News & Announcements

Do you have big topics on your mind? Do you have issues percolating in your library to discuss?

Join us at this year's NILRC Conference at Allerton!

Held at Allerton Park & Retreat Center in Monticello, IL, this year’s conference will take place October 5-6. This year's theme is 'Everyone Belongs: Putting the Community in Community College'.

Besides the great programming and discussion, the conference includes lunch and dinner on Thursday and breakfast on Friday. If you are staying, you will get a single room and use of the grounds.

Check the schedule to see what's being offered: NILRC Conference Program.

The cost to attend the full conference is $275. If you do not plan to stay at Allerton, the cost is $175.

You will receive an invoice from Lois once registration closes.

Register today! 2023 NILRC Conference Registration

NILRC’s Information Literacy Committee is hosting a roundtable discussion

“Generative AI tools on MY Campus”

Thursday, March 7th, 10 to 11:30 am. **

Hosted by the NILRC Information Literacy Committee, this discussion will revolve around what we are doing on our campuses with Generative AI tools. This will be a group discussion, without a presentation so that we can hear from you.

Some of the questions we may tackle during this discussion include:

What policies does your campus have on AI?
Do you communicate Generative AI to students? If so, how?
What are faculty most concerned about?
Are there any assignments we’ve created that constructively use AI?
Has it affected search engine results?
Do you use it in your workflow?

Please plan to join us! We want to hear from you!

**A Google Meet link will be sent to the NILRC listserv. Please contact NILRC Director Lois Bruno at director@nilrc.org to be added to the list of recipients.

NILRC’s Professional Development Committee Webinar Series ~ Spring 2024

“Neurodiversity in the Library”

Tuesday, February 27, 2024, from 10 AM - 11 AM

We will be discussing Triton College library's initiatives and programs to help support neurodiversity on campus and in our community, beginning with the Neurodiversity Summit the library hosted in Fall 2023. This will be followed by a discussion about what other libraries are doing and ideas others have. Please bring your ideas! We want to show what we have done and learned on this topic but are eager to learn from other libraries and their successes and challenges.

Presented by Amy Pinc, Director, Library Systems and Technical Services, Triton College Library
and Shekinah Lawrence, Faculty Librarian, Triton College

Tuesday, April 2, 2024, from 10 AM- 11 AM

Wearing Two Hats : one library's expanded role on campus providing support for a virtual bookstore

After transitioning to a virtual bookstore operated by the Follett Corporation, Morton College underwent a series of renovations meant to transform its spaces and services. The campus library, having temporarily moved to the shuttered bookstore space, was often seen by students as the place to ask questions about ordering textbooks and accessing eBooks for their classes. While library staff were directed to transfer questions to Follett's virtual support, it soon became apparent that staff training was needed to ensure effective, in-person customer service.

This webinar will take a look at the Morton library’s experience in adjusting to a new role on campus, describe the challenges faced by staff in assisting students, and share recommendations on how to manage a smooth transition when adapting to different work responsibilities.

Presented by Thomas Mantzakides, Circulation Librarian, Morton College

Tuesday, April 20, 2024, from 10 AM - 11 AM

Library Collection Diversity Audits

Presented by Bryan Clark, Technical Services Librarian, Illinois Central College

Please note: The passcode required to enter all webinars can be found in the listserv messages sent by Committee Chair Amy Glass. Contact Lois Bruno at director@nilrc.org for more information.

NILRC’s Professional Development Committee Webinars are recorded.
Listen or watch previous webinars by clicking here.

Spring 2024 Monthly Meetups!

Join ** your colleagues from member institutions for informal discussions and networking. Each month, a guest co-host will join NILRC Director, Lois Bruno, to discuss a specific topic of interest. Meetups are held monthly on the third Wednesday (unless otherwise noted) from 2 - 3 PM. Be sure to add the following opportunities to your calendar!

February 21
Topic: Archives workflows & discussion
Co-host: Russell Kracke, Oakton College

March 20
Topic: NILRC Board elections
Co-host: Bryan Clark, Illinois Central College

April 17
Topic: Challenges and opportunities for staffing in the post-pandemic college.
Co-host: Morgann Quilty, Parkland College

May 15
Topic: We survived another year, but how??
Co-h0st: TBD

**Please contact Lois Bruno at director@nilrc.org for the password if required.