Northeast Kansas Library System

HR check-in meeting for NEKLS public libraries
2024-08-28 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago)
Questions? Please contact Michael McDonald! mmcdonald@nekls.org

Special Executive Board Meeting
2024-08-29 10:00 - 10:30
will be a special board meeting held on this coming Thursday, August 29th at 10am in order to approve Board nominations for the upcoming year. The agenda for this meeting can be found at

NEKLS_ExecutiveBoard_Agenda_SpecialMtg_29aug2024Download

The Zoom link for this meeting is https://kslib.zoom.us/j/82999961081

System Budget & RNR Hearing
2024-09-10 10:00 - 12:00
Save the date for the annual budget hearing and also the revenue neutral hearing. This meeting will be available online for NEKLS System Board members and the general public. If anyone wishes to attend the NEKLS office, please contact us at 785-838-4090. More details linked below.

Date: September 10

Time: 10:00 AM – Noon

https://www.nekls.org/2025-budget-hearing-and-2024-annual-meeting/

Libraries Transform Minds Conference
2024-09-12 09:00 - 15:30
Do you and your fellow public library staff frequently serve older adults at the library? Do you have a friend or relative facing memory changes? Do you wonder how you can best care for your own aging brain? Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library (TSCPL) and Northeast Kansas Library System (NEKLS) are hosting a conference for library professionals to explore memory care:

Libraries Transform Minds Conference: Learn, Connect, and Share about Library Services for Older Adults

September 12th, Marvin Auditorium, Topeka and Shawnee County Library

Attendees can expect to network and share with peers, and learn how they can strengthen memory care at work and at home.

Registration: https://forms.gle/qFXpsAa1A3N9Rvz17

Presenters

Connie Michaelis, Author of Just Now Old Enough (website)

Dr. Maritza Buenaver, MD, Director of Geriatric Psychiatry, Geriatrics Psychiatrist at the Oklahoma City VA healthcare system

Kelly G. Loeb, MSW, Community Engagement Coordinator, KU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center

Tami Hurst, Library Programming Specialist, Olathe Public Library (Memory Café program)

Details

Lunch will be catered by the Millennium Café, and there will be no cost to attend.

This will be a live, in-person, day-long conference – there will be no recordings. Presentation descriptions may be found at the bottom of this event page.

Date: Thursday, September 12

Time: 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM

Location: Marvin Auditorium, Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library

Address: 1515 SW 10th Ave, Topeka, KS 66604

Cost: Free for Library Staff to Attend

Contact: Dan Alexander, NEKLS or Brenda Hough, TSCPL

Registration: https://forms.gle/qFXpsAa1A3N9Rvz17

Schedule

9:00: Arrival, sign-in, light breakfast9:30: Welcome and Overview of the day9:45: You’re Just Now Old Enough! with author Connie Michaelis 10:30: Break 10:45: The Aging Brain with Dr. Maritza Buenaver 11:40: Table Activity12:00: Lunch1:00: Shelf Care: What Libraries Can Do to Support Caregivers with Kelly G. Loeb of KU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center1:45: Programming for Dementia with Tami Hurst of Olathe Public Library 2:30: Break2:40: Discussion Topic Tables3:20: Wrap-Up and Adjourn

Connie Michaelis

You’re Just Now Old Enough!

Description: Attitude is everything when it comes to aging. When we embrace the future and all that it brings, we are in the right mindset to age successfully. My career has allowed me to meet thousands of Seniors and their families. I’ve seen it all and determined that the biggest difference between those who are happy and engaged and those who are grumpy and angry is their attitude. Along with a positive attitude, I advocate lifelong learning, socialization, movement, and having fun.

“You don’t stop having fun because you’re old; you’re old when you stop having fun!”

Presenter: Connie is a passionate advocate for healthy aging. With years of experience in sales and marketing, including hospice, durable medical equipment, and retirement living, she has become a knowledgeable problem solver for life transitions. As a weekly newspaper columnist and author of Daily Cures, Wisdom for Healthy Aging, Connie speaks and writes to encourage and support seniors and their families. Connie has a BA in biology and history from the University of Kansas and a teaching degree in secondary education. Her family consists of six children and 15 grandchildren

Dr. Maritza Buenaver

The Aging Brain

Description: Library staff will learn about brain changes with aging, including normal changes and abnormal changes, as well as presentation of the most common types of dementia. Will understand risk factors for cognitive decline and review tips for healthy aging, including factors that libraries can help address such as staying active and engaged by learning as well as interacting with individuals who may be experiencing dementia.

Presenter: Dr. Maritza Buenaver is a Diplomat of the American Board of Psychiatry and neurology with sub specialization in Geriatric Psychiatry and Hospice and Palliative medicine. Completed Medical School and Psychiatric Residency at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City Campus. Trained in Geriatric Psychiatry fellowship at the University of Iowa Hospital and clinics, where she also received clinical practice in Hospice and Palliative care . Dr. Buenaver spent 11 years as a director of the Behavioral Health Community Living Center (Geriatric psychiatry care) at the Topeka VA. Currently, Dr. Buenaver provides care to Veterans in long-term care settings, namely State Veteran’s homes, through Clinical Video Telehealth and E-consults to the inpatient and outpatient settings as well as an expert Consultee for the VA National Expert Consultation & Specialized Services – Mental Health Geriatric Psychiatry Telehealth Program (NEXCSS-MH) reaching out to rural areas within the country. She is an assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN. Specialized in assessment and treatment of mental health disorders in the elderly, dementia evaluation and treatment, focusing on non-pharmacological interventions and education of caregivers of persons with dementia. Recipient of a Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program-HRSA grant for Dementia education, she has led multiple community conferences, has presented some of her work at the national level and has been a guest Speaker of the KACE (Kansas Adult Care Executives) Annual meeting in 2018 and 2022. Introduced Virtual reality into multidisciplinary education at the Topeka Veterans Administration as well as training of un-paid caregivers in rural Kansas. Currently runs 2 rural Dementia Caregiver support groups in Kansas. Dr Buenaver enjoys educating members of the geriatric interdisciplinary team, geriatric fellows, resident physicians, psychology interns, medical students, nursing students and caregivers in the community.

Kelly G. Loeb

Shelf Care: What Libraries Can Do to Support Caregivers

Description: Check out this session on how libraries transform the minds of family caregivers of people experiencing cognitive change. From cataloguing must-reads on dementia details to hosting educational forums on detection, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and cure, libraries are well-positioned to scaffold patrons. Presenter Kelly G. Loeb, MSW will share about how libraries can replicate innovative programs for caregivers – including the Family Series and the Breakfast Club – that don’t go by the book! Taking advantage of technology and maximizing community strengths don’t have to be overdue – renew your library’s commitment to reading between the lines for nurturing, empowerment and compassion.

Presenter: Kelly G. Loeb, MSW, is the Community Engagement Coordinator at the KU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, where she hosts the Weekly Webinar about brain health, writes and distributes the MyAlliance for Brain Health newsletter (in English and Spanish) and works alongside researchers advancing us to detection, treatment, prevention and cure of dementia. She is a member of the Community Leadership Board of the Alzheimer’s Association – Heart of America Chapter. Kelly has more than 20 years of experience educating, guiding and nurturing people experiencing cognitive change and their communities and she fervently works toward the day when Alzheimer’s disease (which both of her beloved grandmothers had) is just a memory.

Tami Hurst

Programming for Dementia

Description: Research shows that many people living with dementia can still read and benefit from a wide variety of library materials. Tami will share straightforward methods to create more dementia-friendly libraries, along with practical advice on selecting reading materials tailored to each individual.

Presenter: Tami Hurst has worked for the Olathe Public Library in Olathe, Kansas for 22 years. For the past 6 years, she has coordinated the Olathe Public Library’s Library to You service, a free home delivery service for individuals who can’t physically travel to the library. She and her coworker Roya Mortazavi also make monthly visits to local retirement communities and care centers to do outreach and literacy-based programming such as Tales and Travel Memories programs for older adults. Tami has a personal interest in improving the quality of life for people living with dementia as her father passed away from Alzheimer’s in 2019.

Fall Directors Institute
2024-10-04 09:00 - 15:00
Event Details

Audience: Northeast Kansas Public Library Directors

Date: October 4, 2024

Time: Doors open at 9:00 AM, Retreat 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM

Venue: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Lawrence

Room: Brazilian Ballroom section BC

Address: 200 McDonald Dr, Lawrence, KS 66044

Event Host: Dan Alexander, dalexander@nekls.org

Registration Form: 2024 Fall Directors Institute Registration (CLOSED)

RSVP Deadline: September 20, 2024

Cost: There is no cost for our guests to attend!

Registration is Closed

Purpose

The purpose of our upcoming retreat is to explore the strength and benefit of connections.

Agenda Highlights

At our retreat, we will explore concepts from The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker. Brenda Hough, Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, and former NEKLS consultant, will facilitate a discussion about how we might utilize these concepts in our work.

Priya hones in on the benefits of showing the fresh, raw, and honest sides of ourselves when we leave egos at the door. “Nowhere is puffed-up phoniness more palpable than at conferences. Nowhere else is the chance to have conversations across borders, identities, and professions so often wasted. Nowhere else are so many people with the influence to change things so frequently brought together, only for the resulting conversations to remain on the surface. They lurk there because everyone is presenting the best self they think others expect to meet.” At our retreat, let us prepare to engage with vulnerability.

Lissa Staley, Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, and a 2024 Library Journal Mover and Shaker, will facilitate a discussion on making meaningful connections with the community.

Logistics

No Recordings: There will be no recordings or online component. We encourage all member public library directors to register and attend the retreat from beginning (9:30 AM) to end (3:00 PM).

Meals & Refreshments: Lite breakfast bites will be available starting at 9:00 AM. A baked potato bar and salad bar will be provided at Noon. Water, tea, and coffee will be available throughout the day. Guests are welcome to bring their own favorite beverages.

Parking: Ample parking is available. Brazilian Ballroom section BC is closest to the southwest entrance. (DoubleTree Floorplan).

Accessibility: Accommodation requests can be noted when registering.

Preparation

Please consider the following prompts over the next few weeks before we gather:

What was a moment in your career that profoundly influenced your approach to librarianship? How did it shape your professional journey?

What’s one challenge you’ve faced in your role that led to significant personal or professional growth? How did you overcome it?

How do you stay inspired and motivated in your role, especially during challenging times?

What’s one piece of advice you would give to someone new to the field? How has this advice been relevant in your own experience?

Describe a time when collaboration with others in the field made a significant difference in your work. What did you learn from that experience?

Final Note

We’re looking forward to a day of meaningful engagement. If you have any questions or need further information, please contact Dan Alexander, dalexander@nekls.org.

The secret is out, our special mystery guests are our NEKLS member public library directors! This event is about leaning into our connections with each other.

Not Just Cute: Planning for Powerful Play a KLA Pre Conference
2024-10-30 09:00 - 11:30
Weave a Tale Workshop presents a KLA Pre Conference: Not Just Cute: Planning for Powerful Play featuring Amanda Morgan, nationally recognized play expert.

Date: October 30, 2024

Time: 9-11:30 AM

Location: Cypress A Classroom, Hyatt Regency Wichita

Registration: https://kslibassoc.org/

Canceled--Next User Group meeting, Mary Cotton Library--Canceled
2024-11-14 10:00 - 12:00
Quarterly users group meeting for Next libraries.

Due to illness: the Next Search Catalog meeting scheduled for November 14, 2024, has been postponed.A new date and time will be announced soon.

NEKLS Office Closed
2024-11-28 08:00 - 2024-11-29 17:00, 2024-12-24 08:00 - 2024-12-25 17:00, 2025-01-01 08:00 - 17:00

Record Manager (OCLC)/ Importing MARC Records Training
2024-12-03 10:00 - 12:00
Jessi Harris will present a Record Manager/ Importing MARC Record Training on December 3rd at the NEKLS office at 10am. This is a hybrid event and will also be available over Zoom.

Please feel free to bring your laptops and a couple items that you would like to import. We can practice after the training. The importing part of the training will be for the Next Search Catalog specifically.

Now that many of you have had cataloging training with the new Next Cataloging Manual, this is the next step! If you do not know how to access Record Manager, or you have not set up your account, please let me know. I’ll help you get set up!

Here is the Zoom link for the training if you are not able to make it in person: https://kslib.zoom.us/j/83953987323

Here is the form to register if you plan to attend in-person: https://forms.gle/Er5PMRTyBP7TY3qLA

Color Our World with Priscilla Howe (Summer Youth Staff Workshop)
2025-01-14 10:00 - 11:30
Color Our World with Priscilla Howe (Summer Youth Staff Workshop)

Save the Dates – Summer 2025 webinars by NCKLS & NEKLS

Co-sponsored by NCKLS and NEKLS; made possible in part through the State Library of Kansas Library Services and Technology Act provided by the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.

What: Confetti! A celebration of stories, songs, ideas and more for SLP 2025 (Summer Youth Staff Workshop)

When: Tuesday, January 14, 2025; 10-11:30am

Where: Online–Register https://forms.gle/RRMmi2doUzCqfJeE7

Mock Youth Media Awards
2025-01-17 13:00 - 16:00
You’re invited to an event that should be of interest to anyone who serves youth in your libraries! Here are some brief details:

What: A Mock Youth Media Award DiscussionWhen: Friday, January 17, 2025; 1-4pmWhere: Northeast Kansas Library System, 4317 W. 6th Street, LawrenceWhy: To discuss great books for youth, have fun, and learn with colleagues!

What is a Mock Award? Every year, ALA selection committees read and meet to discuss the best books of the year in order to make awards in multiple categories. Mock Awards are our opportunity to try our hand at the book selection and evaluation process and see how our choices line up with the awards committees.

January 24th, 2025 at the NEKLS Office.

Mock YMA 2025 Description – Save the DateDownload

Color Our World with Jay Williams and Harley Bienko, Manhattan Public Library (Summer Teen Staff Workshop)
2025-01-23 13:30 - 15:00
Save the Dates – Summer 2025 webinars by NCKLS & NEKLS

Co-sponsored by NCKLS and NEKLS; made possible in part through the State Library of Kansas Library Services and Technology Act provided by the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.

What: Summer 2025 Teen Programming Workshop: Creative Ideas and Successful Strategies! (Summer Teen Workshop)

When: Thursday, January 23, 2025; 1:30-3pm

Where: Online — Register https://forms.gle/zk1h3L2LUf8bWCqS9

KLA Legislative Day
2025-01-28 08:00 - 17:00 | Kansas State House, Topeka, Kansas, SW 8th &, SW Van Buren St, Topeka, KS, 66612
Save the date, January 28 2025, to visit the Capitol Building and speak with legislators. State Library of Kansas will be celebrating 125 years!

Next Users Group Meeting & Public Library Survey Drop-In
2025-01-30 10:00 - 15:00
The Next Users Group will meet at the NEKLS Office for the first quarterly meeting of 2025. In the afternoon NEKLS Staff will be available to help complete the 2024 Public Library Survey. The Survey must be completed by February 5th.

Public Library Survey Drop-in (Online)
2025-01-31 13:00 - 15:00
NEKLS Staff will be online to help member public libraries complete their 2024 Public Library Survey from 1 to 3 PM. Contact us if you would like to arrange an alternate time for help. The survey must be submitted by February 5th.

Join us over Zoom anytime between 1 and 3 PM: https://kslib.zoom.us/j/83419189703

Public Library Survey Deadline
2025-02-05 08:00 - 17:00
Surveys must be finalized through Counting Opinions, the software used by the State Library of Kansas. For help with this required action please contact NEKLS staff for support.

Color Our World: Creative Library Programs for Adults with Greta Funk
2025-02-06 13:30 - 14:30
NEKLS will host one more webinar to help you get ready for Summer 2025: Color Our World: Creative Library Programs for Adults. This webinar will be held on Thursday, February 6, 2025, 1:30-2:30pm.Thanks to Greta Funk, chair of the CSLP Adult Programming Manual and Director of Nortonville Public Library, for volunteering to present this session!

Rural and Small Libraries Event - Canceled
2025-02-13 10:00 - 14:00
Small & Mighty: Libraries Enhance Rural Living

Sadly, due to incoming snow and cold this event has been canceled.

Gather with us to reflect on how small libraries support community health, build partnerships, and create lasting impact, on February 13th at the Douglas County Fairgrounds Flory Meeting Hall, 10 AM to 2 PM. This event will be open to our NEKLS member library directors, staff, volunteers, and trustees. Registration is required by February 6th: https://forms.gle/8qpDMb9AjGV7AwRi7

Douglas County Fairgrounds Flory Meeting Hall: 2120 Harper St, Lawrence, KS 66046, Doors open at 9:30 AM!

Featured Presentations

Derik Flerlage & Lainey Faulkner, KDHE Bureau of Family Health: Public Health Foundations, Community Engagement, & KDHE Programs

Robin Hastings, NEKLS: Grant Project Management

There will be no cost to attend this in-person event and lunch will be provided. Contact Dan Alexander (dalexander@nekls.org) for more information.

Lunch and Learn: Recipes for Raising
2025-04-24 09:30 - 14:00
With library funding becoming increasingly uncertain, it’s essential to explore strategies and partnerships to maximize funding opportunities. Join NEKLS on Thursday, April 24th, for a Continuing Education workshop focused on effective revenue-building approaches.

Topics & Presenters:

Navigating Building Campaigns: Insights on foundation grant applications, partnerships, individual donations, and managing a building project.Presenter: Cari Cusick, Director, Newton Public Library

Monthly Giving Programs: How to implement and scale a successful recurring donation program for any library size.Presenter: Logan Isaman, Fundraising & Volunteer Coordinator, Lawrence Public Library

Grant Management Strategies: Best practices for managing grants effectively.Presenter: Robin Hastings, Consultant—Library Services, NEKLS

Event Details:

Location: NEKLS Office, 4317 W. 6th Street, Lawrence, KS 66049

Time: 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM (Lunch provided by NEKLS)

Capacity: Limited to the first 30 registrants

Cost: no cost to attend

Recordings: No recordings for this event

Registration Deadline: April 11

Register here to secure your spot!

For more information, contact Robyn Kollar at rkollar@nekls.org.

NEKLS 2025 Trustee Training
2025-06-07 09:30 - 11:00
Stronger Together: Building Productive Board-Director Partnerships

NEKLS Member Public Library Trustees and Directors: Join us Saturday, June 7, 2025, from 9:30–11:00 a.m. CDT on Zoom for this year’s NEKLS Trustee Training. This session, presented by Nicolle Davies, Colorado State Librarian, will explore the essential relationship between library boards and directors, providing practical strategies for fostering collaboration, improving communication, and strengthening partnerships that drive library success.

Register to attend: https://kslib.zoom.us/meeting/register/tyZErEyeQgq0LjEcVRNnrAThis webinar will be recorded.

What You’ll Learn:• Clear role definitions for boards and directors• Common friction points—and how to navigate them• Strong communication practices• Advocacy vs. marketing: what they are, when to use each, and why it matters• Real-world examples of both advocacy and marketing strategies

About the Presenter

Nicolle Davies serves as the State Librarian for Colorado. Davies holds both a Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) and a Master’s in Library and Information Sciences (MLIS). Prior to this position, Davies served as the Executive Director of the Charleston County Public Library (SC), where she designed five new libraries, introduced new technology, and established a progressive service delivery model. Previously Davies served as the Executive Director of the Arapahoe Library District (CO), during which time she was named Library Journal’s 2016 Librarian of the Year. She is President of the Chief Officers of State Agencies (COSLA) and serves on the United for Libraries Board of Directors. Before coming to libraries, Davies worked in broadcast journalism and public relations.

Why This Training Matters for Trustees

This session is an opportunity to learn from one of the nation’s top library leaders, while strengthening your skills as a trustee. Beyond the professional development value, this webinar also helps fulfill your library’s accreditation requirement that trustees complete at least one continuing education activity annually. Participating live or watching the recording by September 15 will ensure your library remains in good standing for Library Development Grant eligibility. Check out the Library Trustee Resources webpage for more information on this requirement.

Need Help?

If you’re unfamiliar with Zoom, contact Dan Alexander at dalexander@nekls.org to schedule a help session before June 7th.

NEKLS Revenue Neutral Rate Hearing and Budget Hearing
2025-09-08 10:00 - 12:00
Please see this post to learn more and register: https://www.nekls.org/2026-budget-hearing-and-2025-annual-meeting/

Older Adult Services Conference
2025-10-22 09:30 - 15:15
Please join us for the Libraries Transform Minds Conference, a one-day gathering focused on library services for older adults. This event will be an opportunity to learn from experts, connect with peers, and share ideas that support aging with dignity and purpose in our communities.

Wednesday, October 22, 2025Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, Marvin Auditorium 1515 SW 10th Ave, Topeka, KS 66604

Schedule

Doors Open (Coffee, Tea, and Light Refreshments): 9:00

Opening Remarks: 9:30 – 9:45

Yes, And…! The Joy and Power of Improv with Older Adults: 9:45 – 10:45

Break: 10:45 – 11:00

Brain Aging 101: How Aging & Dementia Reshape Our Minds: 11:00 – Noon

Lunch (Sandwich/Salad): Noon – 1:00

Connect and Learn: 1:00 – 1:45

Break: 1:45 – 2:00

Older Adult Services Panel Discussion: 2:00 – 3:00

Closing Remarks: 3:00 – 3:15

Registration is free: lunch, beverages, and morning refreshments are catered by the Millennium Café, and provided at no cost to our registrants. Please note dietary restrictions when you register.

Registration is Now Open (Click Here)

Session Descriptions

Yes, And…! The Joy and Power of Improv with Older Adults

Join award-winning actor, educator, and improv director Marvin Stottlemire as he kicksoff our day with an experience focused on spontaneous fun and creative connection.Research shows that improv can improve attention, memory, and executive function,helping to build cognitive reserve, which is a protective factor against cognitive decline.It also strengthens social bonds, boosts creativity, and encourages emotional well-being. For older adults, improv provides a safe, playful space where mistakes don’texist, laughter comes easily, and everyone can contribute.

In this interactive session, Marvin will guide participants through fun and accessibleimprov exercises. You’ll get to play, laugh, and discover how improv nurtures flexibility,creativity, and joy, helping to enrich daily life and connect us more deeply with others.Marvin Stottlemire is an award-winning actor, educator, and improv director withdecades of experience in law, teaching, and theatre. Known for his humor, warmth, andresilience, he brings heart and insight to every class. Marvin directs Senior Class, animprov troupe at Topeka Civic Theatre, where older adults showcase the joy, creativity,and vitality of improvisation.

Brain Aging 101: How Aging & Dementia Reshape Our Minds

As we age, our brains naturally change, and certain factors can increase the risk of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. This talk will explore how the brain supports memory for everyday events, how these processes are affected by aging and disease, and what science reveals about practical steps and emerging interventions that can help protect cognitive health.

Dr. Heather Bailey is an associate professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Kansas State University. Her research focuses on memory systems and aging. Specifically, she studies factors that influence memory (e.g., aging, dementia, PTSD, emotions) as well as well as how the brain supports memory for real-world events.

Connect and Learn

During this lively, quick-paced session, library staff will exchange examples, resources, and strategies for engaging older adults. Shine a light on your successes, learn from colleagues, and discover new ideas you can bring back to your library!

Older Adult Services Panel Discussion

This panel discussion will examine how libraries are adapting to the evolving needs of older adult populations. Panelists will discuss impactful programs and services, strategies for addressing barriers to access, and approaches for effective outreach and community partnerships. The session will also highlight the broader social outcomes of library engagement. Attendees will gain insight into current challenges and emerging opportunities as libraries prepare to serve an increasingly aging population. Panelists: LaVoyce Capps (TSCPL), Tami Hurst (Olathe Public Library), and Donna Porter (Dorothy Bramlage Public Library)

Thank you to TSCPL for partnering with NEKLS to plan this event.

Librarians in Action: What’s the Big AI-dea?
2025-11-04 13:00 - 14:00 | Online
Join Robin Hastings and Dan Alexander for a chat about Artificial Intelligence (AI). Robin and Dan have been early adopters and frequent presenters on AI, as it constantly evolves!

No need to to register in advance just use the link below—this session will be recorded.

Artificial Intelligence is everywhere—from your phone’s autocomplete to the headlines about chatbots writing novels (and occasionally fibbing about their sources). But what does it really do, and what does it mean for libraries?

Join us for an engaging, plain-English introduction to Generative AI (GenAI) designed especially for librarians and library board members. We’ll explore:

How AI works: Pull back the curtain on how large language models like ChatGPT actually “think” (spoiler: they don’t, but they’re very good at patterns).

What AI can do for you: Discover practical ways to use AI in daily library life—drafting policies, summarizing reports, creating programs, and saving time without sacrificing your professional judgment.

Tools that make life easier: A guided tour of librarian-approved AI helpers that organize, write, design, and even translate library magic into plain language.

Why AI might not be the best solution for that problem: A candid look at bias, privacy, data ownership, and the moments when human expertise beats the algorithm every time.

Expect plenty of time for questions and to get your burning curiosity about AI satisfied!

Join us on Zoom: https://kslib.zoom.us/j/85100657886

Next User Group Meeting
2026-01-20 10:00 - 12:00 | NEKLS Office & Zoom
Here is the registration form for our January 20, 2025 Next Users Group meeting, lunch, and State Stats Help Drop-in: https://forms.gle/FjZfNju72RKSaX9T9

Next Users Group Meeting (10am-Noon)

Lunch (Noon-12:30pm)

State Stats Help Drop-in (12:30-3pm)

Please register by 1/13/2025. This helps us make sure that we have enough lunch for everyone that wants it!

After the Next meeting, please feel free to stay for lunch. If you have any annual state public library survey questions, NEKLS staff will be available at the drop in to help. Don’t forget to bring your laptop!

Public Library Survey: In-Person NEKLS Support
2026-01-20 12:30 - 15:00 | NEKLS Office, 4317 W 6th Street, Lawrence, KS, 66049, United States
Here is the registration form for our January 20, 2025 Next Users Group meeting, lunch, and State Stats Help Drop-in: https://forms.gle/FjZfNju72RKSaX9T9

Next Users Group Meeting (10am-Noon)

Lunch (Noon-12:30pm)

State Stats Help Drop-in (12:30-3pm)

Please register by 1/13/2025. This helps us make sure that we have enough lunch for everyone that wants it!After the Next User Group Meeting, please feel free to stay for lunch. If you have any annual public library survey questions, NEKLS staff will be available in the afternoon to help. Don’t forget to bring your laptop!

Unearth a Story: Will Stuck Webinar
2026-01-22 13:30 - 15:00 | Online
Please join us on January 22nd at 1:30pm -3:00pm for a wonderful 2026 Summer Reading webinar with Will Stuck hosted by NCKLS and NEKLS!

Join longtime public librarian, professional speaker, and Edutainer Will Stuck for a high-energy, idea-packed webinar designed to help libraries bring the UNEARTH A STORY summer reading theme to life in 2026.

Will Stuck worked in a public library for 24 years. During that time, he worked in multiple positions but he found his calling while working in the library’s Children’s Department and ended up spending 20+ years working with children. However, his work isn’t limited to the youngest library patrons. He planned and performed programs for preschoolers through senior citizens both in the library and throughout northwest Missouri. Since 2017, Will has been a professional speaker, library consultant and an Edutainer, bringing his M.E.S.S. (Music, Education, Stories & Science) across multiple states.

Attendees will leave with concrete ideas, renewed confidence in the theme, and tools they can adapt to fit their community’s needs as they plan for Summer Reading 2026.

The webinar link will be sent out the week of the session. The recording will be available after the session.

Register here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScPgC0Z04BDHorlgQ1yFY6wfUSKQWOehKKHrfL5K0PKpN_Ppg/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=100135973194181931719

Unearth a Story: Dig into Library Programs for Adults
2026-02-12 13:00 - 14:15 | Online
Do you provide summer programs for adults at your library?Save the date!

Thursday, February 12, 2026 – webinar 1-2:15pm

Register at: https://kslib.zoom.us/meeting/register/C49oMc3RQAiDcFjMq8UCHg

You will be provided the log in information once you register. Hope to see you there!

Join Greta Funk, Chair of the CSLP Adult Programming Manual, for a webinar packedwith ideas for adult activities that will Unearth a StoryTM during Summer 2026 andbeyond.Greta Funk is the director of Nortonville Public Library (a town of about 650 people)and has been providing library programs for adults in her community for more than fiveyears. She has two adult and two teen “children” and when not hosting craft nights,paint nights, and other library programs for adults in the evenings, she obsessivelycrochets amigurumi critters while listening to audiobooks.Registration and Zoom log in information will be announced a few weeks beforethis event.

Questions? Contact Anna Foote @ NEKLS, afoote@nekls.org.

How to be an ILL Sleuth
2026-02-17 10:00 - 12:00 | NEKLS Office, 4317 W 6th Street, Lawrence, KS, 66049, United States
We will discuss the various reasons you may not be finding an item to request, ILL workflow best practices, resources for ILL sleuthing, and current ILL issues that NEKLS libraries may be experiencing. This training is for anyone that places interlibrary loan requests.
