Wednesday, January 10, 2018
The Public Library Development Team is proud to announce the inaugural Inclusive Services Institute.
The Inclusive Services Institutes is a professional development and workgroup opportunity for Wisconsin public library and regional system staff who are committed to making Wisconsin libraries more inclusive to all community members and potential library users. The Institute will offer reflective learning experiences on topics of equity and social justice. Participants will work on small teams to develop tools for a new statewide resource. The Inclusive Services Statement from the Division of Libraries and Technology will provide the foundation for the Institute content and workgroup efforts.
2018 Inclusive Services Institute
March 12-14, 2018 and August 12-14, 2018
Madison, Wisconsin
Over the course of two sessions, one in March and one in August, Inclusive Services Institute participants will experience deep dialog and awareness building on a range of social issues. The Institute will be facilitated by the Public Library Development Team with support from regional library leaders. Topic experts from outside of the library community will be invited to share perspectives and considerations during the learning sessions. Small teams of participants will focus on different aspects of library spaces and services. Each team will create and complete an assigned task during the March through August time period, using face to face time at the Institute in addition to online collaboration between Institute sessions (estimated 5-10 hours). The August session will culminate with the combined work of the small teams forming a new, shared resource for the benefit of all public libraries and regional library systems in the state. The Inclusive Services Institute counts for 25 contact hours of noncredit continuing education activities for Wisconsin public library director certification.
The Inclusive Services Institute is limited to 16 participants in order to facilitate an effective, intimate, and focused experience. Face-to-face interaction in a small group setting is considered an important element of the Institute and the basis for future networking and professional participation, online and in-person. Engagement in the Institute begins upon acceptance of a spot in the 16 person cohort, with brief assignments and tasks leading up to the March session, and extending through the August session. The Institute experience requires a commitment of time and energy. In return, participants can expect professional transformation, with a statewide impact.
Logistics
There is no fee for Institute participants; the costs are covered through an LSTA grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) administered by the Public Library Development Team at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI).
The March 2018 session will begin at 10am on Monday, March 12 and conclude on Wednesday, March 14 at 4pm. The August 2018 session will begin at 2pm on Sunday, August 12 and conclude on Tuesday, August 14 at 4pm. Meals and individual, single room lodging will be provided for participants. Participants are expected to stay on site throughout the Institute versus lodging elsewhere or commuting. Furthermore, the Institute is designed as an immersion experience for participants—family and guests are not welcome in this intense and intimate training. Participants must provide their own transportation to and from the hotel. Parking spots will be provided. Carpooling from different regions of the state is encouraged.
Application Process
Applications are due by Tuesday, February 6, 2018 through the online application process. Sixteen applicants will be selected, preferably representing all 16 public library systems. If necessary, a waiting list will be maintained. All applicants will be notified by mid-February. Link to the online application: https://forms.dpi.wi.gov/se.ashx?s=56301B2D78D30EA4. Note: To assist with the online application process, a full description of the Inclusive Services Institute, including the text of required application questions, is documented online.