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New Amigos Training Opportunities ALA’s Library Support Staff Certification: An Overview ~ LIVE ONLINE The Library Support Staff Certification (LSSC) Program is a national certification program that allows library support staff to demonstrate their competencies and be certified by the American Library Association. Through coursework or portfolio development, library support staff can earn the certification to advance their careers and gain new skills.  On April 30, Amigos will host Karen Strege, Co-Director of LSSC, and Ian Lashbrook, LSSC Research Associate, as they describe this certification program in a free, one-hour web information session.  Library managers and support staff are invited to learn more about the program and its value to support staff, their employers, and library users.  This online event will provide opportunity to ask your questions and get the answers from program staff. All You Need to Know about E-reader Service in Your Library ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description This highly interactive course introduces you to concepts and tools necessary in implementing and delivering e-reader services to library users. You will learn about e-reading devices and their compatibility with your e-collection; become knowledgeable in serving your patrons on use and dissemination of knowledge in the e-format; and explore and analyze real-world reference issues as they pertain to e-content in terms of resource selection, policy, privacy and confidentiality. The course is also designed to provide you with opportunities to interact with and learn from colleagues from a variety of libraries. Learning Objectives Identify current e-content/e-reader trends in libraries Troubleshoot compatibility of e-collections with e-reader devices Identify available e-collections Write policies concerning e-readers/e-content Outline an implementation plan for usage of e-readers in libraries Discuss assessment planning for e-reader services Target Audience Any staff in libraries responsible for implementing or supporting e-reader services Prerequisites None Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements This is a highly interactive course and participants will be required to complete homework assignments. It is designed for individual participation; each individual must register. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Schedule This course consists of four 2-hour sessions.   This class is currently scheduled for: June 4, 11, 18, 25, 2012 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM CDT each day Click on the "Go to Registration" button below to register. Cataloging with RDA ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description Goodbye AACR2 and hello RDA. The test results are in, three national libraries (LC, NLM and NLA) plan to implement the new standard "no sooner than January 2013." This workshop will bring you the latest news on RDA and give you a thorough overview of the new content standard. Topics include: FRBR review; RDA Core elements for description, preferred titles and names; changes from AACR2; articulating relationships between resources and entities; RDA Toolkit functionality; using workflows and mappings to catalog materials with RDA. Through exercises and hands-on cataloging experiences, participants will receive a thorough grounding in RDA. Learning Objectives Distinguish between work, expression, manifestation and item as they apply to describing and providing access to resources and understand their roles in enabling users to find, identify, select and obtain resources Build descriptions of resources using RDA Core elements Create authorized access points using preferred names for persons, families and corporate bodies and preferred titles for works Articulate relationships between works, expressions, manifestations and items and between resources and persons, families and corporate bodies using RDA vocabularies Use the RDA Toolkit and workflows to identify rules relevant to describing resources and creating access points Target Audience Library catalogers with experience in cataloging with AACR2 and MARC Prerequisites Working knowledge of AACR2 and experience applying rules to cataloging situations Working knowledge of the MARC 21 and/or OCLC MARC bibliographic formats Desire to learn; openness to change Students must have access to the RDA Toolkit through institutional or personal subscription Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements Students will hand in exercises reinforcing RDA concepts and will complete MARC-based descriptions for resources, applying RDA rules. It is designed for individual participation; each individual must register. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Schedule This course consists of four 2-hour sessions. Choosing a Digital Camera ~ SELF-PACED Course Description The advent of the digital camera has made photography easier than ever. Image sensors eliminate the cost and time of developing film, enabling the photographer to view recent snapshots and delete any they do not like. The cost of digital cameras of all types has declined precipitously as has the cost of the various storage media, software, printers and other accessories required to capture, store and print digital photographs. Libraries, archives and museums have leveraged these technologies to capture staff pictures for websites, document activities and programs and photograph important objects held in their collections. People use digital cameras to capture family memories, pet antics and travels. This self-paced workshop covers the following topics: types of digital cameras; digital camera features including size, image sensors, shooting modes, lenses, storage media, image stabilization and much more; and provides tips on choosing a digital cameras that best meets your needs. Learning Objectives Compare the three major types of digital cameras Describe major features found on digital cameras Assess sensors found on different types of cameras Compare lenses found on different types of cameras Target Audience Librarians, archivists, museum personnel or individuals desiring guidance on purchasing a digital camera Prerequisites None Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements To earn a certificate, participants must view all units of the workshop, answer all quiz questions and complete the final assignment. Technical Requirements Self-Paced System Requirements The Imaging and Preservation Service is funded in part by a grant from the Division of Preservation and Access of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Configuring Hardware and E-collections for E-readers in Libraries ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description This highly interactive course introduces you to concepts and tools necessary in configuring and responding to user inquiries about compatibility of your e-collection with their e-reader device. You will learn to resolve and troubleshoot e-device hardware issues. You will become knowledgeable in serving your patrons on use and dissemination of knowledge in the e-format by creating friendly user guides. The course is also designed to provide you with opportunities to interact with and learn from your colleagues from a variety of libraries. Learning Objectives Identify Current e-content/e-reader trends in libraries Troubleshoot compatibility of e-collections with e-reader devices Create user guides for your patrons Identify available e-collections Target Audience Any staff in libraries responsible for implementing or supporting e-reader services. Prerequisites None Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements This is a highly interactive course and participants will be required to complete homework assignments. It is designed for individual participation; each individual must register. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Schedule This course consists of two 2-hour sessions. CONTENTdm 6: Website Configuration Tool ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description Customizing the public face of your CONTENTdm collection used to require a cursory knowledge of PHP. Now, with the Website Configuration Tool, many basic customizations can be done by Collection Administrators. No technical knowledge required! Everyone will have a collection to play with. We'll go through each of the options for configuration: Quick Config Appearance Searching & Browsing UI Widgets Image Viewer Navigation Items Page Types Tools Custom Scripts (we'll look at, but not work with) Learning Objectives Demonstrate the difference between Save, Preview, and Publish Identify the URL that will allow you to get to the Website Configuration Tool Make 3 changes to the public face of a CONTENTdm collection using the Website Configuration Tool Target Audience Current CONTENTdm 6 users CONTENTdm 5.x and lower users interested in how the Website Configuration Tool works Prerequisites Familiarity with CONTENTdm interface and public searching Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements Approximately one hour of homework will be required. It is designed for individual participation; each individual must register. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Schedule This course consists of two 2-hour sessions. Customer Skills for Library Staff - Techniques that Yield Results ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description Information seekers interact daily with library staff to meet their information needs. Do you have the necessary customer skills it takes to engage in successful interactions with your patrons? This course helps reference staff identify necessary skill sets needed for any reference interaction whether it is face to face, virtual or on the telephone. Additionally, you will learn how to recognize common barriers to productive reference interactions, develop techniques to overcome them and discover how to display exemplar service to anyone visiting your library, face-to face or virtually. Learning Objectives Identify the skills utilized in providing service to your patrons Recognize how to demonstrate customer service skills to your patrons Define barriers to patron interactions with librarians and staff Employ examples to reinforce soft customer skills Distinguish between elementary service and value added service for your patrons Target Audience Public service staff in academic and public libraries as well as beginning librarians Prerequisites None Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements This course requires individual participation and completion of in class group assignments. It is designed for individual participation; each individual must register. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Schedule This course consists of three 2-hour sessions. Digital Library Systems and Applications ~ FACE-TO-FACE Course Description Digital Library Systems and Applications will provide information about evaluating, adapting, and developing systems and applications for born-digital and digitized material. The course will explore the following topics: User-Centered Design: Functional Requirements, Use Cases, and Usability Components of Digital Collections: Collections Objects, Object Metadata, and System Models Workflows: Creating, Acquiring, Administering, Accessing, and Disposing of Data Interoperability: Protocols, standards, and transformations Learning Objectives At the conclusion of this workshop, students will be able to: Identify digital library design and development processes Understand the relationships between data/metadata and system functionality Design staff workflows for using digital library systems Describe methods to reuse components of digital collections in alternative systems to meet user needs Intended Audience The workshop is intended for library, archives, and museum professionals with experience in collections management or cataloging. Course Hours The course is designed as a two-day workshop, consisting of 12 hours of instruction. Digital Library Systems and Applications ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description Digital Library Systems and Applications will provide information about evaluating, adapting, and developing systems and applications for born-digital and digitized material. The course will explore the following topics: User-Centered Design: Functional Requirements, Use Cases, and Usability Components of Digital Collections: Collections Objects, Object Metadata, and System Models Workflows: Creating, Acquiring, Administering, Accessing, and Disposing of Data Interoperability: Protocols, standards, and transformations Learning Objectives At the conclusion of this workshop, students will be able to: Identify digital library design and development processes Understand the relationships between data/metadata and system functionality Design staff workflows for using digital library systems Describe methods to reuse components of digital collections in alternative systems to meet user needs Target Audience This course is intended for library, archives, and museum professionals with experience in collections management or cataloging. Prerequisites None Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements It is designed for individual participation; each individual must register. This course is part of the "Train to Share" series made possible by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Project-based homework is an important part of this training series. For details and requirements, please send an email to walker@amigos.org. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Schedule This course consists of four 2-hour sessions. Digital Photography Basics ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description Digital cameras have made photography easier than ever before and cultural heritage staff have leveraged this technology to add color to their websites, record institutional activities and capture objects in their collections for online access. This workshop provides an overview of the digital photography workflow from image capture to printing or online display. Topics covered include how digital cameras work; digital camera settings and how they affect image quality; file formats; tips for better photographs; introduction to image editing; image printing and disply options. Learning Objectives Describe how digital cameras convert light to image files Describe how camera settings, including focus, flash, ISO, aperture and zoom affect image output Describe how camera shooting modes including auto, adjust camera settings to match shooting environments Classify common photographic errors and describe ways to avoid them Discuss pros and cons of shooting in RAW Explain how digital camera image settings affect image size and quality Describe how your digital camera transfers images to a computer List the four steps in the image editing workflow Demonstrate editing methods for each of the four steps Assess digital images and suggest possible edits Discuss methods for printing pictures from a computer or from the camera Describe how image size affects printout quality and size List ways of displaying images online and on local devices Target Audience This workshop is targeted to cultural heritage staff or anyone else wishing leverage the features of their digital camera to take better photographs. Prerequisites None Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements To earn a certificate for this workshop students must complete the following: Attend live online sessions or watch recordings (if you cannot attend the live sessions) Submit serveral photographs to workshop portal for review by the instructor Critique three photographs It is designed for individual participation; each individual must register. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Student must have access to a digital camera for taking photographs Student must be able to transfer digital photographs from their camera to their computer and upload them to the workshop portal Schedule This course consists of four 2-hour sessions. The Imaging and Preservation Service is funded in part by a grant from the Division of Preservation and Access of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Digital Preservation Management ~ FACE-TO-FACE This workshop is predicated on the need for institutions to combine organizational and technological perspectives to devise an appropriate response to the challenges that digital preservation (DP) requirements present. It is aimed at managers at institutions who are grappling with fundamental DP issues. Topics have been selected that build on what is learned in the prerequisite tutorial and that are representative of the range of issues that need to be addressed as you develop your institution’s response. For each topical session, resources are identified that may be relevant for your institution or your personal development. Registration for Texas residents is available on September 21, 2010. Open registration (for all) is available on September 28, 2010. Digital Project Planning & Management Basics ~ FACE-TO-FACE Course Description Digital Project Planning & Management Basics will provide the basic knowledge and skills needed to plan, implement and assess a digital project. The course will explore the following topics: Project Planning: Environment Scans, Needs Analyses, and Goal Development Project Management: Defining Tasks and Resources, Scheduling, and Tracking Financial Issues: Budgeting, Fundraising, and Contracting for Services Legal Issues: Copyright and Permissions Outcome Based Evaluation: Outputs, Outcomes, and Accountability Learning Objectives Understand basic project management concepts for digital projects and when they should be used Identify potential obstacles that could impact a digital project and ways to minimize risk Describe the difference between outcomes and output measures Intended Audience The workshop is intended for library, archives, and museum professionals with experience in collections management or cataloging. Course Hours The course is designed as a two-day workshop, consisting of 12 hours of instruction. Digital Project Planning & Management Basics ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description Digital Project Planning & Management Basics will provide the basic knowledge and skills needed to plan, implement and assess a digital project. The course will explore the following topics: Project Planning: Environment Scans, Needs Analyses, and Goal Development Project Management: Defining Tasks and Resources, Scheduling, and Tracking Financial Issues: Budgeting, Fundraising, and Contracting for Services Legal Issues: Copyright and Permissions Outcome Based Evaluation: Outputs, Outcomes, and Accountability Learning Objectives Understand basic project management concepts for digital projects and when they should be used Identify potential obstacles that could impact a digital project and ways to minimize risk Describe the difference between outcomes and output measures Target Audience This course is intended for library, archives, and museum professionals with experience in collections management or cataloging. Prerequisites None Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements It is designed for individual participation; each individual must register. This course is part of the "Train to Share" series made possible by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Project-based homework is an important part of this training series. For details and requirements, please send an email to walker@amigos.org. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Schedule This course consists of four 2-hour sessions. E-readers: From Policy Implementation to Marketing and Evaluation ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description This highly interactive course introduces you to concepts and tools necessary in implementing and delivering e-reader services to library users. You will learn about creating policies; marketing your service in traditional and new social media platforms; and put in place an assessment program that measures both the successes and shortfalls of your program. The course is also designed to provide you with opportunities to interact with and learn from colleagues from a variety of libraries. Learning Objectives Write policies concerning e-readers/e-content Outline an implementation plan for usage of e-readers in libraries Create marketing plan for e-reader service/program in your library Discuss assessment planning for e-reader services Target Audience Any staff in libraries responsible for implementing or supporting e-reader services Prerequisites None Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements This is a highly interactive course and participants will be required to complete homework assignments. It is designed for individual participation; each individual must register. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Schedule This course consists of two 2-hour sessions. Evaluating Virtual Reference Platforms ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description New tools and technologies are able to give librarians more online contact with their patrons. In this course we will explore various online platforms, some are subscription based like Question Point, Ref Chatter and VRPlus, but others are open source such as Meebo. If you are interested in learning how to evaluate virtual solutions for your library, this class is for you. Learning Objectives Identify Virtual Reference Solutions Learn how to evaluate virtual platforms Employ examples that fit your library needs Target Audience Public service staff and librarians who want to implement virtual platforms in their institutions. Prerequisites None Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements There will be some assingments outside of class, therefore completion of project and class participation are mandatory. It is designed for individual participation; each individual must register. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Schedule This course consists of two 2-hour sessions. Green Practices for the Reference Desk ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description The reference desk is not immune to practical green solutions that can save time and engage your users. This course aims to inform you of green practices in the library community and provide solutions that work for your reference desk. Come learn to utilize new green tools for your library. Learning Objectives Identify green practices in the library Define green solutions Employ examples to reinforce green practices Utilize effective green tools for your institution Target Audience Public service staff in academic and public libraries as well as beginning librarians. Prerequisites None Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements There are in-class and out-of-class activities which require participation inside and outside the class meeting times. It is designed for individual participation; each individual must register. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Schedule This course consists of two 2-hour sessions. Image Editing Fundamentals ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description Image editing is an important step in the workflows for library and archival staff scanning analog originals and digital photographers creating born-digital photographs. This workshop is intended for library and archival staff who need a solid introduction to the technology and practices of editing raster digital images (images composed of pixels rather than vectors). Although the workshop utilizes Adobe Photoshop for the examples and demonstrations, the concepts and techniques taught can apply to any full-featured image editor. The topics to be covered include: raster images; limitations of image editing; assessing digital images; corrections for noise, brightness/contrast, color and sharpness; undoing edits; downsampling, working with layers; non-destructive editing; selecting parts of images; image retouching; de-skewing and working with raw image files. Learning Objectives Describe components of raster images and how they are modified during editing Use histograms to assess deficiencies in digital images and propose corrections Apply image editing tools to correct noise, brightness/contrast, color and sharpen images Practice using layers to apply non-destructive edits to images Apply retouching, cropping and deskewing tools to improve appearance and composition of digital images Assess advantages and disadvantages of editing RAW image files, including the Adobe DNG file format Target Audience Library, archival and museum staff responsible for digitizing analog originals Prerequisites Experience with image scanning or taking digital photographs; experience with saving, moving and editing JPEG, GIF and TIFF files. Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements To earn a certificate of completion, students must attend all Live sessions or view recordings of same and complete all homework assignments. It is designed for individual participation; each individual must register. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Install GIMP - GNU Image Manipulation Program (available from workshop portal) Ability to upload files to and download files from workshop portal Schedule This course consists of two 2-hour sessions.   The Imaging and Preservation Service is funded in part by a grant from the Division of Preservation and Access of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Instructional Design 101 for the Busy Librarian ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description From library instruction to staff development, on-demand tutorials are filling the needs of busy librarians, students, patrons, and managers. With the emergence of rapid e-learning authoring software, librarians can easily develop e-learning tutorials that are engaging and effective. A well designed online tutorial can effectively help learners acquire new skills and concepts. This course will cover the basics of creating online learning tutorials from the initial design phase to the production phase. Participants will get hands-on experience in the development of an e-learning tutorial as they work with different rapid e-learning authoring tools. Learning Objectives By the End of This Class You Will: Identify and implement best practices in the design of effective and engaging tutorials Avoid the common pitfalls of e-learning development Examine and compare various rapid e-learning software tools Evaluate e-learning tutorials for key design features Design a high-quality, pedagogically-sound e-learning tutorial Target Audience Librarians at the beginner to advanced-level of technology fluency. Participants should feel comfortable using new software. Library staff developing library instruction and patron tutorials or staff training materials, whether in a public, academic, school, or special library setting. Prerequisites None Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements Each participant will be expected to fully engage in each class session. The first week will be dedicated to viewing and evaluating e-learning authoring software for specific criteria. Subsequent weeks will be dedicated to designing and developing your own tutorials, from identifying learning outcomes to developing a tutorial using a rapid e-learning authoring program. The last week will be dedicated to presenting your tutorial to the class. It is designed for individual participation; each individual must register. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements PC (most rapid e-learning software tools are not Mac compatible) You or your IT person must be able to download and install a trial version of a rapid e-learning software program. Schedule This course consists of six 2-hour sessions. Know & Go: Applying for a NEH PAG ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description In this Know & Go we will explain the importance of the Preservation Assistance Grants (PAGs) from the National Endowment for the Humanities, which are due in May. This session will cover the kinds of projects that can be funded as well as the guidelines and application process for the grant. The free assistance that Amigos provides to assist in the application process will also be covered. Learning Objectives At the end of this class, a student will be able to: Find the grant proposal guidelines for a Preservation Assistance Grant for Smaller Institutions from the NEH Identify what can and can't be funded by the grant Understand how Amigos can assist in applying for the grant Target Audience Everyone Prerequisites None Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements None This event is open to group registration; no CEUs are available for this event. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Schedule This course consists of one 60-minute session. The Imaging and Preservation Service is funded in part by a grant from the Division of Preservation and Access of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Know & Go: Applying for Federal Funding ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description For this Know & Go, Federal Funding will be discussed. A brief overview of the process for applying for federal funding will be explored including navigating Grants.gov, contacting federal agencies, and working with program officers. Tips for making the process less stressful will also be covered. Learning Objectives Participants will: Navigate grants.gov Identify appropriate federal funding for their project Work with program officers to increase their chances of funding Lists actions that will make the application process easier Target Audience Anyone who would apply for federal funding. Prerequisites None Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements None This event is open to group registration; no CEUs are available for this event. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Schedule This course consists of one 60-minute session. The Imaging and Preservation Service is funded in part by a grant from the Division of Preservation and Access of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Know & Go: CONTENTdms Website Configuration Tool ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description A quick overview of the Website Configuration Tool (WCT), which is an integral piece of CONTENTdm version 6. We’ll touch each part of the WCT, demonstrating the most popular pieces, e.g., Quick Config, changing the header, the default search, adding QuickView and Suggested Topics, modifying header and footer navigation, as well as changing your entire CONTENTdm site to Pirate English for “Talk Like a Pirate Day!” Learning Objectives Identify the location of the Website Configuration Tool Become familiar with options available in the Website Configuration Tool List 3 features from the Website Configuration Tool to be changed on your CONTENTdm site Target Audience CONTENTdm Users Prerequisites Familiarity with CONTENTdm public interface for version 6 Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements None This event is open to group registration; no CEUs are available for this event. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Schedule This course consists of one 60-minute session. Know & Go: Customer Service Basics for Any Librarian ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description Information seekers interact daily with library staff to meet their information needs. Do you have the necessary customer skills it takes to engage in successful interactions with your patrons? This one hour webinar helps reference staff identify necessary skill sets needed for any reference interaction whether it is face to face, virtual or on the telephone. Target Audience Any librarian or paraprofessional staff Prerequisites None Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements None This event is open to group registration; no CEUs are available for this event. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Schedule This course consists of one 60-minute session. Know & Go: Demystifying Image Editing ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description Are you mystified by image editing? Do you want a better idea of how image editors work? Then this Know & Go is for you. Topics to be covered include: overview of image editors; analyzing digital images; the four parts of image editing; and non-destructive editing. Learning Objectives Demonstrate common features among image editors Deomonstrate ways to analyze image deficiencies List the steps in editing images Demonstrate methods for non-destructive editing Target Audience Staff involved with digitization projects and digital photographers Prerequisites None Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements None This event is open to group registration; no CEUs are available for this event. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Schedule This course consists of one 60-minute session. The Imaging and Preservation Service is funded in part by a grant from the Division of Preservation and Access of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Know & Go: EAD and EAD-CPF Update ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description The archival world, like the library world is undergoing significant change in their descriptive standard. This Know & Go session will provide an update of SAA's revision of EAD and introduce the new archival authority standard, Encoded Archival Context: Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families. Learning Objectives Understand priorities for EAD revision Gain knowledge for timeline of EAD revision Learn the purpose of EAC-CPF View samples of EAD-CPF records Target Audience Archivists or anyone else interested in current developments in archival description Prerequisites None Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements None This event is open to group registration; no CEUs are available for this event. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Schedule This course consists of one 60-minute session. The Imaging and Preservation Service is funded in part by a grant from the Division of Preservation and Access of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Know & Go: Finding Free E-books ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description E-books are all the rage right now – whether you own an e-reader or not. Finding e-books is not difficult; they are easy to find if you are willing to pay. But what if you prefer not to pay? Are there e-books out there for you, too? Yes – and some might be even more interesting than you had thought. We’ll look at the popular free e-book sites, as well as some that may be new to you. If you have your favorite sites, bring them too! Prerequisites None Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements None This event is open to group registration; no CEUs are available for this event. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Schedule This course consists of one 60-minute session. Know & Go: HTML 5: Will It Be Worth It? ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description The next version of HTML is version 5. Although not slated to be a W3C recommendation until 2012, major commercial websites are already using pieces of HTML 5. Browser manufacturers are starting to support the more stable sections. Is it complete enough for libraries to start using? Definitely, yes! We'll look at the parts that are ready and those that are yet to come. Target Audience Web authors and designers Prerequisites Basic knowledge of HTML and CSS Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements None This event is open to group registration; no CEUs are available for this event. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Schedule This course consists of one 60-minute session. Know & Go: NEH Preservation Assistance Grants (PAGs) - Writing the Narrative ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description This webinar will cover the official NEH Guidelines for a Preservation Assistance Grant. Students will go through the sections needed to complete the narrative. Special attention will be paid to the amount of information that is needed to complete the PAG application. Tips will also be given on how to make sure that the proposal includes all the information required. Learning Objectives List the parts needed to complete a PAG narrative Develop a narrative that focuses on the needs of your institution Develop a checklist of information needed to complete a PAG Find examples of successful PAGs Target Audience Anyone that is considering writing a PAG proposal Prerequisites None Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements None This event is open to group registration; no CEUs are available for this event. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Schedule This course consists of one 60-minute session. The Imaging and Preservation Service is funded in part by a grant from the Division of Preservation and Access of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Know & Go: NEH Preservation Assistance Grants - What will they fund? ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description This course will examine what can be funded with a Preservation Assistance Grant (PAG) from the National Endowment for the Humanities. It will also provide guidance to participants on how to plan their preservation needs so they can make the most of this small grant. Learning Objectives List what can and cannot be funded by the Preservation Assistance Grants from the NEH Create a basic project plan for preservation needs in order to make the most of PAG funding Target Audience Anyone who would be involved in grant writing or preservation project planning. Prerequisites None Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements None This event is open to group registration; no CEUs are available for this event. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Schedule This course consists of one 60-minute session. The Imaging and Preservation Service is funded in part by a grant from the Division of Preservation and Access of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Know & Go: Preservation Site and Collection Surveys ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description In this Know & Go session we will explain the difference between a site survey and a collection survey and how each can be beneficial for identifying problems (or strengths) of collections care. We will also identify the parts of a survey, which can help you decide if your organization could benefit for a survey. Grant funding for a survey will also be briefly covered. Learning Objectives At the end of this class, a student will be able to: Define the difference between a site survey and a collection survey List the basic parts of a site survey Decide if a site survey or collection survey would be beneficial for their institution Target Audience Everyone Prerequisites None Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements None This event is open to group registration; no CEUs are available for this event. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Schedule This course consists of one 60-minute session. The Imaging and Preservation Service is funded in part by a grant from the Division of Preservation and Access of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Know & Go: RDA Update #2 ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description Nearly a year has passed since the "Report and Recommendations of the U.S. RDA Test Coordinating Committee" was released. In the meantime the RDA Toolkit has undergone significant revisions, national libraries move toward implementation and libraries are contributing bibliographic records that comply with RDA rules. This Know & Go session will provide the latest updates on the status of RDA, revisions of the Toolkit and current developments of a replacement for MARC 21. Target Audience Catalogers and other library staff interested in current issues of bibliographic control Prerequisites None Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements None This event is open to group registration; no CEUs are available for this event. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Schedule This course consists of one 60-minute session. This class is currently scheduled for: June 11, 2012 1:30 - 2:30 PM CDT Click on the "Go to Registration" button below to register. Know & Go: The Raw Truth about Raw (files, not sashimi) ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description A major development in the evolution of image file formats in the last 10 years has been the adoption of raw image data by digital photographers and digitizers of analog text and photographic originals. Join Bill Walker, Imaging Field Services Officer, for a one-hour Know & Go session that provides an overview of raw. This session will cover the following: compare image processing of raw and JPEG; describe raw formats and explore their uses by digital imaging practitioners; demonstrate raw image editing in Photoshop; outline the up and downsides of raw files; and discuss Adobe’s open DNG raw image format. Target Audience Librarians, archivists and museum staff working with digital images in any capacity Prerequisites None Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements None This event is open to group registration; no CEUs are available for this event. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Schedule This course consists of one 60-minute session. The Imaging and Preservation Service is funded in part by a grant from the Division of Preservation and Access of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Know & Go: What’s New with the Pew Internet & American Life Project ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description The Pew Research Center publishes a good deal of data about all aspects of life and particularly how the Internet affects us. It is sometimes difficult to find the time to keep up with it all. In this session, Christine Peterson will do the work for you! She’ll condense the last 6 months’ worth of their data into an hour-long session on what is changing and what might be coming! Target Audience Anyone Prerequisites None Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements None This event is open to group registration; no CEUs are available for this event. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Schedule This course consists of one 60-minute session. Know & Go: Who is Reading Online or on a Device? Current Trends in the Purchase and Use of E-readers and E-books ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description This Know & Go update session will cover current trends in patron behavior towards e-content as discussed in a recent report by Library Journal, Understanding the Behavior and Preferences of U.S. Public Library Users. Target Audience It is open to any librarian who is interested in understanding the current usage of e-readers and e-content in the library. Prerequisites None Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements None This event is open to group registration; no CEUs are available for this event. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Schedule This course consists of one 60-minute session. Know & Go: Wolfram Alpha and More Ready Ref on the Web ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description Knowledge of reference sources is central to providing your users with the answers they seek. Equally important is the ability to navigate various search engines to quickly access useful information for your patrons. This session will focus on discovering strengths and weaknesses of search engines like Wolfram Alpha, Google and Bing. It is ideal for both librarians and paraprofessionals who engage with patrons at the reference desk, or virtually. Come learn which search engines work for you and how to best use them. Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements None This event is open to group registration; no CEUs are available for this event. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Schedule This course consists of one 60-minute session. Know & Go: Working with Patrons and the Community After a Disaster ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description In the last few months libraries and other cultural institutions across the country have had to deal with the aftermath of earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, and wild fires. After tragic events like these, people in the community look to the library to find information and guidance to help them begin to recover and/or rebuild. What do libraries need to do in order to be prepared to be a community resource? How can libraries best serve the needs of their patrons? This Know & Go will focus on how libraries can help patrons connect with community resources as well helping patrons preserve their own documents and personal memories after a disaster. Target Audience Everyone Prerequisites None Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements None This event is open to group registration; no CEUs are available for this event. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Schedule This course consists of one 60-minute session. The Imaging and Preservation Service is funded in part by a grant from the Division of Preservation and Access of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Know & Go: WorldCat Resource Sharing Enhancements ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description OCLC has been busy during the past 6 months improving the WorldCat Resource Sharing service. During this session we will look at the new Article Exchange, ability to email copies of requests to patrons/borrowing libraries from any status, Custom Holdings improvements and new statistical reports, with a preview of changes planned during the coming months. Target Audience Users of WorldCat Resource Sharing Prerequisites None Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements None This event is open to group registration; no CEUs are available for this event. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Schedule This course consists of one 60-minute session. Know & Go: XML2Print: the Art and Science of XSL Formatting Objects ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description Most people who have worked with XML applications such as the Encoded Archival Description or the Text Encoding Initiative have used XSL stylesheets to transform their XML documents to HTML. Join Bill Walker for an introduction to another XSL technology--Formatting Objects. XSL-FO stylesheets define physical pages and govern how text from an XML document is transformed to print-oriented formats such as PDF and Postscript. In this Know & Go, we'll cover the process of creating formatting objects and demonstrate their use with both EAD and TEI examples. Learning Objectives Distinguish between XSL and XSL-FO Apply formatting object tags to defining physical pages and outputting text into PDF documents Transform XML documents to PDF using the Oxygen XML Editor and XSL Formatting Objects Target Audience Anyone with interest in XML who wishes to learn how to transform XML to PDF. Prerequisites No prerequisites Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements None This event is open to group registration; no CEUs are available for this event. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Schedule This course consists of one 60-minute session. The Imaging and Preservation Service is funded in part by a grant from the Division of Preservation and Access of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Managing Reference Service in a Small Library ~ FACE-TO-FACE Course Description Reference service is a contact sport that engages librarian and patron in a listening and learning process. Reference training also requires engaging and listening to fellow students and the instructor. This highly interactive course wll introduce you to concepts and tools necessary in information access and delivery. You will study and discuss approaches to reference service; become knowleadgeable about the application of core reference principles and information technologies as they relate to daily activities of library and information providers; and explore and analyze real-world reference issues as they pertain to resource selection, user privacy and confidentiality. The course is also designed to encourage you to update your reference source materials and social networking tools and to provide you with opportunities to interact with and learn from colleagues from a variety of libraries. Learning Objectives The library as an information source for the community Core Reference Issues Methods of Virtual Reference Reference Interview Research Assistance Web 2:0 Reference Tools Target Audience Paraprofessional and proffesional library staff Prerequisites None Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements There are in class assignments required for this course. Schedule This is a full-day course. Metadata Standards and Crosswalks ~ FACE-TO-FACE Course Description Metadata Standards and Crosswalks will provide information about evaluating, adapting, and providing metadata for both born-digital and digitized materials. The course will explore the following topics: Content standards: AACR2, DACS and CCO, with some information on RDA Common metadata schemas: IPTC, Dublin Core, and MARC-XML Metadata crosswalks and transformations Application profiles for Dublin Core and other metadata standards Other types of metadata, including technical, preservation and rights metadata Course Hours The course is designed as a two-day workshop, consisting of 12 hours of instruction. Moving the Front Lines Online: Embedding Reference Librarians in Online Classes ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description Students are not always aware of the resources available through the library, so embedding a librarian into an online course module to assist in navigating databases and locating, evaluating, and citing the best sources for projects can be an invaluable support service. In this 2-hour class, learn how the embedded program began at my institution, how it works on a daily basis, how it's grown in the past couple of years, and how to implement an embedded program at your own library. Learning Objectives Librarians will understand how the embedded program started and how it works on a daily basis. Librarians will identify best practices and share new ideas for the embedded program. Librarians will begin to develop an embedded program for their institutions. Target Audience Suited for any librarian at an institution that uses course management software (like Blackboard or WebCT), especially relevant to academic librarians. Prerequisites No prerequisites Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements All the activities will be in class activities. There will be no homework assignments outside of class. It is designed for individual participation; each individual must register. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Schedule This course consists of one 2-hour session. Principles of Controlled Vocabulary & Thesaurus Design ~ FACE-TO-FACE The Principles of Controlled Vocabulary and Thesaurus Design prepares digital project staff to use existing controlled vocabularies or to develop their own lists of specialized terms for specific applications in digital projects. Learning objectives include: Compare and contrast different types of controlled vocabularies, including lists, synonym rings, hierarchies and thesauri. Create controlled vocabulary (CV) terms for supplied digital objects Apply the Guidelines for the Construction, Format, and Management of Monolingual Controlled Vocabularies for refining CV terms Develop hierarchies of CV terms for thesauri Build associative relationships among the CV terms Discuss methods of displaying controlled vocabularies to metadata creators and users Examine methods of justifying, building and integrating CVs Intended Audience This course is designed for archivists, librarians or museum staff faced with the challenges of applying existing controlled vocabularies or building new vocabularies to provide access to their digital collections Course Hours The workshop meets on two consecutive days for 5.5 hours each day. Principles of Controlled Vocabulary & Thesaurus Design ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description The Principles of Controlled Vocabulary and Thesaurus Design prepares digital project staff to use existing controlled vocabularies or to develop their own lists of specialized terms for specific applications in digital projects. Learning Objectives Compare and contrast different types of controlled vocabularies, including lists, synonym rings, hierarchies and thesauri. Create controlled vocabulary (CV) terms for supplied digital objects Apply the Guidelines for the Construction, Format, and Management of Monolingual Controlled Vocabularies for refining CV terms Develop hierarchies of CV terms for thesauri Build associative relationships among the CV terms Discuss methods of displaying controlled vocabularies to metadata creators and users Examine methods of justifying, building and integrating CVs Target Audience This course is designed for archivists, librarians or museum staff faced with the challenges of applying existing controlled vocabularies or building new vocabularies to provide access to their digital collections Prerequisites None Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements It is designed for individual participation; each individual must register. This course is part of the "Train to Share" series made possible by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Project-based homework is an important part of this training series. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Schedule This course consists of four 2-hour sessions. The Imaging and Preservation Service is funded in part by a grant from the Division of Preservation and Access of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Reference and Information Services ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description This course will introduce you to key concepts and tools necessary in information access and delivery. You will study and discuss approaches to reference service; become knowledgeable about the application of core reference principles and information technologies as they relate to daily activities of library and information providers; and explore and analyze real-world reference issues as they pertain to resource selection, user privacy and confidentiality. The course is also designed to encourage you to update your reference source materials and social networking tools and to provide you with opportunities to interact with and learn from colleagues from a variety of libraries across the country. This course will be presented in four modules: Core reference skills Reference policies Reference resources Technology tools for the reference desk Learning Objectives Through in-class and homework discussions and activities, by the end of the course students will: Demonstrate knowledge by: Examining the general scope of the library’s collections, including areas of strength and specialized collection. Examining legal issues involved in reference services, including user privacy, confidentiality, and copyright. Identifying basic reference, information, and community resources. Explaining classification and organization schemes for collection. Explaining basic search methods, display options, and terminology of the library’s catalog, website, and other information access tools. Demonstrate skills by: Conducting effective reference interviews, helping users define their information needs. Judging when referrals are necessary and use appropriate referral procedures. Instructing users in basic research procedures, including use of the library’s catalog, general database, and web searching, and locating materials in the library. Using basic searching skills to find information in print, non-print, and digital resources. Using locally developed tools such as subject guides, FAQs, and other resources that provide guidance to answer information requests. Helping users select the most appropriate information resource to meet their needs, and evaluate the quality, currency, and authority of information retrieved. Identifying and locate information in all formats, and assist users in retrieving materials, including those not held locally. Interpreting bibliographic record and citation formats. Target Audience New paraprofessional staff working in libraries, or anyone needing a refresher. Prerequisites Comfortable using the internet and social media tools. Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements The course will be a combination of lectures, reading, field-observation, written assignments, exercises, and presentations. Students will be expected to complete at least one assignment or project related to each objective and participate in discussions and group exercises. Information in each module will be presented in a variety of formats, including PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, YouTube video, and web pages. Students are expected to devote one to two hours each week outside of class time to complete activities and assignments. Lectures, discussions and individual reports along with personal observation and class interactions will be used throughout the course. Topics covered will include: reference policy, reference interview, confidentiality, privacy, weeding, resource selection, resource evaluation, ethics, bibliographic instruction, user systems, interface navigation, information tools, user instruction, design and processes of databases. It is designed for individual participation; each individual must register. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Schedule This course consists of five 2-hour sessions. This course meets the requirements for American Library Association Library Support Staff Certification [ALA-LSSC] for the Reference and Information Services elective. Selling Your Library Without Selling Out! ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description Budgets are tight everywhere, and now is the best time to make sure your community knows how truly valuable your library is! Get ready to launch a marketing program based on time-tested social marketing techniques that will shape and refine your marketing. Social marketing is about marketing things that matter, social causes, literacy, education! Developing a marketing campaign based on our social marketing techniques will allow you to create an exciting and effective marketing campaign. As an added incentive, you will also have a unique opportunity to meet with an award-winning graphic designer. Learning Objectives During this class you will gain the skills and knowledge to: Discuss the history of social marketing and its relevance to libraries Identify contemporary social marketing campaigns Recognize the elements that make social marketing campaigns successful and how to apply social marketing best practices to libraries Create a social marketing plan that can be used in your own library Meet with a graphic designer to discuss tips for creating clear and useful designs Target Audience Anyone who needs to find tangible ways to market their library Anyone who wants to know how to market non-profits successfully Anyone who want to get ready to market his or her library by Fall 2010 Prerequisites None Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements Each participant will be expected to fully engage in each class session. Each week we will examine components of successful social marketing campaigns, and every week you will have time in between class to work on how to apply these techniques to your own marketing. A vital component of this class is sharing your findings with your fellow classmates so that together we will build a community of successful marketers of libraries. To make this class relevant, the activities will be structured around your marketing needs; so that you can leave the class with a real plan. It is designed for individual participation; each individual must register. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Instructors Mary Evangeliste Mary has over 17 years of experience in the fine arts and in libraries. She has taught, lectured, and presented in the areas of art history, librarianship, and marketing for groups that include the State Department, Maryland School of Art and Design, University of Pittsburgh, LAMA, ACRL, and ALA. She is the co-founder of Fearless Future and the Director of User Services & Outreach at Musselman Library, Gettysburg College. Mary has been honored with two national library marketing awards: 3M’s 2001 Check-it-out Yourself Day and ACRL’s 2005 Best Practices in Marketing Academic and Research Libraries @your library® Award. Yvonne Mery Before becoming a librarian Yvonne worked in the non-profit world where she developed and managed educational programs for Hispanic youth. As a non-profit program developer, Yvonne developed marketing plans, designed materials, and conducted community outreach. She has also taught composition and Spanish and given workshops into learning styles and their application to adult teaching. Yvonne has conducted extensive research into social marketing and believes in the power of marketing social causes to change ourselves and our world for the greater good. Schedule This course consists of four 2-hour sessions. Sharing Means Caring: Collaboration between Librarians/Faculty and Its Benefits ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description Librarians are always looking for a way to collaborate with faculty members, as both have mutual goals and concerns for students and the institution in general. In this two-hour class, learn methods to get faculty in the door so that you can begin collaborating on research assignments and events with the ultimate effect of making them your library's biggest supporter. Learning Objectives Librarians will recognize the benefits of collaborating with their faculty. Librarians will describe methods of collaboration currently used in their institutions, and why they are or are not successful. At the end of the class, librarians will outline a plan to get faculty in the library to use their facilities. Target Audience Especially relevant to academic librarians, but open to any librarian looking for more ideas on collaboration. Prerequisites No prerequisites. Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements All the activities will be in class activities. There will be no homework assignments outside of class. It is designed for individual participation; each individual must register. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Schedule This course consists of one 2-hour session. Tech Topics: Privacy and Social Networks ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description Facebook? Twitter? LinkedIn? FourSquare? Are you on one of these? Two? Three? Social networks are becoming more common and in libraries, expected. However, there has been a lot of discussion concerning how much each of these networks knows about you, how much they share with others, and who they are sharing with. Take a trip on the dark side. Find out what you agreed to when you accepted their Terms of Service! This series, Tech Topics, is primarily lecture-based and introduces library staff to technologies that may impact libraries and library services. Learning Objectives Identify 3 types of information about you that social networks would like to share with other organizations In your favorite social network, explain one way you can make your information more private Target Audience Everyone Prerequisites Have an account in at least one social network Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements None It is designed for individual participation; each individual must register. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Schedule This course consists of one 2-hour session. Tech Topics: QR Codes ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description QR Codes? Doesn't this stand for "Quarterly Review?" Not this time. Is this another type of barcode? Kind of. Does it have to do with my cell phone? Possibly. Do I need to know about it? You bet! QR (Quick Response) codes are square barcodes that can give the user more information, e.g., a link that goes to a website, a discount on a product, when the next library event will be, by using their cell phone. We'll talk about how they work, who is using them now, how other libraries are using them, and what you need to get started. This series, Tech Topics, is primarily lecture-based and introduces library staff to technologies that may impact libraries and library services. Learning Objectives Define what a CQR code is and how it works. List three ways CQR codes are currently being used. Explain how to create a CQR code. Target Audience Everyone Prerequisites None Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements None It is designed for individual participation; each individual must register. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements Schedule This course consists of one 2-hour session. Web Services Bootcamp: Adding Value to Library Apps and Services ~ LIVE ONLINE Course Description Are you a solo web developer with an interest in learning basic web scripting? A newbie thrown into your library web programming role because nobody else raised their hand? Somebody with a little more experience, but always looking to improve your knowledge of web services? This class is for you. We'll work through the basics of web services, simple to use embed code, and highlight resources to continue learning. Our emphasis will be on mashups and web services as a means to practice these skills. Come learn how to incorporate the "web of data" into your library applications and services. Topics covered include: Why web services for libraries? What do we gain in the move to "mashup"? Define the major terms of web services Resources for learning: wizard and tools (Yahoo Pipes, Google Code Playground) Code samples for downloading and practicing Featured code samples include: Image mashups using javascript and the Flickr API Video mashups using the YouTube and blip.tv API Search suggestions using the Yahoo BOSS API Mapping data with the Google Maps API Bestsellers and Movie Reviews with the New York Times API Learning Objectives Be able use API documentation and understand where to find mashup examples Know how to traverse/parse stuctured data using programming expressions like XPATH Build a simple mashup example Target Audience Library staff who have interest in and aptitude with library web development. Prerequisites Familiarity with HTML and CSS; Interest in learning Javascript and server-side programming. Experience with XML and javascript preferred. Homework Expectations and Completion Requirements 1 hour (first class) Worksheet with exercises solving how to traverse/parse XML and JSON documents 1.5 hour (second class) Create a test mashup with Javascript or simple embed code from one of the APIs we surveyed It is designed for individual participation; each individual must register. Technical Requirements Live Online System Requirements FTP software so participants can copy files to a course server. Schedule This course consists of two 2-hour sessions.