Long gone are the days of thinking of Twitter as an utter and useless waste of time! Professionals are using it to search on hash tags affiliated with conference events, and there is also new interest in Twitter Chats. At the fall MEMO conference in St. Cloud, several presenters/keynotes mentioned Twitter Chats as a resource they used for learning and networking. Indeed, these chats allow educators from anywhere in the world to come together at appointed times on a regular basis to talk about what is important. If you are new to the field, Twitter Chats are also a nice way to get your name and face out there to gain authority and visibility with your peers. Get connected and stay informed! Want to try it out?
ALA announced the top books, videos, and audiobooks for children and young adults—including the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Newbery, and Printz awards—at its Midwinter Meeting in Seattle recently. The announcement was webcast for those who could not attend and is still viewable as an hour-long archived recording. Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, ALA awards guide parents, educators, librarians, and others in selecting the best materials for youth. Public Information Office, Jan. 28
There are only three weeks left to nominate someone you know with a proven track record in bringing creative and quality programs, projects and/or services to your library! The Minnesota Library Association (MLA) is accepting nominations until Thursday February 28, 2013. Click here for more information and nomination materials.
Are you a trainer seeking training? In January, CMLE highlighted an organization call WebJunction. As a learning site for libraries they provide online, self-paced courses to all members of the Minnesota library community. Each month you can elect to add a new course(s) to your professional development portfolio at no cost.
Here is a sample of this month’s FREE program:
How Libraries can meet the Evolving Needs of Patrons in the Digital Age
The Future of Online Learning: a changing landscape
Self-Directed Achievement: if you give library staff an hour…
You can also take a sneak peek at the complete list of more than forty courses offered by WebJunction.
For those of you who weren’t able to attend the Midwinter conference in Seattle hosted by the American Library Association (ALA) here is a FREE 60 minute webinar! This Friday, February 8th, an expert panel will analyze and discuss library technology trends from the conference. Click here to register.
Panelists: Jason Griffey, Marshall Breeding and Sue Polanka
Partnering with libraries for visioning, advocating, and educating