Booklist, InfoPeople, Library Journal, OPAL, SirsiDynix Institute, Texas State Library & Archives Commission, and WebJunction, will be webcasting the following FREE programs during March. These programs and others are listed on the Virginia Libraries Planning Calendar: http://host5.evanced.info/lva/evanced/eventcalendar.aspTITLES OF MARCH PROGRAMS:
- Focus Groups: Perceptions for Planning
- ADAPT: Leverage Your Knowledge of Communication Styles to Positively
- Influence Work Relationships
- TechAtlas for Libraries
- Implementing an Online Help Desk Using Event Tracker
- Getting Grounded: Legal Issues Facing Libraries Offline in 2010
- The Scoop on Series Nonfiction: What’s New for 2010
- The Power and Pitfalls of RFID
- Getting Your First Library Job: Tips from Library Directors
- Let’s Get Social: Twitter
- Open Office: What Libraries Need to Know
- Technology Planning with TechAtlas
- Library Images and Video: Engage, Inspire and Tell your Story
Tuesday, March 9 (1-2:15 pm)
Focus Groups: Perceptions for Planning (SirsiDynix Institute)
If any type of library wants to understand its patrons’ information
behaviors and preferences, how its community views library services, or
where there are potential partnerships within the community environment,
it should consider using focus groups. “Guided group conversations”
offer libraries an incredible wealth of information about their clients,
their services, and their evolving environment. This talk discusses the
design of effective focus groups, from identifying participants to
developing insightful questions and prompters, facilitating the group
dynamics and dialogue, ways to use online environments, personas, and
other techniques to get- and keep -a meaningful and directed discussion
going and on topic.
For more information and to register for this program, visit:
Wednesday, March 10 (1pm – 2 pm)
ADAPT: Leverage Your Knowledge of Communication Styles to Positively
Influence Work Relationships (Texas State Library & Archives Commission)
Align with the future you want to create in 2010 by setting your
intention for outcomes, crafting a vision and setting goals. Using
traditional and non traditional methods, ‘think forward’ into the
new year; ‘pull back’ the vision and make vision a reality.
For more information and to register for this program, visit:
Wednesday, March 10 (1-2 pm)
TechAtlas for Libraries (WebJunction Webinar)
Join us as we explore the technology inventory tool features in
WebJunction’s free resource, TechAtlas for Libraries. The TechAtlas
tools can help your library build a complete inventory of your
technology resources – everything from computers to digital cameras. You
can even use a great set of automated inventory tools to help make the
process easier. Participants will be lead through a live demonstration
of TechAtlas and hear best practices about inventory management.
For more information and to register for this program, visit:
Thursday, March 11 (3-4 pm)
Getting Grounded: Legal Issues Facing Libraries Offline in 2010
(Infopeople Webinar)
Legal issues on a variety of situations facing libraries on the ground,
from privacy to censorship to meeting rooms, are constantly changing.
What is the current status of the Patriot Act and how does it affect
your library? Is it time to refresh staff on how to respond to requests
for patron records? Want an update on challenges to library materials
and how the courts have weighed in? Is your meeting room and exhibit
space policy legally viable?
For more information and to register for this program, visit:
Tuesday, March 16th (2-3 pm)
Implementing an Online Help Desk Using Event Tracker (WebJunction
Webinar)
Event Tracker is a tool within WebJunction’s free set of tools called
TechAtlas for Libraries which allows users to create an online “help
desk” so they can track all of the requests and solutions to computer
troubles in the library. When a staff member reports the problem using
the web-based form, TechAtlas notifies the designated technical support
staff by e-mail. After the problem has been resolved, there is space in
Event Tracker to include the solution. This creates a knowledge base
that can be referred to later if the same problem occurs. It also helps
you to stay on top of all the technology tasks that need to be completed
in the library.
For more information and to register for this program, visit:
Tuesday, March 16 (2-3 pm)
The Scoop on Series Nonfiction: What’s New for 2010 (Booklist
Webinar)
Following up on our very successful fall 2009 webinar on series
nonfiction, our own expert on the topic, Books for Youth associate
editor Daniel Kraus, and representatives from select series publishers
discuss what’s new for 2010 in this growing area of youth publishing.
Sponsored by Cherry Lake Publishing, Enslow Publishers, Lerner
Publishing Group, and Marshall Cavendish.
For more information and to register for this program, visit:
Tuesday, March 16 (3-4 pm)
The Power and Pitfalls of RFID (Library Journal Webinar)
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology offers a host of
benefits to libraries – improved customer service, ergonomics, labor
savings, and a more enjoyable experience for both patrons and staff -
but only when things are done right. Our panel will discuss the power as
well as the pitfalls of RFID and share their experiences of libraries
that discovered the power only after feeling the pain of the pitfalls.
For more information and to register for this program, visit:
Wednesday, March 17 (8-9 pm)
Getting Your First Library Job: Tips from Library Directors (OPAL)
With today’s economy, you’ll need an extra edge to land that first
library job. Join us for a discussion about the skills that make new
librarians more marketable, new technologies that directors will hope
you know how to use, and most importantly, how you can stand out in a
sea of new graduates. Session will include ample time for Q&A.
For more information and to register for this program, visit:
Thursday, March 18 (1-2 pm)
Open Office: What Libraries Need to Know (Infopeople Webinar)
Are you curious about a free, open source alternative to Microsoft
Office? Meet OpenOffice, the leading open-source office suite for word
processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, databases and more.
Learn how it measures up to the competition, how it can be used in
libraries and other factors that will help you decide if OpenOffice is
for you.
For more information and to register for this program, visit:
Wednesday, March 24th (12:30- 2 pm)
Let’s Get Social: Twitter (OPAL)
We’ll talk about library-related uses of Twitter and your favorite
Twitter applications. Everyone is welcome to attend this live online
event, which will last approximately 90 minutes.
For more information and to register for this program, visit:
Wednesday, March 24 (3-4 pm)
Technology Planning with TechAtlas (WebJunction Webinar)
Join us as we explore the technology planning features in WebJunction’s
free resource, TechAtlas for Libraries. The TechAtlas tools can help
your library build a technology plan starting with defining your mission
and vision, creating goals and objectives and all the way through
budgeting your expenses. We’ll discuss important tips for libraries that
apply for E-rate funds and that are creating a technology plan as a
requirement for that program. Participants will also see a live
demonstration of TechAtlas and hear best practices about technology
planning and how to help lead your library into the future through
effective planning.
For more information and to register for this program, visit:
March 30 (12-1 pm)
Library Images and Video: Engage, Inspire and Tell your Story
(WebJunction Webinar)
In this entertaining and heartwarming presentation you will learn how
two librarians teamed up to advocate more effectively (and boldly) while
staying true to the personality of the communities, the libraries and
the staff they serve. You and your library really can market your
services and engage more effectively, and images, video and authenticity
can be a key! Learn how you too can use images and video creatively and
effectively to inspire Libraryland, engage the communities you serve
boost staff morale and get more enjoyment from your job.
For more information and to register for this program, visit:
Please let me know if you have any questions about these programs!
Cindy S. Church Continuing Education Consultant Library of Virginia 804-692-3773 804-692-3771 (fax) http://www.vpl.virginia.gov