March 2025

Support for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
Amigos recognizes the importance of IMLS funding across our region and nationally. IMLS supports services delivered in partnership with state libraries, innovative and expanded programming for libraries and their communities, and the development of future services from library consortia and networks. In response to the recent executive order calling for the elimination of non-statutory components and functions of IMLS, library advocates are encouraged to contact their members of congress and voice their support for IMLS and the library services that make a difference in our communities.

Free for Members Means Free for All Member Library Employees
Stretching professional development budgets can be challenging, but Amigos makes it easier. Institutional membership benefits extend to all employees, granting them access to all of Amigos' free continuing education offerings, including the Essentials Series, online conferences, Know & Go 1-hour webinars, and NISO webinars. Managers and administrators can streamline staff access by bookmarking the Free for Members page and sharing it with their teams. Can’t attend a live session? No problem—recordings are available for added flexibility.

For questions about the courses offered, reach out to the Amigos Continuing Education Team (Chris Pryor and Naomi Gonzales) at learning@amigos.org.

The Latest in The Essentials Series
The response to our four previous sessions on Customer Service, Workplace Communication, Conducting the Reference Interview, and Library Values, has been incredibly positive and we are thrilled members find the series valuable and engaging.

The latest Essentials session tackles the fundamental yet often overlooked skills of effective teaching and presenting. Perfect for library staff who have ever found themselves wondering "How did I get here?" while in front of an audience, Teaching and Presenting in the Profession is designed for those who lead training and/or presentations.

Register today for the April 3, 2025, session to learn adaptable techniques for engaging audiences with confidence. As always, Amigos members enjoy free registration and access to recordings for three months.

The Essentials series joins Amigos' Know & Go classes and Online Conferences as another free member benefit to support staff development and growth. Amigos members who register have access to session recordings for three months once the class has ended. 

Questions or ideas for future The Essentials offerings? Contact us at learning@amigos.org.

Conference Keynotes Announced for "Collections Reflect Communities." Reserve Your Seat Today!

We are pleased to announce our keynote sessions for the upcoming online conference, "Collections Reflect Communities" on April 10, 2025.

Mary Schreiber and Wendy K. Bartlet the authors of "Curating Community Collections" from Cuyahoga County Public Library in Ohio will present the opening keynote "Curating Diverse Community Collections: A Road Map" to start off the day at 10 am CT. Mary and Wendy will discuss several methods to explore, evaluate, and improve diversity representation in library collections.

Continuing the day exploring collections and technical services initiatives and practices that represent the heart of each individual library to their communities in multiple concurrent sessions, the conference will conclude with the closing keynote, "Reflecting Our Communities: The African American Subject Funnel Project" presented by Michelle Cronquist. Michelle is a Special Collections Cataloger at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and currently serves as the Cataloging Chair of the African American Subject Funnel Project, which works to improve the Library of Congress subject vocabularies reflecting the African American experience.

Register today to explore ways libraries represent their communities through collections and technical services practices. This conference along with all Amigos online conferences, Know & Go sessions, and Community Conversations are free to Amigos members.

Join us for the Amigos Community Conversation, "By Any Other Name: Belonging and Engagement in Libraries"
In a political climate where terms like diversity, equity, and inclusion face increasing challenges, many institutions have pivoted to new terms like belonging, community engagement, or student development. Join library leaders for a discussion about their approaches to this politicized space and how they are finding paths to fulfilling their organization’s commitments to reflecting and welcoming the communities they serve.

Register today as our panelists, Monique Christian Long from Southern Methodist University Libraries, Brenda Linares from the University of Missouri Kansas City University Libraries, and Carmaleta McKinnis-Williams from Austin Public Library lead this guided discussion at the Amigos Community Conversation on April 22, 2025 from 1:00-3:00 pm CT.

Hands-On Book Repair Basics Training Available in Dallas, April 24
Extend the life of your library’s hardcover collection with hands-on book repair training! Join preservation expert Rebecca Elder for a practical, in-person session designed to equip library staff with essential repair techniques.

Workshop Details

Location: Dallas, TX

Date: Thursday, April 24, 2025

Times: Morning & Afternoon (limited to 12 attendees per session)

Cost: $75 (includes take-home tools: brushes, scissors, cutting mats, and more)

Learning Objectives

• Clean and mend paper materials

• Reattach loose pages

• Tighten hinges and repair corners

• Set up a functional book repair workspace

• Understand book repair terminology and when to consult a conservator

If these requirements provide a hardship, please contact learning@amigos.org.

Amigos looks forward to offering this training in additional locations throughout our membership region. Please contact learning@amigos.org with specific request for hosting this training. 

Submit A Proposal by April 1 for the Amigos Member Conference 2025

We are seeking insightful presentations from members to share innovative solutions, emerging trends, and forward-thinking strategies that keep libraries essential at the Amigos Member Conference 2025 on Wednesday, May 14. Submit your proposal by April 1 for a chance to be part of the conversation as we examine libraries' current landscape and future possibilities!

This year's theme of "Our Present. Our Futures." provides an opportunity for members to convene and explore the significant impact libraries have today and to envision their potential for tomorrow. The online conference will feature an opening keynote, the Annual Member Business Meeting, and a variety of concurrent sessions on key topics affecting libraries today and in the future.

Easy Access to Online Conference Recordings 

Amigos' online conferences provide convenient and meaningful learning opportunities, bringing together insightful keynote speakers with practical concurrent sessions from leaders across Amigos member libraries and experts from across the profession.

Online conferences are a free benefit for Amigos member libraries.



Register today for access to recent conference recordings:

• The People-Powered Library

• Examining the Library User Experience 

• Leading. Partnering. Connecting. The Amigos Member Conference 2024
  

Please Note: Attendees registered for the live event already have access to the past conference recordings. To view the recordings, login with the credentials provided for attending the live conference. 

Upcoming Learning Sessions

Archives, Preservation & Digitization

• Book Repair Basics (In-Person April 24)

Cataloging

• Know & Go: Cataloging a Collection of Unusual Things (April 21)

• Introduction to OpenRefine (June 17)
  

Collection Development

• Creating a Collection Development Policy (April 1)

• Collections Reflect Communities: An Amigos Online Conference (April 10)

• Let It Go: Weeding Your Library's Collection (May 28)

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

• The Future of Open Access Beyond the Nelson Memo (April 9)

• By Any Other Name: Belonging and Engagement in Libraries - An Amigos Community Conversation (April 22)

• Understanding and Assisting Library Patrons on the Autism Spectrum (April 23)

• Website Accessibility for Everyone (May 8)

• Know & Go: Diversity and Inclusion Activities for Library Meetings (May 19)

• Know & Go: Writing Effective Alternative Text (June 16)

Learning & Instruction

• The Essentials: Teaching and Presenting in the Profession (April 3)

• An Introduction to Teaching Information Literacy (May 22)

Management & Leadership

• Library Management: Motivating & Retaining Employees (April 16)

• Know & Go: Tips for Cover Letters, Resumes, and Interviews (April 28)

• Know & Go: Trends and Changes for the Future of Libraries (June 2)

• Know & Go: Productivity and Time Management (June 9)

• Know & Go: Effective Committee and Board Service (June 23)

• Parliamentary Procedure 101 (June 25)

Marketing & Outreach

• Know & Go: Understanding Creative Commons Licensing (May 12)

• Our Present. Our Futures. The Amigos Member Conference 2025 (May 14)

• Empowering Staff to Advocate and Guide the Library's Story (June 12)

Programming & Services

• Know & Go: Social Services for Teens in the Library (April 7)

• Soft Skills for Library Staff (June 18)

Technology

• Discover Hyku: Empowering Libraries with Open-Source Repository Solutions (May 5)

• Managing Risk in the Information Community (May 14)

• AI & the Research Cycle (Phase II: Data Collection & Analysis) (June 11)

Interested in More?

Amigos will provide on-request training sessions designed specifically to meet your library's needs. On-request training can be an effective way to meet specific and specialized training needs. Contact learning@amigos.org for more information.