The Wilder Memorial Library board in Weston decided to focus of the first half of the year on restructuring the board. Step two: embark on strategic planning.
Library director Kerri MacLaury bought four copies of Andy Robinson’s book “Great Boards for Small Groups. ” The board plans to read a couple chapters at a time and decide which of his recommendations to put in place.
Keep us posted, Weston!
Posted in Board Development, Training
Tagged Board Development, library board, Weston, Wilder Memorial
Susanna Kahn from the Charlotte Library has created these helpful instructional pamphlets for ListenUp! Vermont patrons. These can be downloaded as PDF or Word documents so you can personalize them to your own library.
Posted in Brochures, Video Clips and Bookmarks, Training
Tagged Audio book, Charlotte, Charlotte Library, ebook, iPad, kindle, ListenUp!, Nook
Some Best Practice suggestions for job seekers seen at Brooks Memorial Library recently:
Post a link or software app for building resumes (Resume Builder, seen in the screenshot above)
Offer Skype sessions and training for face to face videoconferencing for interviews.
Tell people they can apply for longer computer sessions in order to fill out job applications, take online tests
Offer one to one tutorials to teach two basic job application skills: how to get a free email account and how to fill out an online job application
Posted in Programs for Adults, Training
Libraries all over Vermont are experiencing the usual technology rush as library members come in with their new iPads, smart phones, Kindles and other e-readers to get staff help. Nancy Tusinski at the Springfield Town Library decided to hold tech talks to encourage people to gather (flyer from this workshop is posted below). The Library owns some equipment, and is happy to help with ebook downloads, audiofiles, and general questions.
Debra Tinkham and Gail LaVaude at the Bradford Public Library (www.bradfordvtlibrary.org) have experimented with tech night themes. Pick a general topic like digital photography, make sure there are plenty of computers to go around, and dig in. Of course the public library doesn’t have a lock on technology; look to the community to find savvy volunteers willing to share what they know. Programs are held the first Wednesday of the month at 6 PM. Other topics have included downloading audio and eBooks from Listen Up! Vermont, Google Voice and Google Talk, and switching from PC to Mac with an Apple laptop or iPad.
If your library has some insights on raising the staff comfort level and offering training, please add your comments.
Here is the flyer from Nancy Tusinski’s Tech Talk workshops:
The Rockingham Free Public Library in Bellows Falls offered a series of workshops called “Job Search 101” for young adults ages 15 to 21. The workshop series was free; participants met each week.
This series gave participants basic information, skills and techniques to begin career planning.
The curriculum and format were designed by the group itself in order to meet their specific employment needs and interests. All aspects of finding a job were covered: resume writing, job search techniques, interviews and building positive, useful, and practical skills in order to obtain and maintain a job.
Director Sharon Tanzer at the Whiting Library realized she needed to orient new employees with a lot of information– staff and trustee names, job descriptions, policies, holidays and work expectations. She pulled everything together in a handbook, below. Check out the table of contents for the short version.
The Mark Skinner Library has started one to one basic computer literacy training, supported by library staff. Nice article from the Manchester Journal online.
MANCHESTER – For years, there had always been
someone else around to do the lifting when it came
to using a computer. But when the health and rehabilitation center she works for as a part-time nurse announced they would be moving to a more computer- based system for dispensing medication and other tasks that used to be handled by pen and paper, Helen Judd knew it was time to bite the bullet.
The Manchester resident signed up for a new one-on-
one computer literacy class being offered at the
Mark Skinner library. The main thing was getting
over some fears about the computer itself and
practice a few basic skills, she said. “I didn’t know anything about it and wasn’t interested,” she said. “Everyone around me did what I needed to get done.”
Outside of work, she wanted to learn how to send email
as well as surf the Web for information about
medicine and health care…
The Department of Libraries recently added two Flip 
cameras to the circulating collection, like other libraries around the state. Some libraries giving patrons access to equipment such as cameras, Kindles, MP3 players, and CD players have patrons sign a form assuming financial responsibility for damaged or lost items in case. Here are two examples of these forms from Dan Greene at U32 High School.
Need a way to teach web technology in short segments? Consider a screencast. Jeanie Phillips at the Chester Andover Elementary School offers basic instruction on searching the library catalog with her short video made with Jing. Jeanie also recommends screencasting with quicktime, available on the newest Mac operating system.
Screencasts make sense for showing library customers how to search the catalog, how to place a reserve, or how to use the Vermont Online Library. Check out some free application sites for making screencasts at MakeUseOf.com
Greensboro Free Library hosted a talk by the National Weather Service which trained participants to be Skywarn weather spotters for the National Weather Service in Burlington.
Good Ideas from VT Public Libraries 