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[Deadline Extended 12/2] ASCLA’s Online Learning Proposals Submissions

Do you have an idea for a webinar or online course you would like to present? The Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) invites subject matter experts and experienced librarians to submit a webinar proposal or online course proposal by Friday, December 2, 2016. Presentations will take place from December 2016 and August 31, 2017 as a part of ASCLA’s outstanding online learning offerings. See the list of suggested “hot topics” below.

ASCLA welcomes proposals on topics that will assist our diverse membership in improved service delivery and job performance, as well as topics that reflect ASCLA’s expertise and are valuable for all types of libraries, librarians and library support staff across the profession, as well as our core member groups of state library agencies, library consultants, libraries serving people with disabilities, consumer health libraries, prison libraries and library cooperatives.

Proposal topics for courses and webinars may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • ADA updates for libraries
  • Assessing accessibility knowledge
  • Benchmarks and evaluation measures
  • Budgeting basics for the first time manager
  • Collaborative digitization
  • Correctional libraries and Adult programming
  • Correctional/prison librarianship 101: covering the basics of a successful prison/jail library
  • Data analysis and assessment
  • Dealing with learning disabilities
  • Designing effective surveys
  • Download training for patrons who use accessibility tools like screen readers
  • E-books and cooperatives
  • Emerging technologies for those with special needs, including apps and iPads
  • Evaluating and improving cooperative services
  • Evaluation content analysis
  • Future trends in library service
  • Grants: how to find grant funding and write your proposal
  • Group purchasing
  • Health literacy
  • How to be a consultant
  • How to be a futurist
  • How to deliver online training
  • How to hire a library consultant
  • Innovations in library service
  • Innovative services for an aging population
  • Law librarianship for correctional librarians
  • Library cooperatives: managing and improving services
  • Low-literacy adults
  • Marketing library services to special needs populations
  • Marketing on a shoestring budget
  • Navigating book selection sources
  • Nonprofit leadership
  • Outcomes-based education
  • Outreach skills training
  • Outreach to visually or physically handicapped populations
  • Partnering with community organizations
  • Recognizing great service in member libraries
  • Seeking grants for consultancy work
  • Serving library patrons with cognitive or mental impairments
  • Standards and guidelines to improve library services
  • Technology trends for special needs populations
  • Training staff to serve library users with disabilities, and raising awareness of this important population
  • Utilizing focus groups to prioritize services to the disabled
  • Working with refugees

Webinar presenters and online learning instructors are compensated for their work and will receive training and support for Adobe Connect, the webinar technology platform used by the division, and Moodle, the online tool used for courses. Review current online offerings for more information. More information about the submission process is here. Submit a webinar proposal or online course proposal by Friday, December 2, 2016.

About ASCLA
The Association for Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) is the premiere destination for ALA members to find information and build capacity to serve populations that are served by state library agencies, specialized libraries, library cooperatives and library consultants. ASCLA enhances the effectiveness of library service by advocating for and providing high quality networking, enrichment and educational opportunities for its diverse members.

Have questions about submissions or about ASCLA’s online learning programs? Jennifer Cross, Web Services Manager, ASCLA has the answers. Email her today.

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Online Course: Sign up today for “Improving Library Services for People with Disabilities”

The next session of the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies’ (ASCLA) valuable online course “Improving Library Services for People with Disabilities” will take place April 22 – May 19

This course includes two live online chat sessions, scheduled for Thursday, May 2, 3-4 pm Central Time and Thursday, May 16, 3-4 pm Central Time.

Registration will end at close-of-business on Thursday, April 18.

During this course, participants will identify library users with disabilities at their library and the resources and assistive technologies available to assist them; examine changes in attitudes, laws and technologies that have impacted people with disabilities; and will be able to recommend changes in personal and organizational behaviors to improve services for people with disabilities at their library. This course is truly designed for all library staff, including support staff, general professional staff, age-level or subject specialists, managers and administrators.

Act now, and register for this course.

Registration rates for this course start at $150 for division members; this rate includes the $20 fee for continuing education units (CEUs). Group rates are available–check the ASCLA online learning page for more details.

Here’s what some of our previous course participants had to say:

  • Several of our staff enrolled as a group, and used the course as a launching pad to have further discussion across the library. We all agree that there is much for us to do. It created momentum for us around the library about many issues of accessibility.  
  • We implemented a team to begin looking at all aspects of how our library assists people with disabilities. We have already begun making recommendations for improvement to our department heads.
  • We have already begun to look at programs and services in light of what we’ve learned and will be setting up a process that will prioritize new work to implement enhancements and improvements. Several recommendations have already been made in the areas of staff development and training, modifications to web pages and program statements and adoption of new technologies.
  • I feel I have a much more open mind about my programming and I definitely keep accessibility issues in mind when I plan now. The most valuable thing I learned in this course is to not be afraid to offer help and services to someone different to me.
  • The most valuable thing I learned was how to use “Person First Language.” Sharing ideas and having an open forum really helped my understanding of the public library’s goal of making things functional for everyone through technology, words and programming. I shared the information I learned from the course with the children’s staff at our annual meeting; as a library system we plan on doing more Sensory Storytime programs.

Are you part of a state library or a large public or university library network? We can arrange for a private offering of many of these courses for groups of 20 or more participants. Contact our web manager, Andrea Hill, at ahill@ala.org for more information. Group discounts for two or more participants from the same library are also available; links to rates and registration forms are included below.

Register now!

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ASCLA Online Learning: Topics for upcoming offerings include services to Latinos, people with disabilities, youth in detention

Our calendar is overflowing with online learning events–keep reading to find one or more that fits your needs. Whether it’s grabbing some quick tips or best practices from a webinar, or gaining a new perspective or relevant skills from an online course, there’s something here to improve your resume and directly impact service delivery at your public, academic or special library.

Interested in proposing a webinar? Details about topics of interest and the submission procedures can be found here. Questions about the submission process, or about any of ASCLA’s online learning? Contact ASCLA Web Manager Andrea Hill at ahill@ala.org.

Online Courses:

Register for courses now!
Registration information for ASCLA, including groups
Questions about registration? Contact registration@ala.org or 1-800-545-2433, option 5.

Improving Library Services to People with Disabilities: April 22 – May 19, 2013
CEUs now available for this course!
Two live course chat meetings: Thursday, May 2, 3-4 pm Central Time and Thursday, May 16, 3-4 pm Central Time.
During this online course, participants will identify library users with disabilities at their library and the resources and assistive technologies available to assist them; examine changes in attitudes, laws and technologies that have impacted people with disabilities; and recommend changes in personal and organizational behaviors to improve services for people with disabilities at their library. Get more information or register now.

Webinars:

Register for webinars now!
Registration information for ASCLA, including groups
Questions about registration? Contact registration@ala.org or 1-800-545-2433, option 5.

Creating a Latino Friendly Library
April 10, 2:00-3:30p.m. Central
Latino communities continue to grow and we continue to puzzle over how to get this significant segment of our communities into the library. This webinar will introduce practical and simple techniques that libraries of all sizes can use to begin the process of making Latinos feel welcome and comfortable in the library. Participants will learn how to work with and challenge the language and cultural barriers that keep Latinos from using the library. Learn more or register now.

Detained and Forgotten: Informational Needs of Youth in Detention
April 17, 4:00-5:00p.m.
Knowing that recidivism is a chronic and persistent problem among youth who have been incarcerated, our presentation will take a fresh and exciting look at methods and ideas that will help support the youth offender both inside the detention and upon the youth’s release from the detention center. We’ll cover the informational needs of the incarcerated and recently released youth; how the library can support these needs inside and outside of the detention center; and the responsibility of the library to develop relationships with outside organizations and libraries that will continue to provide support to the youth upon release from the detention center. Learn more or register now.

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Register Now! ASCLA Online Course “Improving Library Services for People with Disabilities”

Registration is now open for the next offering of “Improving Library Services for People with Disabilities”, an online course offered by the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) that aligns with one of the division’s core values: access to library services and information for all.

Register online now for this course.

Schedule: The course will run October 1-28, 2012, with two live online meetings on Thursday, Oct. 11 and Thursday, Oct. 25 from 3:00-4:00p.m. Central time. Additional weekly coursework is self-paced. The course will be held in Moodle, our online course management system.

Who should attend? This course is truly designed for all library staff, including support staff, general professional staff, age-level or subject specialists, managers and administrators.

How will this course benefit my library? Providing library services to people with disabilities is a role filled by all levels of library staff. From the part-time aide checking out library materials to the library director determining policies, staff skills and attitudes are crucial for a satisfactory library experience. During this course, participants will identify library users with disabilities at their library and the resources and assistive technologies available to assist them; examine changes in attitudes, laws and technologies that have impacted people with disabilities; and will be able to recommend changes in personal and organizational behaviors to improve services for people with disabilities at their library.

Registration: Interested participants can register online now, register via fax or mail, or learn more about the course at the ASCLA website. Registration fees start at $130 for ASCLA members. Discounted group registration rates for two or more registrants from the same library, library system or network are available—download the group registration form. Contact ALA’s Membership and Customer Service Team with any questions about registration for this course at registration@ala.org or (800) 545-2433, option 5.

About the Instructor: Kate Todd has worked as a children’s librarian for The New York Public Library and as emerging technologies librarian for Manhattanville College. At Manhattanville College, she taught “Technology for Special Education” in the graduate school of education. She has also taught several online courses for the Association of Library Services to Children (ALSC), including “Children with Disabilities in the Library”—this new ASCLA course is the general staff counterpart to that course.