Since I touched on professional development last week, I have been trying to update my links to places that provide relevant FREE continuing education opportunities on-line and create a schedule/strategy for reviewing and keeping up with changes in the profession. As I mentioned in another post, there is no management mind-set to allow for any supported continuing education for staff so any of these activities must be done on personal time or during the rare moments of free time on-the-job.
Judith Siess in the past couple of days noted the training available at the Houston Public Library the Houston Area Library System’s training courses on customer service, reference, and marketing at http://www.hals.lib.tx.us/
I have frequently participated in live OPAL programs and reviewed archived presentations of relative importance and interest. In case you are unfamiliar with OPAL, you can click on their link in my “Links” list at the right. They describe themselves as follows: “OPAL is a collaborative effort by libraries of all types to provide cooperative web-based programming and training for library users and library staff members. These live, online events are held in an online auditorium where participants can interact via voice-over-IP, text chatting, and synchronized browsing. OPAL allows library patrons and library staff members to participate in online library programs from anywhere. Everyone is welcome to participate in OPAL programs, and libraries of all types are encouraged to become OPAL members. By collaborating within OPAL, libraries are able to develop online programs together and offer a rich array of public online programs for all library users. Examples of OPAL public online programs include book discussion programs, interviews, special events, library training, memoir writing workshops, and virtual tours of special digital library collections. Participating OPAL libraries develop and deliver online programs, events, and meetings using software from Talking Communities. OPAL is administered by the TAP Information Service, a company that helps organizations innovate.”
At times, WebJunction [see link in the Links column] from OCLC has been a good FREE learning source. Their website describes themselves as ”…a cooperative of library staff sharing and using online resources that enable us to identify and embrace appropriate technologies and apply them to our daily work. To sustain this effort, we partner with library and cultural heritage organizations and those that support them in meeting their objectives through effective use of collaborative, web-based technologies.
Another place I have found helpful and interesting is the SirsiDynix Institute [see link in the Links column] which describes itself as “…an ongoing forum for professional development in the library community. By providing free access to industry-leading speakers and events, our mission is to support librarianship and advance the work of librarians around the world. Attend our free web seminars as the SirsiDynix Institute presents compelling speakers selected from among leaders in librarianship and information technology…”
Another good source for archived presentations is the MINITEX Library Information Network at http://www.minitex.umn.edu/events/training/archived.asp which describes itself as “…a publicly supported network of academic, public, state government, and special libraries working cooperatively to improve library service for their users in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. There is reciprocity with Wisconsin libraries…” The webinars seem to be only open to members but I have had no problem viewing their archived webinars.
Although I have yet to use the service, the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) also provides opportunities for online chats named OnPoint which they describe as “…is a live series of informal monthly chat sessions that provide the opportunity to connect with colleagues and experts to discuss an issue of the day in academic and research librarianship. All ACRL OnPoint chats are free and open to the public. Sessions are unmoderated, 30-45 minutes in length and take place in a Meebo chat room. While no registration is necessary to participate, ACRL recommends creating a quick and easy Meebo account for the best experience while participating in ACRL OnPoint discussions/events…”
I use Bloglines aggregating software to subscribe to the RSS feeds of the librarians and educators in addition to the news feeds from library organizations & library-related publications. At the moment, I have subscriptions to 70 feeds which sometimes makes it seem overwhelming to keep up. Like most on-line readers, however, I only read a portion of the complete feeds. (From reviewing the study “How Little Do Users Read? http://www.useit.com/alertbox/percent-text-read.html Jakob Nielson’s Alertbox relates: ”The idea that most folks scan text online is kind of a given. But this study quantifies that assumption and finds that ‘on the average Web page, users have AT MOST time to read 28% of the words during an average visit; 20% is more likely.“)
Library association publications are good sources for keeping up as well. However, it is unfortunate but true that most professional periodicals, even archived issues, are cost-prohibitive to non-members.
“…Lord, what fools these mortals be!”–Puck, Midsummer Night’s Dream Act III, Scene II
