Presented by: Joey P. Holmes, library assistant at the Laurens County Library (SC)

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In FCC Chairman Genachowski’s announcement of the sweeping Connect2Compete initiative to increase broadband connectivity and Internet access across the nation, he listed an impressive array of partners who are joining in the effort. Although he singled out libraries as “vital centers for digital literacy,” any effective actions must involve the whole community of players.

Join us in this webinar to hear about the key role that the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is playing in the broadband adoption challenge and the actions already underway for building digital communities. And also hear insights on the collaborative roles and efforts of city/county governments and public and private organizations. Learn how to get started with inclusion efforts from organizations who have taken the steps to implement practical programs which meet local needs and share your ideas about collaborative efforts which lead digital inclusion.

Presenters: Susan Hildreth, director, Institute of Museum and Library Services; Ron Carlee, chief operating officer, International City/County Management Association; and David Keyes, community technology program manager, City of Seattle.

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Reference librarians from the Illinois State Library will conduct the following webinars:

• Thursday, February 2, 9:30–10 a.m.  Access to Print and Electronic Maps

• Thursday, February 9, 9:30–10 a.m.  Access to Illinois State Library Databases

• Thursday, February 16, 9:30–10 a.m.  Illinois Blue Books via the Illinois Digital Archives (IDA)

• Thursday, February 23, 9:30–10 a.m.  Electronic books available from the Illinois State Library

To participate, please register here. Participants may register for more than one session. A confirmation e-mail with instructions will be sent to you. For further information, please contact the Illinois State Library at 217-558-1945 or e-mail Deb Aggertt at daggertt@ilsos.net.

Forty scholarships will be awarded to cover costs of the registration fee, conference supplied meals and a two-night hotel stay. The scholarship does not cover travel or incidentals. The deadline to submit scholarship applications is NEXT MONDAY, January 30.

Scholarship recipients will be announced in early February. Find the scholarship application here. For questions or comments, please email Gwen Harrison at gharrison@ilsos.net or call her at 217-785-7334.

The workshop, presented by Beverly Obert, will be held at the Chatham Area Public Library on Saturday, February 25, 2012 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m CST. Register in L2 by February 24th for $5.00. On site registration will be $7 per person. Questions can be directed  to Amy Ihnen at Director@chathamlib.org or 217-483-2713.

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Presenters David Newyear and Daniel Schwartz will be discussing the the nuts and bolts of serving patrons with gadgets, including policies and procedures for libraries lending e-readers and for patrons using their own readers to access library e-book collections. Hear from a library who has e-reader policies and procedures in place, including how they review and update polices; and from a library who’s recently developed policies and procedures after researching and learning from many other libraries.

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Forty scholarships covering the cost of the registration fee, conference supplied meals and a two-night hotel stay are being awarded. The scholarship does not cover travel or incidentals.  The deadline to submit scholarship applications is January 30. Scholarship recipients will be announced in early February. You can find the scholarship application here.

For questions or comments, please email Gwen Harrison at gharrison@ilsos.net or call her at 217-785-7334.

As debates rage on about e-books, publishers and privacy, how are libraries approaching policies for managing e-readers? Join us for this webinar focused on the nuts and bolts of serving patrons with gadgets, including policies and procedures for libraries lending e-readers and for patrons using their own readers to access library e-book collections. Hear from a library who has e-reader policies and procedures in place, including how they review and update polices; and from a library who’s recently developed policies and procedures after researching and learning from many other libraries.

Presenters: David Newyear, adult information services manager, Mentor Public Library, Ohio; and Daniel Schwartz, library director, Butt-Holdsworth Memorial Library, Kerrville, Texas.

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Join us for this webinar to learn about the process of leading and managing through organizational storytelling. Librarians can use personal stories within the organization for leadership (tell them who you are and why you are here), team building (sharing your vision effectively, rediscovering and honoring the mission of the organization), and moving through change (honoring the past as you move toward the future; listening to others, communicating your goals through story). Learn how to “retool” storytelling with new concepts of organizational storytelling gleaned from business and other sectors, with specific examples and powerful tools to improve library communication and advocacy. Also hear effective library stories and learn tactics shared by “story” expert Robert McKee who uses screenwriting methods to bring truth and tension to storytelling. In this webinar, co-sponsored by ALA TechSource and WebJunction, hear how libraries tell their story to strengthen organizations, build community and to amplify the value they bring to their communities.

Presenters: Kate Marek, professor at Dominican University’s Graduate School of Library and Information Science, and author of Organizational Storytelling for Librarians (ALA, 2011); and Chris Rippel, head of continuing education, Central Kansas Library System.

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Updated training will be available on the Illinois Attorney General’s website after January 1. Current trustees who are in office on January 1 must successfully complete the training during 2012 in order to comply with the new law. Those who take office after January 1 have 90 days after assuming responsibilities as a trustee to complete the training. Questions can be addressed to the Attorney General’s hotline at 877-299-3642.