The Outstanding Paraprofessional Award  The Outstanding Paraprofessional Award was launched in 1996 as a means [...]]]> The VLA Paraprofessional Forum invites you to nominate one of your colleagues or yourself to receive one of the three awards being given during the annual conference in May. The awards and descriptions of each one are listed below.

The Outstanding Paraprofessional Award  The Outstanding Paraprofessional Award was launched in 1996 as a means of recognizing excellence among the library paraprofessionals in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This award will be presented to a deserving Virginia paraprofessional at the VLAPF Spring Conference. It is presented annually to an individual who has been a member of VLA for at least one year and who demonstrates excellence in performance in his/her field of expertise. This individual should also be someone who fosters communication among library employees throughout the Commonwealth and advances and strengthens the image of paraprofessionals. You may nominate a colleague or yourself.

The entry should include: Name of the nominee Library where the nominee is associated Two-three paragraphs describing why the nominee deserves this award Additionally, the nomination may include a list of activities, programs and organization participation, recognitions or awards, innovative support staff development activities, or other noteworthy achievements in the workplace Name and library of the nominator

The VLA Paraprofessional Forum Award The VLA Paraprofessional Forum Award was established in 1995 through the generosity of Evelyn Kimball, a retired library paraprofessional who recognizes the value of support staff development. This award is meant to assist someone who is unable to acquire local funding to attend the conference. Awarded annually, it will provide full conference fees to a deserving paraprofessional.You may nominate a colleague or yourself.

The entry should include: Name of the nominee Library where the nominee is associated Two-three paragraphs describing why the nominee deserves this award Name and library of the nominator

The VLAPF Supporter of Paraprofessionals Award The VLAPF Supporter of the Year Award was established in 1996 as a means of recognizing an individual who has provided significant support to their staff and who has been a champion for library support staff in Virginia libraries. If you know someone who has been an advocate for continuing education programs and pay increases for their library support staff and who has encouraged their library staff to excel in the workplace, you are encouraged to nominate them to receive this award and recognition. You may nominate a supporter of paraprofessionals. The entry should include: Name of the nominee Library where the nominee is associated Two-three paragraphs describing why the nominee deserves this award Name and library of the nominator Nominations must be received by May 1, 2012.

Submit nominations for the VLAPF Supporter of Paraprofessionals Award to one of the co-chairs:

When: Monday, April 9th, 2012

Where: Sweet Briar College, Florence Easton Inn & Conference Center

Registration: Register online 

$45 for VLACRL members (qualification: membership in ACRL or in VLA);

$55 [...]]]> What:  The Virginia Chapter of ACRL (VLACRL) invites you to our annual
Spring Program “Starting at the end: Rethink your instruction based on student bibliographies.”

When: Monday, April 9th, 2012

Where: Sweet Briar College, Florence Easton Inn & Conference Center

Registration: Register online 

$45 for VLACRL members (qualification: membership in ACRL or in VLA);

$55 for non-VLACRL members

Program Details:

9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – Registration and coffee

10 a.m. – 11 a.m. – Keynote Speaker Sandra Jamieson, Director of Composition, English Department, Drew University, “Struggling with Sources: Rethinking the Research Paper.”

Dr. Jamieson will discuss the findings of the Citation Project, a multi-institutional study of student source use in 174 papers from 16 US colleges and universities (http://site.citationproject.net/). Data findings reinforce some of the findings from single-institution studies, but also offer broader insights into the ways students select and use source material in researched papers.

11.15 a.m. – 12.15 p.m. – Reverse Engineering Workshop “How would we teach differently to get different results in student bibliographies?” facilitated by Candice Benjes-Small, Coordinator, Information Literacy and Outreach, Radford University and Luke Vilelle, Public Services & Social Sciences Liaison Librarian, Hollins University.

12.30 p.m.-1.30 p.m. – Lunch (included in registration fee)

1.45 p.m. – 2.45 p.m. – Shaunna Hunter, Public Services Librarian, and Liz Rand, Head of Rhetoric and Writing, Hampden-Sydney College, “Empowering Students as Researchers: Faculty/Librarian Collaboration.”

2.45 p.m. – 3.00 p.m. – Wrap-up.

For further registration questions, please contact Meridith Wolnick at mwolnick@virginia.edu

Join the VLACRL list @ groups.google.com/group/vla-crl and Like Us @ VLACRL Facebook for updates!

Provided by the ALA JobLIST Placement Center

Register: https://ala.ilinc.com/register/yzvtszr

Your resume is still one of the best tools for your job search and career advancement strategy.  However, resumes – how they look and what they need to communicate – have changed.  And other communications [...]]]> Our topic will be Career Communication Documents – including that all-important resume.

Provided by the ALA JobLIST Placement Center

Register: https://ala.ilinc.com/register/yzvtszr

Your resume is still one of the best tools for your job search and career advancement strategy.  However, resumes – how they look and what they need to communicate – have changed.  And other communications documents like your profile, your cover letter and your business cards, have become more important.  Bring your ideas, your questions, and any resources you’d like to share with others to our next chat session.  And be ready to join a great discussion about communicating your value to prospective employers.

Our facilitator will be Caitlin Williams.  Caitlin has been in the field of career development for more than 20 years. She writes, speaks, conducts research and coaches individuals on ways to continue growing professionally, as well as ways to remain employable in a challenging economy. She is on the faculty of San Jose State University in Calif.  Caitlin has been partnering with ALA for nearly 10 years to offer individuals help with managing their careers, and providing one-on-one career counseling sessions in the ALA JobLIST Placement Center during ALA conferences.

Register for the chat at: https://ala.ilinc.com/register/yzvtszr.

Make a living making a difference!

www.LibraryCareers.org

After serving as interim university librarian for the past 16 months, Steven Helm is the new dean of Radford University’s McConnell Library.

“It is wonderful to be appointed to this position,” Helm said after the Sept. 15 announcement. “I’m very excited to continue leading this amazing group. McConnell Library staff members have dedicated themselves [...]]]>

After serving as interim university librarian for the past 16 months, Steven Helm is the new dean of Radford University’s McConnell Library.

“It is wonderful to be appointed to this position,” Helm said after the Sept. 15 announcement. “I’m very excited to continue leading this amazing group. McConnell Library staff members have dedicated themselves to providing outstanding services and resources to support the RU community. My commitment to them and to preserving the unique collegial culture within the library is among the many reasons for my becoming a candidate for the position of dean.”

Helm served as interim university librarian since May 2010. Previously he was coordinator of library technology for nine years and was the library’s technology manager from 1997 to 2002. Before coming to Radford, Helm was manager of networked services for the Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library system from 1989 to 1997; a social studies teacher in the Montgomery County Public Schools from 1984 to 1989; and a guitar instructor and professional musician from 1981 to 1988.

A specialist in 21st century library technologies, strategic planning and library facilities, Helm said he is always seeking to improve user experiences. He takes pride in his efforts that helped create the university’s first learning management system, WebCT, and founding the RU Multimedia Center, now known as the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning.

Helm said he and his staff have crafted a focused strategic plan for McConnell:

• Make McConnell a Radford destination
• Enhance spaces for study and collaboration
• Provide technology and support to improve user access
• Enhance and expand archives and special collections
• Engage the community
• Develop staffing priorities
• Pursue development opportunities
• Create an assessment plan
• Demonstrate agility and support innovation

“There are many exciting challenges and opportunities ahead for the library, including several initiatives begun during my interim period, such as the architecture and engineering building study that will inform future renovations and capital projects for McConnell Library,” Helm said.

He said he is pleased that a library renovation project was included in the university’s six year capital plan, submitted to Richmond this past spring. “The recommendations in the final building study report will guide the scope and details of the renovation,” he said. “I am very optimistic that the facilities project will result in vast improvements in services to RU faculty, staff and students.”

Helm earned his master’s degree in library and information science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and received his teaching certification and Bachelor of Arts in political science from Virginia Tech. He is an active member of the Virginia Educator Association, Virginia Library Association, American Library Association and Library and Information Technology Association, and he has chaired and sat on several library committees and associations in Virginia.

Learn more by visiting the McConnell Library website or Facebook page.

Sep 16, 2011
Keith Hagarty
540-831-7749
khagarty@radford.edu

October 1, 2011– To Google or Not to Google– That is the Question! Presented by Kathy Allen and Brenda Frank (Secondary); Time– 9am—12pm; Cost- $25*; Face-To-Face; Tri-Cities Higher Education Center (Portsmouth, Virginia)

October 13, 2011– LUCY Super Stars: Latest Multicultural Book Talks; Time (Elementary)- 5pm-5:30pm; (Secondary)- 5:30pm-6pm; Cost- $25*; Webinar

November

November 5, 2011– [...]]]> October

October 1, 2011– To Google or Not to Google– That is the Question! Presented by Kathy Allen and Brenda Frank (Secondary); Time– 9am—12pm; Cost- $25*; Face-To-Face; Tri-Cities Higher Education Center (Portsmouth, Virginia)

October 13, 2011– LUCY Super Stars: Latest Multicultural Book Talks; Time (Elementary)- 5pm-5:30pm; (Secondary)- 5:30pm-6pm; Cost- $25*; Webinar

November

November 5, 2011– Diversifying Lessons with Digital Storytelling: An Interactive Workshop, Presented by Dusty Gabel; Time– 9am—12pm; Cost- $25*; Face-To-Face, ODU Education Bldg. Room 244 (LRC)

November 17, 2011– Secondary SOL and LUCY Titles, Presented by Lisa Castellano; Time– 5pm-6pm; Cost- $25*; Webinar

February

February 4, 2012— Diversifying Lessons with Digital Storytelling: An Integrative Workshop, Presented by Dusty Gabel; Time—9am—12pm; Cost- $25*; Face-To-Face; ODU Education Bldg. Room 244 (LRC)