Answer 20 questions and you can help plan future continuing education offerings and be entered to win a $25 Starbucks gift card.

Take the survey and tell us about your CE needs by checking any content that would be useful to you.  Any staff member at an MLS library is invited to participate.

You can check as many boxes as you like. You don’t have to complete sections that are not relevant! The survey should take no more than ten minutes to complete.

If you would like to be included in the drawing for a Starbucks gift card, please be sure to give us your contact information at the end of the survey.  Winners will be randomly drawn after the survey closes and announced on Monday, May 21.

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Resource Sharing Unbound: Directions for Massachusetts
Tuesday, May 15, 2012, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm
College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts

HOSTED BY THE MASSACHUSETTS BOARD OF LIBRARY COMMISSIONERS AND THE MASSACHUSETTS LIBRARY SYSTEM

Electronic resources provide an opportunity and a challenge for libraries of all types.  Massachusetts residents have traditionally enjoyed a vigorous sharing environment.  Today’s structure for the licensing and delivery of e-content are challenges to sharing.  How will we proactively address the challenges posed by e-content?

Resource Sharing Unbound brings together academic, public, school and special libraries to seek a vision and potential solutions to that urgent question.

Leaders in our field will launch the exploration. Our keynote speaker is James G. Neal, Vice President for Information Services and University Librarian, Columbia University.

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Read on for registration information…

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A new updated and expanded 2nd edition of the Every Child Ready to Read toolkit has now being released by the American Library Association. The complete kit contains new workshops and a CD with each presentation in PowerPoint, also ideas for training of staff, library outreach, and ways to promote and market the library’s program.

Though the materials are easily understood and may be used without the need of additional training, this workshop will help highlight changes from the previous project and ways the new materials can best be used. Also, additional information will be provided on topics such as: the latest news in brain research; developmental stages of babies, toddlers, and preschoolers and implications for sharing and choosing books; incorporating early literacy skills into programming; inexpensive ways to include early literacy experiences at your library; ideas for successful outreach; and ways to collaborate with early childhood educators including ideas for ECE workshops.

Presented by Sue McCleaf Nespeca, formerly one of the six national trainers for the Every Child Ready to Read Project, who has a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education in addition to her M.L.S.

Register here!

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To register:

Login or register for a Lyrasis Member Account. After logging in, click the “Classes and Events” tab. Available courses may be viewed through the Searchable Classes and Events Schedule. All courses under the “Distance Education” delivery method are taught online with no travel required. You can also find courses by category.

When you identify a course you would like to take, email info@masslibsystem.org for the promotional code. Please use this subject line: lyrasis.  When you have received the code, you must enter it in order to take advantage of the MLS discount. Please note that the discount is automatically included in the course cost and members are responsible for the balance.

Locate the session, date, and location and click on the “Register” button.   Make sure the session, date, and time you selected is correct and enter the required information. Click the “Add to Cart” button and add the promotional code in the field labeled “Promo Code” and proceed to the Shopping Cart. Once you check out you will be asked for your payment method.

Please understand the rules for registering for Lyrasis courses before enrolling in a class. The class registration deadline is two weeks prior to each session. Registrations received after the deadline will be accepted as space permits and must be confirmed by calling the Lyrasis office at 800.999.8558.

Since each course has been partially pre-paid, please register only for courses you plan on attending and set aside enough time to complete each course in its entirety. You will receive a certificate of completion once the course has been completed.

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I am pleased to present two graphics that show MLS’s success at reaching members all across the Commonwealth. The first map illustrates the the number of attendees from 322 Massachusetts communities. The second graphic shows the 110 communities that hosted MLS CE events.

Thanks to all of the hosting libraries for the use of their meeting space and their help.  They made it possible for us to provide training locations throughout the state.

Please visit our online CE calendar to register for upcoming events.

We want to hear from you with suggestions for future continuing education events! We’ll  do our best to respond, but be aware our resources are limited. Please contact Greg Pronevitz or Carolyn Noah with your ideas.

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MLS Attendees Map Printable Link
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MLS Events Map Printable Link

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Participants in MLS CE 7/1/10 - 3/31/11

Those 2400 participants attended 160+ events presented in 70 communities as shown on the map below.  The most-used facility was MLS-Whately, where sixteen workshops took place. Other dots show 5-10 sessions and 3-5 sessions. (Click the map for a bigger image.) Thanks to all the hosting libraries for their generous hospitality.

MLS CE sites 7/1/10 - 3/31/11

We’ve been in touch through advisory services, too.  MLS staff made more than 120 site visits and responded by phone or email to 1,560 questions from our members.  With your help and interest, MLS is working toward its potential.

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• Do you want to grab attention for your library from community members-both library users and nonusers?
• Do you want to position your library as a critical asset for job seekers?
• Do you want to highlight the library as an access point for technology, continuing education and economic benefits?

Now available to all public libraries, Geek the Library was developed by OCLC with a Chicago marketing firm. Funded by the Gates Foundation, the campaign has helped pilot libraries initiate and expand relationships with influential members of their community and the media, for starting important funding discussions.

MLS is offering two online webinars with campaign manager Jennifer Pearson. Register for Tuesday May 3, 10:30-11:30 or a repeat on Thursday May 12, 1:30-2:30 to learn more about the program.

Jennifer Pearson will visit Massachusetts for a series of workshops and site visits to our pilot libraries May 25 -27. Interested in how your library can become a Massachusetts pilot library?

1. Visit get.geekthelibrary.org.
2. Assistant Administrator Carolyn Noah will  include information about MLS’s pilot project in a program at the Massachusetts Library Association on Wednesday, April 27, from 3-4:15.
3. If you can not attend MLA contact Cheryl Bryan at cheryl@masslibsystem.org for further information about the workshops and our pilot program.

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