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Call for proposals for ASCLA online professional development series

ASCLA seeks proposals for presentations for its 2011 Virtual Convergence—a series of professional development webinars that will be held in January 2011 immediately following the ALA 2011 Midwinter Meeting.

The Virtual Convergence is an opportunity for librarians to kick off 2011 with an intensive professional development opportunity they can conveniently pursue from the comfort of their hometown. The Convergence will offer webinars throughout the day from Tuesday, Jan. 18 through Friday, Jan. 21, that are open to all interested librarians, library staff and library supporters. ASCLA is currently seeking proposals for those webinar sessions.

Successful proposals will:

  • Show plans for presentations that fit within the 90-minute session blocks, including at least 15 minutes for Q&A.
  • Show how the presentation addresses a topic either of interest to ASCLA members, or represents an area of ASCLA’s expertise that benefits other types of librarians. This may include but is not limited to: financial management; strategic planning; grant writing; services to special populations including the blind, deaf and hard of hearing and the incarcerated; and library consulting. Past topics addressed by ASCLA programming are listed in the ASCLA @ Annual 2010 guide (PDF), as well as the version of the guide that covers 2009 Annual Conference programming (PDF).
  • Include an outline of the points the presentation will cover.
  • Outline the audiences that will be interested in this topic.
  • Include a description of the presenter and their relevant experience, e.g. education, job history, that illustrates their expertise in the proposed topic area.

Proposals may be submitted using the online submission form no later than close of business on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010. Presenters for accepted proposals will receive compensation for their time and will also receive training for the webinar software. Questions about ASCLA or the Convergence can be directed to Liz Markel, ASCLA marketing specialist or Susan Hornung, ASCLA executive director at lmarkel@ala.org and shornung@ala.org, respectively.

More information about the Virtual Convergence schedule, registration rates and other event details will be posted on the ASCLA blog and ASCLA website in mid-October, 2010.

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ASCLA Discussion Groups at Midwinter: downloadable brochure

Learn everything you need to know about ASCLA discussion groups at Midwinter–download this handy brochure and take it with you to Boston. Groups are open to anyone interested in the topics, and are a great way to meet others and collaborate to solve common professional challenges.

This snappy and informative one-page brochure also talks about ASCLA membership–who we are, our annual activities and the benefits of joining this amazing group of professionals.

Do you see yourself in ASCLA? If you belong with us, click over to www.ala.org/membership to join! Annual membership dues are just $40. Reach our membership and customer service team at 800-545-2433 to join by phone.

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Midwinter workshop registration closes Friday, Jan. 8!

Hard to believe it, but Midwinter is upon us, and registration closes tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 8, for RUSA’s genealogy institute and ASCLA’s universal design workshop, which both still have seats available.

Visit www.ala.org/midwinter to sign up now. Links below will take you to blog entries with more information about the events. You do not have to register for Midwinter in order to participate in these workshops–come for the day, stay for the learning, leave with valuable knowledge!

(The popular ASCLA consulting workshop is sold out, and will be offered again at the Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.—registration is open now at www.ala.org/annual.)

ASCLA: “Breaking Down Barriers: Best Practices in Universal Design for Libraries”
What it covers: How to create a library that is not only physically accessible to all library patrons, but also takes into account accessible communication and information tools available to libraries. Best practices, advice for your library’s specific accessibility challenge and how to account for accessibility in strategic and long-range planning will be discussed.
Who should attend: Library leaders, library friends and any librarians or staff from all types of libraries looking to improve the accessibility their library in both the short and long term.
Details: Friday, Jan. 15, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Institute for Human-Centered Design, 200 Portland Street, Suite 1, Boston.
Registration: $185 until Jan. 8.
More info at: http://ascla.ala.org/blog/2009/10/universaldesign-mw2010/

RUSA: “The Genealogy Reference Desk: Where Everyone Knows Your Name”
What it covers: Core genealogy reference skills, as well as resources unique to the New England area
Who should attend: Reference desk staff at all types of libraries looking to better serve patrons as well as those with family roots in New England interested in researching their own heritage.
Details: Friday, Jan. 15, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the New England Historic Genealogical Society, 99 Newbury Street, Boston.
Registration: Starting at $125 for RUSA members until Jan. 8.
More info at: http://rusa.ala.org/blog/2009/10/09/mw10-genealogyinst1/

Register for all of these events by visiting www.ala.org/midwinter. Midwinter Meeting registration is NOT required in order to participate in these workshops.

We appreciate any reposting, retweeting or forwarding of this blog post!

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Kick off privacy week at Midwinter with ALA OIF

Here’s some information about an exciting upcoming event from the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF). Visit their website at www.ala.org/oif

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OIF invites you to help launch ALA’s new privacy initiative, Choose Privacy Week, at a fun and exciting event featuring social critic Hal Niedzviecki, author of The Peep Diaries: How We’re Learning to Love Watching Ourselves and Our Neighbors (City Lights Books, 2009).

This event will take place during the ALA 2010 Midwinter Meeting from 4 – 5 p.m. on Saturday, January 16, in Room 252 A/B of the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, and will offer snacks and beverages for attendees. ALA President Camila Alire will be in attendance to welcome Niedzviecki and to introduce ALA’s first-ever Choose Privacy Week.

Read the entire OIF blog post about this event.

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An invitation from ASCLA leadership to shape the future!

Mark Your Calendar Now for the ALA 2010 Midwinter Meeting – Boston, Massachusetts

ASCLA Leadership Session
10:30 am to 12 noon
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Boston Convention and Exhibition Center
Room 155

Bring your creative ideas for ASCLA’s future and win a special gift!

Did you know that ASCLA has:

–647 personal members

–4 sections, 25 committees and taskforces, 5 forums, 10 discussion groups and one Assembly

–120 committee members

–30 committee chairs and co-chairs

–36 elected division and section officers

–13 ASCLA representatives to other ALA groups and outside organizations

–15 ASCLA Board members, including 4 Executive committee members, 1 Interface Editor and….

–1 full-time ASCLA staff member (25% executive director, 50% marketing specialist and 25% web services manager)

Have you ever asked:

–Why is so much precious ASCLA member time and expertise spent on PROCESS?

–Why does it take so long to GET THINGS DONE?

–Are there new opportunities to STREAMLINE PRIORITY WORK?

–What kind of ASCLA structure will best help members focus on RESULTS?

THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER WAY…..so don’t miss this important opportunity to:

–Share your vision for ASCLA’s future!

–Network with your ASCLA colleagues!

–Identify top priorities for ASCLA restructuring!

–Propose new ideas for how ASCLA can meet member needs!

** SEE YOU IN BOSTON!! **

Sincerely,

Carol Ann Desch and Diana Reese

Co-Chairs, ASCLA Budget and Planning Committee

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Midwinter institute registration open until Jan. 8

Have you considered gifting yourself a ticket to a career-enhancing workshop? It’s a great way to start off 2010 on the right professional foot.

Registration for Midwinter institutes remains open until Friday, January 8, and there are still seats left for ASCLA’s Universal Design workshop.

(Our consulting workshop is sold out, and will be offered again at the Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.—registration opens Jan. 4 at www.ala.org/annual.)

Register for this institute by visiting www.ala.org/midwinter.

Midwinter Meeting registration is NOT required in order to participate in this workshop.

ASCLA: “Breaking Down Barriers: Best Practices in Universal Design for Libraries”

What it covers: How to create a library that is not only physically accessible to all library patrons, but also takes into account accessible communication and information tools available to libraries. Best practices, advice for your library’s specific accessibility challenge and how to account for accessibility in strategic and long-range planning will be discussed.

Who should attend: Library leaders, library friends and any librarians or staff from all types of libraries looking to improve the accessibility their library in both the short and long term.

Details: Friday, Jan. 15, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Institute for Human-Centered Design, 200 Portland Street, Suite 1, Boston.

Registration: $185 until Jan. 8.

More info at this other blog post.

Register for this event by visiting www.ala.org/midwinter.

Midwinter Meeting registration is NOT required in order to participate in these workshops.

**We love it when you share information about ASCLA events with friends, colleagues or groups who might be interested in attending. Send a link to this blog post along!**

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Complete ASCLA discussion group schedule for Midwinter 2010

All Midwinter Meeting participants are invited to engage with ASCLA’s discussion groups scheduled throughout the meeting. These session are an informal opportunity to connect with peers tackling the same issues who are interested in learning about available solutions.

Interlibrary Cooperation Discussion Group
Sunday, 1/17, 10:30a.m. – 12 p.m., Pacific F, Renaissance Boston Waterfront, 606 Congress St.
Provides a forum for discussion of interests in interlibrary cooperation and the statewide development of library service, emphasizing the interdependence of all types of libraries. In 2010, this group will tackle how you are proving your worth—and the necessity of ILL—in today’s economy. Participants are encouraged to bring information about their own experiences with this challenge, and expect a lively discussion with collaborative problem-solving.

Physical Delivery Discussion Group
Sunday, 1/17, 8 – 10 a.m., Room 156 A/B, Boston Convention Center, 415 Summer St.
This discussion group is for those interested in and involved with physical delivery systems for library materials. Topics include an upcoming NISO standard that addresses delivery best practices, planning for the national delivery conference, Moving Mountains 2010, a multistate delivery project in Colorado and Missouri; and an update on a Massachusetts RFI for the automation of sorting library materials. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about each others’ projects and make valuable professional contacts.

Virtual Library Discussion Group
Monday, 1/18, 10:30a.m. – 12p.m., Room 156 A/B, Boston Convention Center, 415 Summer St.
Provides a forum for discussion of library services that can be provided in an electronic format. This group also provides an opportunity to discuss cutting edge pilot projects as well as established services that promote a 24/7 library that is accessible anytime, anywhere.

Collaborative Digitization Discussion Group
Saturday, 1/16, 4 – 5:30p.m., Burroughs Room, Westin Boston Waterfront, 425 Summer St.
The resource for collaborative digitization discussions within ALA. In 2010, the group will take up “Librarianship and Traditional Cultural Expressions,” a set of principles developed by a workgroup led by the ALA Office for Information Technology Policy. Following presentations on this main topic, all representatives of collaborative digital projects will also have an opportunity to provide brief status updates.

Consortia Management Discussion Group
Sunday, 1/17, 4 – 5:30p.m., Room 213, Boston Convention Center, 415 Summer St.
This group is home to consortia and systems, a discussion of their challenges and sharing of service experiences including automated virtual union catalogs, aggregated purchases of databases, virtual reference services, region-wide platforms for digital assets, resource sharing, training and central processing. Participants engage in conversations about important topics such as service delivery, value of services, system viability and the future of systems and consortia In 2010, we’ll talk about the formation of the New York Alliance of Library Systems (NYALS), and what the system has learned about demonstrating their value to members, funders and other key stakeholders.

LSTA Coordinators’ Discussion Group
Sunday, 1/17, 10:30a.m. – 12p.m., Lewis Room, Westin Boston Waterfront, 425 Summer St.
LSTA coordinators convene for an opportunity to share updates on current activity in their states, and share problems in need of a collaborative solution. The session typically includes a presentation from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Come prepared to collaborate!

State Library Consultants’ Discussion Group
Saturday, 1/16, 4 – 5:30p.m., Independence Room, Westin Boston Waterfront, 425 Summer St.
Discussion topics for this group cover the full spectrum of the areas that library development bureaus typically handle or are involved in: state and local library budgets, marketing and public relations activities, changes in their state library or local libraries and new initiatives, to name a few. All librarians who function as consultants at their state library agency are welcome, and state librarians interested in participating are also welcome.

Youth Services Consultants’ Discussion Group
Sunday, 1/17, 4 – 5:30p.m., Paine Room, Westin Boston Waterfront, 425 Summer St.
This group typically consists of a round robin of state level youth services representatives on news and activities in the state: what’s happening, good speakers you’ve heard, grant programs you’re running, etc.  All are welcome to come and bring information about current happenings in your state, as well as any questions you may wish to share with the group.

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ASCLA/COSLA reception in Boston offers desserts, networking

Sunday is the sweetest day of the Midwinter Meeting, and the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) and the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA) cordially invite meeting attendees to cap their day with dessert, networking and socializing at the ASCLA/COSLA reception.

The event, a Midwinter Meeting tradition co-sponsored by ASCLA and COSLA, is open to all meeting participants who are current or potential members of ASCLA. Reception guests can take advantage of desserts, coffee and a cash bar while catching up with old colleagues and meeting new ones. Midwinter meeting attendees employed or interested in the areas ASCLA serves—state library agencies; networks, cooperatives and consortia; specialized libraries such as those for the blind, deaf, hard of hearing and incarcerated populations; and independent librarians and library consultants—are encouraged to join the party and meet other professionals.

The reception will be held from 8:30 to 11 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17, 2010, in the Burroughs Room of the Westin Boston Waterfront, 425 Summer Street, Boston.

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ASCLA consulting institute sold out; summer event registration opens Jan. 4

The Midwinter institute “Assembling a Consulting Toolkit: What You Need to Know to Become a Successful Library Consultant” has sold out, and registration for the next offering, scheduled for June 25, 2010 in Washington, D.C., will open on Jan. 4, 2010.

“Assembling a Consulting Toolkit” is a daylong workshop hosted by ASCLA, a division of ALA. The event will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15, in conjunction with the ALA 2010 Annual Conference. Designed to prepare participants to begin – or advance – a successful consulting career, it is the perfect professional development event for librarians looking to strike out on their own, or those library professionals approaching retirement and seeking a flexible way to maintain employment.

Seasoned consultants and ASCLA members Nancy Bolt and Sara Laughlin will present an overview of library consulting for guide attendees, who will discover through self-assessment their personal consulting potential.  Participants will work together in an active and engaging format to explore different roles that consultants play, services consultants may deliver to clients, marketing consulting services, managing a consulting business and finding clients.

Registration for the Annual Conference and this workshop opens Jan. 4. 2010. Advance registration prices for this event are $185 for ASCLA members, $195 for ALA members, $145 for retired and student members and $225 for non-ALA members. Workshop participants do not have to register for Annual Conference in order to participate in this meeting. Information about registration is available at www.ala.org/annual.

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Advance registration for ASCLA accessibility workshop, lower registration fees end Friday

Registration rates will go up after this Friday, Dec. 4, for “Breaking Down Barriers: Best Practices in Universal Design for Libraries,” a half-day workshop sponsored by the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) and held in conjunction with the 2010 ALA Midwinter Meeting.

Library directors, trustees, friends and leaders interested in low cost, high impact ways to make a library fully accessible should attend this event, which will cover information and communication accessibility, as well as physical accessibility. Attendees will learn how to incorporate accessible accommodations into strategic planning, as well as building renovation and expansion plans. They’ll also have a chance to present their library’s unique accessibility challenge and receive on-the-spot consultation from expert speakers.

This workshop, made possible through a partnership between ASCLA and the Institute for Human-Centered Design (ICHD) (formerly Adaptive Environments), will feature speakers from the Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST), the Perkins School’s Braille and Talking Book Library, The Carroll Center, the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and the WGBH National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM)

“Breaking Down Barriers” will be held 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15, at the ICHD, located at 200 Portland Street, Suite 1, in Boston. The MBTA’s North Station is only a few blocks away, providing easy access to the Green and Orange lines, as well as several commuter rail lines. Subway, commuter rail and other pertinent transit information and schedules are available at the MBTA website.

Register for this event now at www.ala.org/midwinter. Interested participants should note that the institute (event code ASC2) is a separate ticketed event; registration for the Midwinter Meeting is not required in order to attend this event. For institute-only registration using the online form, select “Institute and Ticketed Events Only” as the registration type, and proceed to select this event from the list. Advance registration is $155 for all attendees and ends Dec. 4. On-site registration costs $185 and is available from Dec. 5 to Jan. 8.

IHCD is an international non-profit organization, founded in Boston in 1978, committed to advancing the role of design in expanding opportunity and enhancing experience for people of all ages and abilities. IHCD’s work balances expertise in legally required accessibility with promotion of best practices in human-centered or universal design.