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New online courses and webinars!

Online Courses

Business Reference 101 
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 Web 
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 Mapping 
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

 

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Tell Us What You Think And Fill Out The RUSA Review Survey!

Below, please find a link to The RUSA Review: Summer 2014 Survey of our Members

The 2014-2015 year will be one of great opportunities and potential change for RUSA.  We will be developing a new strategic plan, which offers us the chance to craft a new vision for our association and determine how we will focus our attention over the next 3-5 years.

We ask that you please take a few minutes to answer seven questions.  Tell us what you value most about your RUSA membership and share with us how you want to be involved.  http://tinyurl.com/2014-RUSA-Survey
Your responses to this survey are extremely important and will provide us with key data that will be used as we enter the strategic planning process.

Any information you include will be managed confidentially. We are committed to continuous improvement in all areas of our association and your participation in this survey is very much appreciated.

Please note that the deadline is July 18th.
Thank you for your time and participation!

The members of the RUSA Review Task Force
Denise Forro
Joseph Thompson (RUSA President)
Kathleen Kern (RUSA Past President)
Kate Kosturski
Chris LeBeau (Task Force Co-Chair)
Cindy Levine
Mary Mintz
Liane Taylor
Christina Thompson
Joseph Yue
Diane Zabel (Task Force Co-Chair)

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Registration open for “Genealogy Resources for Librarians” Midwinter institute

Register now for “Genealogy Resources for Librarians” and guarantee your seat at this exciting institute hosted by the Reference and User Services Association’s (RUSA) History Section.

This all-day institute addresses issues of importance to library staff and administration when serving or partnering with patrons, volunteers, scholars, or educators interested in genealogy research. Nationally known specialists will discuss everything from superb free resources to future directions at NARA to webinar outreach, new online offerings, webinar instruction, government documents, Quaker resources, and making the financial case for genealogical librarianship. Luncheon is included and sponsored by ProQuest.

 Program includes:

 9AM Panel– Getting More Than You Pay For: Free Access to Genealogical Resources: panelists Kim Harrison, Ancestry.com; Michael Hall, FamilySearch; Sandra M. Hewlett, CGSM 
10AM Speaker - Meg Phillips, Liaison Director, NARA, and Jefferson M. Moak, Archivist, National Archives at Philadelphia, Future Directions for the National Archives and Records Administration
11 AM Panel – Reaching Reference Librarians Through Genealogical Webinars
panelists Kimberly Powell, V.P., Association of Professional Genealogists; Amber Case, University of Washington; Cherie’ Weible, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Noon Lunch – ProQuest program
1:30 PM Panel – Quaker Collections
panelists Ann Upton, Haverford; Tom Hamm, Earlham; Gwen Gosney Erickson Guilford College
2:30 PM Speaker – Connie Reik, Tufts, Genealogical Use of Government Publications
3:30 PM Speaker – Making the Financial Case for Genealogical Librarianship
 Curt Witcher, Allen County Public Library

The History Section is home to ALA’s genealogy experts, and the workshops and programs they produce provide primary resource information and tips. Genealogy reference is a valuable part of any library’s user services, and this event will provide an excellent opportunity to enhance those services, as well as the skills of the library’s reference staff.

The workshop will be held 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24, 2014. Register now via the ALA Midwinter Meeting website (event code RUS1). You can register for Midwinter plus this institute, add this institute to your Midwinter registration, or sign up for just the institute by selecting “Institutes and Ticketed Events Only” as your meeting registration type.

Advanced registration prices for this event start at $60 for RUSA members, and lunch is included in the registration fee. The advanced registration rate will be available until January 15, and prices will increase after that date. Online registration in advance of the event is strongly encouraged. More information about the Midwinter Meeting is available at http://alamw14.ala.org/.