What part will libraries play in 2018? Many people believe libraries will continue to serve as the place for responsible information and fact-finding about the world we live in. After 2017 and the spread of fake news, libraries may in fact supply the instruction and truthful guidance we are looking for.
The Public Library Association (PLA) held its annual Results Boot Camp program this year on August 24th – 28th at the Nashville Public Library. Facilitated by Sandra Nelson and June Garcia, this year’s event focused on strategic planning and service delivery. In its tenth year, Boot Camp is described by PLA as “intensive library management training,” although the specific focus varies each year. Participants attend four full days and one half-day session, which feature a mix of lecture-style instruction and small group work. Time is also allotted for individual reflection about how the content fits in with your particular library’s situation.
The August 1 deadline is quickly approaching for consideration in next year’s group of ALA Emerging Leaders. According to ALA’s website, this program “enables newer library workers from across the country to participate in problem-solving work groups, network with peers, gain an inside look into ALA structure, and [provides an] opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity.”
The IFLA Public Libraries Section held a satellite conference in Birmingham, England, in August, where some of the newest library spaces were showcased, such as the “topic room” in Berlin or the famous BiblioTech.
My colleague and I hosted Library OnConference, a virtual conference held completely on Google Hangouts for librarians throughout the country. How did this come about and would we do it again? And how can you host your own conference?
In what may be a first in the country, the Los Angeles Public Library is teaming with Career Online High School to offer online classes through the library. A library-sponsored scholarship to attend the online classes will be given to those who qualify by passing an evaluation.
At this time, the options available are plentiful and range from free online courses to expensive classroom experiences. Any and all topics can be found with standalone courses, certificates, and degree programs in excess. But, the range of quality is just as vast and it seems the old adage, ‘you get what you pay for,’ is no longer true.
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