News Archive for October 2011    

Technology minded staff and customer service driven ideas will collide.  Plan to attend this virtual conference with us on Thursday, December 8 from 10-6.  Plan to drop in to view and discuss technology ideas in this exciting online conference: Virtual Technology Summit, Power to the Patrons: From Systems to Services.

The Capital Area Library District purchased a site license so librarians from our area can gather in one room to learn and discuss during a virtual conference.  Here’s the registration link:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TechSummitPowertoPatron

What: Virtual Tech Summit: Power to the Patron, From Systems to Services: Library Journal presents our first virtual technology summit, Power to the Patron: From Systems to Services. This full-day event will examine the technologies that empower users on the front end (what they see) and the behind-the-scenes systems that make such self-service and digital delivery possible. The day will offer a keynote presentation and panels covering what people are using, what they want, and how the self-service option helps people discover their place in the library or simplifies the library/user connection.

When: Thursday Dec. 8, 10am – 6pm EDT. The room will be open at 10a.m. for orientation, setup and local discussion. 11a.m. is the first official “presentation” of the day. Breaks occur throughout the day and discussions will be held before and after speakers/presenters. Feel free to drop in for any part you can attend that interests you for the future of your library. Here’s the program: http://www.thedigitalshift.com/events/tech-summit/program/

Where: Kline Library (in Harrisburg, PA) Need directions: Click here

Who Should Attend: If you work for a library and are interested in learning about how system technologies interact with customer needs, you can attend. The speakers are well known professionals with lots of good information and we’ll have some great local discussions. Feel free to invite someone else in your professional network of librarians to tag along with you too.

Why?: The program is full of exciting content and ideas for the future of technology used by customers in libraries of all types. Find your digital inspiration!

How much does it cost?: This virtual conference event is FREE for staff and invited guests of the Capital Area Library District. The district purchased a site license so we can fill the room. We’ll be watching it together as a group and can discuss things during breaks.

Will I get CE Credits?: Attendees can report 5 hours of CE credits for attending this day. If you can’t attend the whole day, feel free to drop by the classroom at any time to join the discussion. You’ll get CE credits for active time spent in class.

Will you feed me?: Brown Bags are encouraged; bring your own lunch or choose to bring a snack to share. At KL, there is a very small place to keep foods refrigerated for the day as needed.

For more information and to register today: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TechSummitPowertoPatron

The DCLS Reference Center began a series of videotaped mini-trainings to allow front-line staff to train remotely. The purpose of the trainings is to better equip staff in basic reference transactions. The topics include web searching techniques, a look at the features of the newly acquired EBSCO databases, including MasterFILE Premier and 4 subject area Reference Centers – Biography, History, Literary and Science. . . and more! Included in the trainings are a video and a worksheet for practice.

Take some time to check out these worthwhile training tools.

Database Overview

Database video  Database worksheet

EBSCO Overview

EBSCO video   EBSCO worksheet

Web Searching Tips & Tricks

Web searching tips and tricks video  Web Searching worksheet

At the DLC Consultant’s session, Beth B. from the Office of Commonwealth Libraries distributed a few copies of a brochure form CCAHA, Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts.

The brochure highlights training programs in PA during June 2012-May 2013 including:

• Preservation Best Practices for Optimal Collections Care
• Digitization Basics
• Understanding Archives: An Introduction to Archival Basics

If you know someone who may be interested in attending, please direct them to view the calendar of dates and locations,  register, or to contact Presevation Services for more information.

If you’d like a copy of the brochure, ask your district consultant!

Soon, we’ll share links to view the archives of the recent online Ebooks conference presentations with those in our district who are interested. The group enjoyed thinking about the situation and had some good conversations too.

For now, if you missed the event and still want some knowledge, read a few of these articles.

Here are the first two responses to the evaluation from our group that had a site license:
-”Folks will come to us” no longer true. We need to go to them physically and digitally. Ebook mobile lab went into stores and restaurants to show people how to download e-books. Librarians of the future will not be curators of content but Content Collaborators.

-1. As public libraries, I think we must answer the question, “What experiences can we offer to eBook users who routinely buy books and don’t use libraries?” And do something about it, FAST! 2. We’re in a “Catch 22″ situation, we need to increase eBook use to justify the expense of selection, but we can’t increase use unless we have the books that potential customers want. Even if we implemented a “whiz-bang” promotional campaign for loaning eBooks, the result is likely to be potential patrons turned off by lack of availability of titles they want; immediately. Immediate gratification is one of the best features of eBooks. 3. The Digital Public Library of America to me seems to be a watershed concept. It feels like the early days of cooperative cataloging and OCLC, which was the start of a world of change for libraries brought on by technology. I think libraries are in a similar place with eBooks and DPLA could fill the role OCLC did in the last revolution.

We’ll continue to post more evaluation feedback. Please share your thoughts about eBooks too.

Join the Friends of Bosler Memorial Library as they host Wine and Words with famed author David Baldacci.

For more information go to the sponsor site: Meet David Baldacci at Wine and Words reception

Friday, October 21, 2011
7 pm to 9 pm
Wine & Hors d’oeuvres
$60 pp
Limited to 75 tickets

For tickets, fill out the form click here, $60 per ticket, and send to Beth Coolidge, P O Box 730, Carlisle, PA 17013. No phone calls please. Adults only. Limited to 4 tickets per person. Checks payable to Friends of Bosler Library. Hurry, first come, first serve.

Friends of Bosler Library present:
A Central Pennsylvania Book Festival
There will be events for all ages:
• Authors, publishers, illustrators & book sellers
• Used books for sale
• Children’s authors and activities
• Wert Bookbinding
• “Get Published” panel
• Celebrity Story Time featuring Senator Pat Vance, Valerie Pritchett of ABC27, and more!
• Writing Workshops
• Storyteller Tim Tingle

Learn about the Wine & Words event with David Baldacci.

Saturday, Oct. 22
9 am to 4 pm
Carlisle Expo Center
100 K Street
Carlisle, PA 17013

* $5 Adults
* Children 12 & Under Free
* Food
* Free Parking

This workshop is for school and public librarians. The LibGuides tool is a great way to organize library information – especially in the area of reference. It will likely be offered again in the spring. Access to software is available until September 2012 (unless PDE extends the contract.) If you would like to register for the Digital Collection Development workshop, please click on the link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/OctDigitalCollectionDev
===================================

This PDE/Commonwealth Libraries Professional Development Workshop will apply traditional collection development methodologies to the “curation” – selection, organization, and professional presentation – of digital content, services, and tools.

Designed for school and public librarians who work with children and teens, this workshop will focus on the application of LibGuides , a media-rich, easy-to-use platform that can become your virtual library “parking lot” to present web resources, both content and tools.

Specifically, participants will learn to:

* Embrace an expanded concept of “collection” to include digital content and tools,
* Apply collection development strategies to digital resources,
* Recognize the library user as selector, collaborator, and information producer,
* Learn to use some basic types of digital tools appropriate for K-12 students,
* Create a digital guide or pathfinder with LibGuides, selecting traditional resources and digital content and web-based tools.

All trained workshop participants will receive one-year free access to LibGuides, a commercial, licensed web product, paid by PDE. Resources for this workshop—Powerpoint, handouts, and online resources—will be made available online via WebJunction. Workshop participants will be expected to download all materials from WebJunction and may need to bring a laptop with wireless access to the training in order to create a LibGuides electronic pathfinder.

Please join us at the Central Dauphin High School Library (437 Piketown Road, Harrisburg) on October 25 and 26 from 4:30pm – 7:30pm each evening. PLEASE NOTE LOCATION CHANGE FROM OUR INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT. Feel free to pack your dinner and eat while we meet!

Trainers Carolyn Blatchley and Brenda Blackburn-Foster will teach you to use LibGuides, and you will obtain free access for your school or public library through September 2012. The workshop is designed for six hours of instruction and practice over two consecutive evenings.

The Office of Commonwealth Libraries, within the Pennsylvania Department of Education, will award 6 hours of Act 48 credit to those who complete the workshop, and it will count as Continuing Education for public librarians. Participants must complete a workshop evaluation to obtain credit.

This workshop is for school and public librarians. The LibGuides tool is a great way to organize library information – especially in the area of reference. It will likely be offered again in the spring. Access to software is available until September 2012 (unless PDE extends the contract.) If you would like to register for the Digital Collection Development workshop, please click on the link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/OctDigitalCollectionDev
===================================

This PDE/Commonwealth Libraries Professional Development Workshop will apply traditional collection development methodologies to the “curation” – selection, organization, and professional presentation – of digital content, services, and tools.

Designed for school and public librarians who work with children and teens, this workshop will focus on the application of LibGuides <http://palibraries.libguides.com/civilwar>, a media-rich, easy-to-use platform that can become your virtual library “parking lot” to present web resources, both content and tools.

Specifically, participants will learn to:

* Embrace an expanded concept of “collection” to include digital content and tools,
* Apply collection development strategies to digital resources,
* Recognize the library user as selector, collaborator, and information producer,
* Learn to use some basic types of digital tools appropriate for K-12 students,
* Create a digital guide or pathfinder with LibGuides, selecting traditional resources and digital content and web-based tools.

All trained workshop participants will receive one-year free access to LibGuides, a commercial, licensed web product, paid by PDE. Resources for this workshop—Powerpoint, handouts, and online resources—will be made available online via WebJunction. Workshop participants will be expected to download all materials from WebJunction and may need to bring a laptop with wireless access to the training in order to create a LibGuides electronic pathfinder.

Please join us at the Central Dauphin High School Library (437 Piketown Road, Harrisburg) on October 25 and 26 from 4:30pm – 7:30pm each evening. PLEASE NOTE LOCATION CHANGE FROM OUR INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT. Feel free to pack your dinner and eat while we meet!

Trainers Carolyn Blatchley and Brenda Blackburn-Foster will teach you to use LibGuides, and you will obtain free access for your school or public library through September 2012. The workshop is designed for six hours of instruction and practice over two consecutive evenings.

The Office of Commonwealth Libraries, within the Pennsylvania Department of Education, will award 6 hours of Act 48 credit to those who complete the workshop, and it will count as Continuing Education for public librarians. Participants must complete a workshop evaluation to obtain credit.