Do you have an idea for a webinar you’d like to present as a part of RUSA’s online learning offerings in upcoming months? We’re seeking proposals for a variety of topics (see a list of ideas below), and hope to receive your submissions before the ALA Annual Conference in June so that our professional development committee can review them in Anaheim.

RUSA webinars are an opportunity for librarians to infuse their year with professional development they can conveniently—and affordably—pursue from the comfort of their home or office. Webinars will take place throughout the year and will cover topics relevant to a broad range of librarians, library staff and library supporters.

Successful proposals will:

• Show plans for presentations that are 60-75 minutes in length.
• Show how the presentation addresses a topic either of interest to RUSA members, or represents an area of RUSA’s expertise that benefits other types of librarians. This may include but is not limited to topics such as reference basics; reference for specialized audiences; research, trends and hot topics in readers advisory; information literacy; community partnerships; outreach; partnerships between different types of libraries; government data and related resources; library spaces and assessing future needs; copyright in the digital age; collection development; special collections; tips and tutorials for relevant tech tools; standards and guidelines; genealogy; advocating for reference; resource development; fundraising; marketing; job searching and related resources; book reviewing; and interlibrary loan.

Proposals may be submitted using the online proposal form.

Presenters for accepted proposals will receive compensation for their time and will also receive training for the webinar software. Questions about RUSA or the webinars can be directed to Liz Markel, RUSA marketing and programs manager or Susan Hornung, RUSA executive director at lmarkel@ala.org and shornung@ala.org, respectively.

RUSA members creating innovative programming should plan to attend two essential panels at ALA Annual. Smart investing@your library® grantees are offering a two-panel intensive on their success in developing and promoting innovative financial education opportunities within their libraries. Attendees of both programs will get a crash course in the two crucial elements that are part of any innovative programming: marketing and partnerships.

Add these programs to your Annual Conference schedule using the ALA Connect conference scheduler.
Register for the 2012 ALA Annual Conference now!

Smart investing@your library®: Everyone Counts!
Sponsored by the Public Library Association
Saturday, June 23, 8:00-10:00 AM
ACC-207B 

The role of librarians as trusted navigators leading patrons to the most useful information is increasingly valuable. Smart investing @ your library® is building the capacity of public libraries and librarians to provide reliable, unbiased financial education and resources to those who need help. Librarians are building collections, delivering programs to people of all ages and economic circumstances and creating a national network of replicable service models. Using data to tell the story, reaching out and working with community partners, and integrating market research into program design are successful strategies that are building the foundation for a leadership role in financial education.

Speakers will share how they developed and implemented their marketing plans using both social media and traditional methods that include Facebook, print, radio, and word-of-mouth.

As a result of attending the session, attendees will:

• Learn marketing strategies that attract new audiences
• Meet financial literacy/library innovators
• Know how to replicate financial literacy programs

Speakers: Liz Doucett, Curtis Memorial Library (ME); Sandy Dixon, State Library of Iowa (IA); Aubrey Carroll, Florence County Library System (SC); Jamie Ritter, Maine State Library (ME); Dwight McInvaill, Georgetown Public Library (SC)
Moderator: Bobbie Rudnick, Naperville Public Library (IL)

Smart investing@your library®: Program Models That Work
Sponsored by RUSA’s Business Reference and Services Section (BRASS)
Saturday, June 23, 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
ACC-201D
Smart investing@your library grantees are at the forefront of financial literacy programs that reach all economic and interest levels. Learn how they are creating models that use social media to capture attention, design games that appeal to kids, teens and adults, partner with social service agencies and market innovative school programs to provide unbiased financial education and resources. As more people need and want to learn how to manage their personal finances, these innovative libraries are leading the way.

Speakers: Paolo Melillo, Orange County Public Library (FL); Kurtis Kelly, Estes Valley Library (CO); Nelly Somerman, Schaumburg Township District Library (IL); Jim Blanton, Chesapeake Public Library (VA); Karla Heberlig, York County Public Library (PA)
Moderator: Susan Wolf Neilson, Wake County Libraries

Dear RUSA Members,

I am delighted to invite you to join me in Anaheim for the 2012 RUSA President’s Program. This year, I have chosen an exemplary RUSA section program, the MARS Chair’s Program, to co-sponsor as the RUSA President’s Program. This terrific program, Library in Your Hand: Mobile Technologies for Exchanging Information with Patrons, is particularly relevant in today’s digital age. Mobile devices are increasingly being used to provide libraries with the opportunity to disperse information at the exact point of need. This program will explore the importance of libraries supporting mobile technologies for the dissemination and acquisition of information.

We have some great speakers lined up:

• Joan Lippincott, Associate Executive Director of the Coalition for Networked Information, will speak about why libraries should embrace communicating with patrons through mobile devices.
• Kristin Antelman, Associate Director for the Digital Library at NCSU Libraries, will speak about mobile initiatives at NCSU including WolfWalk, a photographic guide to the history of NCSU optimized for mobile devices.
• David Lee King, Digital Branch & Services Manager at the Topeka Public Library, will discuss the social media used to communicate with patrons at the Topeka Public Library.

If you will be in Anaheim, please join me for this exciting and timely program from 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. on Sunday, June 24, 2012, in the Anaheim Convention Center, Room 204B. You can add this event to your conference schedule using the online scheduler.

Sincerely,

Gary White
RUSA President

PS–Have you registered for the conference? Visit www.alaannual.org to view scheduled events, conference highlights, get pertinent travel and hotel information, and REGISTER.

Our RUSA online course, “The Reference Interview”, starts this coming Monday, April 30!

We have a few seats left, so we’re leaving registration open through close of business on Monday night.

The course is taught by reference expert Dave Tyckoson, associate dean at the Henry Madden Library, California State University, Fresno and RUSA past president.

Reference Interview is a comprehensive course focusing on the methods of evaluating reference service, behavioral aspects of reference service, and the different types of questions that can be used to help patrons identify what they need.

Who should attend: Support staff, library technicians, newly hired reference librarians, and those librarians who want to brush up on their interview skills will find this course useful. Issues covered will be of interested to staff and librarians in all types of libraries.

Most coursework is asynchronous and is completed throughout the week when it’s convenient for the student, but there are a few practice interview chat sessions; dates and times for these sessions are set after the course begins, and students can comment on chat transcripts if they’re unable to attend the live chat.

More course information is here: http://www.ala.org/rusa/development/referenceinterview

REGISTER ONLINE NOW.

We do offer group rates for two or more registrants from the same library, library system or network who are registering for the same course.

More information is at the RUSA online learning page: http://www.ala.org/rusa/development/onlinece

 Hope to see you in class!