Weekly Wrap-Up! – May 16th, 2025

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System Spotlight

By Staff

Rock Cactus Gardening in Grant County

A fun and creative program for anyone of any age with or without a green thumb!

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Final Storytime of the year in Bucklin

Bucklin has finished their storytime season for the school year. You can even see the SWKLS 4 Across yard game featured in the first photo!

Consulting

By Sara Wilson

  • May 19th: 1 PM – 2 PM – Junie B. Jones: Celebrate the Mischief and Magic of Childhood (Booklist)| Webinar/Registration Link
  • May 19th: 3 PM – 3:30 PM Dealing With Distractions: New Approaches for Time Management (GovLoop)  | Webinar/Registration Link
  • May 20th: 10 AM – 11 AM – Discover US News Stream (State Library of Kansas)| Webinar/Zoom Link
  • May 20th: 11:30 AM – 1 PM – Interview Strategies, Insights & Winning Answers – Roundtable Discussion (NNLM) | Webinar/Registration Link
  • May 20th: 1 PM – 2 PM – Reducing and Responding to Staff Stress and Trauma (Library Journal)| Webinar/Registration Link
  • May 21st: 10 AM – 11 AM – Small Adjustments for Big Changes (Nebraska Library Commission)| Webinar/Registration Link
  • May 21st: 12 PM – 1 PM – From the Territory of Montana to the Republic of Vietnam: Researching Native American Veterans in the National Archives, 1881–1966 (National Archives) | Webinar/Registration Link
  • May 15th: 2 PM – 3:30 PM: Social Media Boot Camp (Firespring) | Webinar/Registration Link

In The News

Rhode Island vs Trump Litigation Update – RB

The judge in the Rhode Island v Trump litigation has issued a preliminary injunction in the case:

In essence it has reversed the Executive Order and issued that all statutory obligations are met by the agencies involved in the Executive Order, which one of the agencies is IMLS office.

It does allow for the agencies to be able to make savings adjustments as long as they can show a reasonable explanation for the cost savings adjustment and they can still meet their statutory obligations.

The update is in our public files at the top of the document as teh 5/14/2025 update, which is at this link:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-9d_0KFPKcy73QLU5_s4A0aMXhw2PRtH/edit?pli=1

To read the full injunction you can use this link:

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.rid.59257/gov.uscourts.rid.59257.60.0_1.pdf

Head of Copyright Office Terminated by Trump Administration – RB

CBS News is reporting that the Trump Administration has fired Shira Perlmutter, the head of the Copyright Office. Speculation is that it was possibly over a preliminary report, to be filed, that spoke to Artificial Intelligence and if companies could have their AI be trained by using copyrighted material. Whether this is the case or not is unknown at this time. You can view the story through this link.

Trump Fires Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden

Late Thursday evening, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden received an email ending her service at the Library of Congress. See link for details.

Pope Leo XIV: Explore the Books & Writings of the First American Pontiff

The new Pope is an American and that has never happened before! The world is excited to learn more about Pope Leo XIV and fortunately for everyone interested in hearing more from/about him, he is a published author! See link for details.

Archived Trainings

Are you needing to brush up on your CE, but you’re looking for in-demand options? Try our archive of digital trainings that we’ve done in the past. These are housed on our wiki and are all free and available to view at your convenience. Just be sure to report that you watched the video on our Wiki (otherwise, we have no record!).

Archived Trainings

Cataloging, Collection Development, and ILL

By Miguel Coca

Collection Development Inspiration

Adult Fiction

Children’s & YA Fiction

(Reminder) New Manage User Module

Dear VERSO Libraries,

We’re excited to share that an all-new Manage User module will be launching at the end of May! This upgrade will replace the current Add a User and Edit User Accounts in User Admin with a new interface, powerful search tools, updated permissions, and expanded staff roles.

To help you get ready, we’re offering several webinars where we’ll demo the new module, walk through key updates, and answer your questions.

Live Webinar Schedule
Choose the date and time that works best for you:

  • Webinar #1 – Friday, May 9, 2025 at 9:30am PT / 12:30pm ET – Register Here
  • Versed in VERSO – Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 8:00am PT / 11:00am ET – Register Here
  • Webinar #2 – Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at 12:00pm PT / 3:00pm ET – Register Here

What We’ll Cover:

  • Understanding Staff Admin and Patron Admin roles
  • Setting up and managing permissions
  • Navigating the new Add/Edit User form
  • Using enhanced search tools
  • Live Q&A

Make sure your team is ready before the release and let us know if you have any questions.

Thank you,

Julie

Julie Cavender, MLIS

VERSO Product Manager |  Lakewood, CO

(909) 569-1527 | jjc@auto-graphics.com

From the SWKLS Pro Collection

Just because a set of responsibilities isnt formally called management doesnt mean that it isnt management. And this vital text speaks to a reality that all current professionals already know: that is, everyone studying to enter the profession needs an introduction to the topic of management. Because no matter what ones role in an academic or public library context, it will involve decision-making, planning, and organization skills. Newly revised and updated, this book pulls together management best practices from library management experts teaching in LIS programs across the U.S. and Canada. Among the many topics discussed areclassic and contemporary theories of management, and how they apply to the library;human resource planning;marketing and public relations;negotiations, mediation, and financial management of the library;facilities management;information technology management and future trends;change management, organizational culture; andethics and confidentiality.In addition to providing students with a solid foundation in library management, with its structured, practical knowledge this impressive volume will also benefit experienced managers.

Versed in Verso: May Recording Available

Hello VERSO Group, 

The recording and slides from the May Versed in VERSO session are now available! You can access the materials by navigating to: Staff Dashboard > Support > VERSO.

This session featured an in-depth demonstration of the new Manage Users functionality. If you missed it, or want to learn more, we have one more webinar focused on the updated layout, roles, permissions, and more. We’ll also take time to answer your questions.

Looking ahead, registration is also open for our June 10th Versed in Verso, featuring a special presentation by Tony Saadat of Soutron Global.

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8553429054205831772

Best regards,

Julie

Julie Cavender, MLIS

VERSO Product Manager |  Lakewood, CO

(909) 569-1527 | jjc@auto-graphics.com

Technology

by Steve Andrews

IMPORTANT: Microsoft M365 Pricing Changes

Next Friday the 23rd at 10a.m. Richard and I will host a Zoom meeting to discuss recent changes to the Microsoft M365 for Nonprofits program. As a reminder, this is the platform that the SWKLS I.T. Department is in the process of transitioning our member libraries to for purposes of purchasing Microsoft Office subscriptions / licenses as well as managing your computers (new PC deployments and ongoing management). 

On 5-14-2025, Microsoft announced significant changes to the nonprofit program including the discontinuation of the Microsoft 365 Business Premium grant option that provided for ten free licenses and reduced costs for additional licenses above ten. These changes will have significant bearing in regards to subscription costs going forward for most of our member libraries.

Our discussion during the Zoom meeting will focus on explaining in more detail 

  • What the M365 platform is
  • How the SWKLS I.T. Department anticipates using M365 to manage your computers 
  • The MS Office Suite options going forward
  • A preliminary cost analysis in light of changes to the Nonprofit program for each member

An email will be sent to all member public library directors that includes the Zoom link for next Friday.

We will be recording this session, and a link to the recording will be emailed to each of you afterwards. This recording will not be made available on the SWKLS Wiki as it involves pricing and other semi-sensitive information.