Are you heading to the ILA Annual Conference in Idaho Falls? We’d love to see you at one of the many presentations by current SPLAT leaders!

THURSDAY

10-11am BoiseCodes: A Citywide Coding Initiative
William Nation & Kate Radford, Boise Public Library
In March, 2016 the City of Boise launched an initiative called Boise Codes to increase opportunities in the community for the development of computer programming skills. With the Library in the lead role, citizens gained access to coding workshops, robotics kits for checkout, premium online learning resources, and much more. Kate Radford and William Nation will talk about their experiences with this initiative, focusing on lessons learned along the way and on the central role libraries can play in a community’s learning.

FRIDAY

8:30-10am Tinker, Tailor, Librarian, Spy
Deana Brown, Albertsons Library – Boise State University and Kim Bryant, Idaho Falls Public Library of the Special Projects Library Action Team (SPLAT)
Want to offer technology rich programming, but don’t have the budget or know-how? SPLAT librarians can help! Come join us for 90 minutes of everything SPLAT — Technology — Library Talk — Programming — anything else. We will have opportunity for hands-on experience with the amazing tools found in SPLAT’s Idea Lab, networking with SPLAT, and creative exchange. Come spy ideas for incorporating technology into tailored programming for your community. Come tinker with us!

2-3pm Lightning Rounds
Taking the Mystery Out of Medicare
Shirley Biladeau, Idaho Commission for Libraries, & Tonya Steele, SHIBA Representative
A presentation by the Senior Health Insurance Benefits Advisors to provide library staff and individuals information about applying for the various programs that Medicare supports. SHIBA is part of the Idaho Department of Insurance and provides free, unbiased medicare information for all Idaho residents.

Microsoft Imagine Academy
Shirley Biladeau, Idaho Commission for Libraries, & Rick Kennedy, Idaho State Department of Education
Join us to learn how your public library can provide access to the Microsoft Imagine Academy courses and certifications. The Idaho Commission for Libraries working with the Idaho State Department of Education is able to provide Idaho residents access to software and technical training.

3:15-4:15 Newfangled Middle School Book Club
Nick Madsen, Community Library Network
You’re presenting on a book club? At a library conference? We’ve seen that! You’re doing it for Middle School students? Are you crazy? Most likely. Newfangled combines weekly online chats, free books, monthly school library visits, and monthly public library parties to engage middle school students right where they are.

We’ve seen a passionate group of 6th-8th grade students gather around to discuss books, participate online, and engage with their library. In addition to this group of students, we’ve seen community members rise up to give their time and money to support this exciting project.

Part of the success of Newfangled comes from the collaboration between the Community Library Network at Hayden, the Coeur d’Alene Public Library and the Coeur d’Alene School District. All three entities have combined their resources to better reach this sometimes overlooked group of readers. Come learn about how the books are selected, what technology we use to reach the readers, how we funded the project, and how you might implement a similar project in your community.

Hope to see you soon!