All webinars are held on Wednesdays at 1 p.m. Central time, and are hosted via GoToWebinar. Registration is required. Participants must submit a separate registration form for each webinar you are interested in attending. There is no limit to the number of webinars that an individual can attend.
Reading Into the Past with Census Records
June 1, presented by Maggie Rose
Once every 10 years new Federal Census data becomes available for family history researchers. This year the 1950 Federal Census data is released! Learn about using Federal Census data to research your family history, the historical importance of data collected by census records, and how information not indexed in a database can lead to big breakthroughs in your genealogical research.
Learn how to interpret information gleaned from sifting through census abbreviations, schedules, and more.
How to Effectively Write to your Customers
June 8, presented by Phillip Vassallo
Challenge: Many of us readily acknowledge their desire to bridge the gap between their solid speaking skills and less proficient writing skills. This challenge is especially meaningful when communicating with their organization’s lifeblood: the customer. Realizing the written word presents an enduring impression to readers, library staff need the tools to write with authority, empathy, and resolve.
Solution: How to Write to the Customer explains how to initiate and respond to customer letters and emails in diverse situations by using a proven method of addressing the customer’s needs without abandoning the library’s position. You will learn to craft messages using the unique Customer Service Triad formula. Through a deeper understanding of the connection between your services and your patrons’ concerns, you will cultivate deeper relationships with readers.
Scope: This webinar includes the following learning points:
- Dialoguing through work-related writing
- Answering Five Key Questions
- Using the Customer Service Triad (Care/Know/Do)
- Applying the To (reader benefit) and the Do (writer expectation) to purpose statements
“Do Your Research”
June 15, presented by Kira Smith
“Do your research” has become a cliche but where do you start when you want to go beyond Google? How can you read scholarly articles when you don’t have access to an academic library? Where can you find expert opinions about both sides of an issue? In this webinar, you will learn about different starting points so that you can “do your research” and help others do the same. We’ll also cover starting points for students in search of a topic and the first steps of their research journeys.
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Help adults and students find starting points for health, current events, and government information research
- Use and recommend topic finders
- Show students free resources for beginning the research process
Improving your Posture at Work for a Healthier You
June 22, presented by Laura Greco
Might you have text neck? Or Dead Butt Syndrome? Do you slouch? You can develop health problems from poor posture and prolonged sitting: back pain, stress incontinence, heartburn, balance problems, fatigue, headaches.
The good news is that postural issues are preventable and correctable. In this interactive program you will:
- Recognize posture as contributing to at least 7 common health problems
- Try some stretches to open your chest, straighten your shoulders, stretch your hips and back practice better posture
You can leave this program with action steps you can start the same day.
Classic Picture Books are Boring & What You Should Read in Storytime Instead
June 29, presented by Will Savage & John Ferarri
Many books considered classics are difficult to integrate as part of an engaging storytime. In this interactive and informative program, we will examine the numerous reasons why many classic picture books should no longer be a librarian’s first choice of material and what elements we look for in a book while planning storytime.
You’ll also learn what new books are engaging the current generation of storytime audiences and when those old classics might still be a good option.
As a result of this webinar, attendees will learn:
- Why older picture books can fall flat in storytime and in what situations do we use them
- 4 specific traits to look for in a picture book that can make them engaging for storytime
- Examples of picture books that embody these traits
- How we convince caregivers to explore new books and enhance reading at home
