OverDrive Training Opportunities and FREE Building Bridges Series for Public Libraries

Are you looking for a way to refresh your OverDrive skills, Jane Richard, from WILS sent the following information as a reminder that OverDrive offers live and recorded training sessions throughout the year. Please follow the links below for more information:

• View Now (http://overdrive.com/learningcenter/viewnow.aspx) : View the core courses at your convenience … plus pause, stop and fast forward to suit your learning style. Among the topics recorded: Kindle demo, community outreach, and patron assistance.
• Register: Watch for upcoming *live* training opportunities. We'll post them on the listserv, too.
• Resources: Spread the word about your OverDrive service through promotional and educational materials. All materials are free!
• A relatively new resource is the Going Mobile Preview page with short how-to video series for iOS, Android and Kindle operating systems. These each run 20-30 minutes
  long. 

Another great opportunity to think about how Public Libraries can build bridges to the future and build community support will be offered in the "Building Bridges Series for Public Libraries"

Please join OCLC, host Chrystie Hill, WebJunction’s Director of Community Services, and guest speakers for the second half of this series of webinars designed to inspire and engage public libraries on topics of vital interest. Each program in the series will offer practical advice on issues that are top-of-mind in public libraries.

Communicating Your Value:  Without sufficient funding, your service to your community can suffer. But you can effectively communicate your value to those who fund your library – learn how. Speakers to be announced shortly.  January 18, 2012  Register now

Your Library’s Future:  This look ahead will focus on (1) the critical services libraries should provide; (2) services that only the public library provides; and (3) communicating the library’s future plans to the community. Speakers to be announced shortly.  February 2, 2012  Register now

Watch the earlier sessions in this series:

Principles of Advocacy:  Public library professionals know the importance of demonstrating their value to their local communities. Are you looking for inspiration to jump-start your own advocacy efforts? Join us to better understand how ongoing community advocacy supports the vital role your library plays in the community Speakers included Mary Hirsh, Project Coordinator for PLA and Lynn Slawsky, Program Officer, Turning the Page 2.0 program through PLA, Janet Sawaya, Program Officer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Jennifer Pearson, Senior Manager of Advocacy Programs, OCLC. Topics included the Turning the Page program, the Geek the Library community awareness program and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation funding public library advocacy programs.   Watch now

Community Outreach:  Hear from both a small and large public library on why they believe these partnerships are integral to their success. Guest speakers Gerry Meek, CEO of the Calgary Public Library in Canada, and Debbie Winlock, Director of the Page Public Library in Arizona will give you tips on how you can make this work in your community.   Watch now  

(Jane Richard, Wisconsin Library Services & Wisconsin Public Library Consortium)