By Kelli Bragg, MLIS Student

Library Journal, now in its 133^rd year of publication, is the oldest and most respected publication covering the library field and is an incredible Continuing Education resource. But LJ’s rich bounty of information isn’t found only between the covers of its print edition. Their Web site provides a veritable cornucopia of freely available Web casts (plus news and newsletters).

You can register for upcoming Webcasts or view archived Webcasts for up to one year after the broadcast. To see the list of Webcasts at the LJ site, click here.

Or, if you’re visiting their site just to look around, click on the “Tools” tab, then click on “Webcasts.” And please do go look around, because LJ provides amazing newsletters: academic libraries, news for children and teen librarians, prepub alerts, etc. – truly something for everyone! Additionally, there are great blogs, books reviews for genres of all stripes, and, under the “Libraries & Librarians” tab, some usually-less-covered-but-still-important subjects like Buildings & Facilities discussions, Library Culture and ALA Conference News, etc…plus most have associated RSS feeds so that you’re always learning about the latest information!

To showcase the variety of Webcast topics recently offered, check the brief list below – it’s by no means comprehensive, but is meant to merely show thematic breadth. The titles are links that take you directly to an event registration page; all descriptions were taken directly from the LJ Web site.

Libraries are Essential: Building an Ongoing Connection : “We all know that in these tough economic times, libraries have a great value proposition for their communities… Join NoveList and Library Journal to hear just how libraries are building these ongoing connections …”

Mystery Fall Announcements : “…as mystery reviewer Teresa Jacobsen noted in a recent column, many librarians are facing budgetary issues and will be looking for titles that work for a variety of readers, especially those with crossover appeal… Our five featured publishers will be presenting their new and forthcoming mystery titles…”

World Bank Data and Research: Opening the Vault : “The World Bank was the first international, inter-governmental organization to make its databases free and open to the public… Please join Library Journal’s Cheryl LaGuardia and World Bank staff members as they discuss the wealth of resources and research tools available from the Bank….”

Life of A Book: From Idea to Distribution-Collect, Discover, Assess : “Have you ever wondered how a book becomes discoverable?”

21st Century Digital Knowledge Management: The Changing Role of the Media Specialist With Classroom Technology : “There are new expectations for media specialists doing collection development and management in the information age… How can libraries support the creation, access, storage and delivery of digital visual content for and by our students…”

Note about Webcasts:

• If the Webcast will be held in the future, register now.
• If the Webcast has already occurred and its archive is available (it will be noted underneath the title), you will still need to fill in your registration description unless you’ve already registered for the event. After you complete the form, you’ll be taken directly to a page for immediate viewing – just click “Launch Presentation.”

Whether you’re member of a public, academic, or special library, the Library Journal Web site has newsletters and Webcasts to keep you informed about trends, emerging technology, hot titles, databases, etc.

For the calendar of CE offered by the WA State Library for September and October, click these links:

• September Training Calendar
• October Training Calendar

Is there a specific CE training provider you would like to see discussed or do you have a comment? Please contact me at dipper@startouch.net.

Ellen Good

 ”Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones that you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” -Mark Twain

 

WLA Connect is delighted to present this WLA member profile featuring Ellen Good. Meet Ellen:

Q. How do you like your job as the Youth Services Librarian at the Camas Public Library?

A. I love it! The community is so supportive of the library, our staff is tight-knit and works together well, and we get lots of positive feedback from the public.

Q. How have you been personally involved in WLA?

A. I am on the Marketing and Communications Committee and have volunteered during the 2010 conference.

Q. What is your favorite thing about libraries?

A. They are FREE and open for all to use. Everyone is welcome to walk off the street and sit down to read a book for an hour, and they don’t have to justify to anyone why they are there. I really admire the profession’s commitment to free access to information and free speech for all.

Q. What is the last book you read?

A. I just finished re-reading World War Z by Max Brooks. It’s a great fictional account of a devastating zombie war, written as an oral history with personal vignettes.

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

A. Science fiction and fantasy usually, although I’ve been exploring adult non-fiction more lately.

Q. Where did you go to library school?

A. San Jose State University; graduated 2005.

Q. Do you have any pets?

A. I own one cat (named Cassandra) and two gopher snakes (named Bert and Ernie).

Q. What are your favorite foods?

A. I could eat rice crispie treats, macaroni and cheese, and bagels all day all year. (What can I say, I love simple but delicious foods. And carbs.)

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

A. Read, watch movies at home or at the theater, rollerblade and take long scented baths.

Q. What is your favorite music?

A. Right now I’m listening to a lot of Koop, Dido, Mumford & Sons and Mika.

Q. What are some words to live by?

A. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones that you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” -Mark Twain

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.

By Kelli Bragg, MLIS Student

Libraries are commonly understood to be the repositories of the human experience, storehouses which take that human experience and from it, create opportunities for library consumers to “learn, grow, and know”  (quoted phrase attributed to Jim Rettig in his November 2008 President’s Message,  American Libraries).

During my time in the UA’s SLIS program, I’ve realized that there are certain directions where I’d like to see my career head. One main area of interests, thanks to excellent instructors for my Information Technology and Metadata classes,  is the universal accessibility described in the ALA’s Bill of Rights: “A person’s right to use the library should not be denied or abridged because of disabilities.”

We can achieve that unabridged library use for all consumers, but first word needs to get out as widely as possible about what exactly print disabilities are, and then how to use our talents to create an equal library experience.

I’ve no doubt that combining Web technology with the power of metadata will allow us to provide all customers equal access to items that let them “learn, grow, and know.” Why do I have no doubt? Because, as librarians, once we know a situation needs attention, we roll up our sleeves and get to work – it’s in our genes.

Therefore, I would like to occasionally contribute posts to help get the word out about print disabilities; I hope you find them informative. __________________________________________________________

As of today, according to http://www.ifla.org/en/lpd, it’s stated that only 5% of the world’s published information is fully accessible to persons with a print disability; it’s my career goal to help increase that percentage as much as I can.

Some people reading this blog may be wondering exactly what constitutes a “print disability.” A print disability is quite simply any aspect that hinders a person’s ability to access print in the “standard” way, whether it’s because of a visual impairment, learning disability or physical disability.

Resources:

• If you’re a teacher, and want to help students in your classroom, visit the Web site Learning Through Listening.
• If you’re a parent, this article at the Web site LD Online can provide both information and solutions for making the printed word easier to understand for you children through e-text.
• An online resource, Bookshare, “Books without Barriers”, is the largest provider of accessible reading materials for those with print disabilities; their Web site states: “…unlimited access to accessible books, textbooks, newspapers and magazines. Additionally, free access technology makes it easy to read books with a computer.”
• For those librarians with customers looking to borrow books from a physical bricks-and-mortar library, IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions) offers an international directory of libraries for the blind. IFLA also offers an RSS feed for the latest news.
• Washington Talking Book and Braille Library provides free public library services, including access to both educational and  recreational materials needed by Washington State residents who are unable to read standard print material; WTBBL is an NLS library (NLS = National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped)

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…)

  

Ro McKernan

The message I seem to be getting from the universe lately has been  “So it goes” and “Take life one day at a time,” which is hard for me because I tend to think ahead and run through possible scenarios more then I need too.  ;-)

I lurch toward too much anxiety when I think about the economic climate in our state at the moment and what it means for academic library funding. Waiting for the “it’s OK to exhale” email, thinking it might be awhile coming yet.

 

WLA Connect is pleased to present WLA member profiles, starting with relatively recent members. Our very first entry features Ro McKernan. Her interview responses speak for themselves! Meet Ro:

Q. How do you like your job as Instructional/Collection Development Librarian at the Whatcom Community College Library?

(more…)

As WLA evolves to meet the changing needs of members, we need your talent and ideas! If you want to do something to change and make things better, please consider volunteering for one of the following WLA committees

Member Services Committee, which is responsible for:

• Targeting potential WLA members to increase membership through membership drives and other activities.
• Identifying, improving and raising awareness of the benefits of membership in WLA.
• Reviewing and making recommendations regarding WLA’s membership criteria, categories and dues.

Marketing & Communications Committee, which is is responsible for:

• Creating and maintaining an effective brand strategy for WLA and its communications
• Increasing marketing and communications links between WLA and its stakeholders.
• Improving and managing all electronic forms of communication, including an eNewsletter for WLA
• Researching, evaluating and implementing relevant social networking tools.

Participation is easy and very rewarding! You can meet new people, contribute to your profession, help advise WLA’s Executive Board and staff, and expand your leadership skills. Getting involved in a WLA committee is a natural way to be at the table when decisions affecting the future of the Association are made.

Meeting Format

All meetings are held electronically through Elluminate and the meeting schedule for 2011 hasn’t been set yet, so let us know as soon as possible if you’re interested.

How to Volunteer

To volunteer for the Member Services Committee, or to recommend a colleague, contact Jennifer Wiseman, Coordinator of Communications at communications@wla.org.

2011 Library Legislative Day
Friday, February 4, 2011

Registration is open for WLA’s annual Library Legislative Day in Olympia on Friday, February 4. This is a great opportunity to network with library supporters from around the state and meet with State Legislators and their staff to discuss the value of libraries and the impact laws have on them. For more information, visit: http://wla.org/legislation/legislativeday/.

It’s easy for you to participate:                          

• Register online now or print and mail the registration form.  
• A continental breakfast will be provided to you during the welcome gathering at United Churches in Olympia on the morning of February 4.
• Members of WLA’s Legislative Planning Committee, in partnership with WLA’s legislative consultant, will brief you on critical issues facing libraries.

You will be given all the tools you will need to be effective in conveying pertinent messages about libraries, as well as information to give to Legislators during each visit. Your participation on Friday, February 4 will help raise awareness about library services and ultimately enhance our ability to establish and sustain long-term relationships with key elected officials.

NOTE: Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) guidelines prohibit most public employees from participating while on public time. Participation in this event needs to be on your own time.

As WLA evolves to meet the changing needs of members, we need your talent and ideas! If you want to do something to change and make things better, please consider volunteering for WLA’s Member Services Committee. This committee is responsible for: 

• Targeting potential WLA members to increase membership.
• Identifying, improving and raising awareness of the benefits of membership in WLA
• Reviewing and making recommendations regarding WLA’s membership criteria, categories and dues. 

Getting involved in a WLA committee is a natural way to be at the table when decisions affecting the future of the Association are made. To volunteer for the Member Services Committee, or to recommend a colleague, contact Jennifer Wiseman, Coordinator of Communications at communications@wla.org or 425.369.3221. 

Then plan to attend the Member Services Committee meeting on Tuesday, July 21 from 1-4pm at the Des Moines Library.

Have you thought about further developing your career, and at the same time, sharing your expertise and interest with other professionals? You can, by volunteering for WLA’s Marketing & Communications Committee. This committee is responsible for (full committee description attached): 

• Creating and maintaining an effective brand strategy for WLA and its communications
• Increasing marketing and communications links between WLA and its stakeholders.
• Improving and managing all electronic forms of communication
• Researching, evaluating and implementing relevant social networking tools. 

Participation is easy and very rewarding! You can meet new people, contribute to your profession, help advise WLA’s Executive Board and staff, and expand your leadership skills. To volunteer for the Member Services Committee, or to recommend a colleague, contact Jennifer Wiseman, Coordinator of Communications at communications@wla.org or 425.369.3221. 

Then plan to attend the Member Services Committee meeting on Wednesday, August 5 from 9am-Noon at the Kent Regional Library (Small Meeting Room).