, Finland
• Mathilde Servet, Head of Innovative Services, Paris Library, Paris, France
• Neeza Singh, Librarian, T.S. Central State Library, Chandigarh, India
• Marie Østergård, Library Director, Aarhus Public Library, Aarhus, Denmark

How to Nominate

Interested libraries are asked to nominate a candidate by 15 February 2024 by using an online form: https://forms.gle/XS8scu4YsaSmanf38.

The nomination form requires the library to describe the participant’s motivation, the project they will bring to the circle, and whether the library can support the travel and accommodation costs for the conference in Spain.

The advisory and development group of the learning circle will select the participants and inform all applicants by 19 February 2024. When selecting participants, emphasis will be placed on geographic diversity and the range of projects.

The learning circle meetings will be held on the first Tuesday of each month at 9 AM/9:00 EST, starting Tuesday 3 March. The time may be adjusted based on the participating group.