FREE Webinars for September

Here’s some great programs coming soon to a computer near you! Attending one of these webinars would earn continuing education credit. Be sure to let Linda know if you particpate in one of these programs. The Google Book Scanning Project: Issues and Updates (EDUCAUSE) September 2 (Noon – 1 pm CT) For about five years, Google has been scanning and indexing millions of volumes drawn from academic libraries and other sources worldwide. The project has been greeted with high praise but also with lawsuits. In the latter category, a judge will shortly decide whether to approve a settlement reached last year by Google and several organizations representing authors and publishers. The issues swirling around the settlement include the treatment of absent rightsholders, user privacy, and competition. This session will offer a status report on the project and explore both sides of these questions. For more information and to register for this program, visit: http://net.educause.edu/LIVE0916 Building the Digital Branch for the 21st Century (WebJunction Webinar) September 15 (1 – 2 pm CT) When was the last time your website was redesigned – three years ago? Last century? Join presenter David Lee King for Building the Digital Branch: Guidelines to Transform Your Website for the 21st Century, a webinar brought to you in special collaboration with WebJunction-Kansas and ALA TechSource. David explores and expands on the process his web team used at Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library to transform their outdated website into a 21st century digital branch. David covers the differences between a website and a digital branch, and describes the redesign process – everything from the introductory planning stages of overhauling their website to the process of actually “doing stuff” at the new digital branch. Finally, planning for the future is discussed. For more information and to register for this program, visit: http://evanced.info/webjunction/evanced/eventcalendar.asp From the Page to Your Ears: The Making and Dissemination of an Audiobook (School Library Journal Webinar) September 15 (1 – 2pm CT) An audiobook is an intense marriage of creative forces between author, narrator, director and publisher. How does a book make it from a printed work to a CD, Playaway, or Digital Download? What challenges do narrators, directors, and publishers face in bringing audiobooks to fruition? How does technology impact audiobook production and distribution? What role do libraries play in determining which titles are made into audiobooks and what formats are available? Get a peek into the surprisingly complex, incredibly detailed, and fiercely passionate world of audio publishing. Author Julia Spencer-Fleming and Suzanne Toren, the exclusive narrator for her popular Millers Kill mystery series, will discuss these issues and more with producer Dan Hypes for a look at the ups, the downs, and the drama of making an audiobook. For more information and to register for this program, visit: http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/webcasts/48850/Webcasts.html Web Services for Underfunded, Understaffed Libraries (OPAL) September 17 (1 – 2pm CT) Join Bohyun Kim, the Digital Access Librarian at the Medical Library of the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine at Florida Internation University, for a lively, informative presentation and discussion about how underfunded and understaffed libraries of all types and sizes can make web services work for their organizations and their users. For more information and to register for this program, visit: http://www.opal-online.org/progschrono.htm Returning the Researcher to the Library: The Summon™ Service in Real Life (Library Journal Webinar) September 22 (11- Noon CT) The final session in the “Returning the Researcher to the Library” series takes the discussion from problem to solution: the groundbreaking Summon™ web-scale discovery service. Launched in July, the Summon service is being recognized as the library’s new ally in taking back its role as the starting point for research and exposing the expanse of its content riches. Join us as Serials Solutions’ Mike Buschman moderates a panel of speakers from early-adopter libraries on “Web-Scale Discovery at Work”. They’ll cover the high points of implementation and response from staff and users, as well as answer any questions from webcast participants. For more information and to register for this program, visit: http://www.libraryjournal.com/webcasts/48747/Webcasts.html Webcast: Young Adult Book Buzz 2009 (School Library Journal Webinar) September 24 (1 – 2-1 pm CT) Today’s tweens and teens are enjoying a greater variety of young adult fiction than ever before – paranormal page-turners, coming of age tales, manga masterpieces and stories from the edge of the universe and beyond – there really is something for everyone. What’s to love about the latest wave of YA lit? These books are well-written and many contemplate serious issues as part of the story. Most avoid flat characterization which teens see through right away. There are intelligent but not perfect lead characters that are believable, and most importantly, they act like teens – not mini-adults. And because we all know that the teen brain is wired just a bit differently, these characters often take on more than an adult would be able or willing to do! Our panelists will be presenting the best of their Fall 2009 and Spring 2010 titles, and you might find out about some favorites that are back-in-print or now available in paperback. Guaranteed, the YA Book Buzz 2009 will entertain you, inform you and have you creating a `to buy’ list for your tween and teen collection. For more information and to register for this program, visit: http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/webcasts/48850/Webcasts.html OCLC Quarterly Update (BCR) September 25 (11 – Noon CT) This session gives participants an opportunity to review the latest changes from OCLC across all service and product areas. Sign up if you use OCLC services regularly and are interested in a summary of recent and upcoming OCLC activities that may affect your use of OCLC. For more information and to register for this program, visit: http://www.bcr.org/training/schedule/programdetail.php?programid=373 George and Joan on Taking Your Ideas to the Next Level (Infopeople) September 29 (2 – 3 pm CT) You have a terrific idea for improving your library’s service. You excitedly share this fantastic new idea, only to have your enthusiasm deflated by picky questions, managerial indifference, or passive/aggressive resistance from your colleagues. No matter how good your ideas are, if you don’t present them in a way that can be discussed and understood by the people who can make them happen, they won’t be implemented. You’ll be left frustrated. And your community will never experience that terrific new service. This webinar will describe techniques that prepare library staff members at any level to present new ideas effectively. Participants will learn how to: * Demonstrate how your idea fits in with other organizational goals and practices; * Improve your empathetic skills, “think with someone else’s brain,” and anticipate how ideas will be received; * Identify the people who can assist you in carrying your ideas to reality; * Face resistance squarely and overcome objections; * Improve presentation skills so that a good idea won’t be lost in a substandard delivery. For more information and to register for this program, visit: http://infopeople.org/training/webcasts/webcast_data/328/index.html Takin’ It to the Street: Why businesses, non-profits and libraries must change how they deliver service to their markets (Library Journal Webinar) September 30 (1 – 2pm CT) For years Fortune 100 companies have used sophisticated geographic information system (GIS) mapping tools and advanced database technologies to segment their markets and deliver products and services to meet specific market needs. These same powerful analytic tools that provide a detailed look at neighborhoods street-by-street are now available through libraries. Public libraries use these tools to help small businesses and non-profit agencies find and target their markets, as well as to support the library’s own strategic, marketing, and facilities planning. Academic libraries support students, faculty and staff working on marketing and urban planning projects or PEST (Political, Economic, Social and Technological) and SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analyses. Join our panel of experts to learn how market segmentation can help with the three most important elements of business success: 1) finding new customers; 2) retaining current customers; and 3) locating a business. For more information and to register for this program, visit: http://www.libraryjournal.com/webcasts/48747/Webcasts.html Digital Reference Summit: be where your users are (WebJunction Webinar) September 30 (1 -230 pm CT) After a decade of adjustment, libraries are reaffirming their role as key information providers in this digital age. Call it what you will, libraries are providing digital reference, chat reference, virtual reference, online reference, synchronous reference, and now text message reference as part of their library’s suite of services. Join us for this special 90 minute webinar to hear the latest implications, trends and tips in digital reference with a panel of special guests including: Stephen Francoeur, Information Services Librarian, Baruch College (NY); Susan McGlamery, 24/7 Reference Cooperative Director; and Alison Miller, Internet Public Library. For more information and to register for this program, visit: http://evanced.info/webjunction/evanced/eventcalendar.asp Racial Ethnic Resources (National Library of Medicine) September 30 (2 – 3 pm CT) Racial Ethnic Resources. The National Network of Libraries of Medicine, MidContinental Region is presenting a new series of online classes. Once a month in 2009, liaisons will present information and exercises on various databases from the National Library of Medicine in an hour-long web conference. All classes are free and no registration is required. You will simply need 1) a computer with Internet access and 2) a phone (the system will call you – free of charge). To join the webinar, go to: https://webmeeting.nih.gov/mcrupdate/ on the day of the program. Thanks to Jamie Marcus of the Wyoming State Library for this list.