February is jam-packed with learning opportunities for librarians interested in professional development. Starting this afternoon there are 30 free live webcasts available to take part in.
- Tuesday, Feb 11
2:00 – 3:00 pm (Eastern)
Hot New Titles for Middle- and High-School Readers (Booklist)
Help your young readers weather the cold with these high-interest new fiction and nonfiction titles aimed at tweens and teens. In this free, hour-long webinar, representatives from Egmont, Reference Point Press, Sourcebooks, and Zondervan will spotlight terrific spring releases for students' research or personal reading. Moderated by Gillian Engberg, Booklist's editorial director, Books for Youth. - Tuesday, Feb 11
2:00 – 3:00 pm (Eastern)
The Iron is HOT: Libraries as Innovative & Creative Community Catalysts (WebJunction)
This webinar helps to define the successful library as one that serves as a vibrant and active community center. Learn how to take a leadership role as a creative catalyst – exploring new ways to build partnerships, strengthen community and contribute to local development. - Tuesday, Feb 11
2:00 – 4:00 pm (Eastern)
Libraries As Makerspaces (Florida Library)
As libraries find ways to engage community and retool themselves as learning spaces for content creation, many are adopting the concept of makerspaces. A makerspace is is a place where people have an opportunity to explore their own interests, learn to use tools and materials, and develop creative projects. In this two hour course, participants will explore the conceptual model of "makerspaces" and "hacking" as a form of lifelong learning and how that mindset of creation, networked learning, and collaborative learning spaces aligns with the mission of lifelong learning in public, academic, and school libraries. The course will examine best practices for starting up makerspaces in libraries and share specific examples of how public, academic, and school libraries are infusing makerspace culture into their programming and services. - Tuesday, Feb 11
3:00 – 4:00 pm (Eastern)
Beyond the Rhymes: Rethinking the Who, Where, and How of Storytimes Part 2: The Place (Infopeople)
Storytime is the most vital early learning program in your community. This series of three webinars (People, Place, Package) will introduce techniques to achieve bigger outcomes for more of your community through storytime. The ideas presented will move beyond the nuts and bolts of storytime delivery to look at big picture concepts that influence strategic decision-making about storytimes. At the end of the second in this series of one-hour webinars, participants will: Know 2 ways to evaluate physical layout of children's areas, Know how to increase storytime capacities to meet expanding high demands, and Learn at least 3 action steps to assess and enhance storytime and related services at your library. - Wednesday, Feb 12
11:00 – 12:00 pm (Eastern)
Succession Planning with Jamie LaRue: a Board and Staff Responsibility (Nebraska Library Commission)
Succession planning is NOT anointing the heir apparent, and taking action only when the director retires. It starts long before that. This talk focuses on a new way to think about board planning, administrative goals, and who to hire at all levels of the organization. - Wednesday, Feb 12
12:00 – 1:00 pm (Eastern)
Libraries on Demand: 5 Ways to Offer Mobile Services (Florida Library)
With more of your library users using mobile devices to access information they will assume that your library can be available from anywhere, at any time, and on most any device. Don't disappoint them! Join Chad as he highlights 5 ways to provide stellar mobile library services today! - Wednesday, Feb 12
2:00 – 3:00 pm (Eastern)
How to Host a Preservation Week Event (Association for Library Collections & Technical Services)
Hosting an event in a discipline you are not too familiar with can be daunting. What topic do you choose, who can you find to speak, what if someone asks a question after the event and you don't know the answer? The Preservation Week web site is here to help! Join Donia Conn for tips on how to host an event, find a speaker, and use the Preservation Week web site to its fullest. - Wednesday, Feb 12
3:00 – 4:00 pm (Eastern)
Street Lit and Libraries (Infopeople)
For the last 15 years, public and high school libraries have been exploring the under-reviewed and small press produced genre of street lit. It is most often passed hand to hand or through publishing parties held by the authors, and often appeals to readers with interests outside the majority culture. With increasing amounts of professional discussions now available on the strengths and challenges street lit collections can offer your library's users, it's time to look at the appeal that holds for readers. Street lit is not without its controversies. Learning why and how some libraries have decided to include it in their collections will help your library decide whether it's feasible and appropriate for your community. Knowing how your community may react to its inclusion in your library will increase your value as the community's readers' advisor and/or fiction collection developer. - Thursday, Feb 13
1:00 – 2:00 pm (Eastern)
Copyright, Libraries, and the Higher Ed Classroom (University of Wisconsin)
Get updated on the latest lawsuits, campaigns, and other copyright happenings in the higher-education classroom. We'll touch on electronic-reserves legal action, streaming video legal action, the ARL Code of Best Practices in Fair Use, MOOCs, Google Books and Hathi Trust lawsuits, open access, open textbooks, and open educational resources. - Thursday, Feb 13
2:00 – 3:00 pm (Eastern)
The Library Website (American Libraries Live)
Every library needs a website, but what makes a good site? How can you figure out how to most effectively allocate your resources and build a site that fits the needs of your patrons, your staff and your community? In "The Library Website" our panel of experts will look at the dos, should-dos, and dont's of library websites. - Monday, Feb 17
8:00 – 9:00 pm (Eastern)
Teacher Librarian News Night (Teacher Librarian Virtual Cafe)
This is a LIVE show presented in news show format featuring a Wrap up of "This Month in School Libraries" and deeper discussion of topical school library issues with special guest experts. Did we mention it was LIVE? - Tuesday, Feb 18
10:30-11:30 am (Eastern)
Developing Patron Training in the Library (Florida Library)
Patrons continue to ask their libraries for training and help with a variety of needs including Technology, The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), Computer Classes and Veterans Benefits. This is forcing libraries to make tough decisions on what training to offer and where to find the experts if they are not on staff. This interactive and informative webinar program will cover the basics of developing patron-training programs, understanding adult learning needs, and dealing with difficult situations. - Tuesday, Feb 18
2:00 – 3:00 pm (Eastern)
YA Announcements: Need-to-Know Titles for Teens (Booklist)
Don't miss out on the latest and greatest books from Bloomsbury, Disney Book Group, Lerner, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and Tor Teen! Representatives will share new fantasy, adventure, romance and other teen-grabbing titles in this free, hour-long webinar moderated by Booklist Book's For Youth senior editor Ilene Cooper. - Wednesday, Feb 19
12:00 – 1:00 pm (Eastern)
Lead From Where You Are (Colorado State Library)
Building upon leadership research, Sharon Morris will introduce a handy tool for identifying your unique leadership strengths. During this interactive session you will have the opportunity to reflect on leadership activities, share your thoughts, learn from others, and feel more empowered to use your natural abilities to lead – regardless of your position in a library. - Wednesday, Feb 19
2:00 – 3:00 pm (Eastern)
RDA: Revising, Developing, and Assessing (Association for Library Collections & Technical Services)
This session will give an overview of the development, revision, and assessment processes for RDA, with a look at changes coming in 2014 and at possible proposals for consideration at the end of the year. - Wednesday, Feb 19
2:00 – 3:00 pm (Eastern)
VuFind: Community & Code (Lyrasis)
An introduction to the VuFind open source discovery layer, discussing both the capabilities of the software and the nature of the community that develops and supports it. A brief presentation will be followed by a question and answer session with the project's lead developer. - Thursday, Feb 20
2:00 – 3:00 pm (Eastern)
Measuring Success: How to Strategically Assess Your Program (VolunteerMatch)
Your volunteer engagement program can be measured by more than just the hours a volunteer gives your organization. What other kinds of information should you keep track of, and how do you know if you're doing a good job with your volunteer engagement program? This webinar will help you think through both the quantitative and qualitative information you can use to evaluate your program. - Thursday, Feb 20
2:00 – 3:00 pm (Eastern)
Social Media, Library Partnerships, and Collaboration: More Than a Tweet (Florida Library)
Do you think social media is simply another means for accomplishing one-way broadcasts about library offerings and resources? Think again! Think about the benefits of using social media tools for two-way communication to foster partnerships and collaborations! Join us for this interactive and informative webinar and learn how libraries are using social media tools (Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Google+, and LinkedIn) to effectively interact with their constituents. - Thursday, Feb 20
2:00 – 4:00 pm (Eastern)
20 Questions: Basic Reference Resources (Florida Library)
Are you brand new to working the reference desk, or do you find yourself answering challenging questions in your small library or branch? This two-hour online class explores more than 20 of the most commonly used online reference resources that help us to find information for our users quickly and accurately. After this session, you'll easily and confidently find answers to questions like, "Where can I get dry ice in Atlanta?" and who said, "The more things a man is ashamed of, the more respectable he is?" - Thursday, Feb 20
3:00 – 4:00 pm (Eastern)
Beyond the Rhymes: Rethinking the Who, Where, and How of Storytimes Part 3: The Package (Infopeople)
Storytime is the most vital early learning program in your community. This series of three webinars (People, Place, Package) will introduce techniques to achieve bigger outcomes for more of your community through storytime. The ideas presented will move beyond the nuts and bolts of storytime delivery to look at big picture concepts that influence strategic decision-making about storytimes. At the end of the third in this series of one-hour webinars, participants will: Be able to identify factors beyond storytime content and delivery that play a role in storytime planning, Be aware of the benefits of mixed age learning, and Learn at least 3 action steps to assess customer service in relation to storytime. - Tuesday, Feb 25
11:00 – 12:30 pm (Eastern)
Responsive Web Design: another option for mobile websites (Texas State Library & Archives Commission)
How do we deal with optimizing our websites for mobile? Create a standards-compliant website that we hope will be usable on mobile devices? Create a separate, simple site that we know will work for all mobile devices? Create a separate mobile site for each major device? Lots of questions, but few answers until lately. Responsive web design allows you to create a single site, but optimize it for different levels or sizes of devices. This is done based on the use of CSS Media Queries. One more option in creating mobile websites. See if it might be of use in your organization. - Tuesday, Feb 25
3:30 – 4:30 pm (Eastern)
Build-A-Lab: Makerspaces in Lomira QuadGraphics, WI (Utah State Library)
Learn about this exciting new Makerspaces lab in Lomira QuadGraphics Community Library, Wisconsin, where there is equipment to make digital art or physical objects. Residents can also convert formats: from VHS to DVD for example, or convert slides and photos to digital images. People can create print, audio, video, web design and other digital files that can help them with their business, school, hobbies, or help them to just have fun. - Wednesday, Feb 26
11:00 – 12:00 pm (Eastern)
Tech Talk with Michael Sauers (Nebraska Library Commission)
In this monthly feature of NCompass Live, the NLC's Technology Innovation Librarian, Michael Sauers, will discuss the tech news of the month and share new and exciting tech for your library. There will also be plenty of time in each episode for you to ask your tech questions. So, bring your questions with you, or send them in ahead of time, and Michael will have your answers. - Wednesday, Feb 26
12:00 – 1:00 pm (Eastern)
Library Futures (Florida Library)
The library has more future than past. The library of the future is an essential element of our evolving communities. What directions can we expect the library to take in the next 1 to 5 years? What will the impact of the changing technological landscape be on the information ecosystem? Joe Murphy (Director, Library Futures) will explore the next roles of the library with the start up, the city, as innovation hubs, and content. - Wednesday, Feb 26
2:00 – 3:00 pm (Eastern)
Early Literacy Beyond Circle Time – Integrating Language & Literacy into Play (Early Childhood Investigations)
In this webinar, Melissa Depper, an experienced children's librarian and Chair of the Selection Committee for the new CLEL Bell Picture Book Awards for Early Literacy, will introduce the five winning picture books of the 2014 Bell Awards. The Bell Awards books are selected because they provide excellent support of early literacy development in young children. Then Laurie Anne Armstrong, a veteran early childhood educator who designed, developed, and runs the Reading Readiness Outreach program at the Arapahoe Library District, will describe how she has used each title to create and integrate related classroom activities that she brings to high-need area preschools. - Wednesday, Feb 26
2:00 – 3:00 pm (Eastern)
Makerspace: Is it Right for Your Library? (Georgia Library Association)
Public and academic libraries across the country are forming Makerspaces inside their libraries to provide patrons with the tools needed to innovate and create. In an online panel facilitated by Charlie Bennett (Georgia Institute of Technology), learn how these spaces are being developed in Georgia libraries and discover the types of resources and services they provide. You may even find that you already offer a makerspace environment! Panelists include representatives from three Georgia libraries that already operate a Makerspace: Michael Holt (Valdosta State University), Marlan Brinkley (Atlanta-Fulton Public Library, Sandy Springs Branch), and Andaiye Reeves (Atlanta-Fulton Public Library, Central Branch). - Wednesday, Feb 26
3:00 – 4:00 pm (Eastern)
Spotlight! on National Library of Medicine Resources (National Network of Libraries of Medicine)
Monica Rogers, Health Information Literacy Coordinator, NN/LM will present "PEMAT : Patient Education – Health Literacy." No registration required. - Thursday, Feb 27
2:00 – 3:00 pm (Eastern)
Writing a Social Media Policy for Your Library (Florida Library)
Does your library have a social media policy? Chances are, it doesn't…but it almost certainly should. Learn why you need one, and what points are essential. Discover how writing this kind of policy can be completely different than writing any other kind for a library, and what you might need in a policy for staff versus what you might need to spell out for patrons. This webinar will help you to understand some current best practices that you can use to guide you through the process of drafting your own social media policy for your library. - Friday, Feb 28
Big Talk from Small Libraries – Multiple Presentations (Nebraska Library Commission)
9:45 – 6:00 pm (Eastern)
This free one-day online conference is aimed at librarians from small libraries; the smaller the better. Each of our speakers is from a small library or directly works with small libraries. Presentations include: Character Quest: Book Club for Struggling and Reluctant Readers, How to start a great Teen Advisory Board, Motivating Library Employees in Tough Times, and Moving Local History Online with Open Source Software. For more info, see the Big Talk Blog at: http://nlcblogs.nebraska.gov/bigtalk/.
Thanks to these awesome sites:
- Florida Library Webinars
- Nebraska Library Commission Free Webinars
- Texas State Library and Archives Commission Upcoming Webinars
- NEFLIN Library Webinars