2023-05-12 SPLAT Curiosity Report: Volume 14, Issue 2
Featured Story
University of Idaho Ada County Extension Office
I recently took the Master Food Preservation class at the University of Idaho Extension Office. We saw a huge uptick in people wanting to can and preserve food during/after 2020. And I wanted to be able to present programming at my library about safe food preservation habits. I have been canning and dehydrating for years, but after taking this class, I realized how inadequate it would have been to present information about food preservation without having more than a fly by the seat of my pants understanding of the correct ways of handling food and equipment. Botulism is a scary thing. Now that I have taken this master class, I am ready to take that knowledge and share it with my community.
I think we sometimes overlook the absolutely wonderful resource the Extension office is. Their main goal is to help citizens through research-based, locally relevant education and programs. They have classes on financial management, food safety and preservation, health and nutrition, small farms, and gardening. And they work directly with the local 4-H program. The friendly and knowledgeable staff will work with libraries to host programming at your locations. If you can’t make it to them, you can always call with questions about their subject matter. Found a weird bug in your garden? They can help you identify it. Have a question about proper canning procedures? They are here to help! Such a cool and valuable resource.
By Maggie Dumont
Fail Forward
We’ve all been there. You pour your heart into a program, and no one shows up. You try something new, and you fall on your face. Sound familiar? Fail Forward is the place to share your failures, and give you the opportunity to share what you learned from them. Did you promote your program in a different way after no one showed up? Maybe you took a new approach to the new thing you were excited about? Awesome! Share your story via our online form so others can learn, and realize that failure is often part of the process.
Why Failing is Necessary for Success
Rather than a specific story about falling forward, I decided to talk about how failure is a necessary step in progression. I am a big fan of Simon Sinek and he has a YouTube video entitled Being Comfortable with Failing that I think everyone should watch, for both personal contemplation and I think especially if you manage people. The first take-away is creating an atmosphere of trust where it is ok to admit you were wrong, that you are struggling, that you need help, etc. The second take-away is that experimentation requires failure, or falling as he prefers calling it, which leads to getting back up and trying again.
Reference: Sinek, S. (n.d.). Being comfortable with failing [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/VEuY5x0AYig
By Tania Harden
Crush Corner
Is there a library you follow on social media who is always doing new and exciting things? How about a blog you follow that inspires you? What about a new idea, book, or resource that you want to share? Library Crush Corner is a place for those working in Idaho libraries to share what inspires them, and who or what they’re crushing on… in a professional sense. Share your story via our online form so we can publish it in a future issue!
Libraries and Re-Entry Services
Occasionally I browse the Programming Librarian website for program ideas, and recently I saw a post from last year about reentry programs and services in libraries. This has always been close to my heart, because I have family members and friends who have faced incarceration.
The threat of rearrest and reincarceration is most prevalent during the first year of release.
Libraries increase the success rate of reentry by helping newly freed people access technology and find resources in the community for housing, job support, health services and more. The more support someone gets in the first few days or weeks after their release, the better their position to find the tools they need to succeed. I’ve listed some resources below if you’d like to learn more about what your library can do to help.
Re-Entry Toolkit
Libraries & Reentry The Importance of Public Spaces, Technologies, and Community to Formerly Incarcerated Patrons
Libraries Are Key Tools For People Getting Out Of Prison, Even During A Pandemic
San Francisco Public Library Jail and Reentry Services (JARS)
The National Reentry Resource Center
By Mariah Farmer
SPLAT explores the ever-evolving library world and supports library folks as they adapt to meet the needs of their communities. Library folk throughout the state of Idaho volunteer to serve on the Special Projects Library Action Team (SPLAT). Learn more about SPLAT at https://libraries.idaho.gov/splat/
SPLAT is brought to you by the Idaho Commission for Libraries and was made possible, in part, by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (LS-246156-OLS-20). The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.