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ALA 2010 Training Showcase On YouTube

June 28, 2010 By

Howdy from ALA 2010.

It is hot and humid. Really hot and humid. If you are attending ALA and missed the Training Showcase to take a dip in your hotel pool, I understand.  So if you were otherwise engaged in cooling off activities or were unable to make your way here to Washington DC, do not fret.

Each of the exhibitors has a short video giving their “elevator speech” about why they were at the Training Showcase and what they have to offer to the LearnRT community.

There are also a few short Learning RoundTable “recruitment’ videos by some ALA Learning members present at the Showcase.

Here is Stacy as an excellent example of the brief but effective videos. You can find the rest bu clicking the playlist links above.  I hope these videos give you a flavor of the great Learning RoundTable ALA 2010 Training Showcase.

Maurice Coleman

Maurice Coleman, has been Technical Trainer at Harford County (MD) Public Library in North Eastern Maryland for the last 7 years. He has 20 years of experience training all ages how to sensibly use technology, computer hardware and software. He has also trained on effective technology planning and deployment, social media skills, nonprofit organizational development and fundraising, community organizing and presentation skills. He has presented at numerous conferences on topics such as digital personal branding, technology implementation, presentation and training skills, community development and effectively using social media. He hosts the library training podcast T is for Training and writes for the American Library Association’s LearnRT blog ALALearning. For his work he was named a 2010 Library Journal Mover and Shaker and received the Citizens for Maryland Libraries Davis McCarn Technology Award. You can find him on twitter @baldgeekinmd

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Free Web Seminar – Building An Online Community In Your State

June 9, 2010 By

Tomorrow, Thursday June 10th, ALA Learning writer Maurice Coleman, along with Nini Beegen, Maryland Online Learning Coordinator, Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Library and Development Services are presenting a web seminar tomorrow at 1 pm eastern time for WebJunction about Building An Online Community In Your State.

Click here to register for this free web seminar.

I hope to see you all tomorrow.

Maurice Coleman

Maurice Coleman, has been Technical Trainer at Harford County (MD) Public Library in North Eastern Maryland for the last 7 years. He has 20 years of experience training all ages how to sensibly use technology, computer hardware and software. He has also trained on effective technology planning and deployment, social media skills, nonprofit organizational development and fundraising, community organizing and presentation skills. He has presented at numerous conferences on topics such as digital personal branding, technology implementation, presentation and training skills, community development and effectively using social media. He hosts the library training podcast T is for Training and writes for the American Library Association’s LearnRT blog ALALearning. For his work he was named a 2010 Library Journal Mover and Shaker and received the Citizens for Maryland Libraries Davis McCarn Technology Award. You can find him on twitter @baldgeekinmd

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Filed Under: E-Learning, Professional Development, Resources for Trainers, Social Learning, Synchronous Learning, Webinars Tagged With:

Join Us Tomorrow for T is for Training 45 at 2pm Eastern

April 22, 2010 By

Join us for our 45th episode which will most likely include the following subjects:

Computers In Libraries 2010 - Reports from those who went in person or attended virtually.  What did you learn, how did your presentations go, favorite and least favorite moments…

Thoughts on the use of the backchannel when presenting.  Are you for or against?

Competencies and Training Needs Assessments – how do you do it, have you done it, what works and what doesn’t work…  We’ll be discussing WebJunction’s wonderful resources.

The full post, including participating instructions is here.

Hope to see you then.  Especially those of you who attended CIL2010.  We’d love to hear your reports!  Everyone is welcome and it’s YOUR input that makes for a great show.  If you cannot join us, catch all of the episodes in the handy sidebar on the right hand side of the ALA Learning Blog.

Stephanie Zimmerman

Stephanie Zimmerman is the Training Coordinator for the Library System of Lancaster County (Pennsylvania), a federated system with 14 member libraries, three branches and a bookmobile, which serves 490,562 residents. She designs and implements technology and development training and consulting to the member libraries. This includes training on Innovative’s Millennium Integrated Library System, Microsoft Office Applications, emerging technologies (i.e. social media) and various other areas. Her goal is to remove the fear of technology and help others to realize the amazing possibilities it provides. Teaching others to do things for themselves and see their excitement when they break through their barriers is her greatest reward. Stephanie has been a software trainer for 15 years. Her past employment involved training on federal and county government applications. She also worked for a private industry marketing company where she traveled across the country showing manufacturers and retailers in the consumer packaged goods industry how to use geodemographic targeting software. Always wanting to help others, Stephanie graduated from Millersville University (in Pennsylvania) cum laude with a BA in Social Work. She was also a student in the Computer Information Systems program at Harrisburg Area Community College. She is a member of ASTD (American Society of Training and Development). She is also a regular contributor to the T is for Training podcast which focuses on training in libraries. She was a trainer for WebJunction’s Spanish Language Outreach project and has done training for Commonwealth Libraries. She is grateful to have landed in the world of libraries. When she began her current job in January of 2004, there were no other library trainers in her immediate area. She turned to the social web to begin networking with other library trainers across the world and immediately realized her passion for social networking and social media. All of her continuing education has been done through these networks and she can’t help but push others to discover the immense opportunities available through online collaboration. Stephanie lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania with her family which includes husband, Bill (a self-employed stay-at-home-dad) and two children (ages 2 and 4 months). When she’s not being Mommy, or working, you’ll most likely find her singing. Stephanie can be reached at szimmerman[at]lancasterlibraries.org.

Filed Under: Cool Tools, Free Stuff, LearnRT News, Professional Development, Resources for Trainers, The Training Life Tagged With: ,

Join us today for T is for Training 42 at 2pm Eastern

March 26, 2010 By

Join us for our 42nd episode which will most likely include the following subjects: Keynote speeches: Giving and getting – What makes a good-great keynote speech? What tips do people have for giving a not good but great keynote?  What have you liked/not liked about keynotes?

Dealing with Instructional Burnout: How do you or do you deal with training burnout?

The Training Cornucopia: Save the libraries.org ; Plans for CIL’s: The Learning Track and the Live Taping and Movers and Shakers

The full post, including participating instructions is at http://wp.me/piQy4-ay

Hope to see you then.  If you cannot join us, catch all of the episodes in the handy sidebar on the right hand side of the ALA Learning Blog.

Maurice Coleman

Maurice Coleman, has been Technical Trainer at Harford County (MD) Public Library in North Eastern Maryland for the last 7 years. He has 20 years of experience training all ages how to sensibly use technology, computer hardware and software. He has also trained on effective technology planning and deployment, social media skills, nonprofit organizational development and fundraising, community organizing and presentation skills. He has presented at numerous conferences on topics such as digital personal branding, technology implementation, presentation and training skills, community development and effectively using social media. He hosts the library training podcast T is for Training and writes for the American Library Association’s LearnRT blog ALALearning. For his work he was named a 2010 Library Journal Mover and Shaker and received the Citizens for Maryland Libraries Davis McCarn Technology Award. You can find him on twitter @baldgeekinmd

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Filed Under: Cool Tools, Free Stuff, LearnRT News, Professional Development, Resources for Trainers, Social Learning, The Training Life Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

T is for Training 40 will be created tomorrow

February 25, 2010 By

Tomorrow marks the 40th episode taping of the Library Training Podcast, T is for Training which is sponsored by the ALA Learning blog.

Detailed notes about the podcast are visible here: Trainers Assemble! (Up next on tomorrow’s T is for Training)

You can listen to past episodes of the podcast by clicking on the widget on the top right side of this page.

Thanks for listening!

Maurice Coleman

Maurice Coleman, has been Technical Trainer at Harford County (MD) Public Library in North Eastern Maryland for the last 7 years. He has 20 years of experience training all ages how to sensibly use technology, computer hardware and software. He has also trained on effective technology planning and deployment, social media skills, nonprofit organizational development and fundraising, community organizing and presentation skills. He has presented at numerous conferences on topics such as digital personal branding, technology implementation, presentation and training skills, community development and effectively using social media. He hosts the library training podcast T is for Training and writes for the American Library Association’s LearnRT blog ALALearning. For his work he was named a 2010 Library Journal Mover and Shaker and received the Citizens for Maryland Libraries Davis McCarn Technology Award. You can find him on twitter @baldgeekinmd

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Filed Under: LearnRT News, Professional Development, Resources for Trainers, The Training Life Tagged With: ,

TEDx for Libraries: Dynamic programming for FREE!

January 13, 2010 By

Here’s another great webinar from Infopeople:

Date and time: Thursday, January 21, 2010, 12 pm – 1:00 pm Pacific Standard Time

This webinar will last approximately one hour. There is no charge for this webinar.  Pre-registration is not required.

For more information and to participate in the January 21 webinar, go here.

Times are tough. Your programming budget (if you still have one) has probably been slashed. Yet customers are relying on the library more than ever for free, quality programs that entertain, challenge and educate them. What’s a busy librarian to do?

TEDx events give libraries a great way to provide top-notch programming to their communities, for free! Using free content from A-list TED conference speakers and a proven program model, you can tailor an event to your community’s needs, whether you’re planning for 15 or 100 people.

By the end of this webinar, attendees will:
-Understand what a TEDx event is
-Be familiar with the application process and basic requirements for hosting a TEDx event
-Know where to go to get started planning a TEDx event

Join presenter Genesis Hansen as she introduces a fantastic programming resource for time- and cash-strapped libraries.

Speaker: Genesis Hansen.  Genesis got her MLIS from San Jose State in 2003, and since 2004 has worked at the Newport Beach Public Library. She has been a Reference Librarian, Young Adult Librarian, Web Services Librarian and is currently the Reference and Web Services Coordinator.  Genesis is interested in providing customers with the best experience at every point of contact with the library, including designing the website for better usability, improving wayfinding in brick and mortar locations, enhancing collections and developing creative and dynamic programs.

If you are unable to attend the live event, you can access the archived version the day following the webinar.  Check the archive listing here.

Webinar: TEDx for Libraries: Dynamic programming for FREE!
Date: Thursday, January 21, 2010
Time: 12pm – 1:00pm Pacific Standard Time
Speaker: Genesis Hansen

Stephanie Zimmerman

Stephanie Zimmerman is the Training Coordinator for the Library System of Lancaster County (Pennsylvania), a federated system with 14 member libraries, three branches and a bookmobile, which serves 490,562 residents. She designs and implements technology and development training and consulting to the member libraries. This includes training on Innovative’s Millennium Integrated Library System, Microsoft Office Applications, emerging technologies (i.e. social media) and various other areas. Her goal is to remove the fear of technology and help others to realize the amazing possibilities it provides. Teaching others to do things for themselves and see their excitement when they break through their barriers is her greatest reward. Stephanie has been a software trainer for 15 years. Her past employment involved training on federal and county government applications. She also worked for a private industry marketing company where she traveled across the country showing manufacturers and retailers in the consumer packaged goods industry how to use geodemographic targeting software. Always wanting to help others, Stephanie graduated from Millersville University (in Pennsylvania) cum laude with a BA in Social Work. She was also a student in the Computer Information Systems program at Harrisburg Area Community College. She is a member of ASTD (American Society of Training and Development). She is also a regular contributor to the T is for Training podcast which focuses on training in libraries. She was a trainer for WebJunction’s Spanish Language Outreach project and has done training for Commonwealth Libraries. She is grateful to have landed in the world of libraries. When she began her current job in January of 2004, there were no other library trainers in her immediate area. She turned to the social web to begin networking with other library trainers across the world and immediately realized her passion for social networking and social media. All of her continuing education has been done through these networks and she can’t help but push others to discover the immense opportunities available through online collaboration. Stephanie lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania with her family which includes husband, Bill (a self-employed stay-at-home-dad) and two children (ages 2 and 4 months). When she’s not being Mommy, or working, you’ll most likely find her singing. Stephanie can be reached at szimmerman[at]lancasterlibraries.org.

Filed Under: Professional Development, Webinars Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Staff Day Success: A Free Webinar

November 30, 2009 By

From InfoPeople:


Title: Staff Day Success!  Tips for Planning, Delivering, and Evaluating All-Staff Events


Date and time: Thursday, December 3, 2009, 12 pm – 1:00 pm Pacific Standard Time


This webinar will last approximately one hour. There is no charge for this webinar.  Pre-registration is not required.


For more information and to participate in the December 3 webinar, go to http://infopeople.org/training/webcasts/webcast_data/306/index.html


Are you involved with planning and implementing an all-staff event at your library? Thinking about a staff day and wondering about the next steps? A staff day may be a regularly scheduled opportunity for team building and morale boosting or may be a day specifically scheduled because of a building program, planning process or other shift in strategic directions.


Whatever the goals for the day, it’s a day with high expectations that is often produced on a shoestring budget by those who are not professional event planners. Planning responsibilities may include finding speakers (often at low or no cost), arranging a venue, dealing with room setups and equipment, developing lunch plans, and ultimately creating a valuable learning experience for library staff.


Those attending the webinar will learn about:


A planning process that involves library leadership as well as employees in all parts of the library

  • Ideas for creative free or low-cost programs
  • The importance of “over-communication” and why branding is part of communication
  • How to evaluate and document the event to leave a legacy for future staff day planners


Join presenter Mary Ross – who has planned and implemented numerous all-staff events, as well as library-related conferences, workshops and training-as she shares tips, tricks and strategies for success. You’ll be able to tackle the challenges in planning and delivering an all-staff event, resulting in a day that is valuable to and celebrates the value of all employees.


Speaker: Mary Bucher Ross.  Mary Ross has over 25 years of experience working in public libraries and managed the staff training and development program at the Seattle Public Library for eight years. Under contract to the Washington State Library, she designed “Anytime, Anywhere Answers” and “The Virtual Reference Adventure,” online training programs for virtual reference providers. She has also designed courses for WebJunction and LibraryU. She is co-author of Virtual Reference Training: The Complete Guide to Providing Anytime, Anywhere Answers, published by ALA Editions in 2004. Currently continuing education coordinator for the Washington Library Association, she is also on the board of directors of the Continuing Library Education Network and Round Table (CLENERT) and was a delegate to ALA’s 2nd and 3rd Congresses on Professional Education.


If you are unable to attend the live event, you can access the archived version the day following the webinar.  Check our archive listing at:


http://www.infopeople.org/training/webcasts/list/archived


Webinar: Staff Day Success! Tips for Planning, Delivering, and Evaluating All-Staff Events

Date: Thursday, December 3, 2009

Time: 12pm – 1:00 pm Pacific Standard Time

Speaker: Mary Bucher Ross

Lori Reed

Lori Reed, Managing Editor of ALA Learning, has more than 15 years experience in training and is the Learning & Development Coordinator for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library where she oversees the learning & development of a diverse group of staff at twenty libraries. Lori’s passions are performance consulting, learning strategies, and e-learning. Lori is coauthor, with Paul Signorelli, of Workplace Learning and Leadership: A Handbook for Library and Nonprofit Trainers. Lori also blogs at LoriReed.com and can be reached at lori[at]lorireed.com.

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Revitalizing the Library Experience: A Free Webinar

November 13, 2009 By

From InfoPeople:


Information has become an off-shored commodity. Google handles more questions in a second than a reference librarian will answer in a career. Social gatherings have moved to online networks. Why come to a library? For the experience! If your members still experience your library the way they did in the 1990s (1950s?), perhaps it’s time to rethink and revitalize. In this webinar, library consultants Joan Frye Williams and George Needham will reprise their popular presentation from this year’s ASCLA President’s Program. They’ll describe new ways to present your services to the world. By the end of this webinar, you will:


  • Understand the difference between passive and active library experiences, and how to make each work in your favor;
  • Know what makes an environment inspiring to independent learners;
  • Learn several ways to “layer” library services for increased impact;
  • See how you can plan library services around life’s predictable passages.


As always, George and Joan will challenge you to rethink how you do business, turning some old stereotypes on their ears while refreshing our notions as well as our services. The tips and techniques covered here won’t necessarily cost more money, but they will help make your work more valuable and more fun.


Speakers: Joan Frye Williams and George Needham.


Joan Frye Williams – For more than 25 years Joan Frye Williams (joan@jfwilliams.com) has been a successful librarian, consultant, vendor, planner, trainer, evaluator and user of library services, with a special emphasis on innovation, technology and emerging library trends. She is the president of her own library and information technology consulting firm. Joan is best known as an acute–and sometimes irreverent–observer of trends in what she calls “the cultural anthropology of libraries.” She is a nationally recognized library futurist and designer of innovative library services.


George Needham – Before joining OCLC in 1999, George was State Librarian of Michigan. From 1993 to 1996, he was Executive Director of the Public Library Association, a division of the American Library Association. From 1990 to 1993, he was Director of Member Services of the Ohio Library Association. From 1984 to 1989, he served as Library Director of Fairfield County District Library in Lancaster, Ohio. From 1977 to 1984, he held various posts at the Charleston County Library in Charleston, South Carolina.


Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 3– 4 pm Eastern/12-1pm Pacific

This webinar will last approximately one hour. There is no charge for this webinar. Pre-registration is not required. For more information and to participate in the November 17 webinar, go to http://infopeople.org/training/webcasts/webcast_data/363/index.html


If you are unable to attend the live event, you can access the archived version the day following the webinar. Check our archive listing at: http://www.infopeople.org/training/webcasts/list/archived

Lori Reed

Lori Reed, Managing Editor of ALA Learning, has more than 15 years experience in training and is the Learning & Development Coordinator for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library where she oversees the learning & development of a diverse group of staff at twenty libraries. Lori’s passions are performance consulting, learning strategies, and e-learning. Lori is coauthor, with Paul Signorelli, of Workplace Learning and Leadership: A Handbook for Library and Nonprofit Trainers. Lori also blogs at LoriReed.com and can be reached at lori[at]lorireed.com.

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Filed Under: Webinars Tagged With: , , , , ,

Effectively Managing Your Email: A Free Webinar

November 13, 2009 By

From InfoPeople:


Email has brought about many improvements in the way we communicate in the workplace. It’s quicker than inter-library mail, less intrusive than a phone call and it can be an efficient way to keep track of the correspondence details. When used improperly, however, email can be an impediment to your career and your library’s organizational efficiency and effectiveness. Managing your inbox and replying in a timely manner is a critical part of managing your communication with others. Do you feel “Buried in Email”? Do you have an effective way to organize and process your emails? Most people don’t. This webinar gives you the information and proven strategies you need to effectively manage your emails once for all. Did you know that email can be one of the most misunderstood communication tools that we use? Why? Because many times, email messages are poorly written and the receiver has not been given the information they need. In this one hour program, you’ll learn the tips and techniques to writing and sending email messages that people will read and understand. By the end of the webinar participants will learn and begin to master:


Using a decision making process for managing email

  • Scheduling uninterrupted time to process and organize email daily
  • Organizing Logins and Passwords
  • Writing Subject Lines that attract the recipient to open your email
  • Keeping the message focused and readable
  • The difference between formal and informal email writing
  • Easy steps to proofreading email
  • Email Etiquette for managing incoming and outgoing email


Speaker: Andrew Sanderbeck. Andrew Sanderbeck is adjunct professor at Johnson and Wales University, and works with Kent State University, The University of Louisville and Rockhurst University in their Corporate and Community Learning Programs. Andrew trains and consults with libraries and library organizations to help them realize the true human potential of their management and employees. He is the publisher of the Friday News Minute, a free weekly e-newsletter read by thousands of library professionals around the world.


Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 3-4 pm Eastern/12-1 pm Pacific

This webinar will last approximately one hour. There is no charge for this webinar. Pre-registration is not required. For more information and to participate in the November 24 webinar, go to http://infopeople.org/training/webcasts/webcast_data/315/index.html


If you are unable to attend the live event, you can access the archived version the day following the webinar. Check our archive listing at: http://www.infopeople.org/training/webcasts/list/archived

Lori Reed

Lori Reed, Managing Editor of ALA Learning, has more than 15 years experience in training and is the Learning & Development Coordinator for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library where she oversees the learning & development of a diverse group of staff at twenty libraries. Lori’s passions are performance consulting, learning strategies, and e-learning. Lori is coauthor, with Paul Signorelli, of Workplace Learning and Leadership: A Handbook for Library and Nonprofit Trainers. Lori also blogs at LoriReed.com and can be reached at lori[at]lorireed.com.

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Tech Training Made Simple with Online Videos: A Free Webinar

November 13, 2009 By

From TechSoup:


Wouldn’t it be great if complicated technology concepts were explained in a simple way that’s easy to understand? Imagine how something like this could assist you in training sessions for patrons or staff. Well look no further, Common Craft creates explanatory videos “In Plain English” that cover topics like green, money, society and technology.


In this free webinar, Stephanie Gerding from TechSoup will interview Lee LeFever, from Common Craft to learn more about their videos and how they are created. We will also hear how librarians are using these videos to support the needs of their community.


Wednesday, November 18 from 2-3pm Eastern/11am-12pm Pacific

Register here: http://www.techsoupforlibraries.org/events/tech-training-made-simple-with-online-videos

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Lori Reed

Lori Reed, Managing Editor of ALA Learning, has more than 15 years experience in training and is the Learning & Development Coordinator for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library where she oversees the learning & development of a diverse group of staff at twenty libraries. Lori’s passions are performance consulting, learning strategies, and e-learning. Lori is coauthor, with Paul Signorelli, of Workplace Learning and Leadership: A Handbook for Library and Nonprofit Trainers. Lori also blogs at LoriReed.com and can be reached at lori[at]lorireed.com.

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