By Kelli Bragg, MLIS student

I noticed this resource on the Training Links page at the WLA Web site and I’m very happy that I did – it’s an amazing resource with a bit of something for everyone.

Founded in 1995, Virtual University (VU), a pioneer in eLearning, is the oldest online learning community. While I usually only discuss free courses, these courses have a low-enough cost to merit discussion (fees range from $10-$20).

VU offers peer-to-peer multi-week courses and Certificate Programs beneficial not only for today’s information providers, but for their customers as well.  Courses offered are either instructor-led or self-paced and cover such in-demand topics as: Web design and HTML, writing courses in various genres, self-help/inspirational themes and academic subjects.

Webversity 2.0 drives the learning experience, meaning that in addition to a modern e-learning platform there are assorted social networking opportunities including blogs, profiles, photo sharing and widgets. More than 2,000,000 students from 128 countries have taken courses in UV’s e-learning community.

A must-read for those considering taking online courses through VU: Virtual University FAQ – a comprehensive list of Frequently Asked Questions about Virtual University (they do ask that you read the FAQs before enrolling in a course).

Recent additions specific to the need of libraries include the following (the link includes information about the syllabus and instructor):

• Grant Writing 101
• Cybersecurity 101
• How to Brand Your Product or Company
• Writing a Press Release
• Principles of Strategic Management

Recent additions of interest to both library staff and library customers include*:  

• A Beginner’s Guide to Digital Photography
• Fantasy Writing Workshop
• How to Save and Invest Wisely
• How to be Organized (…In Spite of Yourself)

To enroll in a course, all you need to do is create a Web Desk. Once that’s done, simply subscribe to the calendar of upcoming classes and learn away! When you see the list of classes, just click on the green “[add]” link preceding the course name and an enrollment form appears. Students should expect to spend 3-4 hours per week for most offerings.

For professional who need CEUS:  UV offers e-Transcript services. Retained for 5 years, your transcripts will display all completed courses with brief descriptions, CEUs awarded, grades earned and cumulative GPA. VU also offers the option for you to enhance your resume/CV by writing or teaching a class as well. To learn more about how instructors are approved, click the following link: http://vu.ksurf.net/instructor-faq.html

 *Don’t forget to make a shortcut to Virtual University on your desktop and suggest this link to interested customers: a library’s main mission is to be a center for lifelong learning.  I imagine many customers would love to hear about this affordable learning opportunity.

Any learning resource you would like to see discussed? Any questions?Contact me at dipper@startouch.net

By Kerry Maher, Librarian, King County Library System

 The 2008 OCLC report, Awareness to Funding: A Study of Library Support in America, concludes that:

•  Library funding support is only marginally related to library visitation
• Perceptions of librarians are an important predictor of library funding support
• Voters who see the library as a ‘transformational’ force as opposed to an ‘informational’ source are more likely to increase taxes in its support

The report suggests that best practices include “targeting marketing messages to the right segments of the voting public is key to driving increased support for U.S. public libraries.”  The report also includes the positive results of the pilot project, Geek the Library, that was created to increase community awareness of the important role of public libraries and the critical funding issues many libraries face based upon the findings in the report.

Now Geek the Library is open to all U.S. public libraries!  If you’d like to find out more about how you can have fun delivering a professionally created awareness campaign, connect with your community and build important relationships, remind the public that your library is a crucial resource and that funding is essential; then Get More Information and get engaged!

OCLC supplies the stuff, and you supply the time and energy.  And, by the way, I don’t work for OCLC… I just think this is an opportunity that Washington libraries should know about.  What do you geek?

Kelli Bragg

“Don’t be afraid to be yourself … you were made to be exactly who you are, so revel in everything that makes you, you!

… it wasn’t until I started working as a PSA that I realized librarianship was my true calling. Connecting people with the information they’re seeking, whether it’s for research or entertainment, is incredibly satisfying.”

WLA Connect is delighted to present this WLA member profile featuring Kelli Bragg. Meet Kelli:

Q. About work: How do you like your job as Public Service Assistant at Sno-Isle Libraries?

A. Although I earned a BS degree from the UW’s College of Forestry, it wasn’t until I started working as a PSA that I realized librarianship was my true calling. Connecting people with the information they’re seeking, whether it’s for research or entertainment, is incredibly satisfying.

Q. How long have you been a member of WLA?

A. I’ve been a member of WLA since 2009.

Q. How have you been personally involved in WLA?

A. I’m a member of the Marketing & Communications Committee and I am a regular contributor for WLA’s Connect eNewsletter, discussing a topic that’s near and dear to my heart: Continuing Education.

Q. What does WLA mean to you?

A. WLA to me is a central location where all library staff from all levels can go to learn what’s going on with respect to libraries in Washington State. I especially appreciate the links to online learning opportunities: an invaluable asset, because knowledge is power.

Q. What is your favorite thing about libraries?

A. That libraries strive to provide unfettered access to information to all people and to be centers for lifelong learning. The fact that libraries have programs ranging from “Baby Storytime” to “Internet Use for Seniors,” and that they take the library to the community via outreach services is amazing.

Q. What is the last book you read? Or what are you reading right now?

A. I’m currently reading Christopher Buehlman’s debut southern gothic horror, Those Across the River, and just finished Sue Shephard’s Pickled, Potted, and Canned: How the Art and Science of Food Preserving Changed the World (highly recommended for any foodie).

Q. What area of the library stacks do you like to browse in for your own enjoyment?

A. I love browsing cookbooks – I could spend hours just sitting on the floor in the library perusing any cookbook on the shelves.

Q. Where did you go to library school?

A. I’m currently in my last semester in the University of Alabama’s School of Library and Information Studies MLIS program.

Q. Do you have any children? Any pets?

A. No children; 3 cats.

Q. What is your favorite spectator sport?

A. Pro football – the finesse of the players makes it look so easy!

Q. What is your favorite travel destination?

A. Winthrop/Methow Valley

Q. What are your favorite foods?

A. Since I’ve always loved trying new foods, I can’t think of one favorite … I love all kinds. For comfort eating, however, I turn to food from my youth: Pennsylvania Dutch cooking.

Q. What is your favorite leisure-time activity, or what do you do to relax?

A. I read, do crossword puzzles, dream about making jewelry and go birdwatching.

Q. What is your favorite music?

A. I was exposed to music early in life, so my musical tastes are just like my food preferences, I have no favorites. If you said I was going to be sent to a deserted island and could take only two artists, I would have to choose Mozart (Die Zauberflute is a must have) and the Stanley Brothers (great bluegrass).

Q. What are some words to live by?

A. Don’t be afraid to be yourself … you were made to be exactly who you are, so revel in everything that makes you, you!

 Interested in Being Profiled?

If you are interested in being featured in Connect, please write down your responses to the interview questions, and send them to WLA Marketing and Communications Committee member Will Stuivenga, who is acting as editor for the Connect Member Profile feature. You don’t have to answer all of the questions, just those that you are comfortable with, although we encourage you to answer as many as you can, in order to generate a substantive profile. If you can send a recent digital photo, high resolution preferred, that will enhance your profile significantly.