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Tag Archives: prettysweettech
NCompass Live: Pretty Sweet Tech: GrandPads: Creating Digital Connections for Older Adults
Learn how to plan and implement a GrandPad program, with tablets designed by older adults for older adults, on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, ‘GrandPads: Creating Digital Connections for Older Adults’, on Wednesday, March 29 at 10am CT.
Special monthly episodes of NCompass Live! Join the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Amanda Sweet, as she guides us through the world of library-related Pretty Sweet Tech.
During the pandemic, social isolation became a significant problem for many seniors, who were also the most vulnerable to COVID-19. On top of the isolation, the persistent digital divide left many older adults in the St. Louis area either without internet access, a device, the skills to use digital technology, or all three. St. Louis County Library devised a way to serve the digital needs of the community through an innovative program of lending GrandPads to isolated, low-income older adults. GrandPads are tablets designed by older adults for older adults with a simple, intuitive, and decluttered design. In this session, learn how St. Louis County Library planned and implemented the GrandPad program, including securing $1,000,000 in funding from local government, reviewing applications, and distributing and administering the GrandPads.
Guest Presenter: Eric Button, Deputy Director, St. Louis County Library.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- April 5 – T(w)eens: Programming, Partnership, and Burnout
- April 12 – Art Show! Where Art and Science Meet to Bring the Community Together
- April 19 – Creative Aging Arts Program for Nebraska Libraries
- April 26 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- May 17 – Read the Rainbow: Serving the LGBTQ+ Community in Your Library
- May 24 – La Biblioteca Es Para Ti – Building Community Relationships in a Different Language
- May 31 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Bots for the Community!
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Posted in Education & Training, Pretty Sweet Tech, Technology
Tagged NCompLive, prettysweettech
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NCompass Live: Pretty Sweet Tech: Makerspaces: Hubs for Interdisciplinary Learning
Learn how to demonstrate the impact of maker-centered learning on student success in any discipline on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, ‘Makerspaces: Hubs for Interdisciplinary Learning’, on Wednesday, February 22 at 10am CT.
Special monthly episodes of NCompass Live! Join the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Amanda Sweet, as she guides us through the world of library-related Pretty Sweet Tech.
Makerspaces and maker-centered instruction continue to grow in academic libraries. However, it may not always be clear how makerspaces support the missions of academic libraries, or how they further the goals of information literacy. Explore makerspaces as tools for helping students develop non-cognitive skills that are crucial to mastering the threshold concepts for information literacy. Using specific interdisciplinary classroom examples, Nagle explores how connecting maker-centered learning to the ACRL Framework centers makerspaces within the core missions of academic libraries, ensuring that makerspaces remain relevant and on the cutting edge of library trends. These learning outcomes expand partnership possibilities across campus by demonstrating the impact of maker-centered learning on student success in any discipline.
Presenter: Sarah Nagle, Creation and Innovation Services Librarian, Miami University Libraries, Oxford, OH.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- March 1 – 2023 One Book One Nebraska: The Mystery of Hunting’s End
- March 8 – Read the Rainbow: Serving the LGBTQ+ Community in Your Library
- April 19 – Creative Aging Arts Program for Nebraska Libraries
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Posted in Education & Training, Pretty Sweet Tech, Programming, Technology
Tagged NCompLive, prettysweettech
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NCompass Live: Pretty Sweet Tech: Learn About TechGirlz & Inspire Girls in Your Community Today!
Learn how your library can work with TechGirlz to empower girls to be future technology leaders on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, January 25 at 10am CT.
Special monthly episodes of NCompass Live! Join the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Amanda Sweet, as she guides us through the world of library-related Pretty Sweet Tech.
TechGirlz is a non-profit organization whose mission is to inspire middle school girls to explore all the possibilities in technology to empower their future careers. They accomplish this mission through free, hands-on, project-based workshops called TechShopz. TechGirlz provides the curriculum, a playbook on how to run a workshop, marketing, and registration support to organizations that want to impact their community by leading a group of girls in a fun, interactive program. Join us to learn how your library can work with TechGirlz.
Presenter: Sara Neiman, Senior Specialist, Program Operations, TechGirlz.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- Feb. 1 – A New Partnership to Provide Tax Preparation Services to Hard-to-Reach Taxpayers
- Feb. 8 – Accessibility Isn’t Just for Patrons! Internal Documentation for Everyone
- Feb. 15 – Digital Libraries as Digital Third Place: Virtual Library Programming
- Feb. 22 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- March 1 – 2023 One Book One Nebraska: ‘The Mystery of Hunting’s End’
- March 8 – Read the Rainbow: Serving the LGBTQ+ Community in Your Library
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Posted in Education & Training, Pretty Sweet Tech, Programming, Technology, Youth Services
Tagged NCompLive, prettysweettech, techgirlz
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NCompass Live: Pretty Sweet Tech – Managing Technology Problems: Using SpringShare LibAnswers as a Ticketing System
Learn how to manage your library’s technology problems using SpringShare LibAnswers on next week’s Pretty Sweet Tech NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, December 28, at 10am CT.
Special monthly episodes of NCompass Live! Join the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Amanda Sweet, as she guides us through the world of library-related Pretty Sweet Tech.
Come to this session to learn how (and why) to set up a SpringShare LibAnswers Queue to manage all technology-related problems in your library. I will share our experience in setting up and using our “LibTech” queue to track issues pertaining to the library website, library services platform, and hardware/software in the library.
Presenter: Bobbi-Jean Ludwig, Coordinator of Library Technology Services & E-Resources Librarian, Calvin T. Ryan Library – University of Nebraska – Kearney.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- Jan. 4, 2023 – Critical Hit! Tabletop Gaming in the Library
- Jan. 11, 2023 – Best New Teen Reads of 2022
- Jan. 18, 2023 – First Amendment Audits: What You Need to Know
- Jan. 25, 2023 – Pretty Sweet Tech: Learn About TechGirlz & Inspire Girls in Your Community Today!
- Feb. 8, 2023 – Accessibility Isn’t Just for Patrons! Internal Documentation for Everyone
- Feb. 15, 2023 – Digital Libraries as Digital Third Place: Virtual Library Programming
- March 8, 2023 – Read the Rainbow: Serving the LGBTQ+ Community in Your Library
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Posted in Education & Training, Pretty Sweet Tech, Technology
Tagged NCompLive, prettysweettech
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NCompass Live: Pretty Sweet Tech – Everything You Missed from Internet Librarian 2022
Hear about everything you missed at Internet Librarian 2022 on next week’s Pretty Sweet Tech NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, November 30, at 10am CT.
Special monthly episodes of NCompass Live! Join the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Amanda Sweet, as she guides us through the world of library-related Pretty Sweet Tech.
Maybe it’s because the conference was finally in person this year, but this was my favorite conference in a long time. It’s nice to know people still come in 3D. It helps that Internet Librarian is the leading technology conference for librarians. If you weren’t able to make it this year, or missed some sessions you really wanted to see, this Pretty Sweet Tech will cover some major themes, resources, and good times from this year’s Internet Librarian 2022 conference. Here’s a sneak preview:
- Tackling community problems in the library: sometimes it’s techy, sometimes it’s just human, learn new ways to get the job done.
- New Ways of Communicating and Working Together: open source platforms, consortiums, partnerships, and that gooey togetherness.
- Games, Gadgets, & Techy Goodness: explore all the cool new tech, activities, and resources available to libraries.
- Entrepreneurship, Makerspaces, & Library Resources: how can libraries leverage makerspace tech to support entrepreneurship and career preparation?
- Predicting the Future: touching on cutting edge technology in and out of the library
There’s a lot to unpack here, so I hope to see you there!
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- Dec. 21 – Summer Reading Program 2023: All Together Now
- Dec. 28 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- Jan. 11, 2023 – Best New Teen Reads of 2022
- Jan. 18, 2023 – First Amendment Audits: What You Need to Know
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Posted in Education & Training, Pretty Sweet Tech, Technology
Tagged NCompLive, prettysweettech
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NCompass Live: Pretty Sweet Tech – WordPress Chatbots: No Code Tools & Guides
Do you get really repetitive questions at your library? Hours? Address? Learn how to use a WordPress Chatbot to help manage these common questions on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, October 26 at 10am CT.
Special monthly episodes of NCompass Live! Join the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Amanda Sweet, as she guides us through the world of library-related Pretty Sweet Tech.
Library staff are already too overworked to answer the same questions over and over again. This session will help you set up a chatbot on your library’s website to relieve some of the burden. We will use the free Tidio plugin on WordPress to walk through a quick setup.
By the end of this session you will:
- Have a list of common chatbot planning questions.
- Identify different levels of chatbot services, from easy to complex
- See a simple chatbot in action
I hope to see you there!
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- Nov. 9 – Reach Your Military-Affiliated Patrons with the Libraries & Veterans Toolkit
- Nov. 23 – Best New Children’s Books of 2022
- Nov. 30 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- Dec. 21 – Summer Reading Program 2023: All Together Now
- Jan. 11, 2023 – Best New Teen Reads of 2022
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Posted in Education & Training, Library Management, Pretty Sweet Tech, Technology
Tagged NCompLive, prettysweettech
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NCompass Live: Pretty Sweet Tech – WordPress Layout Walkthrough: From the Blank Page
Learn new techniques to create custom WordPress layouts on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, on Wednesday, August 31 at 10am CT..
Special monthly episodes of NCompass Live! Join the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Amanda Sweet, as she guides us through the world of library-related Pretty Sweet Tech.
The most common WordPress question I have been getting is: “how do you make custom WordPress layouts from the ground up?” This session is for anyone who wants to design a website without the layout restrictions that happen with pre-defined themes. This will be a WordPress & Elementor plugin demonstration/ tutorial that you can revisit to learn these different techniques:
- Building a color palette using coolors.co
- Using alternating color block layouts.
- Adding a Shape Divider between sections to add flair.
- Building custom images for the web with Canva (for free).
- Responsive two-column layouts
- Responsive card style layouts
- Responsive font-sizes for headers and paragraphs
If you want to learn new techniques with some of the lesser-known Elementor features, this is the session for you! I will be taking requests for technique demos as time permits. I hope to see you there!
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- Sept. 7 – Retirement: Time to Ease on Down, Ease on Down the Road
- Sept. 21 – Letters About Literature 2022
- Sept. 28 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- Oct. 5 – NO NCOMPASS LIVE THIS WEEK – ENJOY NLA!
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Posted in Education & Training, Pretty Sweet Tech
Tagged elementor, NCompLive, prettysweettech, WordPress
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NCompass Live: Pretty Sweet Tech: CES 2022 and Libraries
Learn about opportunities to bring new technology to your library on next week’s Pretty Sweet Tech NCompass Live webinar, ‘CES 2022 and Libraries’, on Wednesday, July 27 at 10am CT.
Special monthly episodes of NCompass Live! Join the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Amanda Sweet, as she guides us through the world of library-related Pretty Sweet Tech.
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is one of the largest technology trade shows of its kind, featuring new product releases, updates, and a chance to experience the latest and greatest technologies from companies big and small. Join Brian Pichman of the Evolve Project who attends the show to spread the word about libraries to the exhibitors at CES, securing partnerships on behalf of libraries so that libraries may have more opportunities to innovate and bring new technology in for their patrons. Brian will share his experiences at CES 2022, sharing the top trends at CES, cool tech to watch for, and how this plays a role in libraries.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- Aug. 3 – Building a Reading Community Through Podcasting
- Aug. 10 – Reinventing Programming Kits
- Aug. 24 – Team Up with your Community!
- Sept 7 – Retirement: Time to Ease on Down, Ease on Down the Road
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Posted in Education & Training, Pretty Sweet Tech, Technology
Tagged CES2022, NCompLive, prettysweettech
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NCompass Live: Pretty Sweet Tech – What is Meaningful Work, and How Can Libraries Help?
What is Meaningful Work, and How Can Libraries Help? Find out on next week’s ‘Pretty Sweet Tech’ NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, June 29 at 10am CT.
Special monthly episodes of NCompass Live! Join the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Amanda Sweet, as she guides us through the world of library-related ‘Pretty Sweet Tech’.
9 in 10 people are willing to earn less money in the pursuit of meaningful work (Harvard Business Review). But how can the library support the search for meaningful work, and not just gainful employment? This session goes beyond cover letters, resumes, interview practice, and learning digital skills, to include self-exploration to find meaning and purpose.
This session will cover these topics:
- What is meaningful work, and how do people find what works for them?
- What is a workforce development ecosystem, and what does this look like for your community or region?
- How is technology impacting meaning and purpose at work?
- Access a curated collection of books, exploratory activities, and resources to support people in the search for meaningful work in your library.
Find new ways for your library to support workforce development and personal growth for job seekers everywhere. I hope to see you there!
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- July 6 – Bring Free Tech Programs to Older Nebraskans
- July 13 – Talking Book and Braille Service: Continuously Evolving
- July 20 – Learning Opportunities and Resources from WebJunction
- July 27 – Pretty Sweet Tech: CES 2022 and Libraries
- August 3 – Building a Reading Community Through Podcasting
- August 10 – Reinventing Programming Kits
- August 24 – Team Up with your Community!
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Posted in Education & Training, Pretty Sweet Tech, Programming
Tagged NCompLive, prettysweettech
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NCompass Live: Pretty Sweet Tech: Computers in Libraries 2022 Highlights & Trends
Hear the Highlights and Trends from Computers in Libraries 2022 on next week’s ‘Pretty Sweet Tech’ NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, May 25 at 10am CT.
Special monthly episodes of NCompass Live! Join the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Amanda Sweet, as she guides us through the world of library-related Pretty Sweet Tech.
Computers in Libraries is the world’s leading technology and innovation conference for librarians! This year, we laughed, we cried, we learned, and good times were had by all. In this session I will cover some of the main trends, highlights, and resources I enjoyed the most in the sessions. So if you weren’t able to make it, or are trying to decide if the Replay Pass is worth getting, this is the session for you!
Here are is a preview of some of the trends/ resources I will cover:
- Hybrid Services: How, When & Why?
- Digital Engagement & Marketing
- Tech Gadget Goodness (It had to be done)
- Collaborations & Partnerships to Expand Services
- Strong & Healthy Teams and Communities
I hope to see you there! As a side note, if you’re looking for more emerging tech trends in the library, check out Computers in Libraries magazine.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- June 1 – The Heartland Honors 9/11 Victims and Survivors
- June 8 – Policies of Yes
- June 15 – CES 2022 and Libraries
- June 22 – Retirement: Time to Ease on Down, Ease on Down the Road
- June 29 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- July 20 – Learning Opportunities and Resources from WebJunction
- August 10 – Reinventing Programming Kits
- August 24 – Team Up with your Community!
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Posted in Education & Training, Pretty Sweet Tech, Programming, Technology
Tagged NCompLive, prettysweettech
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NCompass Live: Pretty Sweet Tech – The 40 Day Challenge Initiative
Explore how to strengthen connections with ‘The 40 Day Challenge Initiative’ on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, April 27 at 10am CT.
Special monthly episodes of NCompass Live! Join the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Amanda Sweet, as she guides us through the world of library-related Pretty Sweet Tech.
Join Brian Pichman from the Evolve Project as he shares a new strategy he hopes libraries adopt to strengthen their connection with themselves, their team, and the community. By setting up a 40 Day Challenge (and yes challenges will be shared in this presentation) you can take yourself and your library to a whole new level of librarianship.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- May 18 – Digital Literacy Training for Seniors – sponsored by the Nebraska State Unit on Aging
- June 1 – The Heartland Honors 9/11 Victims and Survivors
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
NCompass Live: Pretty Sweet Tech – 3D Room Design Activity with TinkerCAD & Thingiverse
If you have been looking for ways to get started with 3D Design and career exploration, this 3D Room Design Activity is for you! Learn how to use TinkerCAD & Thingiverse on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, March 30 at 10am CT.
Special monthly episodes of NCompass Live! Join the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Amanda Sweet, as she guides us through the world of library-related Pretty Sweet Tech.
This is a free set of activities I put together because I’ve been getting questions about how the metaverse is creating and changing jobs, and how kids and adults can learn these new tools. Here’s what we will talk about in this webinar:
- Introduce the VR, AR & Room Design Lesson Plan series for career exploration (adaptable for ages 12 to adult). I put it together, so it’s free!
- Demo of building a room in TinkerCAD.
- Overview of AR, VR & 3D Design tools for both classroom and everyday use for all ages.
- Overview of careers impacted and created by AR, VR & 3D Design
This activity can be adapted to ages 12 to adult to introduce new tech concepts, explore career opportunities, or brainstorm new community innovations. I hope to see you there!
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- April 6 – Expanding the Health Information Landscape In Your Public Library
- April 13 – Tweak Your Library’s Social Media
- April 20 – Starting a Board Game Club at a Small Library
- April 27 – Pretty Sweet Tech – The 40 Day Challenge Initiative
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Posted in Education & Training, Pretty Sweet Tech, Technology
Tagged NCompLive, prettysweettech
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NCompass Live: Pretty Sweet Tech – WordPress Layout Templates Using Elementor
Are you looking for a quick and easy way to revamp your library website? Learn how to use ‘WordPress Layout Templates Using Elementor’ on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, on Wednesday, February 23 at 10am CT.
Special monthly episodes of NCompass Live! Join the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Amanda Sweet, as she guides us through the world of library-related ‘Pretty Sweet Tech’.
There’s not always a lot of time to design web pages from scratch in WordPress. Luckily, libraries tend to use variations of the same layouts across all pages on a website. To make life easier, I made a set of templates that can be used by any library using WordPress, paired with the free Elementor plugin.
By the end of this session you will:
- Explore the website templates that are available, and when to use them.
- Access pre-formatted Digital Skills templates that can be embedded on your website.
- Learn how to quickly customize and deploy these Elementor templates on your site.
This will be a great session for anyone who is looking for a quick and easy way to revamp their library website. I hope to see you there!
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- March 16 – Can you see me? Collection Development for Marginalized Communities
- March 23 – If You Build it, Will They Come? Makerspaces Work in Small, Rural Libraries
- April 13 – Tweak Your Library’s Social Media
- April 20 – Starting a Board Game Club at a Small Library
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Posted in Education & Training, Pretty Sweet Tech, Technology
Tagged NCompLive, prettysweettech
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NCompass Live: Pretty Sweet Tech: Web Scraper 101
Have you ever found yourself copy and pasting a million things from a website? Do you need to gather information from an online catalog and put it online? Then you need a web scraper! Learn how to scrape the web on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, on Wednesday, January 26 at 10am CT.
Special monthly episodes of NCompass Live! Join the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Amanda Sweet, as she guides us through the world of library-related ‘Pretty Sweet Tech’.
In this session I will demonstrate Webscraper.io, a powerful, free web scraper I use to pull data from the web without going crazy. I repeat, you don’t need to know how to code, and there are plenty of tutorials to get you started. By the end of this session you will:
- Understand what web scrapers can and cannot do.
- See Webscraper.io in action!
- Review copyright basics in the age of big data.
I hope to see you there as we scrape the web!
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- Feb. 2 – Intentional Design: Crafting a Mutually Beneficial Internship Program in a University Archives
- Feb. 23 – Pretty Sweet Tech
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
NCompass Live: Pretty Sweet Tech: Write a Better World with Technology
Technological dystopia has no place here! Learn how, in a world of technology, libraries can make an impact through story on next week’s NCompass Live webinar, on Wednesday, December 29 at 10am CT.
Special monthly episodes of NCompass Live! Join the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Amanda Sweet, as she guides us through the world of library-related ‘Pretty Sweet Tech’.
I go to a writing group every month where we write about everything under the sun. As technology became necessary to interact with the outside world during the pandemic, themes of isolation, fear of the future, and the seemingly downward direction of the world seeped into our collective writing. Thoughts of technological dystopia came naturally. Images of The Hunger Games, 1984, and Ready Player One dominated conversations. There were some dark days, followed by moments of lightheartedness, chocolate and coffee.
This session is about changing the story of technology. People fear what they don’t understand. Find out how I experimented with writing exercises, book group discussions, maker activities (not the scary kind), and more to write a better world. In a world of technology, libraries can still make an impact through story. By the end of this session you will:
- Get ideas for writing prompts and discussion topics to change the narrative of technology.
- Access a curated collection of books to start a conversation about tech for good.
- Imagine a better future with technology.
Technological dystopia has no place here. If we’re all going to build the world we want, it helps to write it first. I hope to see you there!
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- Jan. 5, 2022 – Teen Titles of 2021: Books They Will Read
- Jan 12, 2022 – 2022 One Book One Nebraska: The Bones of Paradise
- Jan. 26, 2022 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- Feb. 2, 2022 – Intentional Design: Crafting a Mutually Beneficial Internship Program in a University Archives
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Posted in Education & Training, Pretty Sweet Tech, Public Relations
Tagged NCompLive, prettysweettech
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NCompass Live: Pretty Sweet Tech – Gadgets & Gizmos Aplenty: Makerspace Edition
Get some STEM and tech gadget recommendations on this week’s NCompass Live webinar, ‘Gadgets & Gizmos Aplenty: Makerspace Edition’, on Wednesday, September 29 at 10am CT.
Special monthly episodes of NCompass Live! Join the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Amanda Sweet, as she guides us through the world of library-related ‘Pretty Sweet Tech’.
There’s too much stuff in the world of STEM and tech gadgetry. Trying to find the right tool for the job can get confusing and downright frustrating. This session will cover a wide variety of gadget options for your makerspace or STEM activities. Recommendations will be organized by target audience: kids, teens, adults , and older adults. There’s a little something for everybody.
By the end of this session you will have:
- A healthy list of recommendations for every budget
- Tips for choosing equipment
- Tips for maintaining equipment
- Tips for training staff and patrons
If you’re a Nebraska library, I am also available for makerspace and tech gadget consultations. I like tech. It’s kind of my thing. I hope to see you there!
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- October 6 – The Queer Omaha Archives: The First Five Years
- October 13 – NO NCOMPASS LIVE THIS WEEK – ENJOY NLA!
- October 27 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- November 3 – Letters About Literature
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Posted in Education & Training, Pretty Sweet Tech, Technology, Youth Services
Tagged NCompLive, prettysweettech
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NCompass Live: Pretty Sweet Tech – Tech-Friendly Book Club Ideas
The best way to learn about technology is to read about it! Get some ‘Tech-Friendly Book Club Ideas’ on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, August 25 at 10am CT.
Even if they are not all going to make it themselves, people are infinitely curious about robots, computers, artificial intelligence, mixed reality, and all the tech that is changing the world. While libraries can’t be expected to teach all of this directly, books can help tackle the big stuff! Over the years I tracked the books I used to learn about all my favorite tech and practiced with different discussion questions and ways to talk about tech.
By the end of this session you will have:
- A list of recommended titles for book clubs & discussion
- Tech topics to tackle in book groups
- Ideas for wraparound activities
- Book groups as market research
I focus mainly on options for adults and teens in this session, but harvested some options from people who specialize in K-12 to help out the kids!
Special monthly episodes of NCompass Live! Join the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Amanda Sweet, as she guides us through the world of library-related Pretty Sweet Tech.os Live shows:
- Sept. 1 – NLC Grants for 2022
- Sept. 8 – Manga and Graphic Novels in Your Library
- Sept. 15 – Library School Now – Library Workers Talk about Their Library Science Coursework
- Sept. 29 – Pretty Sweet Tech
- October 6 – The Queer Omaha Archives: The First Five Years
- October 13 – NO NCOMPASS LIVE THIS WEEK – ENJOY NLA!
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Posted in Books & Reading, Education & Training, Pretty Sweet Tech, Technology
Tagged NCompLive, prettysweettech
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NCompass Live: Spatial for Librarians: A 3D Meeting Space
Explore new ways to work remotely, connect with groups, collaborate, and innovate with ‘Spatial for Librarians: A 3D Meeting Space’ on next week’s NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, June 30 at 10am CT.
Spatial, a 3D meeting space, is a new way for librarians to collaborate using the power of augmented and/or virtual reality (VR). With VR headsets (e.g., an Oculus Quest), a team can brainstorm using post-it notes on a large whiteboard, interact with digital 3D objects, conduct presentations on multiple screens, connect and use services like Google Drive, do screen sharing, and more. Everyone can walk around Spatial’s 3D digital space and work alongside one another as though they were physically in the same room. As teams continue to operate remotely, or partner with organizations from around the world, this shared experience is a game-changer! There is a desktop computer and mobile option for those without a VR headset.
The augmented reality (AR) experience adds a digital layer to one’s shared physical space. Similar to the VR experience, users can save both time and paper by sticking digital post-it notes to a wall, pulling up shared calendars, accessing web browsers, adding 3D objects inside the physical space, and more. AR is designed to complement the real world and help people build a shared vision that would never have been possible without this technology. All one needs is a smartphone or a special AR viewing device to see this augmented layer of the world. With Spatial there is no after-meeting clean-up: just close the app and the room disappears!
In this session, Chad and Amanda will introduce you to the Spatial app. Together we will explore new ways to work remotely, connect with groups, collaborate, and innovate! You will get a quick-start guide and some resources to get started with Spatial in your library. It’s time to try something new, so let’s do it today!
Presenters: Chad Mairn, Innovation Lab Librarian, St. Petersburg College and Amanda Sweet, Technology Innovation Librarian, Nebraska Library Commission.
Special monthly episodes of NCompass Live! Join the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Amanda Sweet, as she guides us through the world of library-related Pretty Sweet Tech.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- July 7 – History Nebraska: Taking History Online
- July 14 –Finding Partners & Preparing Staff: Teaching Technology in the Library Series (Part 3)
- July 21 – Accessing Census Data
- July 28 –Marketing & Follow-Up: Teaching Technology in the Library Series (Part 4)
- August 4 – Small Libraries Will Save the World! Implementing Sustainability at the Library
- August 11 – The Kreutz Bennett Donor-Advised Fund: Grants to Nebraska’s Small-Town Public Libraries
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Posted in Education & Training, Pretty Sweet Tech, Technology
Tagged NCompLive, prettysweettech
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NCompass Live: Pretty Sweet Tech – Nebraska Libraries on the Web: Updates & Getting Started
Does your library need a website? Nebraska Libraries on the Web is a free way for Nebraska public libraries to get started with a WordPress website. Learn more on next week’s Pretty Sweet Tech NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, May 26 at 10am CT.
In this session you will:
- Learn the basics about WordPress and Nebraska Libraries on the Web
- Find out how to get started or revamp your existing website
- See some examples of new website layouts and design
It is free to use WordPress through Nebraska Libraries on the Web. The server and “behind the scenes” maintenance is run through the Nebraska Library Commission. All you have to do is add content and update the website after initial setup. One-on-one assistance is available to plan, learn WordPress, and troubleshoot along the way.
This session will be helpful for anyone who wants to learn more about the program, see website examples, or hear about WordPress updates.
Special monthly episodes of NCompass Live! Join the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Amanda Sweet, as she guides us through the world of library-related Pretty Sweet Tech.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- June 2 – Who is Learning & Why?: Teaching Technology in the Library Series (Part 1)
- June 9 – Mental Maintenance
- June 16 –How Do People Learn?: Teaching Technology in the Library Series (Part 2)
- June 23 – Bedbugs in the Library?!
- June 30 – Pretty Sweet Tech – Spatial for Librarians: A 3D Meeting Space
- July 7 – History Nebraska: Taking History Online
- July 14 –Finding Partners & Preparing Staff: Teaching Technology in the Library Series (Part 3)
- July 21 – Accessing Census Data
- July 28 –Marketing & Follow-Up: Teaching Technology in the Library Series (Part 4)
- August 4 – Small Libraries Will Save the World! Implementing Sustainability at the Library
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Posted in Education & Training, Pretty Sweet Tech, Technology
Tagged NCompLive, prettysweettech
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NCompass Live: Pretty Sweet Tech – Computers in Libraries 2021: Highlights, Tips, & Tricks
Learn some Highlights, Tips, & Tricks from Computers in Libraries 2021 on next week’s Pretty Sweet Tech NCompass Live webinar on Wednesday, April 28 at 10am CT.
I collected a good assortment of ideas from Computers in Libraries 2021’s virtual conference this year! The best part was virtually networking with robots. Robots are my happy place. This edition of Pretty Sweet Tech will dig into some of my favorite resources, themes, and things to pay attention to in the coming year (and beyond). Here is a sampling of the topics that will be covered:
- Libraries and Workforce Development
- Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Conversations
- What’s Staying Changed After Covid?
- Playing With Tech (including my robot friend)
So if you weren’t able to make it to the conference, or are still considering a Replay Pass to dig into what you need, this session will help. I hope to see you there!
Special monthly episodes of NCompass Live! Join the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Amanda Sweet, as she guides us through the world of library-related Pretty Sweet Tech.
Upcoming NCompass Live shows:
- May 5 – Adult Book Clubs During the Pandemic: Reports from the Field
- May 19 – Going Solo in the Library
- May 26 – Pretty Sweet Tech
For more information, to register for NCompass Live, or to listen to recordings of past events, go to the NCompass Live webpage.
NCompass Live is broadcast live every Wednesday from 10am – 11am Central Time. Convert to your time zone on the Official U.S. Time website. The show is presented online using the GoToWebinar online meeting service. Before you attend a session, please see the NLC Online Sessions webpage for detailed information about GoToWebinar, including system requirements, firewall permissions, and equipment requirements for computer speakers and microphones.
Posted in Education & Training, Pretty Sweet Tech
Tagged CILConnect, NCompLive, prettysweettech
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