WebJunction — Too Good to NOT Visit!

In the following list of April CE offerings, you will notice some of the training is offered by WebJunction… and you may think, “What exactly is WebJunction?”

WebJunction is an online learning center offering low-cost, high-impact training. Webinars, self-paced courses, interest and discussion groups and online conferences, all with the benefit of web 2.0 capabilities, allow you to learn, connect and discuss library topics not only with your colleagues across the state, but with colleagues across the country. Membership is free  and many courses are subsidized if you search the catalog. The “wa” in the URL (wa.webjunction.org) is imporant; if you search for the catalog without the “wa” prefix, you will see the full price for each training. (A free course vs. the $40 list price is a big incentive to remember the “wa”).

What does WebJunction offer?

Well, just about anything! Classes cover varied topics such as: Excel, installing and troubleshooting printers and scanners, digitizing photographs, creating Crystal Reports and project time management. WebJunction is also rich in training and guidance for areas like (but not limited to):

• Library management
• Technology
• Outreach 
• Programming for various age groups

To get started, visit the “Pathfinder to Learning on WebJunction,” which provides specific instructions in the following areas:

I want to take a course.

Where’s the learning content?

What about the Learning Webinar series?

I need information on using Wimba, WebJunction’s Web conferencing platform.

I’m looking for WebJunction’s publications and conference presentations.

Since so much is offered, using pathfinder is a great idea to ensure you don’t miss a thing. Happy Learning!

→ For more information, WebJunction is on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.

May/June Continuing Education Events

According to the Washington State Library Calendar, May is chock-full of learning opportunities!  The schedule for FREE continuing education events for mid-May and June include:

First Tuesdays Webinars:

For those of you who may not know about WSL’s First Tuesday webinars, they’re topical continuing-education presentations held online on the first Tuesday of every month from 9-10am via Elluminate. Presentations are recorded so that archives are available for listening to past presentations. More information about logging in for the session.

June 7, 2011 – Tips and Tricks for Community Reads

Other WSL CE Opportunities for mid-May & June  

Legal Research for Information Professionals: presented by staff from the King County Law Library

•  May 16: online, 9:30 – 11 am (PDT)
• June 13: online, 9:30 – 11 am(PDT)

Providing Library Services Across Cultures: FREE and open to all library staff in WA, presented by Yolanda Cuesta

• May 16: North Central Regional Library Distribution Center (Wenatchee)
• May 17:  Spokane County Library – Argonne Branch
• May 19: Sno-Isle Libraries – Marysville (Service Center)
• May 20: Timberland Regional Library – Tumwater (Service Center)

→ All sessions run 9:30 am – 3:30 pm; lunches and refreshments provided.

Doing More with Less: Achieving ROI from Self-Services:  hosted by Library Journal (an outside CE event: contact LJ to learn more)

• May 17: online, 10 – 11 am (PDT)

Libraries Partnering to Support Small Business and Entrepreneurs: hosted by WebJunction

• May 17: online, 11 am – 12 pm (PDT)

Cross-Traning for a Flexible Staff: Infopeople Webinar: hosted by Paula Singer (an outside CE event:contact Infopeople to learn more)

• May 17: online, 12 -1 pm (PDT)

What’s the Big Idea?: Making Math and Science Come Alive for Children and Families in Your Libraries: hosted by WSL

• May 18: Walla Walla City Library, 10 am – 12:30 pm

Coping with Information Overload: Infopeople Webinar:hosted by Sarah Houghton-Jan (an outside CE event:contact Infopeople to learn more)

• May 18: online, 12-1 pm, (PDT)

NCompass Live: Tech Talk with Michael Sauers: hosted by NCompass Live (Nebraska Library Commission)

•  May 25: online, 10-11 am, (CT)

Cataloging as Collaborative Librarianship: Partnering with Your Colleagues:  hosted by WebJunction

• June 2: online, 11 am – 12 pm (PDT)

Managing Reference Service in a Small Library: hosted by WSL

• June 7: Columbia County Rural Library District, Dayton
• June 8: Whitman County Library, Colfax

→ both sessions run 9:30 am to 3:30 pm; registrants will be sent information on lunch and refreshments

For comments or to share continuing education story ideas, contact Kelli Bragg at dipper@startouch.net.

Everybody loves to read about other people! After all, it’s hard to connect with people you don’t know. That’s the theory behind one of the planned features in Connect, WLA’s new eNewsletter. We would like to feature a member profile in each issue of Connect. And that’s where YOU come in! We can’t profile members, unless members agree to be profiled. (more…)