Coming to a Computer Near YOU

If you thought ICN classes were great because you didn't have to travel too far for c.e. credits, then hang onto your hat--WIMBA has arrived! Wimba refers to virtual classrooms, which the LSAs are able to use free thanks to the State Library's community partnership with WebJunction.

Wimba Rooms make it easy for public library staff and trustees to experience the online learning environment. From the comfort of your own PC at home or at the library, you can take online classes sponsored by WebJunction and other education providers--like Northwest LSA!

And talk about a great opportunity for this: the Iowa Small Library Association (ISLA) along with Northwest, Southwest, and Central LSAs, are organizing a totally online conference slated for January 16th. “Connection, Collaboration, Community: The Iowa Small Libraries Online Conference (ISLOC)” is in the dead of winter and you don’t even have to leave town! We’ll take the weather out of the equation and meet in cozy, virtual classrooms instead. Participants will log into various Wimba rooms to join one session or several. Here’s a preview of the sessions being planned:

AM Keynote Speaker: Michael Stephens of Tame the Web
PM Keynote Speaker: Pat Wagner of Pattern Research in Colorado
Concurrent Sessions:
¨ Cool Tools, Widgets, and Gadgets
¨ Collaborating with Colleagues on the Web
¨ The Interactive Library: Promoting Service Online
¨ Trustees 2.0—An Evening Session for Boards

Also on tap: a virtual exhibit hall, a gaming session over the lunch hour, and a virtual lounge where you can network with your colleagues across the state. Oh sure, you’ll need some stuff—like high speed Internet, a microphone, speakers, and such :-) Most importantly, you’ll need to run a set-up wizard to make sure your computer has the right components to best experience this new format. NWILS will provide set-up instructions in separate emails, so stay tuned for that.

NWILS has its own Wimba room. We’ll target several days throughout December for Northwest libraries to log into our Wimba room and get the feel for it. We’ll have informal sessions for people to just get acquainted with the environment. And more deliberate times set up for actual classes worth c.e. credit, again to get the feel for the online class format.

There’s no requirement that you sit glued to your computer all day long. Choose the topics that most interest you and log into those. If you’re only able to listen to the 2 keynote speakers, that will be great. If you’re only able to join over the lunch hour—or only available for the evening trustees session—that’s great too. Regardless of how much time you spend on January 16, do allow some time that day to participate. This is a sign of things to come, as more and more classes are certain to move online.

So protect your calendar on January 16, 2008, pour a cup of coffee, and join “Connection, Collaboration, Community: Iowa Small Libraries Online Conference” from your own computer at home!

Reader's Advisory

The State Library is currently holding a Readers' Advisory workshop. The term refers to advising the reader, putting people together with the books they love. This is a very participatory class with four assignment modules in two sessions.

The first class was held this week in a WIMBA room, so that meant no travel. From the comfort of home or office, you could sit at your computer and fully participate in the introductory session. (If you haven't had a chance to take a class in a Wimba room, you are missing lots of fun! If the instructor chooses to use a video camera, you can see the instructor, too.)

The next session requires participants to complete 4 practical ways to use Reader's Advisory in your libraries by developing a blog, listening to and writing scripts for a podcast (broadcasting one if brave enough) working with wikis, or just seeing what the future holds for Readers' Advisory.

For now, I want to share a few of the cool links offered for answering the dreaded "what do I read next?" question. Follow these links to take a look at what's out there.

Reader's Robot Reviews that reveal the appeal for readers. Search the databases using "appeal factors." This link lists several genres and the reader just has to decide certain characteristics of books that appeal and then lists of suggested books are generated from these characteristics.

What's Next Probably the most well known site from the Kent District Library. This lets you find out what book is next in a series. They also have a great Reader's advisory list in general, providing books and reading links.

Genreflecting both a reference book and a website for professionals (that's you) offering advice about books to readers

Based on the Book A cool site that lets you see books that have been made into movies. Sometimes, the movie title is not the same as the book title, so you can see that change as well.

Check some of these out if you haven't already. Would love to hear of other sites that you use regularly for your Reader's Advisory @ your libraries.

Going to PLA Conference?

No doubt you've heard: the Public Library Association National Conference is coming to Minneapolis, March 25-29, 2008. NWILS office can help coordinate carpooling to PLA, so if you're planning to attend the conference--and especially if you're willing to drive and take riders--will you comment here?

Please leave your name, library, and email address. And tell us these things:

if you're planning to attend PLA'08
the dates you're thinking of leaving and returning
if you're willing to drive and take riders (and how many...)

Leave any other comments or questions, too. Thanks!