Library Sparks

Attend These Free Webinars in February

Plan to attend these free webinars; all you need is your computer & speakers or headphones (no microphone needed.) Each webinar may be counted as a Category B continuing education activity towards renewing librarian certification.

Wednesday February 1, 10 – 11am
SOPA and PIPA: What Libraries Need to Know
Register here
“Have you heard of SOPA? How about PIPA? SOPA is the Stop Online Piracy Act and PIPA is the Protect IP Act. Both were bills attempting to fight copyright infringement and online piracy, and both have been postponed. But that doesn’t mean they’re gone for good. Brandon Butler, from the Library Copyright Alliance and Director of Public Policy Initiatives, Association of Research Libraries, will tell us what SOPA and PIPA are, how they came about, what’s next now that they’ve both been shelved, and how all of this affects libraries.”
Provided by NCompass

Wednesday February 1, Noon – 1pm
Fire Up Your Board for Fundraising: Turn Their Passion into Action
Register here
“Wish you could create a fired-up, engaged board excited about possibilities for your organization and eager to play a part in making it happen? Learn how to change your board’s mindset about fundraising, overcome their fear, and put everyone to work where you need them. Gail will show you how to make the fundraising process less intimidating, and how to empower your board to be in action making friends. You’ll learn new ways to engage your board and get the most out of your board members.”
Provided by GuideStar

Wednesday February 1, Noon – 1pm
How to Make Your Grant Proposal Stand Out from the Pack
Register here
“What can you do to find favor with grant funders and how do you even make them notice you – much less fund you? The following questions will be answered during this free webinar: What are the ten things grant funders always look for? What words should be avoided in proposals? What should be included in a stand-out cover letter? How can a proposal be formatted for maximum chance of funding? What steps can be taken to ensure grant continuation?”
Provided by CharityHowTo

Thursday February 2, Noon – 12:45pm
BadgerLearn: Explore Wisconsin’s Collaborative Learning Space and Training Portal
Join the webinar
Provided by Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

Thursday February 2, 2 – 3pm
Auto Repair Reference Center
Register here
“This session is intended for librarians, teachers, faculty and others desiring an overview of Auto Repair Reference Center. We will discuss the new interface and how easy it is to access drawings, step-by-step photographs, technical service bulletins and wiring diagrams for specific vehicles. We will also explore AutoIQ, a complete interactive guide to vehicle ownership and maintenance. ARRC contains information on most major manufacturers of domestic and imported vehicles, with repair information for most vintage makes starting as far back as 1954.”
Provided by EBSCOhost

Thursday February 2, 11:30am – 12:30pm
Tame your Social Media Workload with Tools: Work Smarter not Harder
Register here
“With all of tools that there are to communicate with your followers it’s hard to stay on top of posting and responding across a host of platforms (think Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn). We’ll look at some tools to make your life easier.”
Provided by New Horizons Computer Learning Centers

Thursday February 2, 1 – 2pm
Building Bridges #4: Your Library’s Future
Register here
“In this one-hour online OCLC session, the fourth in the series, Martin Gomez, City Librarian at Los Angeles Public Library, will answer your questions and give practical advice about the continued success of public libraries in our changing environment.”
Provided by WebJunction

Thursday February 2, 2 – 3pm
Children’s Literature Update 2012
Join the webinar
“Frustrated that you cannot think of a recommendation when a child asks for a ‘good book to read?’ Tired of recommending the same books because you can’t think of anything new to recommend to a child visiting the library? Discover the new books that you can recommend to children who use your library! Hear about books published in 2011, and upcoming Spring 2012 titles, that will be popular with children ages 0-12. These include picture books, easy readers, transitional fiction, genre fiction for middle grades, graphic novels, poetry, nonfiction, and more! Hear about books that will appeal to the “reluctant reader,” boys who may have drifted away from reading, and books that will have popularity with a wide audience of children.”
Provided by InfoPeople

Wednesday February 3, 10 – 11am
Tech Tools with Tine: 1 Hour of Dropbox
Register here
“… Dropbox — a free and powerful tool that allows you to store and transfer large electronic files.”
Provided by Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Tuesday February 7, 2011, Noon – 1pm
The 4 Keys to Pitch-Perfect Messaging: How to Stop Striking Flat Notes with Your Target Audiences and Join the 16% of Nonprofits Whose Messages Resonate and Spur Action
Register here
“Messages are the way to build relationships. Without strong messages, it’s impossible to connect. And there’s simply no way you’ll build the mutually-satisfying relationships with passionate supporters you need to meet your organization’s overall goals. You will learn: the three things you have to know before you even start message creation; the four cornerstones of a nonprofit message platform that connects, with real-life examples; and the specific value of each message element, and how to use it for greatest impact.”
Provided by Getting Attention blog

Tuesday, February 7, 1 – 2pm
What’s New in YA: 2012
Register here
“Get a preview of what 2012 holds in store for teen readers during this free, hour-long webinar. Representatives from Egmont USA, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, Sourcebooks, and Disney Book Group will share their leading titles for spring and beyond.”
Provided by BookList

Wednesday February 8, 2 – 3pm
Ebooks on EBSCOhost
Register here
“This session is intended for librarians and library staff who will be using the new eBooks on EBSCOhost functionality. Topics will include: searching and browsing options, viewing and downloading eBooks, and managing personal preferences via the My EBSCOhost folder.”
Provided by EBSCOhost

Wednesday, February 8, 2 – 3pm
Youth Media Activities in Your Community: Teaching Digital Natives
Join the webinar
“Engaging today’s youth through technology is critical to reach a generation that has had access to advanced technology throughout their entire educational and personal lives. Reaching this ‘tech generation’ may seem overwhelming as the proliferation of technology advances and the ever-changing trends make it difficult to determine what efforts will be effective. This webinar will focus on what you can do to educate and engage youth using technology.”
Provided by InfoPeople

Thursday February 9, 11am – Noon
Social Media: What Your Nonprofit Needs to Know
Register here
“Social media is becoming an important tool for nonprofits to communicate with their supporters, increase awareness of their mission and raise funds. At the same time, there are many legal issues for a nonprofit to consider when using social media. Do the rules regarding copyrights and trade marks apply? Is a nonprofit responsible for material posted on its Facebook page? Are there any privacy concerns? What if an employee posts inappropriate information on the Internet during working hours? What policies should a nonprofit put in place? This webinar – designed for board members, executive directors and other nonprofit staff and volunteers responsible for marketing, communications and fundraising – will help answer these questions and give your nonprofit advice about how to navigate the new world of social media.”
Provided by The D.C. Bar Pro Bono Program in partnership with the Center for Nonprofit Advancement

Thursday February 9, Noon-12:45pm
Consumer Reports: Connect to Expert, Independently Conducted Studies that Empower Consumers
Join the webinar
Provided by Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

Thursday February 9, 1 – 2pm
Cloud Computing 101
Register here
“‘Cloud computing’ seems to be all the rage, but what actually is it? This overview presentation will explain what cloud computing offers libraries, how libraries are using these services, and what you should consider when thinking about using a cloud service in your library. A distinction between services for end-users and services for organizations will be made, explained, and illustrated, as well as the terms used to describe cloud services. Learn how quick and easy it now is to deploy applications “in the cloud” using tools such as Google Docs, Google App Engine, and Amazon’s Web Services, among others. Resources for further exploration will be included.”
Provided by WebJunction

Wednesday February 10, 10 – 11am
Tech Tools with Tine: 1 Hour of Shelfari and Goodreads
Register here
“… Shelfari and Goodreads — two social cataloging websites for books that librarians everywhere should know about.”
Provided by Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Tuesday February 14, Noon – 1pm
Revitalizing your Social Media Presence with Action
Register here
“Wondering how to get all your social media followers to take action? Causes, the world’s biggest and best platform for collective action, just launched a whole new suite of free, easy tools for engaging supporters through action campaigns like pledges, video campaigns, petitions, and quizzes. More than 150 million people use Causes to launch and support action campaigns tackling a range of issues from the environment to animal rights. This webinar will show nonprofits how to take advantage of these new tools to revitalize your social media campaigns.”
Provided by Network For Good

Tuesday February 14, 1 – 2pm
Social Media and Volunteer Engagement
Register here
“What do you need to know about social media as a volunteer program manager? How can you use sites like Facebook, and Twitter to promote your volunteer opportunities and recruit volunteers? This webinar will offer an introduction to including social media in your volunteer recruitment and retention plans. You’ll also learn about the social media tools available in your VolunteerMatch account that help you promote your volunteer opportunity on other social networking sites.”
Provided by VolunteerMatch

Tuesday, February 14, 2 – 3pm
Top Tech Trends in Materials Handling
Join the webinar
“Does your heart sink every time you walk into the back room and see rows of full book carts waiting to get checked in or shelved? Ever wish there was a small, affordable sorter that would work for your library? Are you under the mistaken assumption that you need RFID to use automated materials handling systems? Are the lines at the circ desk getting longer and longer as more people rely on the library for their books, magazines and DVDs? Ever considered putting in vending machine in your community but weren’t sure how they work or what they cost? From self-check in and self-check out machines to vending machines and sorters, there’s a solution out there for libraries of every size and for every budget.”
Provided by InfoPeople

Wednesday February 15, 10 – 11am
Turning Your Library Around
Register here
“When we started at the South Sioux City Public Library two years ago the library was having difficult times. Circulation and attendance numbers were down. The public’s opinion of the library was not positive. In two years’ time period we have seen an increase of circulation from 21,000 items to over 40,000 items. We have seen attendance numbers for youth climb from 2000 to 6000 and adult attendance has gone from 800 participants to over 3000 participants. This presentation will tell what we did to turn the program around.”
Provided by NCompass

February 15, Noon – 12:45pm
Social and Mobile Media for Nonprofit Executive Staff
Register here
“The content of this webinar is specifically tailored for executive staff in the nonprofit sector, particularly those that are skeptical of the value of social and mobile media. This webinar will: Demonstrate the value of social and mobile media to increase online fundraising.;    Illuminate how social and mobile media success requires professional experience or training in online communications and fundraising.; Highlight the need to modify job descriptions of development and communications staff.; Discuss the urgent need to prepare for the Mobile Web.; Demonstrate how there is no one-size-fits-all-communications and online fundraising strategy anymore, and the longer your nonprofit resists change, the more you’ll regret it in years to come.”
Provided by Nonprofit Tech 2.0

Wednesday February 15, 2 – 3pm
The Social Media Audit
Register here
“A social media audit of systems, implementation, strategy, and culture offers a comprehensive evaluation of the state of your organization’s social media strategy, processes, and systems. Audits are not a judgment, but rather a statement of where you are along a continuum of practice, and offer practical insights into your social media execution and effectiveness. In this webinar, we’ll discuss the right time to consider a social media audit, the goals of the audit, inquiry tools and resources, what a 360-degree audit entails, and what to do with the results. We’ll also explore case studies of two nonprofit social media audits, what the organizations learned from participating in this process, and how the audit information translated into ramping up their strategic social media engagement.
Provided by Nonprofit Webinars

Thursday February 16, 10 – 11am
Libraries as Content Collaborators & The Life of a Production Librarian
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“Join Library Journal Mover and Shaker Eli Neiburger, Associate Director of IT & Production at the Ann Arbor District Library, as he expands upon his compelling argument that one way for libraries to remain relevant in this current technological era is to become producers of and/or collaborators on their own content. Eli will talk about AADL’s approach to digital projects, and how Production Librarians at AADL work with community partners to bring new content to the web. He’ll also cover the infrastructure and skills necessary for libraries to move in this direction, and how to get started without a budget.”
Provided by Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Thursday February 16, 11:30am – 12:30pm
Google’s “Freshness” Update: Is Your Website Stale or Just out of the Oven?
Register here
“Google’s recent ‘Freshness’ algorithm update affects 35% of search queries and has made new winners and losers in the battle for page rank supremacy. Learn how this update affects your site and how to take advantage of this change to the algorithm.”
Provided by New Horizons Computer Learning Centers

Thursday February 16, Noon-12:45pm
Found In Wisconsin: Uncover Wisconsin’s Digital Collections
Join the webinar
Provided by Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

Thursday, February 16, 1 – 2pm
Successful Volunteer Interview Strategies
Register here
“Interviewing each prospective volunteer can seem overwhelming, but it’s one of the best ways to ensure that the volunteers you recruit are the volunteers you need. This webinar introduces a variety of question types used in volunteer interviews and offers strategies for honing your interview skills. Materials will be provided to help you implement this process in your organization, as well as a training syllabus so you can learn how to recruit and train a volunteer staff to assist with prospective volunteer interviews.”
Provided by VolunteerMatch

Thursday February 16, 1 – 2pm
Building a LibraryAware Community: Making the Connection
Register here
Does your library need to build stronger community connections, but the thought of where to start leaves you feeling overwhelmed? This webinar will inspire you to kick-start the process.  We have gathered together four amazing librarians who will share the philosophies that helped them integrate outreach into their library’s DNA. They will talk about their programs that built strong community relationships, helped library staff members make incredible connections with high powered executives and helped a community get on board with using eBooks. Best of all, they will talk about how any of these programs can easily be scaled to your library.  And then we will move into “kitchen table” talks where our speakers will genuinely talk about the challenges they faced and overcame, as well as ideas they wished they had pursued (or still dream of pursuing).”
Provided by Library Journal

Tuesday February 21, 10 – 11am
The Accidental Library Marketer
Register here
“If you find yourself doing PR, promotion, or marketing as part of your job, but you never formally learned how, then you’re an “accidental marketer” — and you’re not alone! Hear the basic tenets you never had a chance to learn as well as advanced tactics. Get the real reasons why many patrons don’t attend programs and why the media doesn’t always cover your events. Learn what “true marketing” is and why it can make your hard work pay off more often. This webinar will be led by the author of the book, The Accidental Library Marketer, author/trainer/consultant, Kathy Dempsey.”
Provided by Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Tuesday February 21, 1 – 2pm
Books for Youth Alert: New Titles for 2012
Register here
“Join us for a free, hour-long webinar featuring publishing representatives who will fill you in on their leading titles for spring and beyond. Sponsored by Holiday House, Penguin Young Readers Group, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and Perseus/Running Press.”
Provided by BookList

Tuesday February 21, Noon – 1pm
Writing for the Web: Today’s Best Practices
Register here
“Your website is a key part of your organization’s outreach/marketing effort and needs to speak to your readers THEIR way. This webinar will offer you plenty of tips and techniques to make sure your content is web reader-friendly, while it stresses your community impact. Join this webinar to learn how to: Stay “need to know”; Keep it short, simple and scannable; Use links strategically; Write for search engine optimization.”
Provided by Network for Good

Wednesday February 22, 9 – 9:30am
CCBC Shorts: A (Brief) Monthly Look at Books for Children and Teens
Register here
“Join us for brief, timely tours through some of the newest and best in children’s and young adult literature. Librarians from the Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) will be your guides for these monthly 30-minute sessions designed to give librarians a heads-up about selected brand new titles of note. We’ll also revisit some of the gems already in your library collections. Each month will feature a different topic or theme.”
Provided by South Central Library System

Wednesday February 22, 10 – 11am
Learning to Live Without a Statistical Abstract
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“In March 2011, the division of the U.S. Census Bureau responsible for data compilations such as the Statistical Abstract of the United States revealed that it would discontinue several popular publications. The decision was largely driven by budgetary concerns, but it also reflected further evolution toward new vectors for distributing data electronically. James Shaw, Director of Collections, Criss Library – UNO, will provide an update of the situation and offer practical advice concerning alternative resources. He will also explore the policy implications of trading away convenience and ease-of-use for enhanced data tools more suitable for advanced researchers than the general public.”
Provided by NCompass

Wednesday February 22, 2 – 3pm
Listening & Engaging: DIY Tools for Social Media Management
Register here
“As social media tools like Twitter and Facebook become core components of nonprofit communication strategies, there is a corresponding need to assess how well programmatic messaging and organizational identity are propagating in those channels: “We Tweet; is anybody listening?” In addition, nonprofits have an increasing need to know on what blogs, websites and other online venues they and their issues are being mentioned and discussed, both favorably and less favorably. This webinar will show you how to create a listening dashboard for your or your organization’s use. I will also provide an introduction for social media goal-setting and a template for tracking your social media engagement. Takeaways: Learn how to create a listening dashboard; Learn how to create a tracking dashboard; Establish some social media goals.”
Provided by Nonprofit Webinars

Thursday February 23, 9 – 1oam
Ebooks on EBSCOhost
Register here
“This session is intended for librarians and library staff who will be using the new eBooks on EBSCOhost functionality. Topics will include: searching and browsing options, viewing and downloading eBooks, and managing personal preferences via the My EBSCOhost folder.”
Provided by EBSCOhost

Thursday February 23, 1 – 2pm
New Data Rules: Census 2010 and American Community Survey
Register here
“We’ve already seen how Census 2010 is reconfiguring political districts based on population gains and losses. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Join us to learn about the sweeping new data methods behind Census 2010 and the American Community Survey (ACS), how they’re different than Census 2000, and what they mean for librarians delivering services, library boards and elected officials making library funding decisions, and library users including business patrons.”
Provided by Library Journal

Thursday February 23, 1 – 2pm
Twitter for Job Seekers: Tips for Helping Your Library’s Job-seeking Patrons
Register here
“Twitter is one of the best online tools for networking and job seeking. Whether browsing job postings or connecting with people in your field, Twitter offers something for everyone. This session will cover tips and techniques for helping patrons network and find jobs on Twitter, and provide your library with ways to use Twitter in support of job seekers. Learn how you can use “tweets” to extend and augment your library services, showcase the resources and programs you provide job seekers and demonstrate the powerful connections you create in your library community.”
Provided by WebJunction

Friday February 24, Noon – 1pm
Directors’ Summit: Discover a 21st Century Roadmap for Community Outcomes
Register here
“Join us as we explore some of the key themes from the Library Journal 2011 Directors’ Summit, held in partnership with Columbus Metropolitan Library. Garry Golden, Lead Futurist, Future Think, and rated “outstanding” by 87 percent of attendees, will expand on some of the motifs he presented, including how to better anticipate social change, think about and plan for a future shaped by transformational change, and gather prescriptive data that will lead to service innovation. Patrick Losinski, executive director, Columbus Metropolitan Library, OH, will lead a conversation with Garry and the audience.”
Provided by Library Journal

Tuesday February 28, 10 – 11am
Writing Good Press Releases and Working with the Media
Register here
“Learn the art of writing press releases and communicating with the media with author/consultant, Kathy Dempsey, the woman who literally wrote the book on this topic! Kathy’s book, The Accidental Library Marketer, is widely consulted by librarians that suddenly find themselves chief marketer for their organization. She’ll provide both good and bad examples of press releases and show how facts can easily be compiled to form a good press release. Kathy will also review common mistakes librarians make when working with the media. Lots more advice on managing those sticky calls from the media, so don’t miss this one!”
Provided by Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Tuesday February 28, 11am – Noon
Lending eReaders: What Libraries Need to Know
Register here
“Join panelists for a discussion on best practices in loaning eReaders to library customers. What are the big considerations when developing a lending program for eReaders? Hear lessons learned and success stories on lending eReaders. Hosted by Shirley Biladeau, Idaho Commission for Libraries and Jennifer Fenton, Washington State Library. Presenters are Chris Gustafson,Whitman Middle School, Seattle, Washington and Sherrilynn Bair from Snake River Community Library in Idaho.”
Provided by Idaho Commission for Libraries and Washington State Library

Tuesday February 28, 2 – 3pm
The Future of Libraries
Register here
“After two decades of continuous library technology increases and a budget crisis that has affected nearly every library in the world, we are left with the question: what will the library of the future look like? We have seen huge cuts in expensive brick and mortar spaces and collections, in-person services and programming, and other face-to-face library services. At the same time, we are finally realizing the high return on investment for library web, mobile, hardware, and software services. The budget crisis may force us to face our inefficiencies and drastically re-engineer our services and the way we provide those services to our customers. The legacy system is burning down all around us. What will emerge from the ashes? Presented by: Sarah Houghton, Assistant Director, San Rafael Public Library, San Rafael, CA.”
Provided by Nicolet Federated Library System and Outagamie-Waupaca Library System

February 29, 2 – 3pm
Fundraising and the Next Generation
Register here
“For the first time in history, there are four generations involved in philanthropy: Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Gen X and Gen Y (Millenials). Although each generation is philanthropic, they have individual preferences for how they are engaged by nonprofits. This session will demonstrate how important it is to create lifetime givers by reaching out to the younger generations (under age 40) now as well as define the key characteristics of the four current generations and their habits for charitable giving. Ultimately, today’s annual donors are tomorrow’s major donors; we need to cultivate them today. Takeaways: Find out how and where to find and cultivate young philanthropists; identify myths and realities of multigenerational philanthropy; Learn what your organization needs to be aware of to manage a multi-generational development office.”
Provided by Nonprofit Webinars

Help Veterans Share Their Experiences

The Sylvania branch of the Toledo-Lucas County (Ohio) Public Library and Lourdes College of Sylvania cosponsored a Veterans’ Writing Workshop.  They “crafted a variety of thought-provoking writing and reading exercises intended to encourage all veterans, active and retired, to write about their experiences for their own benefit or to share them with friends and family.” In the article “Helping Warriors Unleash the Power of the Pen,” Amy Hartman and Holly Baumgartner described how this program worked for them.

Some of the benefits the library saw as a result of the program include:

• Outreach to underserved populations
• Community connections
• Intergenerational relations

Here are the highlights of what worked for them, to offer ideas for replicating this program at your library:

• We hoped to avoid intimidating veterans who didn’t have much writing practice, yet keep the sessions challenging enough to encourage those who already had some writing experience. We finally settled on a workshop format with a two-hour program each Monday evening for six weeks to provide the greatest flexibility for responding to what would likely be a variety of backgrounds. Each week’s activities were based on a theme that would work regardless of the writer’s abilities: writing about a place (week I), writing about an event (week 2), using humor in writing (week 3), writing about a memorable person (week 4), writing about yourself (week 5), and weaving a sense of reflection into writing (week 6).

• The library’s marketing department disseminated the information to local newspapers via press releases and a prominently featured push on the library’s website. Amy sent fliers to the local VFW posts, talked to a friend active in the Vietnam Veterans of America, and gave information to the local Rotary organization. Holly hung flyers around the Lourdes campus, and College Relations posted the information to the college website. The Toledo Blade surprised us with a Sunday feature on page one of the newspaper’s second section, which proved to be the most useful tool for generating interest in the program.

• We were extremely pleased with the quality of the writing, quickly realizing a passion to tell one’s story is a fine motivator in achieving excellence.

They printed a commemorative book titled In Our Boots, containing 20 essays and poems from the workshop.

sources:
Hartman, Amy. 2011. “Helping Warriors Unleash the Power of the Pen.” American Libraries 42, no. 11/12: page 38. Accessed via MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost.
photo credit: MATEUS_27:24&25 via Flickr

Use a “Call to Action” to Motivate Customers

Each time you write an update for your website, create an event for your Facebook page, or tweet about an upcoming program, think about what it is that you want the reader to do.

Do you want your customer to…

• attend a program?
• register for a library card?
• write to their elected officials?

By making a slight tweak to your writing to use a clear call to action for a person to take, you have a better chance of motivating your customer to take the next step. For example, instead of a link to your library card sign-up form using “passive” descriptive text, rephrase the link to guide the reader directly on what to do next:
before: Library card sign-up form
after: Get a library card

A simple way to re-write any phrase is to use an action verb as the first word. For example, use what Paul Boag calls “active urgent language” like…

• sign up
• call
• learn
• click
• read
• register
• donate
• join

And to create a sense of urgency and a need to act now, use those words with phrases like “Sign up now to reserve your seat” and “Register by Friday to have the craft supplies you need for our workshop.”

Read these resources for more ideas to make your writing more effective:

• Add to Your (Library) Cart: how to get the most out of your status updates, tweets, and website
• Doing Social Media So It Matters: slides 25-36
• 10 Techniques for an Effective “Call to Action”
• Headings: Section 6. Use a verb that’s strong, active, fresh, and accurate

Ideas to Raise Revenue @ Your Library

The article “Public Libraries Explore New Ways To Raise Revenue” offers creative ideas you might consider at your library.  Here are some highlights:

• gift shop — offer sell flash drives, book bags, and book-related gift items
• coffee shop or café — consider having a vendor operate it in your library
• renting space to local YMCAs and adding exercise equipment

If you’re thinking about putting a coffee shop into your library, you might want to look at the ALA Wiki article Libraries with Coffee Shops to help you identify “appropriate answers to such issues as the extent of service to be offered, how the service is managed, the impact on policies, such as food in the rest of the library, and the effect on tax revenues.”

Source: Public Libraries Explore New Ways To Raise Revenue by Julie Murphy.  Daytona Beach News-Journal; December 9, 2011.

Photo credit: Nils Geylen via Flickr

Apply for All-Expenses-Paid PLA Conference Scholarship

Want to attend the 2012 Public Library Association (PLA) Conference in Philadelphia, all expenses paid?
Do you work at a library that serves a population of 50,000 or less?

If your answer to both questions is yes, fill out this application form by January 18th!

Gale’s Small Library Support Program annual award consists of 2 scholarship awards, covering all expenses to attend the 2012 Public Library Association (PLA) Conference March 13-17th in Philadelphia, PA.  It covers the cost of lodging, registration, travel, and reimbursement to cover the library staff’s time away from work (temp replacement, etc.).

Application form
Deadline: essays must be submitted by January 18, 2012.

Applicants must be staff from small and/or rural libraries serving a population of 50,000 or less.

All applicants must submit a brief response of no more than 500 words answering ONE of TWO questions:

• “How will attending the PLA Conference help me or my small or rural library bridge the digital divide for my patrons?”
  OR
• “How will attending the PLA conference help me to increase innovative or unique advocacy efforts to demonstrate value (or change perceptions about libraries) in my community.”

Essay criteria:

• clarity of content and form
• clear goals and benefits of attendance
• commitment to the value of small/rural libraries
• enthusiasm
• real life examples
• potential growth perceived

Donated by Gale/Cengage Learning, as part of their Small Library Support Program.

Attend These Free Webinars in January

Plan to attend these free webinars; all you need is your computer & speakers or headphones. Each one can be counted as a Category B continuing education activity towards renewing librarian certification.

Ebooks on EBSCOhost
Wednesday January 4, TBA
Register here
“This session is intended for librarians and library staff who will be using and introducing the new eBooks on EBSCOhost functionality. Topics will include: searching and browsing options, viewing and downloading eBooks, and managing personal preferences via the My EBSCOhost folder.”
Provided by EBSCOhost

The New Volunteer Manager’s Toolkit
Thursday January 5, 1 – 2pm
Register here
“New to volunteer management? Looking for a refresher on the basics? This webinar will walk you through the three primary Rs – recruitment, retention and recognition. We’ll discuss the most popular program components such as interviews, orientations, volunteer handbooks, and more. And, we’ll talk about the importance of managing risk for your program and your organization. All attendees will also receive a sample packet with examples of program documents and program assessment checklists to help you evaluate your existing program.”
Provided by VolunteerMatch

Organizational Storytelling for Librarians: Using Stories for Leadership, Community, and Advocacy
Tuesday January 10, 1 – 2pm
Register here
“Facts and figures may be the staples of organizational life, yet it is storytelling that reaches people’s hearts. Drawing from the storytelling principles of noted screenwriter Robert McKee, Marek and Rippel will share specific examples and tools for library communication and advocacy. Among the themes to be discussed are: Gaining trust with stories about yourself and your sense of purpose; Building teams by sharing vision; Managing change with respect for the past; Why storytellers listen.”
Provided by ALA TechSource and WebJunction

Trends in Nonfiction 2012 (And Doing a Little Trendsetting of Your Own)
Tuesday January 10, 1 – 2:30pm
Register here
“What’s going to be hot in nonfiction in the new year? Join us for a discussion of new and hot nonfiction genres, subgenres, and titles in 2012 (a few fiction titles may even find their way in, as many readers read both fiction and nonfiction). In addition to discussing new titles, we’ll discuss ways library staff members and readers’ advisors can do some trendsetting of their own—why should publishers, reviewers, and marketers have all the fun?”
Provided by OWLS

Young Love: YA Romances for Guys and Girls
Tuesday January 10, 1 – 2pm
Register here
“From steamy vampire stories to realistic tales of first love gone wrong, we offer something for every reader in this free hour-long overview of the genre. You’ll hear about past, present, and future trends from well-known YA librarians Jennifer Hubert Swan and Angelina Benedetti, along with new teen romance titles from Egmont USA.”
Provided by Booklist

Excelling @ Email
Wednesday January 11, 1 – 2pm
Register here
“Did you know that roughly 150 billion emails are sent on a daily basis? How many of these emails are in your in-box? Do you find yourself checking email often throughout the day? Is your workday governed by what comes in your email? This webinar will help you excel at email by covering using filters, tags, labels, and other tools in your email program; five steps to process your email; tips to organize the email your save or archive. Join us for this fun webinar where you will learn how to conquer your email inbox!”
Provided by Nicolet Federated Library System

Pinterest for Librarians
Date: Wednesday January 11, 1 – 2pm
Register here
“Pinterest is a social media site that librarians are using to their advantage to keep track of great ideas and share them with each other. Join Jill Patchin and Jessi Peterson (Eau Claire) and Georgia Jones for a demonstration of how they use Pinterest!”
Provided by Indianhead Federated Library System

Getting Things Done in Groups
Date: Wednesday January 11, 2 – 3pm
Register here
“What is the most effective way to create a motivating shared vision, and put legs to it? This webinar is for people who want to build productive and unified teams, without having to pull rank, nag, gang up against, or bribe anyone. Judith will offer an overview of concepts along with several specific tools you can immediately use to promote dialogue and engagement among groups of stakeholders, such as staff, clients and volunteers.”
Provided by Nonprofit Webinars

Intellectual Freedom: Basic Training for New Staff And A Refresher for the Rest of Us
Thursday January 12, 2 – 3pm
Register here on the day of the event
“A parent asks you to remove a book from the shelf because she feels it could harm her children. A library user complains that the current collection of magazines doesn’t include his political viewpoint and too much of a different one? What do you do? Learn techniques to approach these challenges and others, along with a firm background of intellectual freedom in libraries, including relevant laws and court cases.”
Provided by Infopeople

20 Things You Can Do To Make Your Library Website Better Right Now
Tuesday January 17, 10 – 11am
Register here
” Let’s face it — we can’t always overhaul our library’s entire website. Sometimes, we just need ways to improve on what we have, due to cost, expertise or political barriers. There are lots of things you can do with very little to improve your library’s site. Some are small, some are bigger, but all can make your site better for your visitors. Get some quick and practical ideas about potential ways to polish your site without busting your library’s budget or eating up tons of staff time.”
Provided by Nicolet Federated Library System and South Central Library System

The Hopeful Workplace
Tuesday January 17, 2 – 3pm
Register here on the day of the event
“There’s a fair amount of doom and gloom out in library land, but futurist Joan Frye Williams and strategist George Needham are having none of it! These passionate library advocates believe that dealing with desperate economic times need not make us desperate.  In this upbeat webinar, George and Joan will explore how we can get out of the rat race that says “do more with less” and shift our focus to hope-engendering ways to “do different with less.” They’ll offer practical techniques for improving your own job satisfaction and moving your organization in a more positive direction.  Tune in to learn how we can all support each other, build trust and confidence, and develop services that recapture that feeling of success for ourselves and our communities.”
Provided by Infopeople

An Introduction to Silent Auctions: How to Raise More Funds with Five Simple Changes
Wednesday January 18, Noon – 12:45pm
Register here
“When you start to use the same marketing tactics the big companies do, your little silent nonprofit auction can start to realize some impressive gains. For some organizations, modest gains of 5% can mean thousands of dollars to your bottom line. In this free 45-minute webinar, you’ll get practical “how-to” advice so you can transform your auction items into a pile of money. Enjoy loads of photos from successful (and not very successful) events so you know what to do (and what not to do).”
Provided by CharityHowTo

Ebooks, Discovery, and the Library
Wednesday January 18, 2:15-3:15pm
Register here
“Publishers, authors, booksellers, and librarians have traditionally thought of discovery as something that happens in a physical place. A patron browses the shelf, a librarian offers some reader’s advisory, a new author is picked up from an artfully created display. Online discovery lags behind, despite Amazon’s best efforts. People still pick books up based on word of mouth. Libraries, with entire sections of staff devoted to helping people pick out books, are word of mouth engines, but struggle to prove our worth to the rest of the book ecosystem. Ebooks make that even more difficult when the library as place is taken out of the equation. This session will explore some possibilities for libraries as channels of discovery in an ebook-dominated market.”
Provided by Georgia Library Association

Wisconsin Digital Archives: Find Information in Wisconsin’s Collection of Electronic State Documents (BadgerLunch Session)
Thursday January 19, Noon – 12:45pm
Register here
Provided by BadgerLink / DPI

Conducting A Capital Campaign: One Library’s Experience
Tuesday January 24, 9 – 1oam
Register here
“Alpine Public Library undertook a capital campaign in 2006, and opened a new library building in December 2011. Join Paige Delaney, Director of the Alpine Public Library, and Kathy Bork, President of the Alpine Public Library Board, as they discuss their successful capital campaign, which they accomplished without any loans. Topics covered will include the initial community needs survey, identifying an architect and location, goal setting, raising the money, unexpected issues, lessons learned and getting settled in the new building.”
Provided by TexShare

CCBC Shorts
Wednesday January 25, 9 – 9:30am
Register here
“This edition of CCBC Shorts will highlight the just-announced American Library Association 2012 award-winning books! Join us for a brief, timely tours through some of the newest and best in children’s and young adult literature.”
Provided by South Central Library System

Nonprofit Boards and Effective Governance
Wednesday January 25, Noon – 1pm
Register here
“The nonprofit governing board has been described as an ineffective group of effective people. Trustees are recruited for their stature, skills or connections, and then are not fully engaged. Why do nonprofits so broadly fail to use their boards wisely? And how might they do better? We will look at four interrelated areas: membership (including recruitment, development, self-assessment), process (including structure, meetings), capacity, and fiduciary issues. Takeaways: How to assemble an effective board; How to structure and operate a board effectively; How to engage trustees and increase mutual satisfaction; Specific tools and resources that will increase board effectiveness.”
Provided by Nonprofit Webinars

Boomer Volunteers Building Capacity: The Foundations for Success
Wednesday January 25, 2 – 3pm
Register here
“Imagine a world in which you have all the resources your organization needs to serve more clients and deliver more programs. The skills and talents of Baby Boomer volunteers can help make this vision a reality. Join Jill Friedman Fixler, author of the Boomer Volunteer Engagement series, and co-author/editor Beth Steinhorn for this introduction to the tools and strategies that can help you engage Boomer volunteers as leaders to help your organization use high-impact volunteers to build organizational capacity. This webinar will feature case studies, needs assessment, timelines, and recruitment tools.”
Provided by VolunteerMatch

Collaborating with Partners on Joint Grants: Do’s And Don’ts
Wednesday January 25, 2 – 3pm
Register here
“More and more funders prefer (or require) organizations to leverage their resources by collaborating with complementary partners. In a world where competition is often more common than cooperation, how do we navigate these waters? This workshop will showcase some successful collaborations that involved joint grantseeking, and offer pointers on how you can succeed too!”
Provided by Nonprofit Webinars

Improvisation at Work! Communicating and Innovating in Your Library
Wednesday January 25, 2 – 3pm
Register here
“Many of the skills used in Improvisation are easily incorporated into daily library work, and you don’t have to be Robin Williams to be successful at it. In fact, it helps if you’re not! This webinar will introduce you to four skills that improvisers use and show you how to use them in your library. You’ll learn how they can assist you in providing better customer service, enhancing communication between staff members, and taking some of the stress out of all the changes happening in your workplace.”
Provided by InfoPeople

Songbook Database: Easily Locate Sheet Music Available for Interlibrary Loan (BadgerLunch Session)
Thursday January 26, Noon – 12:45pm
Register here
Provided by BadgerLink / DPI

Perfecting Your Presentations
Thursday January 26, 1 – 2pm
Register here
“We are all called on to “present” at some point in our jobs. Whether you are communicating information in front of your library board or training a group of patrons, solid presentation skills are essential. Are you unsure how to organize what you want to say? Are you debating what information should be included? When should handouts be “handed out?” Learn tips and tricks on presenting like a pro!”
Provided by Nicolet Federated Library System

It’s Who You Know: Finding, Making, and Keeping Connections for Successful Partnerships
Thursday January 26, 2 – 3pm
Register here on the day of the event
Provided by Infopeople

Mind Body Spirit: Spring Announcement 2012
Thursday January 26, 2 – 3pm
Register here
“In a time of retrenchment and budgetary constraint across the publishing and library fields, reader interest in many aspects of religion and spirituality, both in the public forum and the private sphere, remains lively. This webcast presents a remarkable opportunity to get a glimpse into some the next season’s most important and intriguing titles in spiritual reading for a general readership. Representatives from Inner Traditions, Sounds True, New World Library and New Page Books will talk about their forthcoming titles, moderated by LJ’s Spiritual Reading columnist, Graham Christian.”
Provided by Library Journal

Connecting with Struggling Readers
Tuesday January 31, 1 – 2pm
Register here
“In this digital age, teachers and librarians need to be on the lookout for new ways to connect with readers—especially those who struggle. In this free, hour-long webinar sponsored by Orca Book Publishers and Saddleback Educational Publishing, a lively panel will discuss strategies and resources—both books and classroom materials—to help engage struggling readers. You’ll also hear tips and tricks from the field, suggestions for display techniques to improve library circulation, and much more. Booklist Books for Youth Senior Editor Ian Chipman moderates.”
Provided by Booklist

Developing and Maintaining E-Reader Policies and Procedures for Libraries
Tuesday January 31, 1 – 2pm
Register here
“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.”
Provided by WebJunction

Tips to Plan Arts-Based Programs that Support Artists in Your Community

If you’re looking for ideas for arts-based programs, or want to know how your library can better support the arts & artists in your community, the brand-new Library as Incubator Project can help!

The project highlights the ways that libraries and artists can work together, and its website features artists and writers who use libraries in their communities as well as the collections, libraries, and staff that inspire them. The site also includes free-to-share resources for librarians looking to incubate the arts at their libraries.

From asking a local writer to participate in a program like this one, to getting kids excited about art through crafts and projects, to making your library into a gallery for local art, the opportunities for libraries to engage with the arts are endless.

Already doing lots to support the arts at your library?  Share your successes by using their Contribute page!

The Library as Incubator Project was created 3 MLIS students at the School of Library and Information Studies at University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Read all about it at this Programming Librarian blog post, Incubate Art at Your Library.

You Have Our Permission to Read These Books, Even If…

Laura Nicosia took a photo of this most excellent book display sign:

Consider trying out something like this at your library, and see how well it works with your customers!

Source: Laura Nicosia’s Facebook photos

Apply for These Grants & Awards to Fund Innovation, Science & More

The Coretta Scott King Book Awards Donation Grant
Grant: multiple copies of approximately 100 titles by African American authors and illustrators, including a full set of the year’s winning and honor titles
Deadline: January 31, 2012
Application form & details

Every year, in the process of choosing the Coretta Scott King Book Award winners and honor books, the Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table (EMIERT) of the American Library Association receives multiple copies of approximately 100 titles by African American authors and illustrators, including a full set of the year’s winning and honor titles.
The Coretta Scott King Book Awards Donation Grant was created to help build collections and bring books into the lives of children in latchkey, preschool programs, faith-based reading projects, homeless shelters, charter schools and underfunded libraries.

Science Kits for Public Libraries Grant
Grant amount:  up to $2000
Deadline: December 15, 2011
Application form & details

The Grant seeks to be a catalyst for educating students about how math and science are used to the benefit of humanity and to provide seed money for the creation of library programs and projects that will make a lasting impression on a community of pre-university students (K-12).
Specifically, the Grant will defer the cost of science kits – especially those that provide prepared experiements for use by pre-university students and educators including parents, teachers, club leaders, and/or librarians. Ideally the kits will demonstrate to students the skills required for a career in electrical engineering.

The Grant is restricted to public libraries with preference given to public libraries located in the territory of IEEE-Region 4 (Midwest including all or parts of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, Ohio and Wisconsin).

Sparks! Ignition Grants for Libraries and Museums
Grant amount:  $10,000 to $25,000
Deadline:  February 01, 2012
Application form & details

These small grants encourage libraries, museums, and archives to test and evaluate specific innovations in the ways they operate and the services they provide. Sparks Grants support the deployment, testing, and evaluation of promising and groundbreaking new tools, products, services, or organizational practices. You may propose activities or approaches that involve risk, as long as the risk is balanced by significant potential for improvement in the ways libraries and museums serve their communities.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute’s mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas.

Gale Cengage Learning Award for Excellence in Business Librarianship
Grant amount: $3,000
Nomination form. 
Deadline: December 15, 2011

These contributions may include, but are not limited to: authorship of a seminal book or articles in business librarianship; development of an imaginative and successful program centered around business within a library; teaching business librarianship in a particularly creative and substantive manner; and displaying strong leadership in a professional association geared to business librarianship.

Source: Gale Cengage Learning Award for Excellence in Business Librarianship via WLA E-newsletter, November 23, 2011

Attend These Free Webinars in December

Plan to attend these free webinars; all you need is your computer & speakers or headphones. Each one can be counted as a Category B continuing education activity towards renewing librarian certification.

Census Records on HeritageQuest
Tuesday December 6, 10 – 10:30am
Register here
“… a refresher session on maximizing searching on HeritageQuest Online. This course covers search tips for the Census Records module in HeritageQuest Online, and we will also try to answer any questions and show you how to access support options such as help pages, factsheets and tutorials.”
Provided by TexShare

Juggling 101: Managing Multiple Priorities
Tuesday December 6, 1 – 2pm
Register here
“‘Time management’ is an oxymoron. You can’t change it, or lengthen it, or shorten it, or ‘manage’ it. Jane Bozarth will help you identify ways to deal with the things you can manage: yourself, others, and the tasks with which you’re confronted.”
Provided by Insync Training

Windows 7 Curriculum: Basic Computer Training at Your Library
Tuesday December 6, 1 – 2pm
Register here
“Looking to provide basic computer training for an adult audience? Learn more about the My PC Series, a completely free and fun, hands-on, jargon-free curriculum of computer classes developed by Microsoft for adult learners that aims to make this challenge a bit easier. This new curriculum centers on Windows® 7 and Windows Live™ Essentials and is based on extensive audience and instructional research about how less tech-savvy adults want to learn new computer skills.”
Provided by WebJunction

How to Use the New Facebook Enhancements for Your Nonprofit
Tuesday December 6, 2 – 3pm
Register here
“Once again Facebook has made significant changes to its platform. Nonprofits need to be aware of what these recent changes are and how they affect and/or change their use of their Facebook Page.”
Provided by CharityHowTo

Education, Advocacy and Lobbying – Oh My!: What’s Allowed (and What’s Not) When Reaching out to Elected Officials
Tuesday December 6,  4 – 5pm
Register here
“Politicians, lobbyists and advocates alike use the terms “education,” “advocacy” and “lobbying” interchangeably.   But what do they all mean?  When associated with a government agency or a non-profit it can be very confusing to know what’s allowed – and what will land you in hot water.  In this session we’ll look at both the letter and the spirit of the law when it comes to lobbying and advocacy, as well as specific criteria you can use to assess your own situation.  Since local library supporters, whether staff, friends, trustee or board members, have the most influence in the legislative process, it’s important to know just how far you can go in connecting them with policymakers.  Believe it or not, you have more latitude than you think.  And, of course, as a private citizen no one can curtail your right to speak up and make a difference.”
Provided by the American Library Association

Getting Volunteers for Your Nonprofit: How to Find, Recruit and Develop Relationships with Volunteers
Wednesday December 7, Noon – 1pm
Register here
“Volunteers are the most overlooked resource in nonprofits. Each volunteer hour is worth $18 to your nonprofit. This free high-level overview webinar will show you how to find, recruit and develop relationships with your volunteers.”
Provided by CharityHowTo

Resolving Workplace Conflicts Effectively
Wednesday December 7, Noon – 1pm
Register here
“Are you faced with conflicts in the workplace and unsure how to resolve them effectively? Have you tried to resolve a conflict with a manager, direct report or peer and felt like you got nowhere? Do you sometimes avoid conflicts because they seem impossible to resolve? In this webinar, we will discuss a step by step process for preparing to resolve a conflict, how to have a productive conflict resolution conversation, and learn more about the nature and purpose of conflict in the workplace.  Participants will learn: the five typical responses to conflict and how to react when faced with these responses; about communication skills for engaging in a conflict resolution conversation; and a step by step process for preparing to resolve a conflict in the workplace.”
Provided by NonprofitWebinars

Building Digital Communities through Blogs and Social Networking
Wednesday December 7, 2 – 3pm
Register here
“… how you can build a digital community through the use of blogs and social networks. Attendees will discover the difference between blogging and social networking; understanding the benefits of blogging; refine how you utilize social networks; receive tips and tools to improve your online brand; receive online resources that can assist you with next steps.”
Provided by InfoPeople

Power to the Patrons: From Systems to Services
Thursday December 8,  10am – 3:45pm
10 – 11:15am — Keynote by Bryan Alexander
11:30am – 12:30pm — Panel 1: Mobile Apps: What Do Users Need?
1:30 – 2:30pm — Panel 2: Self-Service: Balancing Efficiency & Personal Touch
2:45 – 3:45pm — Panel 3: ILS Role in Empowering Patrons
Register here
“Library Journal presents our first virtual technology summit, Power to the Patrons: From Systems to Services, an online forum to examine what technologies patrons are using, what technologies they want from their library, and how these technologies can help them discover their place and enhance their connection with the library. This day-long conference offers a full program … as well as panel presentations and Q&A with thought leaders from libraries around the country.”
Provided by Library Journal

Where Do I Go From Here? Evolving Your Volunteer Program for More Involvement
Thursday December 8, 1 – 2pm
Register here
“How long do volunteers usually stay with your program? Do you struggle with keeping them interested, involved and engaged? This webinar will help you think about new strategies and help you evolve your program to include new roles and responsibilities for volunteers, pathways for more involvement and leadership positions in your program, how recognition plays a role in retention, and the importance of including continuing education and professional development to keep your volunteers engaged. Tools to help you evaluate your program implement new ideas will be provided.”
Provided by VolunteerMatch

Books and PERSI Records on HeritageQuest
Thursday December 8, 2 – 2:30pm
Register here
“… a refresher session on maximizing searching on HeritageQuest. This course covers search tips for the BOOKS and PERSI modules in HeritageQuest Online. We will also try to answer any questions and show you how to access support options such as help pages, factsheets and tutorials.”
Provider: TexShare

PubMed, PubMed Central, and MedlinePlus
Friday December 9, 11am – Noon
Register here
“Are you on the hunt for another non-Google tool for health questions from the general public? Maybe you’ve heard that PubMed, PubMed Central and MedlinePlus are great sources for reliable medical information, but you’re not sure which site is best for your needs. This session is designed to be a basic introduction for non-medical librarians …”
Provided by North Carolina Library Association

Freedman’s Bank Records, Revolutionary War Records, and Serial Set Modules in HeritageQuest
Tuesday December 12, 1 – 1:30pm
Register here
“… a refresher session on maximizing searching on HeritageQuest. This course covers search tips for the Freedman’s Bank records, Revolutionary War records, and Serial Set modules in HeritageQuest Online. We will also try to answer any questions and show you how to access support options such as help pages, factsheets and tutorials”
Provided by TexShare

New Titles for the Newest Readers
Tuesday December 13, 1 – 2pm
Register here
“”Board books, picture books, beginning readers — all ideal for reading together and reading aloud. See the latest offerings from Holiday House, Gareth Stevens, and Simon & Schuster at this webinar designed to entice new book lovers. Booklist’s Children’s Books editor Ilene Cooper moderates.”
Provided by Booklist

Public Libraries as Financial Literacy Providers
Tuesday December 13, 1 – 2pm
Register here
“Join CFS Affiliate, Kristin Eschenfelder as she presents her research which examined the activities public libraries use to increase the financial literacy of their service populations. This will include an overview of an analysis of the finance-related hyperlinks contained on a sample of Wisconsin public library websites, findings of interviews with librarians about their perceptions of the challenges of offering financial-literacy based information and services while also summarizing the results of on-site and remote examinations of the physical collections at each library site where interviews were conducted.”
Provided by Center for Financial Security

What Will Happen When I’m Gone: Ensuring Knowledge Transfer to Your Successor
Tuesday December 13, 2 – 3pm
Register here on the day of the webinar
“The wave of Baby Boomer retirements is beginning, and those employees who know why things work as well as the way things work will be leaving our libraries. How can we make sure we know the important things they’ve learned over the years?”
Provided by Infopeople

CCBC Shorts
Wednesday December 14, 9 – 9:30am
Register here
“Join us for brief, timely tours through some of the newest and best in children’s and young adult literature. Librarians from the Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) will be your guides for these monthly 30-minute sessions designed to give librarians a heads-up about selected brand new titles of note. We’ll also revisit some of the gems already in your library collections. Each month will feature a different topic or theme.”
Provided by South Central Library System

A Small But Powerful Webinar for Winning Big Support for Your Rural Library
Wednesday December 14, 1 – 2pm
Register here
“… an introduction to the revised edition of the popular Small But Powerful Guide to Winning Big Support for Your Rural Library, a new toolkit from the American Library Association’s Committee on Rural, Native, and Tribal Libraries of All Kinds, Office for Literacy and Outreach Services, and the Association for Rural and Small Libraries. This webinar will introduce you to the tips and strategies presented in the toolkit, share the experiences of a rural librarian who has built support for her library, and introduce you to some of the additional advocacy tools and resources from the American Library Association.”
Provided by WebJunction

Let’s Get Crazy! Library Programs On and Over the Edge
Thursday December 15, 2 – 3pm
Register here on the day of the webinar
“It’s easy to get stuck in a rut and book the same old performers and speakers. Why not break out of your comfort zone and develop programs that are striking, original, and important! Start asking bigger questions in order to make a bigger impact in your community.”
Provided by Infopeople

Best Youth Books of 2011
Wednesday December 21, 10 – 11am
Register here
“Sally Snyder; Coordinator of Children and Young Adult Library Services at the NLC, will give brief book talks of new titles you may, or may not, have heard about and that could be good additions to your library’s collection. Titles starting with teens and going back through preschool age will be highlighted.”
Provided by Nebraska Library Commission

Tech Talk with Michael Sauers: A Conversation with Sarah Houghton
Wednesday December 28, 10 – 11am
Register here
“In this month’s Tech Talk we’ll be speaking with Sarah Houghton, the Librarian in Black and Assistant Director for the San Rafael Public Library, about a wide range of topics involving libraries and technology.”
Provided by Nebraska Library Commission