715-261-7250 | Mon.- Fri. 8-5pm help@librarieswin.org
This is only one of the inclusive continuing education offerings this month. The Toward One inclusivity conference is right before WAPL and has two amazing days of content. WAPL also has a variety of sessions touching on inclusivity as well:
  • Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Collection Audit – The How to Guide
  • Serving Patrons Who Are Incarcerated
  • Security Isn’t Enough: Introducing Patron Relations to your library
  • Creating a Diverse Workforce with Your Hiring Practices
  • Building the Resiliency Builders: Forming a Strong Collaborative To Meet Community Psycho-Social Needs
I hope to see you at one of these events!
Take care,
Sherry

Resources:

  •  ‘Wisconsin Libraries Talk About Race’ Webinars and Workshops This month, Wisconsin Libraries Talk About Race begins year two. Participants will learn about what it takes to be an active ally. All Wisconsin public library workers are invited to continue talking about and taking action toward racial equity in our workplaces, communities, and personal relationships. Register for one or all three webinars and save the date for an in-person workshop on June 15 and 16.

  • Stories Beyond Borders: A Chinese American and Diasporic Reading List In celebration of its 50th Anniversary, the Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA) partnered with the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) and collaborated with the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)’s Quicklists Consulting Committee to create a reading list for youth audiences centering Chinese American voices. This list features Chinese American and diasporic creators and stories for children, middle grade, and young adult audiences.

  • In Praise of Disability Rights Activist Judy Heumann The disability rights movement has lost an amazing activist and teacher in Judy Heumann, who died recently at the age of 75. She was prolific and heavily involved in almost every important piece of federal disability rights legislation, including the passage of Section 504, and the ADA. This article has resources for learning and teaching about Judy Heumann.

Continuing Education:

  • Accessibility Toolkit Two Part Series:

    • Accessibility Toolkit Session 1: Making Presentations Accessible, Apr 11, 1pm

    • Accessibility Toolkit Session 2: Making Documents and PDFs Accessible, Apr 18, 1pm

  • Toward One Wisconsin 2023: A Conference on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, April 25 – 26 in Appleton. Wherever you are on your Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) journey, there’s something for you at Toward One Wisconsin 2023.  Whether you’re just starting and overwhelmed, or you’re a leading activist in your community, this conference will provide best practices, insights and implementation tools to help you take the next steps.

  • Authentic Representation: A Conversation With Neurodivergent Authors: April 27, 1pm The panelists explore the importance of representation of neurodivergent characters in books for young people, as well as the significance of writing these stories from authentic lived experiences. They also discuss their own journeys as neurodivergent creators, and how educators can support and motivate neurodivergent students.

  • Breaking Stereotypes through Children’s Books: April 27, 1pm The books we read and share with students should be diverse and reflective of the world we live in. Join NGCP for this webinar during National Library Week 2023 to learn about the power of children’s books to break stereotypes and promote a sense of belonging in STEM – and beyond!

  • Using Book Connections at the Public Library, Tuesday, May 2, 12-12:45 PM : Learn about the Collection Analysis and Diverse Books Toolkits, ready-to-use resources for your book clubs and story times, homework help features, and more.

Consumables:

Diverse Holidays in April:

April is Autism Awareness Month. Autism Awareness Month aims to celebrate and promote acceptance for the condition that occurs in one in every 54 children as of 2020 in the United States. Autism, a complex developmental condition affecting the patient’s ability to interact, communicate, and progress, has not one but many subtypes. First held in the year 1972 by the Autism Society, Autism Awareness Month emphasizes the need for public awareness to promote acceptance, celebrate differences, and be more inclusive toward autistic individuals around us.

Through April 20: Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim year and a holy month celebrating when Mohammad received the revelations of the Quran, spent fasting, reflecting, and praying.

April 2: World Autism Awareness Day, meant to raise awareness of the developmental disorder.

April 6: International Asexuality Day. International Asexuality Day celebrates the full asexual spectrum: asexual, greysexual, demisexual, and all other ace identities.

April 5: Hanuman Jayanti, is a Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of the Hindu deity, and one of the protagonists of the Ramayana, Hanuman.

April 6-April 13: Passover or Pesach, an eight-day Jewish festival celebrating when Israelites were freed from slavery in ancient Egypt.

April 6: Holy Thursday, a Christian holiday commemorating the Last Supper between Jesus and the Apostles before his crucifixion.

April 7: Good Friday, a Christian holiday marking Jesus’s crucifixion.

April 9: Easter, celebrated by Christians as the day Jesus rose from the dead after dying on the cross.

April 13-15: Songkran Festival, the Thai New Year, also celebrated as the Buddhist New Year.

April 14: Vaisakhi, the Sikh New Year and a celebration of the founding of the Sikh community in 1699

April 14: Puthmandu, or Tamil New Year. This festival is celebrated in India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Mauritius, Malaysia, and others. This day is signified as a new beginning. People celebrate this day as the day that would bring them a new start with new opportunities.

April 14: Vaisakhi, also pronounced Baisakhi as well as Basoa, marks the first day of the month of Vaisakh and is seen as a celebration of spring harvest primarily in Northern India.

April 14: National Day of Silence, a protest against bullying and harassment of LGBTQIA+ individuals by students who take a vow of silence.

April 16: Pascha, Orthodox Easter.

April 17: Laylat al-Qadr, the holiest night of the year for Muslims, celebrated on the 27th day of Ramadan and commemorates the night that the Quran was revealed to Mohammad.

April 18: Yom HaSho’ah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) is the solemn commemoration day that recalls the horrific losses during the Holocaust.

April 21-May 2: Rivdan, a Baha’i festival celebrating when Baha’u’llah resided in paradise and proclaimed his mission as God’s messenger.

April 22: Earth Day, promoting sustainability and environmental protection.

April 24: Armenian Martyrs’ Day, honoring the 1.5 million Armenians killed by genocide in Turkey.

April 25: Yom HaZikaron is Israel’s official remembrance day, enacted into law in 1963. While Yom HaZikaron has been traditionally dedicated to fallen soldiers, commemoration has also been extended to civilian victims of terrorism.