July marks the beginning of a new membership year and we’re starting it off with some exciting new opportunities. A new continuing education schedule provides valuable training sessions to help staff across the library, including new courses on shelving (Library of Congress and Dewey) that might be perfect for student workers or teen volunteers. Our courier program recently launched a new TAE Courier Hub to bring together more of the information, tracking, and forms that help facilitate materials delivery across our region. The Technology Solutions team is introducing a new office hours series to answer your questions about Amigos’ digital repository services on the Hyku platform. And we are preparing for our first online conference of the year – The Flexible Library – with full schedule and registration details available soon.
I am very much looking forward to this membership year – and to connecting with more libraries to learn about how we can all grow and succeed together. Please reach out at membership@amigos.org or email me directly at figueroa@amigos.org to talk more about how Amigos can partner with your library.
Education & Events
Last Call! Call for Proposals: The Flexible Library September 2026 Online Conference
The call for proposals for our next topical online conference, The Flexible Library, remains open until August 12, 2026. The conference will be held online on September 23, 2026.
Libraries continuously reflect creative and forward-thinking in their staffing, funding, and programming models. The conference explores the many ways libraries can lean into change with flexibility.
Presentations will be delivered online with technical support and moderation provided by Amigos staff. Proposals from all library types are encouraged.
Meet External and Internal Library Needs with Amigos Online Courses
Looking to improve internal and external communication strategies at your library? Needing practical tips for both serving external customers and solving internal issues? Our upcoming classes in August can help inform your strategies to make sure both your patrons and your staff have the tools and resources they need.
The Essentials: Customer Service - August 5, 1 pm CT
Know & Go: Making Meetings More Effective - August 6, 1 pm CT
Excellence in Library Services to Older Adults - August 18, 1 pm CT
Know & Go: Bed Bugs in the Library - August 19, 1:00pm CT
Amigos is introducing Digital Repository Service Office Hours, a new monthly series designed for libraries and cultural heritage institutions interested in learning more about Hyku, a community-supported digital repository platform for organizations of all types and sizes.
These 1-hour sessions begin with a specific theme each month, followed by an open Q&A.
Office Hours are open to all libraries, including both current users of the Amigos Digital Repository Service and those interested in learning more about Hyku.
Dates/Topics
What’s Coming Up in Hyku version 7 - Monday, August 10, 11 am CT
Getting the Most out of Hyku Overview - Tuesday, September 15, 1 pm CT
Guided Bulk Import in Hyku - Wednesday, October 7, 2 pm CT
Bloomsbury Webinars Showcase Resources for Academic Libraries
As an Amigos vendor partner, Bloomsbury continues to expand its digital resources for higher education institutions. This August, Bloomsbury will host two webinars highlighting collections designed to support teaching, learning, and research across a variety of academic disciplines. These sessions will be of particular interest to academic librarians, collection development specialists, and reference staff seeking to connect faculty and students with high-quality digital content.
Through the Amigos Member Discount Program, members are eligible for preferred pricing and dedicated support when evaluating or acquiring Bloomsbury products.
Screen Studies: New Collections Overview - August 11, 10 am CT
Human Kinetics Library: Content for Health, Sport, and Exercise Studies - August 20, 10 am CT
Save on Visual & Performing Arts Resources from Bloomsbury!
Through August 31, 2026, Amigos members can take an additional 10% off any new subscription or new one-time purchase of any of the collections included on the below Bloomsbury platforms:
Bloomsbury Fashion Central
Bloomsbury Music & Sound
Bloomsbury Video Library
Bloomsbury Visual Arts
Fairchild Books Interior Design Library
Screen Studies
Bloomsbury will be hosting a free virtual demonstration on their Screen Studies platform to showcase its unique functionality and content offerings.
Limited Time Offer -- Additional Discounts from Schlager Digital Library
Working with our vendor partner Schlager Digital Library, Amigos is offering members a special, limited-time opportunity available through August 31.
The Essential Primary Sources collection on the Schlager Digital Library includes 56 primary document publications. All ebooks and articles/documents are offered DRM-free, with unlimited user access and unlimited PDF downloads of all titles. The platform supports learners and researchers across high school, academic, and public library settings.
Learn more about the Schlager Digital Library in this recorded webinar.
Need Help Finding Qualified Candidates for Library Job Openings?
Amigos member libraries can post their openings for FREE! Postings remain in our job bank for thirty days and are shared to Amigos social media. Current Job Listings.
Need Help Finding Qualified Candidates for Library Job Openings? 
