Can you believe April’s halfway gone already? And that means it’s almost May? Which means then there’ll only be one month until summer reading kicks off?!? And THAT means, of course, that the year is almost half-way over (hope you’re doing better on those NY resolutions than I did). All of which leads to, of course, early Christmas adds. I say the over/under for the first ‘Get a Jump on Your Holiday Shopping’ sale is July 28.
Whew.
OK, on to May’s CE events.
First, be sure to register for RLA-CE’s May program – Be a Librarian Problem Solver on Tuesday, May 22nd from 9:30-noon. Helping our patrons avoid and resolve conflicts with companies is one of our most important tasks as librarians. Jon Yates, author of the new book What’s Your Problem?: Cut Through Red Tape, Challenge the System, and Get Your Money Back, will share his experiences as the Problem Solver for the Chicago Tribune. Steven Jablonski from the Skokie Public Library will then follow up with a presentation on essential consumer resources every librarian should know about. When it comes to solving problems, knowledge is power. Come to this program and increase yours! FREE!
Around the state –
The second and third parts of Book Reviewing with Janice Del Negro will be held on Sunday, May 6th and May 20th from 10am – 1pm. Learn to review children’s and young adult books from a master! Janice M. Del Negro has been reviewing books for youth for professional library journals for almost thirty years. She is offering a three-session course designed to give participants insight into the career-expanding skill of book reviewing. Topics covered in these sessions include an introduction to the major professional review journals, criteria for evaluation of fiction and non-fiction, the elements of a cogent review, and feedback on your own reviews. Acquire or improve reviewing skills and have an impact on the professional world of books for youth. Del Negro, formerly editor of the Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, has also reviewed for Kirkus and Booklist, and is currently reviewing for School Library Journal.
Becky Spratford will be talking about Thrills and Chills @ Your Library: How to Help Your Scariest Patrons at the Fremont Public Library on Tuesday, May 8 from 1-4pm. Becky is a great speaker and an expert on all things featuring nocturnal bumps or the like. FREE!
This article typically sticks to events north of I-80, but I want to make an exception with When Water Emergencies Strike Your Collections: Response Training and Workshop on Thursday, May 10th from 9am-3pm. It’s at the Western Illinois Museum in Macomb, so it’s a ways away but it could well be worth the trip. Anyone involved in disaster planning for collections or interested in disaster response training would benefit from attending this workshop. This workshop is sponsored by the Illinois Collections Preservation Network. Seating is limited so if you wish to attend, you must send an e-mail to beves@museum.state.il.us to reserve your spot. FREE!
May 10th is a busy day. The AVID-Audio/Visual Information & Discussion Group Spring meeting at the Cook Memorial Aspen Drive Library from 9:30-noon. They will have a panel of representatives from up and coming vendors that provide digital popular materials (E-books, audiobooks, movies and music). The panel will include 3M Cloud Library (e-books), Baker & Taylor Axis 360 (e-books), Library Ideas Freading/Freegal (e-books and music), Midwest Hoopla (audiobooks, movies and music), Recorded Books OneClick Digital (audiobooks). FREE!
ATLAS is hosting a Diversity Training workshop at the Glenwood-Lynwood Public Library from 9:30-noon. Vandella Brown, Diversity Program Manager at Illinois State Library will be on hand to lead a discussion on how to appropriately interact with people from all backgrounds.
The Business Librarians Interest Group (BIG) is hosting it’s next meeting at the Park Ridge Public Library from 9:30-noon. Librarians working with the business community meet to network together, sharing resources, programming ideas and other related topics of interest to the group. FREE!
The next YLA Programmer’s meeting is Friday, May 11th from 9:00-noon at the Des Plaines Public Library. They’ll discuss special needs programs; blending new programs into existing programs, rainbow time, Pokemon programs, and any new performers new to the area. FREE!
WebJunction is hosting a webinar on Wednesday, May 16th from 1:00-2:00pm called Libraries and the Era of the Learner: A Vision for the Future. It’ll be a discussion exploring lifelong learning as an economic driver in the 21st century and the expanding role of libraries in this “era of the learner.” Building on discussions about 21st century skills and workforce development, we’ll hear from futurist Garry Golden on the changing workforce and the role that public libraries can play. We’re excited to take a glimpse into the future and to hear how libraries can identify changes, explore implications and pave the way for learners in the 21st century. This session will build on discussions from a face-to-face convening to be held in April, but will benefit and be of interest to all working in libraries. FREE!
Every three years, the Outreach/Promotion/Programming Section of LACONI presents an all-day Best of the Best showcase which feature samples of live performers by library presenters. It’s coming up on is Friday, May 18th! at the Morton Grove Public Library. FREE!
The Western Suburbs RA SIG is having their final chat on Fantasy titles and authors on Tuesday, May 22nd from 9:30-noon at the RAILS Geneva DuPage River building. If you’re attending, please read 2 books from any of the following three areas: Must Know Series by Jim Butcher, Charlaine Harris, George R.R. Martin, J. K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien; Up-and-coming fantasy authors: Joe Abercrombie, Gail Carriger, K. J. Parker, Patrick Rothfuss, David Anthony Durham); Fantasy Trend authors (Urban Fantasy, Para! normal Fantasy and Genre Mashups). FREE!
Dominican University and the Gail Borden Public Library are partnering to host Building a Productive Team on Thursday, May 31st from 9:30am-4:30pm. The ability to work as a team is vital for the health of any organization. In this workshop, participants will learn how to conduct more productive meetings, ways to help team members fulfill their team roles and responsibilities, and approaches for handing team conflict.
If you’re looking for something that is not your typical library conference or workshop, the Chicagoland Library Unconference is just for you! The Unconference will be held on Thursday, May 31st from 9:30am-4:30pm and the RAILS Wheeling Auditorium. It’s your chance to determine the issues facing libraries and to work together to come up with creative solutions. CLUncon is a testing ground for moving beyond our walls and connecting with our communities. Attendees will brainstorm big ideas and hear from interesting speakers. Join us and share what’s important to you and your community. This is our unconference. Let’s do this together.
Finally, WebJunction is hosting a webinar on the 31st from 1:00-2:30 entitled Understanding Compassion Fatigue in Your Library. You love your job. You love your library. You love helping your patrons and giving them the extra attention that lets them know you care. But there are days when you’ve given just about all you have to give. At the end of the day you feel drained, or irritated, or both! You may have achieved “compassion fatigue.” The term, which is used frequently in medical settings, describes a caregiver’s reaction to chronic stress that results in feelings of hopelessness, anxiety, self-doubt, lack of focus and fatigue. This webinar will help you recognize the symptoms and the situations that may trigger compassion fatigue and understand how it affects you and your working environment. Explore ways to take care of yourself so you can continue to show compassion and give your patrons the care they need. FREE!
If someone’s not a famous person or relentless self-promoter, what can other people uncover about that person on the Internet for free?