BlogJunction Vermont
A blog by the VT Dept. of Libraries to communicate with the VT library community
Here’s a listing of free webinars offered by WebJunction, Library Journal, BCR, and MaintainIT for October 2008. Click on the highlighted link for more information and to register.
October 7 (2-3 pm) (EST)
Visual Design: Theory & Best Practices for Library Websites (WebJunction)
Today, our users/patrons expect visually engaging and informative websites. The fonts, images, colors and styles of your web pages should support your mission, content, publicity and service goals. Join presenter Michael Leach as he highlights both theory and best practices that support a visually engaging website—what fonts should you choose; which styles work best for content presentation; what types of images and graphics convey information better; and how do colors influence users’ perceptions and use of a website.
For more information and to register for this program, visit:
http://evanced.info/webjunction/evanced/eventcalendar.asp
October 8 (2-3 pm) (EST)
Capturing Struggling and Reluctant Readers (Library Journal)
This informative webcast will bring together a panel of experts in reading, media center services, and children’s literacy, including school librarians, educators, and a representative from Capstone Press and Stone Arch Books to cover a range of processes, programs, and ideas that can bolster reading skills, comprehension, and literacy in the K-6 library and classroom. Attendees will learn best practices to engage struggling and reluctant readers, discover multi-level reading resources for classroom and school library integration, and pick up techniques and programming ideas that will encourage the use of fiction and nonfiction. Time will be reserved for Q&A at the end of the webcast.
For more information and to register for this program, visit:
http://www.libraryjournal.com/webcasts/48747/Webcasts.html
October 8 (2-3 pm) (EST)
Using MaintainIT Resources for Technology Training (MaintainIT)
Do you train library staff to use technology? If you do, please consider attending this free one hour webinar. Learn about resources for trainers and hear about training happening in the field.
For more information and to register for this program, visit:
https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/schedule/display.do?rfe=7sdkia97utgq&udc=8yml38uymdo1
October 9 (2-3 pm) (EST)
TWO Goal Posts: Library & Community (WebJuntion Rural Library Sustainability)
WebJunction and The Association for Rural and Small Libraries presents a free hour-long webinar focused on a topic important to the work of sustaining Rural and Small libraries. Jim Connor and Ellen Miller will facilitate, and will be joined by another veteran trustee, Patricia Fisher. Find out why you need to keep your eyes on TWO goal posts—the library and the community.
For more information and to register for this program, visit:
http://evanced.info/webjunction/evanced/eventcalendar.asp
October 10 (2-3 pm) (EST)
Structures for Facilitating Faculty Teaching Other Faculty Members (TLT Webinar)
Free webinar for academic librarians who work with faculty members.
For more information and to register for this program, visit:
http://www.tltgroup.org/calendar.htm
October 14 (1-2 pm) (EST)
Latinos and Public Library Perceptions (WebJuntion Spanish Language Outreach)
WebJunction, in partnership with the Tomás Rivera Policy Institute, recently published a research report detailing the results of a six-state telephone survey of over 2,860 adult Latinos completed in early 2008. Learn about the findings and implications of the study from WebJunction’s Laura Staley and researchers from TRPI.
For more information and to register for this program, visit:
http://evanced.info/webjunction/evanced/eventcalendar.asp
October 15 (2-3 pm) (EST)
Conflict in a Peaceful Library (WebJunction)
Conflict happens! Many of us try to avoid it, some fight with it, some seem to enjoy it and still others seem to handle it with tact and skill. What*s the secret to effectively handling situations of conflict? How can we de-emotionalize ourselves to the situations so that we don’t get caught up in them? Join Andrew Sanderbeck as he explores our dealings with others in the library by defining the conflict situation and using one of three approaches to successfully handle or resolve it. If you don*t like to be yelled at by other people, you*ll really enjoy this fun and interactive webinar.
For more information and to register for this program, visit:
http://evanced.info/webjunction/evanced/eventcalendar.asp
October 16 (2-2:30 pm) (EST)
Get Your Game On (MaintainIT Cookbook Webinar)
Join Lori Reed for “Get Your Game On: Quick Tips to Start a Gaming Program in Your Library”. Lori is Employee Learning Coordinator at the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg, will lead this fast-paced and interactive session introducing the idea of gaming programs in libraries. Hear what others have done, share your experiences, and think about what you might want to do in the future. Take 30 minutes out of your day to learn from the experiences of others and get something started. This is a part of the MaintainIT Cookbook webinar series where contributors to the Cookbooks share their insights, their secrets, and what you can do to get started with projects like theirs.
For more information and to register for this program, visit:
http://evanced.info/webjunction/evanced/eventcalendar.asp
October 23 (2-3 pm) (EST)
Refugees 101 (WebJunction)
In 1975 the United States began accepting large numbers of refugees in response to the Fall of Saigon. Over the next 33 years approximately 2.6 million refugees have been resettled in this country, and many of these individuals are now using our libraries. Join Valerie Wonder, Immigrant & Refugee Programs Manager at Seattle Public Library (WA) and Homa Naficy Manager of Multicultural Education and Outreach Services at Hartford Public Library (CT) as they provide an overview of refugee resettlement in the United States including information on recent refugee populations. She will also highlight some successful approaches to serving refugees in public libraries. Before working for SPL, Valerie was the Community Programs Manager for the International Rescue Committee’s Seattle office where she specialized in refugee services.
For more information and to register for this program, visit:
http://evanced.info/webjunction/evanced/eventcalendar.asp
October 24 (4-5:30 pm) (EST)
Cooperation for the Collection: Integrating ILL and Acquisitions Workflows (BCR)
As budgets get tighter and users more savvy, many libraries are blurring the line between resource sharing and collection development by purchasing items requested on interlibrary loan rather than requesting them through traditional resource sharing models. In this Free Friday Forum, we will host a panel of librarians who currently have programs based on this model. Panelists will discuss the costs and benefits of and their experience with purchase-on-demand programs. The session will also have time for questions from the attendees.
For more information and to register for this program, visit:
http://www.bcr.org/training/schedule/programdetail.php?programid=272
Following up on Amy Howlett’s article in the DOL News No. 139, Winter 2008(in PDF format), I have been making some changes to the toolbar, cleaning up links and adding a few others. If you would rather skip all of my blathering about the toolbar that follows, just go to http://librariesvermont.mylibrarytoolbar.com/Home/ to get a taste of some of the things on the toolbar. At the bottom of this page you will find a link for downloading the toolbar.
The free download of the toolbar is available directly at http://librariesvermont.MyLibraryToolbar.com. Choose the Firefox download or the Internet Explorer (for IE 5.0 and up), depending on your internet browser. If you need a free updated browser before downloading the toolbar, try Mozilla’s Firefox browser from http://www.mozilla.com/. Firefox is compatible with Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X
In addition to the functions that Amy mentioned in her article (direct links to DOL sites like the VALS webmail, the ILL search screen on Web2 & the DOL Continuing Calendar and directed searches of the DOL website, Worldcat and other sites), there are a couple of other functions you may want to check out.
The Feeds button/drop-down pulls in postings from this blog, the DOL Continuing Ed. Calendar, the VLA website. If there other feeds that you think would be useful, please suggest them and we can add them. Something that may fall into the category of a function in search of a need is the “Who is online” button. Clicking on it, brings you to an online chat space where other toolbar users who have also clicked on the button are available for conversation. I would love your feedback on whether this button might actually be useful or if it just another bright and shiny object that has caught my eye. Look for “Sheila” in this chat space if you want to try it out.
Finally, if you have downloaded the toolbar, you may want to verify that it is being updated. You can update on demand by clicking on the VT Libraries drop-down and the far left of the toolbar. The first item in the dropdown is “Refresh Toolbar” and will bring in any changes that may have been made. Also, at the bottom of this same drop-down list you will find “Toolbar Options” where you can select the Enable Automatic Updates check-box on the “Additional Settings” tab.
There will be a new release tonight affecting most of the Vermont Online Library databases.
From Gale’s Press release:
“Included in this release are a number of new, key features. Below is a list of some of the most exciting ones:
* Search Alerts with RSS export: Set up instant search alerts and journal alerts, with the added ability to create RSS feeds of InfoTrac content.
* Did You Mean?/Also Try: When a search fails to bring desired results, users are given alternate spellings and preferred search terms to find appropriate results.
* Search Within Results: Dynamically refine search results to pinpoint specific information by adding or excluding more terms to queries.
* Enhanced Limiting: After a search is completed, the left sidebar will be repurposed to provide users with the option of selecting subject terms, subdivisions, article types and publications to allow further limiting of results.
* Enhanced Navigation: Based on feedback, changes have been made to improve the interface navigation, including the creation of document tools (print, email, cite, download, translate) that appear in a visible box on each document.
* Enhanced Tabs: The number of results now will appear on each tab, and color variation will be added to the tabs to signify more content behind the other tabs.
* Enhanced Bookmarks: Direct access to individual documents, searches and collections of documents will be made available through PowerSearch Bookmarks, which are clearly visible, easy to use, and always persistent.
* Improved “How-to-Cite” Functionality: MLA and APA formats for citations will be provided, with accurate elements, correct spacing and formatting.
* Publication Details: More information about each publication will be provided, including embargo periods, publisher address and contact information, and publication descriptions.”
Gale’s Website provides Search Tips, a Fact Sheet or Brochures about the new features.
Gale sent out a helpful PowerPoint demonstrating the new features.
Register for a live, online PowerSearch demonstration.
I am frantically multi-tasking, but loving it because I can play with fun toys.
As I write this text, I am also listening to/viewing the WebJunction Webinar on Core Competencies for Library Staff. It actually took place on July 25, but there is a recorded version available through a link on this page: http://vt.webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=17556
It took a little while to be patient and let the presentation proceed on its own, but now that I have stopped trying to push my way through the navigation, I am sitting back and just letting it run. Since I can pause the recording, I can still answer my phone or take a break.
I will definitely be going back for future WJ webinars. The list of upcoming and archived (recorded) webinars can be found at this URL: http://vt.webjunction.org/do/Navigation?category=15543
The other online session that I am now listening to (while also eating lunch) is the recording of last night’s session of “Uncontrolled Vocabulary.” By its own description it is a “weekly live discussion of news, trends and topics in librarianship.” For more info, visit the website at http://uncontrolledvocabulary.blogspot.com
On this website, you will find a gadget that plays the most recently recorded session, which is probably the simplest way to get a taste of Uncontrolled Vocabulary (the blog also provides instructions about how to listen to the program live). It is definitely more on the edge than WJ webinars and comes with a definite point of view from the participants.
The reason that I am finding it fun so far is that the participants clearly spend a lot of time keeping up on hot or simply curious topics in librarianship (via the web), so after listening to it I feel a little less out of it in comparison to the apparent movers and shakers of the library world. Sometimes I get lost when the casual nature of the conversation doesn’t give me enough back-story to follow the conversation, but if I am intrigued by the conversation, the blog has links to the source materials. It makes for an intriguing path to take in my meanderings in the name of professional awareness.
If any of you out there are keeping up with things by similar means, we would love to hear from you in the comments. Also, if you are experiencing any barriers in taking advantage of these opportunities or similar online content, we’d be interested in hearing about that.