PLA Offers Free Online Library Advocacy Training

Read the full article from American Libraries.

PLA is offering Turning the Page Online, an interactive advocacy training course, free of charge to all ALA members.

This advocacy education, originally designed for public libraries participating in the Gates Foundation Opportunity Online hardware grants program, has benefited more than 3,500 librarians and library supporters across 32 states. Following training, the vast majority of participants were better advocates for their libraries—feeling more confident in their abilities and more excited about advocacy. As a result, more than 98 percent of participating libraries achieved their funding goals. Through the generosity of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, PLA is now able to offer this training to all ALA members.

Have You Registered for OverDrive Training?

September 2010 is OverDrive's Training Month. Read all about it in my latest post at ALALearning.

Old Spice Man Rocks the Library World!

Okay, this is just so brilliant! I love social media and this genius campaign from Old Spice just blows me away.

But the icing on the cake is that Andy Woodworth was able to get a resonse for libraries! Take a look:



Way to go Andy!! You should go read his whole post about the experience. It contains a lot of great links too.

And way to go Old Spice, you have just broken new ground in social media marketing. So, are we all ready to watch the copy cats now?...

Life in a Day

Okay libraries or anyone at all, here's your chance to star in a movie!! YouTube is sponsoring a historic cinematic experiment called Life in a Day.

Basically it will be a user-generated feature film shot in a single day by ANYONE on planet earth on Saturday July 24, 2010. The most compelling and distinctive footage will be edited into an experimental documentary film and will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2011! So go for it and show the world what exciting things happen in YOUR library or in YOUR life. I can't wait to see this film!

Great Article in the Philadelphia Inquirer

I know I'm preaching to the choir when sharing this type of information... but PLEASE share this article with those NOT in the know about what's happening to our nation's libraries. Marilyn Johnson has written a beautiful article that says so much in such a brief article. Take the time to read it and pass it on.

Here are a few golden nuggets...

...if you visit public libraries, you will see an essential service in action. Librarians help people who don't have other ways to get online, can't get the answers they urgently need, or simply need a safe place to bring their children.

The people who welcome us to the library are idealists who believe that accurate information leads to good decisions, and that exposure to the intellectual riches of civilization leads to a better world

While they help us get online, employed, and informed, librarians don't try to sell us anything. Nor do they broadcast our problems, send us spam, or keep a record of our interests and needs, because no matter how savvy this profession is at navigating the online world, it clings to that old-fashioned value: privacy. They represent the best civic value out there - an army of resourceful workers that can help us compete in the world.

Communities that support their libraries will have an undeniable competitive advantage.

...those who own computers or have high-speed Internet service and on-call technical assistance, will not notice the effects of a diminished public library system - not at first. Whizzes who can whittle down 15 million hits on a Google search to find the useful and accurate bits of info, and those able to buy any book or article or film they want, will escape the immediate consequences of these cuts. Those in cities that haven't preserved their libraries, those less fortunate and baffled by technology, and our children will be the first to suffer.

Thanks to Margie Perella from the Pequea Valley Public Library for pointing me to this great article. Now go share it!

Geocaching in a Library

I think this is one of the most creative ways I've seen to bring patrons into your library. Participate in a Geocaching game!

Spring Township Library right here in my home state of PA is doing just that! They created a fake book and drilled a hole in it to hold the cylinder. They even gave it a call number. Take a look:

Be sure to check out the cache page and read the first finder's web update. Have any other libraries done this? Don't you think it's a great idea?

Augmented Reality Explained

Nobody explains better than Common Craft. If you've been hearing the latest buzz words, augmented reality, and wondered what they mean, then check out Common Craft's latest video explanation:

Are You Using Mind Maps?

See my recent post on ALA Learning to learn all about mind maps and how they can help you in your work.

Lori Reed Proves One Person CAN Make a Difference

I posted about SaveLibraries.org in March. My good friend Lori Reed had a great interview on her local news this week. Check it out. Keep up the good work Lori!

Is it Real or is it Phishing?

These days you really need to be able to tell if an email is legitimate or not. Phishing is rampant so the need for vigilence is high.

Here is a great Phishing and Spam IQ Quiz from SonicWALL that only takes a few minutes to complete. You are given 10 samples of emails that you have to determine whether they are legitimate or scams. When you get your results, you are given great information as to why something is a "Phish".

Thanks to the Swiss Army Librarian for pointing me to this great training resource that was seen in Slashdot.