Parkland Update April 28, 2020
This update includes information on:
- Parkland Updates
- Update from the PLSB Regarding Operating Grants
- TAL Update
- Celebrating Writing and Storytelling
- Resources
1. Parkland Updates:
Coffee break
with Parkland
Just a reminder that we are having virtual
coffee (or tea) tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. No registration required – just pour
yourself a hot cup, and join in the conversation. Simply click on the meeting
link below. You are welcome to access the Coffee Break via your computer, phone, or
tablet.
Wednesday
April 29th at 2pm
https://zoom.us/j/372297338 Meeting
ID: 372 297 338
Parkland
eContent Promotional Materials
Libraries have done an amazing job promoting our eContent, to aid we
have created a general poster for libraries to print. This is located in Q:\Member
Services\eLibrary\Promotional materials. Please feel free to use any of
this promotional material and share anything your library team has created.
2. Update from the PLSB
Regarding Operating Grants
As communicated by the
Minister last week, public library boards in the province will automatically be
receiving an advance of 50% of their provincial operating grant. Library system
boards will receive 50% of their library services grant.
- To see the total amount that your municipal library board is eligible to receive, click here. Library system boards, click here.
- Your 50% installment will be half of those total amounts.
- We anticipate the first 50% installment to be reaching library boards in the second or third week of May.
- The second 50% installment will be released in the fall, after your grant application has been processed and approved for payment.
- You can access the grant application form, as well as our templates for the financial review, budget and direct payments, on the Alberta website.
- To help speed up processing, if you deposited some or all of your 2019-2020 operating grant after December 31, 2019, please include a deposit slip (or other proof of deposit) with your grant application, as it will not show up in your 2019 financial reviews.
- Please email your grant applications to libgrants@gov.ab.ca. Unfortunately, we can no longer accept faxed applications.
- The website and documentation still list the deadline as June 15 (we are working to update it) but the revised deadline for 2020-2021 is October 1st. If you are unable to meet the Oct 1st deadline because of working remotely etc., you will still be paid your second installment when we receive your documentation.
If you have already sent in
your full grant application, thank you. We will be processing grants over the
summer as we usually do, and will have as many as possible ready for payment in
the fall so there is no further delay.
If the pandemic situation
continues into the fall, we will re-evaluate the situation to get you your
second grant payment.
If you have any questions
about your operating grant, contact Jen Anderson directly at Jen.Anderson@gov.ab.ca or 780-415-0294
3. TAL Update
- A new section of resources is being created on the TAL website for material to support post COVID-19 planning; more information will be shared soon.
- In response to a member query: It is an individual library decision whether or not you issue TAL cards during this time of restricted service. Your resource sharing obligations as a TAL member are waived until we all resume normal service.
4. Celebrating Writing and
Storytelling
- The FOLD (April 30-May 3) celebrates books and stories, with over 30 events that prioritize underrepresented authors and storytellers from around the world. This year’s festival will take place virtually – featuring free online events. Panels, discussions and workshops will allow guests from across Canada and around the world to participate in the festival via Zoom and all virtual events will be close-captioned.
- With the aim to foster imagination, resourcefulness and ingenuity, UNESCO and the Idries Shah Foundation (ISF) launch the World Tales Short Story Competition in collaboration with the International Coalition of Inclusive and Sustainable Cities of UNESCO. Young teenagers from all over the globe are invited to share their perspectives about challenges of today and tomorrow in the format of a short story. Open for submissions until May 31, 2020.
5. Resources:
Libraries Reimagined
Libraries Reimagined, a special
public radio series examining the role of libraries as a fundamental resource
for democracy, is available to share with your audiences on websites and social
media. In the series, you’ll hear from librarians in the field, library
patrons, and authors and experts including Eric Klinenberg. You can download the series for
free. Also available are promotional graphics in
a variety of digital formats.
Take care of each other, and
stay well.
Kara Hamilton, APC
Office Administrator
Parkland Regional Library | 5404 56 Ave Lacombe AB T4L 1G1
403-782-3850 | 1-800-567-9024 | prl.ab.ca
Strong Libraries, Strong Communities
