Don’t miss what we have in store for you at the 2015 Midwinter Meeting!
The Official News of the ALA's Reference and User Services Association
Check out the new online courses!
Buzz e-learning – Register now! –
http://eepurl.com/2jPEP
Business Reference 101Â
September 22 – October 17, 2014
Feel more confident when faced with a business reference question and demystify SIC and NAICS codes, ROI and 10k’s!
Read more. Register now!
Reference Interview
September 22 – October 31, 2014
This course focuses 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. Read more. Register now!
Introduction to Economic Data on the WebÂ
October 6 – November 2, 2014
Students will be given background information on economic concepts and terms essential to understanding economic reference questions. Read more. Register now!
Introduction to Spatial Literacy and Online MappingÂ
October 6 – 26, 2014
This three week course will introduce students and library staff to a variety of mapping tools and GIS technologies that are of interest to both public and academic library users. Read more. Register now!
Readers’ Advisory 101
October 13 – November 30, 2014 (Chats on Thursdays, Time 3 p.m. CST)
Be more comfortable using readers’ advisory services. RA tools, craft annotations, read in genres, articulate appeal, and experiment with methods to offer RA services. Read more. Register now!
Xtreme Bibliographic Searching for Interlibrary Loan & Reference
Fall (TBD), 2014 (Live Sessions on Thursdays, Time 1 p.m. CST)
This four-week class, will take you from Mansel Pre 56 to Digital Repositories, DOAJ to Trove to HathiTrust. Don’t know those terms, then this course is for you!
Read more. Registration not open yet.
Genealogy 101
Fall TBD, 2014
An introduction to American genealogy reference service, the class will give students confidence and skills in assisting family history researchers.
Read more. Registration not open yet.
Reaching Every Patron
Date: TBD, 2014
CEU credits available! This course will include introductions and discussions about assessing which population your library wants to create inclusive and accessible programming.Read more. Registration not open yet
REGISTER for ALA Annual Conference NOW!
RUSA’s ALA Annual Conference Highlights:
RUSA Preconferences
Preconference advanced registration ends June 20th!
How Business Librarians Support Entrepreneurs
This full-day workshop will address common information needs of entrepreneurs, including locating information about their market, industry, competitors and customers for both “Main Street†and technology start-ups, and which free or premium resources to use.
Read more   Add to my schedule
History Genealogy
This all-day preconference addresses issues of importance to library staff and administration when serving or partnering with genealogical patrons, volunteer, scholars, or educators. Read more
This preconference is a free event, but you must register, please fill out the form here:Â https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7HHNDJP.
Reference Interview
Learn why people do not ask for what they really want, find out about the psychological barriers to asking for help, and discover how to work with your users so that they are willing to come back again with future questions. Read more  Add to my schedule
Exclusively RUSA
RUSA 101 – Free to all conference registrants
Network, Get Oriented, Get Involved
Whether you’re new to RUSA or a longtime member looking for an opportunity to connect with other members and ways to get involved and spend an hour with us before heading off to the opening of the exhibit floor. Refreshments and raffle prizes!
Read more Add to my schedule
RUSA President’s Program – Free to all conference registrants
Our Values, Ourselves: Examining Our Values and What Others Value about UsÂ
Are our own values and self-perceptions interfering with providing services that our patron communities both need and want?
Read more Add to my schedule
Noteworthy and Valuable RUSA Programming – Free to all conference registrants
Saturday
Turning Books into a Cool New Tool: RA Marketing in the Age of Maker Spaces
Maker spaces and 3D printers are hip and libraries are using them to ensure that they remain relevant and are perceived as keeping up with the latest trends. One of the trends that has not received much attention, however, is the fact that books are still our brand and reading is the main reason citizens view the library as valuable and continue to support it. Read more. Add to my schedule.
Adding Value in Your Community
Smart Investing @your library: Learn how financial literacy programs are increasing libraries social capital. Read more Add to my schedule
 Code4ILL: How to Grow Your Own Innovation for Resource Sharing
Emerging technologies in ILL and Document Delivery now permit an unprecedented amount of scripting and coding development in libraries, but as resource sharing librarians we’ve only taken advantage of this opportunity in isolated pockets. Read more Add to my schedule
New Directions for Data Visualization in Library Public Services
A wide array of new instructional technologies has joined an increased understanding of the diversity of learning styles to foment new forms of teaching and information sharing. Data visualization is increasingly used in higher education and libraries to organize information, or provide new and innovative ways of disseminating data and learning objective. Read more Add to my schedule
Finding Dead People: Genealogy and Local History Resources for the ILL Practitioner
This program will provide a brief overview of core tools of genealogical research including census records, county histories, family books, and local newspapers. Read more Add to my schedule
Sunday
 20th Annual Reference Research Forum
The Reference Research Forum continues to be one of the most popular and valuable programs during the ALA Annual Conference, where attendees can learn about notable projects conducted in the broad area of reference services such as user behavior, electronic services, reference effectiveness and assessment, and organizational structure and personnel.Read more Add to my schedule
The Nevada Test Site Project: Bringing Primary Resources to Researchers
The Nevada Test Site Oral History Project, developed at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Library, is a project dedicated to those ‘affiliated with and affected by’ the ‘nuclear proving ground’ in Nevada. Read more Add to my schedule
Monday
Mad Men: The Business of Advertising
Many companies spend millions on advertising their brands and products, yet data can be hard to find. Specialized sources, available at many large libraries, focus on these statistics. The information they contain can be used by business students, researchers, or the general public. Read more Add to my schedule
Labor Solidarity in a “Right-to-Work†State
The rich labor history of Las Vegas will serve as the setting to understand the impact “right-to-work†laws have on the workforce.
Awards, Authors, Adult Literature & Appreciation!Â
RUSA Awards Reception and Volunteer Appreciation Party, Hang out with RUSA colleagues and celebrate this year’s award winners at the RUSA Reception and Volunteer Appreciation Party.Â
Read more Free to all conference registrants!  Add to my conference schedule
Literary Tastes: Celebrating the Best Reading of the Year, RUSA will host three award-winning authors — Christopher Buehlman, Daniel J. Brown, Tessa Dare and V.E. Schwab — A conference tradition that features authors from RUSA’s literary awards. Read more Free to all conference registrants!   Add to my conference schedule  #literarytastes
Make Sure To Check Your Conference Scheduler Prior To All Events, Due To Last Minute Updates.Â
 For More Exclusively RUSA ALA Annual Conference Information. Â