Tess' Favorite Picture Books of 2014

Slides available here: http://bit.ly/TessPicBkSlides 

In case you missed the Best Books of the Year: Picture Books webinar yesterday, you can watch the archive: http://bit.ly/TessFavPicBooks 

Description: 
Join Tess Goldwasser (St. Mary's County Library) as she enthusiastically and humorously book-talks her way through her favorite (and a couple of her not-so-favorite) books of 2014. She gives great readers' advisory tips: which books to recommend to which kinds of readers, how to advise parents on titles that may be a bit risque, plus much, much more. She's an absolute joy to listen to!

Learning Objectives:

1) Participants will be able to list at least 10 of the best picture books published for children in 2014.

2) Participants will be able to recommend these books to appropriate readers when answering readers' advisory questions.

3) Participants will be able to identify at least one of these books that they would like to read in 2015.

Note to First-Time Blackboard Collaborate Users:

If you're a first-time Blackboard Collaborate users, you'll be prompted to install the Blackboard Launcher. Just follow the instructions and keep an eye open for new windows/tabs as they like to open on their own during this process. 

Power Marketing 101 Webinar

http://www.power-marketing.com/

In case you missed the Power Marketing 101 webinar last Thursday, you can watch the archive: http://bit.ly/PwrMrket101 

Description: 
Join Brian Flook, President of Power Marketing (Hagerstown, MD) for this eye-opening, one-hour, online class that will help you ask the necessary questions that will uncover the compelling needs of your audience so you can create marketing tools and messaging that will cause them to take action! (Presented in Blackboard Collaborate)

Learning Objectives:

• List seven basic marketing principles that your library can start thinking about today that will enhance your marketing efforts.
• Define the acronym ICE and give examples of how to achieve it.
• Compare and contrast interruptive and permission-based marketing strategies.
• Compare and contrast inbound and outbound marketing strategies. 

Note to First-Time Blackboard Collaborate Users:

If you're a first-time Blackboard Collaborate users, you'll be prompted to install the Blackboard Launcher. Just follow the instructions and keep an eye open for new windows/tabs as they like to open on their own during this process. 

Maker Space Programming

Author Name: Joni Reed
Library System: Allegany County Library Systems
Learning Event website: http://www.nicenet.org/ICA/class/home.cfm

Top 3 things learned:
1. Maker Spaces are more than just tech labs. Maker Spaces can be about arts
and crafts, culinary arts, creative writing collaboration, and more.

2. Maker Spaces do not need to be separate rooms that are only open when a
library staff person is available to supervise. Maker Spaces can be drop in
spaces intended for self paced learning and exploration.

3. Maker Spaces do not have to be expensive to outfit. Simple items such as
model car parts, Tinker Toys, and Legos often suffice.

How to implement:
For Allegany County, the way to implement a Maker Space would be to make it a drop in space with a binder that has DIY, easy to follow directions on STEM
projects ranging from the very, very simple (toy cars propelled by inflated
balloons) to more complex (Simple Bots).

The drop in space should be in full view of the desk but situated away from
quiet areas of the library so students can collaborate without disturbing
other patrons.

Additional learning:
This was my favorite video of the whole class:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/B3YieMn1Kpg

There are some awesome ideas here.

YALSA's Beginner's Guide to Teens in Libraries: 2015 Edition

The Western Maryland Regional Library is sponsoring a daylong institute for the public library staff of Allegany, Garrett, and Washington counties specifically focused on staff:teen interactions within our libraries. This information is available on the MERLIN Training Calendar as well. 

Description:

Nearly every staff person interacts with teens in some way. This training is geared toward providing staff with strategies to ensure that the interaction is positive. Participants will achieve a better understanding of adolescent needs and behaviors and how to deal with them.

Date: March 16, 2015

Time: 9am-4pm – lunch will be provided by WMRL

Location: LaVale Library: 815 National Hwy, LaVale, MD

Register & for more info: http://bit.ly/TeensInLibraries 

Mary Hastler, Director, Harford County Public Library, will be leading this daylong institute. 

Making Maker Spaces Programming

Author Name: Cyndi Powell
Library System: Washington County Free Library
Learning Event website: http://www.nicenet.org/

Top 3 things learned:
1. You can have Makerspace programming on any budget.
2. I learned about a lot of online resources for programming ideas. I bookmarked many of the links for future reference.
3. I never knew they had Maker Fairs all over the world. It is an event I would really like to attend some day.

How to implement: 
Makerspace programming has unlimited possibilities. At first this intimidated me, but this class helped me to develop themes for my makerspace programs to have the programs more focused and more manageable. I plan on implementing two makerspace inspired programs. One called Crafterspace, focused on crafting, making and creating. The other program will be called Digi-Spaces, with a focus on computer programing, technology, tinkering, etc.

Additional learning: 
I would like to participate in more makerspace tutorials that are specific to certain types of tools or programs. For example, our library owns a raspberry pi device. I wish I could participate in a training specifically on the raspberry pi, how to set it up and use it, and what can be done with it in relationship to teen programs.

ALA Midwinter Conference

Author Name: Beau T. Bradley
Library System: Washington County Free Library
Event Title: ALA Midwinter Conference
Midwinter website: http://alamw15.ala.org/

Top 3 things learned:
-My main goal in attending Midwinter was to begin working on my Emerging Leaders program project. To this end, I spent a large chunk of my time becoming familiar with the structure of ALA and the goals and current efforts of many of the different facets of the organization.

-I attended a panel on women in geekdom, and from that I took several insights into the role that libraries can play in fostering young geek girls. The panelists expressed the importance of the library in providing a safe and community oriented space for geek communities, especially those created
by girls, to grow. The panelists also warned of gendering our programs and efforts (programs for boys, books for girls etc.) noting that by doing so we limit girls potential to explore a path that may ultimately lead them to careers in fields not typically friendly to females. Finally the panel
presented some of their own projects that may be useful to libraries, including a presentation from Google about their Made With Code program (https://www.madewithcode.com/) a program designed to help introduce girls to coding.

-Finally, I was lucky to attend a talk by LeVar Burton (the host of Reading Rainbow) where he spoke on a variety of topics, including early childhood literacy and the importance of reading as a family.

How to implement:
-To any of my colleagues who might be looking to become more participative in the ALA, I could take the knowledge I acquired and help them explore the organization.

-As we try to include more STEM programming into our work, the lessons learned at the panel will both inform the quality and inclusiveness of our and the specific programs that the panelists discussed could be high quality additions to current library programming efforts.

-Finally, the ideas and beliefs of Mr. Burton, a major voice in library advocacy, will serve as inspiration and meaningful input into our discussions of services and relevancy.

Need Adult Programming Ideas? Try These Free Webinars From WebJunction

WebJunction’s free, online course catalog has over 25 self-paced, online courses on library topics, as well as over 100 curated webinar archives ready and available when you are. Create a free WebJunction learner account today, and you’ll find a wide range of course topics, including Customer Service, Library Management, and Programming – something for everyone! Take courses when your time permits, and earn completion certificates as you finish each course.

New content added to WebJunction:

• Health Happens in Libraries, Supporting Communities through Health Information and Services – a guide to explore core concepts and identify resources and actions that can guide your library in responding to this essential aspect of community service.
• Resilient Library, Resilient You – a resilient library is the sum of its resilient staff!

February Webinar: 

The Golden Age of Gaming: Board Games for Grown-ups
Thursday, February 26, 2015 ♦ 1 pm Eastern / 10 am Pacific ♦ 60 min
Registration: http://www.webjunction.org/events/webjunction/golden-age-of-gaming.html

Board games have social, creative, and educational potential. Schools are using games and game mechanisms as enrichment activities with application to the Common Core. It's time that libraries got "on board" as well! Following on the successful "Board in the Library" series published on WebJunction, this webinar will provide practical advice on how to choose the right games for your community, how to set up your own circulating board game collection—including a quick inexpensive starting collection—and how to plan board gaming events. Learn more about modern board games—their rules, mechanics, classifications and themes. Game on!

Presented by: John Pappas, Library Manager at Bucks County Library System; Marti Fuerst, Librarian at Large, Omaha, Nebraska.

Can’t attend the live session? Don’t worry. All webinars are archived and included in the WebJunction course catalog so you can watch when your schedule permits and receive a certificate of attendance.

March Webinars

The Pursuit of Happiness…Through Libraries
Thursday, March 19, 2015 ♦ 2 pm Eastern / 11 am Pacific ♦ 60 min
Registration: http://www.webjunction.org/events/webjunction/pursuit-of-happiness.html

"The public library is a center of public happiness first…" John Cotton Dana, 1896.
Research points to how we can increase happiness and a sense of well-being in ourselves and others. Using interactive activities, participants will discover methods to improve joy, shift workplace culture, and offer programs for the public on happiness. You will walk away with a smile and a plan.

An encore presentation of the highest rated session from this year’s conference, this webinar is hosted in collaboration with the Association for Rural and Small Libraries.

Presented by: Sharon Morris, Colorado State Library.

BEFORE THE WEBINAR: Please watch the 12 minute TED video, The Happy Secret to Better Work, which will be discussed as part of the webinar.

Can’t attend the live session? Don’t worry. All webinars are archived and included in the WebJunction course catalog so you can watch when your schedule permits and receive a certificate of attendance.

"How Do I Apply to College?" Helping Patrons Meet Their Higher Education Goals
Thursday, March 26, 2015 ♦ 1 pm Eastern / 10 am Pacific ♦ 60 min
Registration: http://www.webjunction.org/events/webjunction/how-do-i-apply-to-college.html

As information and education centers, libraries are an ideal place for patrons—teens and adults—to learn about higher education opportunities. What can you offer in response to patrons who are curious about college? If you or your staff feel flummoxed by college-related reference questions, this session will acquaint you with the different types of college-bound students, college-related resources to promote at your library, and ways to work with community partners on programs for each audience. Provide help for the many patrons who do not have access to pricey college prep programs and services. Learn how to initiate or enhance your reference services to help more people meet their higher education goals.

Presented by: Africa Hands, MA, MLIS, Academic Coordinator, University of Louisville

Can’t attend the live session? Don’t worry. All webinars are archived and included in the WebJunction course catalog so you can watch when your schedule permits and receive a certificate of attendance.

Polaris Reports

Author Name: Adryana Billotti
Library System: Washington County Free Library

Event Title: Polaris Refresher: Reports

Top 3 things learned:

1. How to create new reports online
2. What reports Polaris is capable of running
3. How to save created Polaris reports from online onto a folder for Keedysville on Polaris itself.

How to implement: 

• Run reports more frequently at Keedysville
• Be better aware of the circulation of the collection at Keedysville
• Be more aware of Keedysville's patron activity.

Additional learning: 

• How often should we run reports
• How did we interpret and handle the information we receive from the report.

Choosing Attractive Color Combinations with Adobe Color

I like colors and I like creating colorful learning guides, marketing materials, WMRL Wave color schemes, etc but I don't always know which colors go together. 

Then Adobe Color CC (formerly known as Adobe Kuler) entered my life (thank you, Michael Shochet).

This is what you'll see on the Adobe Color homepage.

This website has opened up a whole new world to me. Just go to:
https://color.adobe.com, choose a Color Rule, and watch how the colors change. Click on the color wheel directly and different color combinations will form automatically. Scroll down a little bit and you'll see the RGB and HEX codes that you can copy and paste into whichever editor you're using - any of the Microsoft products have the capability of customizing fill and font colors. See: