ICfL staff members have had their eyes out for relevant stories, tools, and tricks so you don’t have to. We hope you find these resources useful and inspiring. Enjoy!
Calendar
- May is Mental Health Month in Idaho – discover events and promotional materials in the toolkit
- May 18th is Election Day –The third Tuesday in May is one of Idaho’s uniform election days, when ballot questions on bonds, levy overrides, and plant facilities levies may be decided. District library trustee elections are held in odd-numbered years only [see Idaho Code sections 33-2705, 33-2715(1) and (2)]. The procedure for nomination and election of trustees of a library district shall be as provided for in chapter 14, title 34, Idaho Code, and in the general election laws of Idaho [see I.C. § 33-2716]. See the 2021 Library Election FAQ and Timeline for more information.
- May 1-7 Choose Privacy Week – first observed by the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) in 2010, is an initiative that invites library users into a national conversation about privacy rights in a digital age. The campaign gives libraries the tools they need to educate and engage users, and gives citizens the resources to think critically and make more informed choices about their privacy.
Programming Ideas
- Plant Cutting Swap Station Come in for a book, and leave with a free plant to grow. See how the Free Library of Philadelphia is offering this innovative program.
- Seed Libraries A seed library is a place where community members can get seeds for free or for a nominal fee and is run for the public benefit. Many seed libraries are open in public libraries and community centers. Seed saving is something humans have done for over 10,000 years. Rejoin the ritual and start to save seed and share the abundance in your community.
- Up Beet! Online Community of Seed Librarians
- For questions regarding the regulation of seed distribution, contact the Idaho State Department of Agriculture.
- Check out how a number of organizations in Idaho are supporting seed libraries, including Valley of the Tetons, Coeur d’Alene, and Hailey!
Resources
- Assisted Living in Idaho –It is estimated that there are more than 144 assisted–living communities throughout Idaho, providing seniors and their families with a wide array from which to choose. The state is also home to a rapidly growing number of senior citizens, with adults over 65 making up an estimated 15 percent of the population. Genworth Financial, Inc., an S&P 400 insurance company, lists the average cost of a private, one-bedroom unit in an assisted-living community in Idaho as $3,797. This places Idaho on the lower end of the scale at about $200 under the national average, and about $200 lower than the median cost of assisted living in nearby states.
For more information:
- Lifelong Learning Resources Today, you can design your own passion-driven learning curriculum and prepare yourself to ride the technological waves that will power the next economic boom. Here are some resources that allow you to access high-quality textbooks, get your burning questions answered, and explore a world of self-education courses.
Idaho
- Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Boise State University, Boise
- Friends for Learning, Idaho State University, Pocatello
- Continuing Education, Lewis-Clark State College, Lewiston
National
