Need Money to Attend a Conference or Training?

Want to attend a conference, training or other library continuing education program, but need financial assistance? Apply for one of these grants or scholarships to help pay for it:

WLAF Gloria Hoegh Memorial Fund Education for Rural Librarians Scholarship
Amount: $1150
Deadline: June 15, 2013
Criteria for eligibility
Application form

Don’t Miss It: Big Talk From Small Libraries, a Free 1-Day Online Conference

Big Talk From Small Libraries 2013 is a free one-day online conference you won’t want to miss!

Thursday February 28, 2013
8:45am – 5pm CST (attend one or all of the webinar sessions)
register here

This is aimed at librarians from small libraries; the smaller the better. Each of the speakers will be from a small library or directly works with small libraries.

Schedule:

8:45 – 9am
Welcome to the Conference & Introductions

9 – 9:50am
I’m Gonna Make You Famous: Raising Awareness and Building Community on a Three-Inch Screen
The Schultz-Holmes Memorial Library in Blissfield, Michigan produces the Blissfield Reads series of videos for its Facebook page.  The first video, Blissfield Reads “The Raven,” doubled the number of people who liked the library’s Facebook page in 48 hours, doubling the number of people who get library updates from Facebook.  The videos have become a local topic of conversation, which makes the library a topic of conversation.  The program will focus on a step-by-step demonstration of the planning, recording, editing and marketing process for these videos which can cost little or nothing but time to produce.

10 – 10:50am
A Community Working Together
The Hopkins District Library in the past year has gone from a fading building with old books and shushing librarians to a place full of life through working with our community, technology, media and a little bit of creativity. Any size library can do it!  We will talk about pairing with schools, clubs, organizations, businesses, and how to secure funding to make this work.

11 – 11:50am
Using Social Media in a Small Library

Noon – 12:50pm
Lightning Round Presentations. 10 minutes each in the following order:
• Reaching New Readers Through Writing
• Manor Ink: Library-based, Youth-led News: Manor Ink is a library-based, youth-led newspaper, in print and online at manorink.com. It was founded in the Livingston Manor Free Library (serving an upstate New York district of 3,483) in February of 2012. Manor Ink was born to provide teens with employment skills while giving the community a local news source. A core group of 15 young people ages 9 to 19 meet weekly in the library with dedicated adult mentors. In an era when local newspapers and small libraries are struggling, Manor Ink has brought vitality to both and an expression of hope to a careworn community.
• Yoga @ The Library
• Kitchen Creations at the Library
• A Destination Library on a Dime

1 – 1:50pm
Oldies Night @ the Library
Oldies Night @ the Library is different from most programs libraries do.  It’s easy, it’s inexpensive, and it’s fun.  It’ll attract people who don’t otherwise visit your library.  It’s popular music of the not-so-distant past, which stirs up nostalgia and memories of high school years by taking you back to the days of Top 40 radio.  You’ll need an oldies music junkie, some oldies recordings, a bit of stereo equipment, and a room.  I’ll show you how we’ve combined those to create 3 hours of cheap, trashy rock ‘n’ roll once a month.  You can, too!

2 – 2:50pm
Circulating Electronics: The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly
Since 2008, the Pine River Library has offered a variety of electronics to their patrons. Circulating laptops, eReaders, mp3 players, and more can be good, bad, and even downright ugly. But offering patrons the chance to learn about emerging technologies is priceless. From setting up a new program at your library, to augmenting an existing program, Karen and Elizabeth will share their best-practice tips for circulating electronics.

3 – 3:50pm
Programming on a Shoestring Budget
The South Sioux City Public Library provides around 1,500 programs a year with a programming budget of $3,000.00. How are we able to do it? We rely on donations, volunteers, and we have a staff that is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of our  patrons.  In the past three years program participation has increased from 2000 participants to 9000 participants.  We will discuss the types of programs offered, recruiting volunteers, and how to receive donations or grants.

4 – 4:50pm
Small Information Campaign Gets Big Numbers at the Polls
In November of 2012 the Broadview Public Library District (IL) had a bond measure on the Ballot for $4.1 million to renovate and expand their current library.  Despite having a community which was hit hard with the economic downturn the Library measure passed with an overwhelming 81% support.  Both the Library Director Melissa Gardner and Library Trustee Katrina Arnold will speak giving two different perspectives on the various components of our informational campaign that lead us to this success.  We did it with a few dedicated people and feel that others can do it too.  Among other things we will share: Panning and the role it played, what publicity was put out, our door-to-door campaign, success and thanking the public, and next steps in the process and where we are now.

This conference is organized and hosted by Michael Sauers, Laura Johnson, and Christa Burns of the Nebraska Library Commission and is co-sponsored by the Association for Small & Rural Libraries.

References:
• Big Talk From Small Libraries website
• Big Talk From Small Libraries Facebook page
Photo source: previous building used by the Mill Pond Public Library in Kingston, WI

Attend Free 2-Day Online Library 2.012 Conference Oct. 3-5

Attend any of hundreds of 1-hour online conference programs during the Library 2.012 worldwide virtual conference on October 3 – 5, 2012.

Full schedule of all presentations in our time zone
Links to the live virtual rooms will be available October 3rd.

Conference sessions can be accessed from any personal computer that’s connected to the internet; no phone or microphone needed. You can check to confirm your computer is ready for their online conference software.

Here’s a sample of presentations you can attend:

• Telling Your Advocacy Story with Digital Tools
• Connecting Teens to Titles
• Successful Volunteer Recruitment Strategies for Libraries: Capturing the Talent of Baby Boomers and the Generations that Follow
• The Space *Is* the Service: Assessing the Physical Library in 2.012
• The Website-Which-Must-Not-Be-Named: Using Wikipedia to Teach Information Literacy

All sessions will also be recorded and posted quickly after the conference.

Apply for a Scholarship to R-Squared — The Risk & Reward Conference

Apply for a full scholarship to attend “R-Squared — The Risk & Reward Conference” on September 9-11, 2012 in Telluride, Colorado.

Faced with diminishing budgets, new technologies and changing customer needs, the traditional library faces extinction. We must adapt and innovate to transform from a quiet storehouse of books to a dynamic center of free engagement with knowledge.
At R-Squared — The Risk & Reward Conference, learn to take smart risks to move libraries forward.
Are you a creative thinker, innovator and change agent? If so, we want you to join us in Telluride in September. We have several scholarship opportunities available for in-state and out-of-state candidates.

Out-of-state scholarships include:

• Registration fee ($495 value)
• Travel expense stipend ($505 value)

Scholarship application form
Application deadline: before 11:59 PM MT on May 1, 2012.

Here’s how to apply:

Create your most engaging content that shows us how you are a valuable asset to R-Squared – The Risk and Reward Conference and how your attendance will affect your library and community.
We’d love to hear from people in your community about how you’re going to wow us.
Create a video, website, animation, illustration, blog – anything that can be linked to with a single URL.
We don’t have a lot of caveats, but you must be involved in libraries in some capacity.

Entries will be judged on the following criteria:

• Creativity
• Passion
• Endorsements from your community
• Concrete examples of how you are a change agent
• Submit the form below before 11:59 PM MT on May 1, 2012.
• Be willing to assist with one of the R-Squared Experiences at the conference.

Background info about the conference:

In February 2011, a group of Colorado library professionals began brainstorming how libraries can avoid extinction, reinvent themselves and strengthen their role as vital parts of their communities. With that, R-Squared – The Risk & Reward Conference was born. Members of the Colorado State Library, Colorado Library Consortium (a 501(c)3), Anythink, Wilkinson Public Library and others have partnered with Denver-based marketing agency Ricochet Ideas to develop a way to share the philosophies that have inspired some of the most inventive libraries in the nation with others who are interested in creative thinking in libraries.

Questions? Contact http://rsquaredconference.org/contact.

Scholarships are made possible by the following supporters:

• Colorado Library Consortium
• Southwest Days
• Public Information Kiosk

Attend “Big Talk From Small Libraries” Online Conference Feb. 28th

“Big Talk From Small Libraries” free one-day online conference
Date: Tuesday February 28, 2012
Time: 8:45 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Register here

Attend one or all 8 sessions from the comfort of your computer. (The sessions you attend are eligible as a Category B continuing education activity.)

This free one-day online conference is aimed at librarians from small libraries; the smaller the better. Each presenter is from a small library, or directly works with small libraries.

Topics range from technology (new tech and old tech) to programming to partnering with your community.

Speakers will cover eight topics — one each hour.

Everyone is welcome to register and attend, regardless of how big or small their library is, but if your library serves a few thousand people, or a few hundred, this is the day for you.

This conference was organized and is hosted by Michael Sauers and Laura Johnson of the Nebraska Library Commission, and is co-sponsored by the Association for Small & Rural Libraries and Library Renewal.

Source:  Big Talk From Small Libraries – Online

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.

Apply Now for Scholarships to Attend WLA Conference or CE Event

Apply for one of these scholarships this month to subsidize the costs to attend the Wisconsin Library Association (WLA) Conference or other continuing education event:

• Education of Rural Librarians Scholarship (Gloria Hoegh Memorial Fund)
  For library employees working in a community with a current population of 5,000 or less.
  Scholarship amount determined annually; $1,050 in 2010.
  Application deadline: June 1, 2011
  note: Gloria Hoegh served as the first coordinator of the Winnefox Library System, from 1978 through 1998.
• George Bauer Continuing Education Scholarship
  Scholarship amount determined annually; $800 in 2010.
  Application deadline: June 1, 2011
• Wisconsin Small Libraries Section Scholarship
  WISL offers $300 and $150 to attend the WLA Conference.
  Deadline: August 6, 2011
  note: one of the 2010 recipients included Jeanne Williamson, recently-retired director of Leon-Saxeville Library in Pine River.
• Resource Sharing Round Table Scholarship
  RSRT offers $150 for a member of RSRT to attend the WLA Conference.
  Deadline: August 15, 2011

Find all WLA Foundation scholarships and grants here.

Serving the 21st Century Library Patron

Serving the 21st Century Patron is a free online WebJunction conference, scheduled for December 1 – 2, 2010.

Program topics focus on the changing needs, challenges, and opportunities related to providing customer service in your 21st-century library.

Even though registration has closed, you’ll be able to access recordings and presentation slides from every program of the entire 2-day conference:

• Staying Committed to Great Customer Service When Your Library is in Chaos (presenter: Pat Wagner)
• 21 Ideas for 21st-Century Libraries
• Changing Reference Services to Meet Patron Expectations
• 2-1-1 and Library Partnerships
• Museums, Libraries, and 21st-Century Skills
• TechSoup for Libraries: Sustaining Technology to Serve your Patrons
• Morale Issues in your Library

source of illustration: slide 10 from the Museums, Libraries, and 21st-Century Skills presentation

TechTrends from ALA Conference 2010

If  you aren’t attending this year’s American Library Association (ALA) 2010 annual conference June 24-29th, you don’t have to miss 0ut on finding out about the tech trends that were discussed:

ALA TechSource is hosting a free webinar featuring an expert panel who’ll provide a look back at ALA Annual Conference from a library technology perspective.

Our panel will analyze and discuss what they learned and what trends stood out at the conference.

Day: Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Time: 1:30 pm CST
Cost: FREE
Register here: https://ala.ilinc.com/perl/ilinc/lms/register.pl?activity_id=vbhbkzh&user_id=

In the meantime you can keep up with what’s happening by checking the Annual Conference 2010 Dashboard.

Source: Upcoming Webinar–TechTrends: ALA Annual 2010

Public Library Association Conference Highlights

The Public Library Association (PLA) national conference was held in Portland, Oregon March 23 – 27, 2010.  If you didn’t attend, you can still get great info from the articles and blog posts from the editors of Library Journal and School Library Journal.

My favorite quotes from #PLA2010 tweets:
“Your library is as friendly as your least friendly public service employee.” [source]
“2 key phrases to avert difficult situations: I’m sorry that happened AND I can take care of that for you.” [source]

You can get program session handouts at PLA’s website; here’s a sample of what you’ll find there:

• From Not to HOT: Turning Your Unknown or Mediocre Library into the Happening Place in the Community!
• Oh, I Wish I’d Said…. (aka: Dealing with Difficult People)
• Shortcuts to Greatness or 10 Things that Great Libraries Know and Maybe You Don’t
• Safety in Small Libraries
• Every Voice Makes a Difference: Frontline Library Employee Advocacy
• The Public Library as the Homeschooler’s Library
• Signature Fundraisers for Small Public Libraries

LJ & SLJ also compiled their Picks of  the Top Tweets (messages sent via Twitter) for Wednesday, Thursday & Friday.  You can read more tweets via this Twitter search for the #pla10 hashtag and this Twazzup mashup of tweets, photos & links.

Here are samples of what you’ll find there:

• I Have These Statistics—Now What?
• The Importance of Local History Collections
• Spicing Up Teen Services
• A Strategy for Redesigning the Staff for Better Customer Service
• Reaching “Quarter-Life” Adults and Young Professionals (twentysomething and thirtysomething adults)
• It’s Never Too Late To Interact Online
• Virtual Session on Security at the Library
• New Study Illustrates Impact of Public Access Computing in Libraries

Find these and others at PLA2010 Conference News.