Public Library Association (PLA)

CHICAGO—The Public Library Association (PLA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has been awarded a $291,178 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) through the Laura Bush 21^st Century Librarian Program. PLA will partner with the ALA’s Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP) and the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA) to develop an online collection of digital literacy resources that will be accessible to libraries, patrons and other community-based organizations.

CHICAGO — Through the generosity of sponsors, the Public Library Association (PLA) is offering nine awards/grants designed to highlight the best in public library service and to honor those bringing innovation, creativity and dedication to public libraries. Many of the awards include an honorarium; please visit the website for details on each award and nominate your colleague or library through Dec. 1, 2012.

The awards include:

CHICAGO — On Oct. 11 and 12 the Public Library Association (PLA) and its co-sponsor, the Kent District Library (KDL) in Grand Rapids, Mich., will present a two-day, in-person management course, “Serving Diverse Populations” at the KDL Cascade Township Branch. The course offers library managers, supervisors and directors the opportunity to gain practical, real-world skills to make their library successful at serving a mixed community.

CHICAGO — At 1 p.m. CDT on August 8, the Public Library Association (PLA) will host a live, hour-long webinar, “Are Your Mental Models of a Library Holding You Back?” to inspire library directors, managers and supervisors to shake off assumptions about their library and start thinking outside-the-box.