If you�d like to highlight an exceptional member of the New Members Round Table, please consider nominating yourself, a colleague, or student member for NMRT Member of the Month! Members of the Month will be featured in a blog post spotlight on NMRT Notes. To nominate yourself or someone else, please use our Google Form: https://forms.gle/CNq19h9XcX34BEh49.
Questions about NMRT Member of the Month can be directed to nmrtnotes@gmail.com.
By: Hanna White, Public Services Librarian, FVR Libraries
Welcome to March!
Wherever you are, I hope you’re getting the chance to enjoy the first signs of spring this month. I live in the Pacific Northwest, where we were lucky enough to avoid major snow this year, but are likely to keep getting rained on for another few months. Still, I always appreciate seeing the first few flowers pop up and seeing a few rays of sunshine at the end of a closing shift.
Like many public librarians and library workers, I was excited last month to see the online premiere of the PBS documentary The Librarians. This timely film, available to stream through May 9th, tells the story of library staff around the U.S. fighting censorship in their local communities. My local library has been impacted by campaigns opposing intellectual freedom in the last few months, which have had a profound impact on staff morale in an already challenging year.
If you want to get involved in anti-censorship efforts, make sure to check out ALA’s resource kit. In addition to providing tools for reporting book challenges to the Office for Intellectual Freedom, it includes practical tips for dealing with patron interactions, working with the media and local community leaders, and more. You can also apply to host a screening of The Librarians in your own library or school on the film’s website.
While these issues affect everyone, new members of the profession may find themselves particularly impacted as we wonder about the future of our lives and careers in uncertain times. Here are some recommendations you can try if you’re struggling with anxiety or burnout.
Grants
With ALA Annual approaching in June, March is a good time to start working on an application for the NMRT Annual Conference Professional Development Attendance Award. Applications are due in late April.
Looking for other grant opportunities? ALA has a grant finder tool! Check it out to see if there are any grants available that might help you make a dream come true for you or your local library.
Reminder
Speaking of other awards, here is a reminder that the Student Chapter of the Year Award application closes on March 6th, 2026!
The Award is presented in recognition of a chapter’s outstanding contributions to the American Library Association, their library school, and the profession. All interested applicants must be accredited ALA Student Chapters.
The Student Chapter winner will receive $1,000.00 to help defray travel expenses to ALA Annual; the winning chapter and the runner up will each receive a certificate.
The winners and runner-up will be recognized at the NMRT Student Reception at the 2026 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago, IL.
By: Celeste Leeds-Laliberte, NMRT Communications Committee Member
Welcome to the NMRT Blog! February is Black History Month, and the theme for 2026 is “A Century of Black History Commemorations.”
However, February hosts not only Black History Month but also Valentine’s Day! Both events present excellent opportunities to highlight your library through displays, passive exhibits, and events. You can also get yourself involved in a variety of community events!
What can you do to get involved in Black History Month?
Need help identifying books to highlight?
Need help finding trivia questions?
Participate in these e-learning opportunities that focus on racial equity:
Want to get involved with Valentine’s Day instead?
Call for Applications: Student Chapter of the Year Award
Presented by the New Members Round Table
Deadline: March 6, 2026
Has your chapter had an outstanding year?
Has membership in your chapter increased?
Did your chapter develop and provide opportunities for members to participate in interesting and rewarding activities?
Has your chapter received any awards?
Do you have outstanding officers or members who should be recognized nationally?
If you answered YES to these questions:
Apply for the New Members Round Table Student Chapter of the Year Award!
Purpose of the Award:
The Award is presented in recognition of a chapter’s outstanding contributions to the American Library Association, their library school, and the profession. All interested applicants must be accredited ALA Student Chapters.
The Student Chapter winner will receive $1,000.00 to help defray travel expenses to ALA Annual; the winning chapter and the runner up will each receive a certificate.
The winners and runner up will be recognized at the NMRT Student Reception at the 2026 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago, IL.
Application Process:
Please visit https://www.ala.org/rt/nmrt/scotya for more information on the award and nomination form. If you have any questions, please contact committee representative, Morgan Brickey-Jones (morgan.brickeyjones@uta.edu)
By: Mars Brint, NMRT Communications Committee Chair
Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you all are having a good and safe winter.
January brings many opportunities to refocus on past achievements, set new goals, and reconnect with others. For instance, January is National Hobby Month! What better way to start the year than to learn something new or pick up an old hobby than by visiting your local library? Many libraries offer programming for new hobbyists, including sewing classes, poetry, and more.
January is also Braille Literacy Month, in honour of Louis Braille, born on January 4th, 1809. To learn more about Braille and the learning resources, I highly recommend reading this post by the Paths to Literacy Blog found here.
In Canada, the OLA Super Conference takes place from January 28th to 31st and is the most extensive library continuing education conference in the country. The theme for this year’s conference is “We Persist”, capturing the feeling of all library workers everywhere as libraries continue to face difficulties. Spanning across 4 days, the conference will have both in-person events, online presentations, and on-demand sessions. Featuring both library professionals, educators, and students of library programs, this conference contains an abundance of events and learning opportunities for every interest, including an exhibit!
To prepare for this conference, it is highly recommended to bring the following:
Conferences are an excellent opportunity to learn, make new connections, and reconnect with others both in and beyond the profession. Not to mention all the swag!
By: Jenni Diaz Garcia, NMRT Communications Committee Member
I Took Notes for Twelve Days. Here’s What My Library Job Actually Gave Me
On the first day at my library job, my library gave to me…
One tour with nine scholars trailing me.
Me, power-walking through the stacks, hoping to remember when to share some interesting facts about the building, all while pretending I didn’t almost lead us into a staff-only hallway.
On the second day at my library job, my library gave to me…
Two meals forgotten and one working lunch at Bookends.
Breakfast? Never heard of her. It’s just me, my laptop, and a cranberry turkey sandwich inhaled over my keyboard while I answer emails and pretend this is “work-life balance.”
On the third day at my library job, my library gave to me…
Three failed exports and one video half in Clipchamp, half in Premiere, and back again.I can talk about information literacy for an hour, but ask me to animate an arrow and suddenly I’m Googling like it’s my first day on the internet. Why was “Basic Content Creation Skills for Librarians” not a required MLIS course?
On the fourth day at my library job, my library gave to me…
Four email pings and one classroom reservation crisis.
Every “ping!” is either a calendar update, a tiny emergency, or someone asking, “Can we use this space tomorrow for 80 people?” (Spoiler: No. But… I’ll try.)
On the fifth day at my library job, my library gave to me…
Five big ideas (and approximately zero guarantees they’ll work).
When my supervisor says, “You have the space to come up with something new, be creative with this!” first my brain goes, “Yay!” and then it goes, “Help.” I head to my cubicle, pull up outreach trends, and immediately start asking, “Could this even work here? Is this even cool? What is even ‘in’ with the youngsters these days? Did I really say that, and was that my back cracking and my body aging another 5 years from that sentence alone?”
On the sixth day at my library job, my library gave to me…
Six minutes of hallway small talk and one library swag request.A coworker swings by to ask about swag for a conference, and we end up talking longer than planned. Maybe they came for sticky notes and pens, but I stay for the reminder that I’m part of a bigger team.
On the seventh day at my library job, my library gave to me…
Seven sniffles, one mask, and zero sick days taken.
Not sick enough to stay home, sick enough to seriously regret all my life choices every time I walk up the stairs. Still, I finish the content I need to finish. Still, I upload it to Jira. Still, I hit “publish” with a cough drop in my mouth. It tastes like cherry and regret.
On the eighth day at my library job, my library gave to me…
Eight sips of coffee and one really good idea.
I sit near Bookends with a medium coffee and suddenly that outreach idea I’ve been stewing on… clicks. I float it to a couple folks and their eyes light up. That spark? That’s why I keep doing this.
On the ninth day at my library job, my library gave to me…
Nine ounces of boba sugar and one meeting I don’t expect to lead.
My co-lead for a committee cancels last minute. It’s me, five attendees, and way too much tapioca in my bloodstream. I stumble through, overshare about not being able to drive, and somehow we still have a good discussion and get. Stuff. Done. Being “personable” isn’t usually my superpower, but today it’s how I cosplay confidence.
On the tenth day at my library job, my library gave to me…
Ten voices buzzing in one really good discussion about Open Access.We bounce ideas around the table just for the sake of scholarship, and I leave more energized than when I walked in, reminded that talking through projects together is one of my favorite parts of this job.
On the eleventh day at my library job, my library gave to me…
Eleven calendar blocks and a double-booked afternoon.
I’ve somehow said yes to a webinar and a live talk… at the same time. I do the polite version of teleporting: camera-off here, quick dash there, catching a coworker at an event to whisper, “I’ll email you later!” (Will I? Won’t I? Stay tuned.)
On the twelfth day at my library job, my library gave to me…
Twelve minutes in a lunch line and one very honest thought:
“Sometimes I get an idea, and it’s exciting and cool to me… but I am not the coolest person I know.”
The secret, I’m learning, is that librarianship isn’t about being the coolest person in the room. It’s about backing your ideas anyway, even when you feel like a slightly panicked baby duck running from one meeting to another.
Bonus Activity: Your 12-Day Librarianship Scorecard
If these were my 12 Days of Librarianship… what are yours? Track your next twelve workdays and add a point every time one of these moments happens. Compare with your colleagues!
By: Mars Brint, NMRT Communications Committee Chair
Hello everyone and welcome!
The NMRT Notes blog is for everyone, including new students, emerging librarians, and those looking for some advice, insight, and overview of events. This blog will cover both American and Canadian events and developments, as MLIS programs in both countries require ALA accreditation. Here’s a few helpful resources from NMRT and ALA that you can use to become familiar with the field, learn more, or connect with others in the community:
Resource Guides: Need some answers, advice, or guidance on certain topics like copyright for libraries? Or library policy development? Take a look at ALA’s Resource Guides which cover a wide variety of topics and issues here.
Job Seeking: If you’re in your final term of your MLIS program, a fresh graduate, or a new librarian, job seeking resources can be found under the Education and Careers section on the ALA’s website located here.
eLearning: Want to learn something new? Brush up on some skills? ALA provides a vast catalogue of courses, webinars, and customized elearning content to advance knowledge and skills for library and information professionals. With 14 categories, this learning platform has something for everyone. Check out learning opportunities here.
Resume Help: If you’re interested in polishing your resume or receiving some helpful advice from library professionals, take a look at the NMRT Resume Review Service found here.
November Celebrations: November is full of fantastic events, including month and week long celebrations, and several conferences and festivals such as:
National Entrepreneurship Month
National Family Caregivers Month
Native American Heritage Month
National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week
Sharjah International Book Fair
Celebrate Native American Heritage Month by reading a book by an Indigenous author and consider taking a look at these recommended reads:
Truth Telling: Seven Conversations about Indigenous Life in Canada by Michelle Good
The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Celebrate Transgender Awareness Week by reading a book by a transgender author and consider taking a look at these recommended reads:
Becoming a Visible Man by Jamison Green
The Last Time I Wore a Dress by Daphne Scholinski
Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg
Stag Dance by Torrey Peters
Library Support
As we know, library funding is under threat. This impacts the abilities for libraries to operate, programs to occur, and creates barriers preventing communities from accessing meaningful services, content, and information. As of 2025 there are approximately 124,903 libraries of all kinds in the United States today including public, schools, academic, government, special libraries, and armed forces. Millions of users access libraries for community building, learning, connecting with others, and accessing services–it is imperative that we stand up for libraries and show support!
Join Us and Show Up #ForOurLibraries. Find more information on ways you can help your libraries here.
Upcoming News
With only two months left in the year 2026 is nearly here! 2026 marks the 150th anniversary of the American Library Association (ALA)!
The ALA began in 1876, serving as defenders for libraries as places of meaningful access, community building, freedom of speech, and rallying together to protect libraries. Please take a look at the official ALA150 Blog to read the history of the ALA, browse curated digital displays, and learn about more ways you can support libraries here.
ALA Annual is just in a few days. NMRT has put a list of local information together to help those new to ALA or the city. Let’s start with a Google Map of locations to check out made by a former local, Jerry Yarnetsky. He has highlighted some fun places to check out and eat, both near the conference center and around the city. The Philadelphia Visitor’s Bureau also has a list of discounts for local food and activities if you have time to do some research ahead of the trip.
If you need a quick lunch or snack between sessions, or want to explore but can’t go far from the convention center, check out Reading Terminal Market. You can visit the website in advance to plot out all your lunch destinations or just wander and see!
If you are looking for a quiet space during the conference, check out the Community of Care Quiet Room. It is located in the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Room 104 A B.
If you are still trying to decide on what sessions to attend, log in to the ALA scheduler and look for the Sample First-Time Attendee Agendas Curated by NMRT. They highlight a smaller list of programs broken down by whether those who work in Academic, Public, School, or Special libraries may be interested. Some topics are specific to the type of library and some are aimed at those new to the profession or support skill building.
Throughout the conference, NMRT’s Resume Review Service Committee will offer its popular Resume Review Service in the placement center. The service attempts to match up reviewer and reviewee by library type to ensure you get feedback specific to the type of library you work in or are looking to work in.
Location: Pennsylvania Convention Center, Back of Exhibit Hall E
NMRT’s Conference Orientation, geared towards first-time conference attendees, will take place on Friday, June 27, from 1:30-3 p.m. This session will include information about ALA and NMRT, followed by a panel discussion about getting involved in ALA, and conference tips.
Location: Pennsylvania Convention Center, Ballroom B
This year NMRT has a ticketed event for a Ghost Tour of Philadelphia. NMRT worked with a local Ghost tour and attendees will all be from ALA Annual. The tour will be from 6:00pm – 7:30pm on Saturday, June 28, 2025 starting at Signers’ Garden near 5th and Chestnut Streets. This event did sell out before the conference. If you missed this one, be on the lookout for another Ghost Tour at the next ALA Annual in Chicago.
The NMRT Executive Board will hold its meeting on Sunday, June 29 at 10:30 a.m. Executive Board meetings are open to everyone and we encourage those interested in learning more about how governance works in ALA’s round tables to attend.
Location: Pennsylvania Convention Center, Room 203 A
NMRT’s President’s Program is on Sunday, June 29 from 1-2 p.m. Titled Navigating Salary & Negotiation in Library Land, the session will bring together a panel of librarians with experience in public and academic libraries to share tools and tips to figure out how you can advocate for and negotiate your salary.
Location: Pennsylvania Convention Center, Room 115 A
On Sunday night, join NMRT for a night of networking and fun at the Annual Social from 5-7 p.m. in the conference center. The Annual Social is a great opportunity to meet
current and former NMRT members as well as Retired Members Round Table (RMRT). NMRT & RMRT partnered to bring you the social this year. NMRT’s award winners will be honored at this event and there will be light refreshments.
Location: Sheraton, Liberty Ballroom D
After the Social if you are looking for some fun, come check out the ALA Trivia Championship! (Tickets are $10 at the door) Join fellow librarians and library workers at this national championship cosponsored by GameRT, RUSA, and NMRT and compete for the title of “Reference Champions of America” in this team-based trivia event. You can come with friends or join a team!
Location: Sheraton, Liberty Ballroom C
We hope to see you at one of NMRT’s events during the ALA Annual Conference in Philadelphia!
Hello all!
We at NMRT’s Membership, Promotion, Diversity, and Recruitment (MPDR) Committee, in collaboration with the NMRT Online Programs Committee, are excited to invite you to our upcoming Virtual New Member Coffee Hour! Full description below:
Join us for a relaxed and welcoming Virtual New Member Coffee Hour on June 23 at 1:00 PM EST! Our first topic is ALA Annual!
Started packing and realized you’re not sure what to bring? This informal, conversational space is the perfect place to ask lingering questions post-virtual orientation, swap tips, and hear how others are getting ready for the ALA Annual Conference! Whether you’re attending your first ALA Annual or just looking for a friendly place to check in, we’ll chat through your questions, share practical advice, and help you feel more confident heading into the conference. Bring your curiosity and your favorite hot beverage!
Register here: https://ala-events.zoom.us/meeting/register/KzROFeTwSW2o6Xko_BBNSQ#/registration
Attending the 2025 ALA Annual Conference? Join NMRT for the following exciting events!
NMRT Conference Orientation
Friday, June 27, 2025
1:00pm – 2:30pm
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Ballroom B
Ghost Tour of Philadelphia with NMRT (ticketed event) SOLD OUT
Saturday, June 28, 2025
6:00pm – 7:30pm
Signers’ Garden
5th and Chestnut Streets
NMRT Board Meeting
Sunday, June 29, 2025
10:30am – 11:30am
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Room 203 A
Navigating Salary & Negotiation in Library Land
Sunday, June 29, 2025
2:30pm – 3:30pm
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Room 115 A
NMRT Annual Social
Sunday, June 29, 2025
5:00pm – 7:00pm
Sheraton, Liberty Ballroom D
ALA Trivia Championship (ticketed event)
Sunday, June 29, 2025
7:00pm – 9:00pm
Sheraton, Liberty Ballroom C
