RUSA Awards Nomination Period is Now Open!

The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) is seeking nominations for its annual series of awards and grants. Nominations and supporting materials for most awards must be submitted by Dec. 14, 2014.

RUSA encourages members to nominate their colleagues whose work has influenced their thinking and performance and whose contributions merit recognition by the profession.

Achievement awards for individuals and groups:

Travel awards to the ALA Annual Conference:

Research grants:

*Monetary award amounts are subject to change without notice and are contingent upon donor funding supplied at the time the award is presented. Questions about these awards should be directed to the committee chairperson—access committee contact information by logging in at www.ala.org, then accessing the RUSA roster webpage—or to the RUSA headquarters staff.

More information about these awards, including nominating instructions, can be found on RUSA’s awards webpage.

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

 

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)