[SEO-Members] Applications open for Building Equity Based Summers Initiative

[jdwyer at library.ohio.gov]

Cross-posted. Please excuse duplication.

For the third year, Ohio is participating in the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant-funded national initiative Building Equity Based Summers Through Libraries & Communities (BEBS).

Public libraries nationwide offer summer programs and services for learning and leisure. These programs aim to engage youth and adults meaningfully throughout the summer months.

BEBS will empower library staff to weave equity into their summer library programs. The goals of BEBS are:

  *   To provide a shared language of equity
  *   To provide library staff with the knowledge and confidence to create equitable summer programs and services
  *   To promote equity across the communities served by their library.

The State Library of Ohio is looking for five public libraries to participate in the third year of this initiative. Each participating library will be represented by a team of at least two staff members. Libraries are encouraged to send staff from across departments and can include Youth Services and/or Adult Services staff, programming coordinators, summer library program coordinators, outreach staff, and administrators.

BEBS participants will work with the state Youth Services and Adult Services Consultants and each other to consider summer programs through an equity-based lens, including exploration of how equitable their current programs are, whether equity goals are being achieved, and what impact summer programs are having on those that need them the most.

Each participating library will receive a $500 stipend to support its participation.

Participation in the BEBS initiative will require, of all team members:

  *   Participation in 8 meetings, including four 2-hour learning sessions and four 1-hour reflection sessions, with other Ohio participants (four 1-hour drop-in sessions will also be scheduled; these are optional). The sessions will run weekly on Tuesday mornings from October 2024 - January 2025. Sessions will generally be online; based on participants' availability, in-person sessions may be included.
  *   Participation in a 1-hour online introductory meeting before the learning sessions begin.
  *   Participation in occasional informal online meetups with previous Ohio BEBS participants to idea-share, troubleshoot, and discuss equity work. These meetups will take place bimonthly except during the summer and are intended to provide ongoing support for Ohio BEBS participants.
  *   Work within your library and community to begin to consider and assess your existing and planned summer programs and services through an equity lens.

Questions? Click here<https://forms.office.com/g/mag6YLAKsr> to register for a free virtual Q&A session taking place on Tuesday, September 3 at 10am.  Library Consultants will be available to answer questions live, or you can submit a question through the registration form.

If you are interested in being a part of this project, complete this application by close of business on Friday, September 13:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Ohio_BEBS_year3
Note: Each staff member who wishes to participate should complete the application individually.

This is expected to be a competitive process, and not all applicants may be selected. We are looking for a diverse group of cohort members representing all library and community sizes, various geographic areas, and various demographic community compositions. Applicants will be notified of selection decisions by Friday, September 20.

Learn more:
BEBS website: https://equitybasedsummers.org/
BEBS IMLS grant: https://www.imls.gov/grants/awarded/re-252358-ols-22
History of the BEBS project: https://equitybasedsummers.org/meet-bebs/history/

Please contact Katy Hite, Adult Services Consultant, at khite at library.ohio.gov<mailto:khite at library.ohio.gov> or Janet Ingraham Dwyer, Youth Services Consultant, at jdwyer at library.ohio.gov<mailto:jdwyer at library.ohio.gov> with any questions.


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Janet Ingraham Dwyer
Youth Services Library Consultant
Library Programs & Development
State Library of Ohio
274 E. 1st Avenue
Columbus, OH 43201
614.644.6910
jdwyer at library.ohio.gov<mailto:jdwyer at library.ohio.gov>
library.ohio.gov<https://library.ohio.gov/>

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