The South Carolina State Library has been monitoring the outbreak of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 and is working closely with our partners and event organizers to help manage its impact on our library community statewide.

Unfortunately over the last forty-eight hours we had several states issue travel bans for government employees, causing our attendees to cancel travel plans and participation in the RIPL conference. Today in South Carolina, our Governor issued a state of emergency and closed two school districts for the next two weeks.

We have made the difficult decision to cancel/postpone the RIPL conference at this time. Our hope is that we will be able to reschedule for late summer or early fall, but at this time it is impossible to know.

If you received an IMLS travel grant please follow up with the grantor for any information related to your travel.

We will keep you posted on future opportunities as they become available.

Workshop Information:

RIPL is a hands-on workshop for public library leaders and others interested in public library data and evaluation. In this immersive, bootcamp-style event, participants learn practical, strategic methods of gathering, analyzing, and using data for planning, management, and communicating impact.

For more information, presenter bios, and agenda, please refer to the RIPL website. 

Audience:

The RIPL conference is intended for public library staff who want to:

• learn about outcomes and how to measure library impact
• use data for strategic planning
• help their organizations make data-based decisions
• develop a peer network to support research and evaluation

Location:

Hilton Columbia Center, 924 Senate Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29201
Parking is available on-site.
Reserve hotel rooms online at the conference rate of $169/night, or call the hotel at (803) 744-7800 and request the rate for "Research Institute for Public Libraries" or group code RIPL. Cutoff date for room reservations is February 28, 2020.  

Accessibility:

FM Auditory Assistance, large print materials, and other accessibility accommodations are available by request. If you need a reasonable accommodation in order to participate, please contact the program organizer at least two weeks in advance.

Cost:

Registration is $25 for South Carolina participants and $75 for out-of-state participants. Registration fee includes all workshop materials; breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Tuesday, March 31; and breakfast and lunch on Wednesday, April 1. 

Terms and Conditions:

Registration closes Tuesday, March 10. 

Registrants may pay in advance by check. Make checks to South Carolina State Library, at the following address:
Attn: Finance Department
SC State Library
1500 Senate Street
Columbia, SC 29201
Please include the participant's name and the event title with your payment.

In the event of a cancellation, please contact the organizer.

Travel Grants:

South Carolina library staff are eligible for a special Continuing Education Travel Grant of up to $400 for hotel and travel costs. Please contact Wendy Coplen, Grants Coordinator for application materials.

The grant process for rural and small libraries outside of South Carolina is now closed.

Contact Information:

Tiffany Hayes, Continuing Education Consultant
thayes@statelibrary.sc.gov
803-545-4206