Ahh September – Pennant races, wearing windbreakers with shorts, one last backyard BBQ, and of course – Back to School! While kids of all ages are starting their fall semester (willingly or kicking and screaming), it’s no different for us Librarians. September gives us a full schedule of workshops and webinars for everyone. So take your pick and attend a few (either willingly, or kicking and screaming, of course).
RLA-CE has two great programs that should fall firmly under the ‘willingly’ side of the ledger.
On the morning of September 14 at the Barrington Library, we’ll be hosting the workshop Leading from the Middle – A Movers & Shakers Panel Discussion. They’ll be talking about what it means to be chosen as a Mover & Shaker and how it has impacted their careers. FREE!
On September 26th, RLA-CE is taking our annual field trip! This year, we’ll be visiting the Newberry Library. We moved the date back a few weeks because the Newberry is opening several new and fascinating exhibits that we wanted to catch. Since space is limited, registration opens on August 15th. Make sure you register early! FREE!
And now for the rest of the month –
On Tuesday, September 4th, the Readers Advisory SIG is hosting a workshop intriguingly entitled High Fantasy in the RAILS Burr Ridge Meeting room. OK, so they’re talking about high fantasy — sword and sorcery, dragons, wizards, etc. Brenda O’Brien of Woodridge Public Library will lead the casual discussion. They always welcome new members! FREE!
WebJunction is hosting Engaging Your Whole Community: Principles and Practice to Influence Policy on Thursday, September 6 from 1-2 pm. Learn how to build community engagement around library-led initiatives such as digital inclusion and gain facilitation skills to help build healthy, prosperous and cohesive communities. Presenters Steve Brigham, President of AmericaSpeaks and David Stern, Director of Online Engagement, will provide examples from their own work and from that of other leading civic engagement practitioners to illustrate the most effective tactics for reaching those who often do not participate because of limited access to and familiarity with new technologies. FREE!
If it’s the 10th, it’s time to SLAM THE BOARDS! Promote librarians beyond the library! On the 10th of each month, visit your favorite “Social Q&A” sites (Yahoo Answers, Quora, WikiAnswers, etc.) and locate questions for which you can provide well-researched answers. Identify yourself as a librarian in your answer. Then post links to your answers on Twitter using the hashtag #slamtheboards. FREE!
WebJunction brings us another great webinar on Tuesday, September 11 from 1-2pm featuring the 2012 Best Small Library in America: Independence Public Library. The multi-award-winning library’s staff of eight serves a population of 13,420 through innovative programs and partnerships, leveraging social media and the Geek the Library campaign for sustained marketing and advocacy efforts. Using a participatory management style and collaborating with other Kansas libraries, along with others in their community, IPL has reached out to individuals and partners to deliver programs and services that bring the community into the library. The session will include an overview of the nomination process and details for next year’s award. FREE!
The Indian Prarie PLD is hosting Get Smart – Let’s Make a Deal on Thursday, September 13 from 1:30-4pm. This is the third in a series of four sessions for SWAN Circulation Support Staff. This panel discussion centers on “Customer Service”. Questions? Please contact Kate Boyle. FREE!
The Youth Librarian Networking Group is meeting on Monday, September 17 at the RAILS Wheeling building from 9:30-noon. The School Facilitators Networking Group is a group of school liaisons from north suburban public libraries. Founded as a forum to discuss topics relevant to public libraries’ services to schools, School Facilitators meet five times during the school year to share ideas, concerns, and questions. FREE!
LACONI and the Bloomingdale Public Library are hosting NO NOs: Avoiding the Noxious Outcome on Thursday, September 20 from 9am-noon. Join the LACONI Circulation Services Section as we welcome presenter, Kelly Krieg-Sigman, Director of the LaCrosse Public Library! This program helps us set aside traditional ideas of effective customer service and explore the subjective nature of customer service and ways of dealing with our least favorite customer types!
The next MAR COM Group Meeting is Friday, September 21 from 9-noon. Library Marketing/PR/Outreach/Graphic staff members are invited to disuss and share current practices, problems, questions, resources. FREE!
Get Smart- Let’s Make a Deal is being reprised at the Cicero Public Library on Tuesday, September 25th from 9:30-noon. If you can’t get to Indian Prairie on the 13th, don’t miss this one! FREE!
LACONI Youth Services is hosting Teen Tech Trends with Linda Braum at the Naperville Public Library on Friday, September 28 from 9:30-noon. Each year the technology teens use and could be using changes, and it’s hard for a librarian to keep up with what’s in, what’s out, what’s useful, and what’s not. This session looks at how teens currently do and can use technology to collaborate, create, and participate. Along with learning about current technologies teens use, participants will consider how to effectively integrate these technologies into library programs and services both virtual and face-to-face. Cost of program: $30 for LACONI members/$40 all others
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