Continuing Education – http://www.masslibsystem.org Stronger Together Thu, 19 Apr 2018 18:50:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.4 Stronger Together Continuing Education – Stronger Together Continuing Education – http://www.masslibsystem.org/wp-content/plugins/powerpress/rss_default.jpg http://www.masslibsystem.org/blog/category/ce/ Waiting for George R.R. Martin? http://www.masslibsystem.org/blog/2018/03/15/waiting-for-george-r-r-martin/ Thu, 15 Mar 2018 15:07:24 +0000 http://www.masslibsystem.org/?p=16400 Continue reading ]]>

For seven years, fans of the series A Song of Fire and Ice have waited for the next book. And it looks like fans will have to wait a bit longer, still. In the meanwhile, library staff and their patrons may enjoy the series highlighted in the latest episode of 5 in 15.

MLS’s 5 in 15 is a series of Readers’ Advisory videos that highlight five titles, in a given topic, in 15 minutes or less. In this episode, Waiting for George R.R. Martin, Tegan Mannino, of the Monson Free Library, returns to 5 in 15 to offer up five series, similar in genre and style to Martin’s epic series.

Explore the entire 5 in 15 series, featuring MLS members and notable book reviewers. Nineteen episodes cover topics from horror to romance, non-fiction to historical fiction, British mysteries to post-apocalyptic Young Adult titles.

By the way, you can do a 5 in 15, too. Contact Consultants Anna Popp or Kristi Chadwick for more information.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
]]>
Events on Friday, March 9th Cancelled http://www.masslibsystem.org/blog/2018/03/08/events-on-friday-march-9th-cancelled/ Thu, 08 Mar 2018 20:09:35 +0000 http://www.masslibsystem.org/?p=16327 Continue reading ]]>

Due to a power outage, MLS will not be hosting the following March 9, 2018 events:

Eating the Elephant: Strategic Planning for your Library  MLS Marlborough
Facilitation Techniques for the Strategic Planning Process  MLS Marlborough

Stay tuned for new date to be announced!

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
]]>
MLS hosts Massachusetts Regional Research Institute for Public Libraries (RIPL) http://www.masslibsystem.org/blog/2018/03/07/mls-hosts-massachusetts-regional-research-institute-for-public-libraries-ripl/ Wed, 07 Mar 2018 15:56:32 +0000 http://www.masslibsystem.org/?p=16300 Continue reading ]]>

The National RIPL conference is sold out, but 50 staff members from MLS member libraries will have the opportunity to attend the Massachusetts Regional RIPL Conference, a limited engagement, two-day event taking place at the Devens Common Center, May 7 & 8, 2018 from 8:00am – 5:00pm each day.

50 participants from Massachusetts will engage in two days of hands-on, intensive workshops preparing participants to design outcome-based evaluation of programs and services, to assess the needs of your community, to employ techniques for tracking public library data and using the data for planning, management, and demonstrating the library’s worth, and to use data and stories to document the impact of your library.

Participants will walk away from the RIPL Regional with tools for evaluation, confidence in building research into their activities, and a network of colleagues for future learning and success. Past Regional RIPL attendees have described the skills learned as “practical and scalable” and “one of the most rewarding and useful professional development opportunities I have attended.”

Registration is open to staff of Massachusetts Library System members (max one person per library), and the cost is $150 which includes breakfast and lunch each day. The last day to register is April 17. For more detailed information about the RIPL Regional event, including presenter bios and the daily program, please visit the RIPL site: https://ripl.lrs.org/ma2018/.

ripl_flyer_MA201

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
]]>
Events on Wednesday, March 7th Canceled http://www.masslibsystem.org/blog/2018/03/06/events-on-wednesday-march-7th-canceled/ Tue, 06 Mar 2018 15:59:05 +0000 http://www.masslibsystem.org/?p=16283 Continue reading ]]>

Due to inclement weather conditions, we will not be hosting either of the March 7, 2018 events:

How to Rock Your Summer Library Program for Teens and Adults  Levi Heywood Memorial Library, Gardner

How to Rock Your Summer Library Program for Early Literacy and Children  Levi Heywood Memorial Library, Gardner

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
]]>
Strategic Planning: Is Your Library Future-Ready? http://www.masslibsystem.org/blog/2018/02/12/strategic-planning-is-your-library-future-ready/ Mon, 12 Feb 2018 20:23:41 +0000 http://www.masslibsystem.org/?p=16123 Continue reading ]]>

Michelle Eberle

Technology disruption has made it critical for libraries to develop strategies to be future-ready.  We’ve seen a rapid adoption of smart voice assistant devices such as Alexa this past year.  I’m sure you continue to hear from family and friends that they can find any information they need on Google. And the Pew Research Center recently reported that a quarter of American adults said they haven’t read a book in whole or part in the last year.  On top of that, our country is in-crisis faced with an increase in racism, income inequality, stress, gun violence, and political division.  What do these issues mean for the future of our libraries and our communities?  How can libraries respond to not just remain relevant and essential, but to become positive change agents for social justice? What do we need to do to prepare our libraries for a successful future?

Strategic planning!  Strategic planning is a key process to prepare for a successful future.  It’s common knowledge that the MBLC requires a strategic plan in order for a library to qualify for LSTA funding or construction grants.  Maybe your library is not interested in these two opportunities?  Then, why should you still use strategic planning? For three important reasons:

  • Planning empowers your library to make the greatest impact possible by developing a mission, vision, goals, and objectives to guide your activities.
  • Planning helps you tailor services to meet the specific needs of you community.
  • Planning cultivates devoted and enthusiastic champions for your library.

Strategic planning will guide your library’s future through creation of a livable, breathable document created in collaboration with your community.  A strategic plan serves as a map for your journey, not a rigid policy.  When you create or update your library’s mission and vision, it helps you identify where to invest your resources for new initiatives, services, and programs to make the maximum impact and community benefit. By specifying goals, measurable objectives, and activities, you chart a course to guide your decisions, identify the most critical services and programs to support and implement, and improve staff performance.  Strategic planning is essential for change management.

By getting to know the specific needs of your community during the strategic planning process, your library will be able to create tailored services and programs that best serve your local needs.  You can assess your community’s needs in a variety of ways including research, surveys, forums, and conversations.  Strategic planning will help you identify your library’s strengths and untapped opportunities, and create a community-centered plan of action.

Strategic planning develops champions, allies, and friends!  People love to share their opinions and be a part of the process. The process helps you further connect with devoted patrons, identify opportunities to build your patron-base, and cultivate new library users.  Developing a strategic planning task force with diverse representation from your community and/or hosting forums will help you create the most effective and beneficial plan, while generating good will and enthusiastic champions.

Are you ready to get started with a plan or is it time for you to update your plan?  Did you know that Massachusetts Library System provides consultation for strategic planning for all types of libraries?  You can reach out to Kristi Chadwick, April Mazza, and me.  To get started, take a look at the MBLC’s Planning site and especially the parts of a strategic plan.  Also, check out the MLS Strategic Planning for Libraries resource guide with tips, tools, and even sample plans.

The Massachusetts Library System is offering two workshops this spring to help you prepare to start your strategic planning process or brush up on your skills. Interested?  Register now to attend the Eating the Elephant:  Strategic Planning for Your Library and the Facilitation Techniques for the Strategic Planning Process workshops offered at various locations throughout the Commonwealth. Hope you can attend!

Strategic planning guides your library on a clear path to a successful future!

By Michelle Eberle, MSLIS, AHIP

michelle@masslibsystem.org

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
]]>
Announcing Spring CE Calendar http://www.masslibsystem.org/blog/2018/01/31/announcing-spring-ce-calendar/ Wed, 31 Jan 2018 16:13:35 +0000 http://www.masslibsystem.org/?p=16004 Continue reading ]]>

It may not be Spring outside our windows just yet, but it’s time for us to present our Spring 2018 Training Calendar!

Members of our training team have spent the past few months crafting some wonderful training opportunities for our members, including in-person half- and full-day events, webinars, presentations with special guests, and discussion forums. You don’t want to miss out.

Spring CE workshop offerings:

How to Rock your Summer Library Program for Teens and Adults with April Mazza and Michelle Eberle
How to Rock your Summer Library Program for Early Literacy and Children with April Mazza and Michelle Eberle
Register

Eating the Elephant: Strategic Planning for Your Library with Kristi Chadwick
Facilitation Techniques for the Strategic Planning Process with Sarah Donnelly
Register

Building Inclusive Collections: Why Cultural Competence is Essential in Libraries with Christi Farrar and Special Guest Mitali Perkins at select sessions
Building Inclusive Collections: How to Create a More Diverse Library Collection with Christi Farrar
Register

Email Marketing with Anna Popp
Register

In addition to the above, we’ll have several unique opportunities to engage with experts and colleagues on broader topics:

Marketing webinar series with Jennifer Burke
1 in 5: Disability Essentials in Your Library 2018 webinar series
Summer Reading and Learning webinar series
Research Institute for Public Libraries (RIPL), May 7 and 8 –registration and further info will be available in mid-February
Facing the Future: Facilitating Climate Change Conversations at Your Library with Madeleine Charney

Registration and further information can be found on our calendar: calendar.masslibsystem.org

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
]]>
1 in 5: Disability Essentials in Your Library – a Spring 2018 webinar series http://www.masslibsystem.org/blog/2018/01/22/1-in-5-disability-essentials-in-your-library-a-spring-2018-webinar-series/ Mon, 22 Jan 2018 14:13:46 +0000 http://www.masslibsystem.org/?p=15711 Continue reading ]]>

We are excited to announce the 1 in 5 Disability Essentials in Your Library webinar series, a continuation of the 1 in 5 program. Please join us, webinars are free and suitable for all.

Tuesday, January 30, 12-1pm
Accessibility and Electronic Resources: A Case Study on Evaluating eBooks
Register Now!

Vendors often claim that their products are accessibility-compliant and easy to use, but is that really true? In this session, we’ll examine some ways in which you can evaluate your electronic resources for accessibility and usability. Using the context of eBooks, we’ll discuss rubrics, VPATs, and the do’s and don’ts of accessibility testing. Libraries with dedicated accessibility software may find this session the most useful but with accessibility features built into smartphones and devices, library staff members from all library types are encouraged to attend.

Learning Outcomes:
• Introductory knowledge of accessibility in libraries
• Methods for evaluating accessibility of electronic resources in libraries
• Lessons learned from a case study of live-testing eBooks for accessibility

Speaker: Tressa Santillo, Electronic Resources Coordinator, Massachusetts Library System

Monday, February 12, 2-3pm
Disability on the Shelf: Looking for Representation in Library Collections
Register Now!

When asked, we all can think of a book, movie, or TV show that features a disabled character, but we don’t often think about the representation itself. With diversity and representation increasingly a part of our Collection Development practices, it is important we don’t continue to overlook this aspect. In this webinar, we invite participants to learn about disability, to gain an awareness of representation, and learn vocabulary and resources to evaluate materials.

Learning Outcomes:
• Introduction to disability as a facet of diversity representation
• Concepts of disability
• Awareness of tropes, stereotypes, and representation in popular media
• Vocabulary to discuss and evaluate materials
• Resources

Presenter: Tegan Mannino, Circulation Supervisor & Cataloger, Monson Free Library

Save the Dates!

Monday, March 12, 10-11am
Is Everyone Invited? Accessible Events at your Library

Tuesday, September 11, 12-1pm
Autistics in the Library: How Libraries Can More Effectively Serve Patrons and Employees on the Spectrum

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
]]>
Project SET at NELA http://www.masslibsystem.org/blog/2017/11/21/project-set-at-nela/ Tue, 21 Nov 2017 18:55:31 +0000 http://www.masslibsystem.org/?p=14941 Continue reading ]]>

MLS Consultant April Mazza, one of the facilitators of Project SET, reflects on a recent Project SET conference presenation.

librarian, Rob Lorino, at a podium with presentation slide featured behind him

Rob Lorino

Two past Project SET participants presented at the New England Library Association 2017 conference in Burlington, VT in October. Rob Lorino, Adult Services Librarian at the Robbins Library in Arlington, presented “It’s Time For Libraries To Level Up!” an extension of their ignite session from the 2016 MLS Annual Meeting. Rob explained the research and background regarding video games and their inclusion in library collection. They talked about their own experience circulating games and also shared insights and information from other libraries making the session very comprehensive. At the conclusion Rob expertly provided practical tips on starting a game collection including tips on buying and security. If anyone listening wasn’t convinced about having video games in their library they were after Rob’s presentation!

librarian Bill Mongelli standing at a podium and speaking

Bill Mongelli

Bill Mongelli presented “I need a good laugh: How to Give a Laughter-as-Therapy Program in Your Library” based on the programming he has done as Librarian at MCI-Norfolk. With a title like that most people came prepared to laugh but they also learned a lot. There are different kinds of stress and different types of humor and Bill explained the benefits of laughter therapy and why a library might want to run a program for patrons and/or staff. He explained how an extensive program like his at the prison could be tailored for shorter library sessions. He also provided resources and explained how to find a certified laughter yogi in your area.

Both Rob and Bill really amazed me with their presentations – they were interesting, engaging, and very informative. I don’t think I am being biased because I work on Project SET, I really think they stood out from the many great programs at NELA because they were clearly passionate and knowledgeable about their topics. Also, they both had really fun visuals!

a picture of a presentation slide featuring a cat. It's a librarian thing - cats everywhere.

Project SET also provided for the requisite cat sighting at any library event.

Rob’s presentation slides can be found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5URcN36V8kXSVB6d0tRSVlnLUU/view

Bill’s resources are at the NELA website: http://conference2017.nelib.org/conference-presentations-handouts/

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
]]>
Hit the Road with Stacey Knibloe http://www.masslibsystem.org/blog/2017/10/19/hit-the-road-with-stacey-knibloe/ Thu, 19 Oct 2017 15:50:18 +0000 http://www.masslibsystem.org/?p=13999 Continue reading ]]>

portrait of Stacey Knibloe a trainer of Gale databasesOur amazing Gale trainer, Stacey Knibloe, is coming to town!  Don’t miss your chance to learn the ins and outs of Gale from one of the best.  Register now!

Show times:

October 30 in Northampton at 1:30 and 4:30
October 31 in Marlborough
November 1 in Methuen at 1:30
November 2 in Pembroke at 1:30 and Kingston at 4:00logo for Gale, A Cengage Company

Each session will include gift card giveaways and, at the end of the week, we’ll have a drawing of all attendees for an Amazon Echo Dot!

Can’t make it to the live show?  Access recorded webinars anytime, anywhere!

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
]]>
Save The Date! Disability essentials program coming in December http://www.masslibsystem.org/blog/2017/10/16/save-the-date-disability-essentials-program-coming-in-december/ Mon, 16 Oct 2017 18:29:54 +0000 http://www.masslibsystem.org/?p=13948 Continue reading ]]>

1 in 5: Disability Essentials In Your Library

According to federal statistics, one in five people in the United States has a disability. How can libraries better understand and support this population, and welcome them among our patrons and staff? Join us for this program, which will include:

  • Disabilities 101 – history, types, incidence, language, etc.
  • A design thinking activity to help you assess your library community’s specific needs
  • An opportunity to experience firsthand what it’s like to navigate the world in a wheelchair, use assistive software to access the internet, and more!
  • A panel on how to recruit and support staff with disabilities
  • Plenty of resources for follow-up!

Featured speaker: Mare Parker O’Toole, Assistant Director of the Earl Center for Learning and Innovation, Wheelock College

Friday, December 8
9:00am – 3:00pm
at the Earl Center for Learning and Innovation, Wheelock College

Registration is not yet open, but you want to mark your calendars. Attendance will be limited.

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
]]>
http://www.masslibsystem.org/blog/category/ce/feed/
www.masslibsystem.org
crawl=CC-MAIN-2018-17
42513
application/http; msgtype=response
sha1:LFA6AQ2WG2GTNM5IJ6OANOJN4QHDEVXT
<urn:uuid:feb5e317-3285-4cdb-a4ef-5f5b70cd5f7a>
2018-04-21T23:20:02Z
209.23.242.12
application/rss+xml
sha1:M5KFJRQK6Z63DMMUL7S6LHYWS4UGNWF7
<urn:uuid:6d5241a3-ce4a-4ebb-aa9c-3e4d43da1103>
http://www.masslibsystem.org/blog/category/ce/feed/
length
response
<urn:uuid:0ec2b4d9-7afe-47c6-8aaa-32b27c2e6d9e>
robots: classic
hostname: ip-10-167-183-93.ec2.internal
software: Nutch 1.6 (CC)
isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2018-17
operator: Common Crawl Admin
description: Wide crawl of the web for April 2018
publisher: Common Crawl
format: WARC File Format 1.0
conformsTo: http://bibnum.bnf.fr/WARC/WARC_ISO_28500_version1_latestdraft.pdf