NJSLA Blog

SLA Offers Free Online Courses Through Click University

Note: This has been announced before, but it's worth repeating. I've already attended two Click U Live events that I would not have been able to attend for a fee. And Click U is now integrated right into the www.sla.org site -- no separate username and password required.

Remember, NJSLA is hosting an SLA Click U Replay called Moving to Knowledge Services, March 25 in Somerville.

Students (and those who are unemployed or making less than $18,000 per year): This is another good reason to join SLA at $35.

Eric Schwarz
NJSLA President

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SLA Offers Free Online Courses Through Click University

Another way to help members thrive in the bad economy

 

For immediate release

Alexandria, Virginia, February 26, 2009-- Special Libraries Association (SLA) now offers free online courses as an exclusive benefit to SLA members.  The free programming encompasses all non-certificate online courses that are part of SLA’s Click University, including programs such as Click U twice-monthly Webinars, the SLA Online Libraries and Click U Replays. Also available to members as part of their membership dues are execuBooks, recorded Annual Conference continuing education courses, 23 Things, the SLA Innovation Lab and SLA Leadership Training.

 

Click U Premium courses at the SLA Annual Conference and the Click U Premium Certificate Programs in knowledge management, competitive intelligence, and copyright management will remain as fee-based offerings.

 

“During bad economic times, it is especially important that our members continue to master new skills and technologies to stay competitive,” said SLA CEO Janice R. Lachance.

 

Click U, which is beginning its fifth full year as an exclusive SLA benefit, provides 24-hour access to learning opportunities and includes training on general business and management skills as well as SLA-produced courses tailored to the needs of information professionals. 

 

“If we want employers to have a competitive edge, information professionals must stay sharp and be innovative, and that means continuous learning,” Lachance continued. “SLA provides these tools for success through Click U, and making most of them free to members will make them accessible, regardless of their location or economic circumstances.”

 

2009 SLA President Gloria Zamora announced the news to an audience of some 250 SLA leaders during the opening session at the SLA Leadership Summit. Zamora said, “I know you are thinking that it is counter-intuitive to be turning away revenue during a sagging economy.  However, increasing the value of SLA membership during this period of global economic turmoil should have an immediate and positive impact on our members. By including portions of Click U as part of your membership, we are providing you with a tool that enables you to enrich your marketable skills and become a more valuable asset to your employer.”

 

SLA members can now reach everything within Click U using a single sign-in on the SLA home page, providing fast, free and easy access to the first and only online learning community focusing on continuing professional education for knowledge professionals.

 

About SLA's Click University
Click U provides SLA members with state-of-the-art learning opportunities in partnership with today's information industry superstars. Courses on software and technology, management, communications, and leadership are designed to enhance the skills acquired through traditional library education. Click U also provides accessible certificate programs for information professionals looking to take the next step into a new career and use their traditional information skills in fields such as competitive intelligence, knowledge management, and copyright management. For more information about Click U go to www.sla.org

 

About SLA
Special Libraries Association (SLA) is a nonprofit global organization for innovative information professionals and their strategic partners. SLA serves more than 11,000 corporate, academic, government, and other information specialists in 75 countries . SLA promotes and strengthens its members through learning, advocacy, and networking initiatives. For more information, visit us on the Web at www.sla.org

Peter Bromberg on The Value of Leadership - Alice Rankin Distinguished Lecture - Thursday, April 23 (New Brunswick)

Save the date! On Thursday, April 23, NJSLA will welcome Peter Bromberg as our 2009 Alice Rankin Distinguished Lecturer, in a chapter signature event at the Rutgers University Inn & Conference Center in New Brunswick.

Peter will speak on "The Value of Leadership, the Leadership of Value."

Here's a brief bio: Peter Bromberg is the Assistant Director for South Jersey Regional Library Cooperative (SJRLC), where he helps over 600 multi-type libraries deliver top-tier service by providing them with a varied slate of continuing education opportunities. Peter was dubbed "The Transformer" by Library Journal when they named him as a 2008 Mover and Shaker. Peter founded the popular team blog, Library Garden, where he blogs regularly with other New Jersey librarians.

More details on Peter, the event and registration will be posted soon!

See the updated post for more information and to register online.

SLA 2009 Online Personal Conference Planner is Now Available

The Online Personal Conference Planner for SLA 2009 in Washington, D.C., is now available on the SLA Web site.

The online planner contains the latest conference information. The personal scheduling feature allows you to create and save your own calendar for the conference.  There is also a feature called iCal that enables you to save the session directly to your Outlook Calendar.  

For more information please view the original post at the Conference Connections blog.

NJLA Formally Opposes SCILS Name Change

The New Jersey Library Association's Executive Board on Feb. 17 formally opposed the move by the faculty of Rutgers' School of Communication, Information and Library Studies to drop "Library Studies" from the name. (The new name would be the School of Communication and Information.) NJLA argues that the change would obfuscate the purpose of the school, that the term "'Library' is our profession's brand," and that the term "information" is too broad and "belongs to the world of technical education."

You can read the NJLA's complete resolution here, as well as a Feb. 18 Library Journal article on the topic. The article notes that a Feb. 13 forum on the name change held by the student group LISSA drew about 25 people. A blog, SCILS or SCI, chronicles that meeting.

Seven Secrets to Boost Any Business, Any Time Using New Media - Tuesday, March 3 (Princeton)

This is the best time to boost your business, increase sales and market your business using low-cost high-impact Internet-based marketing tools. In this hands-on session, you’ll leave knowing which online tools are essential for your business; what to say when you talk to your customers using your website, e-zine (online newsletter), blog, podcast, Facebook and LinkedIn pages; and how to find time to do it all.

You will walk away ready to harness the power of these powerful tools for your business immediately. This session is taught by Forbes.com’s new media expert Alison Woo, co-author of the book How to Say It: Marketing with New Media: A Guide to Promoting Your Small Business Using Websites, E-Zines, Blogs, and Podcasts (Penguin).

Alison Woo is an author, a business coach and a principal of NewMediaMavens.com, which has offices in New York City and Charlotte, North Carolina. As a journalist she has worked for CNN, Money Magazine and Fortune Small Business. For more information, visit www.newmediamavens.com.

Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Time:  7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: Princeton Public Library, Sands Building, 65 Witherspoon St., Princeton, NJ
Phone: 609/924-9529

See this event on the NJSLA Calendar.

POSTPONED - April Fool's Day NJSLA Wine-Around - Wednesday, April 1 (Far Hills)

(updated March 31, 2009) POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DUE TO PERSONAL ISSUE -

Join your NJSLA colleagues for a wine tasting on Wednesday, April 1, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Far Hills, close to Routes 202, 287 and 78. Bring a bottle of wine and/or a small appetizer. Directions will be provided when we confirm your RSVP. Spouses and significant others are welcome.

If you plan to attend please send your contact information by March 20 to Cheryl Erenberg.

Include your name, company/organization name, phone number and e-mail address.

Hosted by Kate Creegan, Cheryl Erenberg and Liz Arnold.

A flier with this same information is online.

Webinar: Basics of Web Site Management, Part 1 (SLA-NY @ METRO) - March 5

David Lee King's Basics of Web Site Management, Part 1 is a fantastic presentation, which I attended live via Click University on Feb. 11. You can view a replay at any time or attend the SLA-NY @ METRO event listed below.

Basics of Web Site Management: Part 2 will be held Feb. 25. You can sign up to participate live or view a replay.

- Eric Schwarz, NJSLA President

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SLA-NY @ METRO is a series of FREE professional development opportunities for all library and information professionals in the New York area.

Thursday,  March 5, 2009 3:00-4:30 PM

To RSVP or for questions, contact Janet Peros.  

Basics of Web Site Management, Part 1

Presenter:     David Lee King, Digital Branch & Services Manager
Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library

Seminar Description

Web site management can be a daunting task, especially for busy, short-staffed libraries. This session will help library Web managers and Web teams get a handle on what's involved in Web site management. Learn the basics of managing, designing and improving a library Web site. Topics include Web site management structure and basic design and content tips.

Who Should Attend?

These presentations are designed for anyone who designs library Web sites, writes content for their Web site, or wants to improve their Web site's usefulness to their customers.

Critical Learning Questions

    * What's the basic knowledge you need to manage a library Web site?
    * What are the current best practices of Web site management?
    * What emerging trends affect library Web sites, and how should we respond to them?

Please Note:  This is a replay of a Click University Webinar.  The session will take place at METRO's offices (57 East 11th Street, 4th Floor, between University and Broadway).  This is only available to on-site attendees at METRO.

Save the Dates: Exciting SLA Events in New Jersey Coming Soon!

Please save the dates below and join your SLA colleagues in the New Jersey and Princeton-Trenton Chapters.

Wednesday, March 4 (South Brunswick, 5:30 p.m.): Presidential Libraries: The Last Campaign. Contact Brian Lewin. Organized by Princeton-Trenton SLA.

Friday, March 6 (New Brunswick, 9:30 a.m.): Rutgers LISSA Career Day. Contact Mary Fran Daley. Organized by the Rutgers Library and Information Science Student Association (LISSA).

Monday, March 16 (Bedminster, 6 p.m.): NJSLA Program Planning Social. Contact Eric Schwarz. Organized by NJSLA.

Wednesday, March 25 (Somerville, 7 p.m.): Networking Meeting and Webinar: Managing Change & Finding Partners in Your Organization. Contact Susan Katz. Organized by NJSLA.

(as of March 31 - Postponed due to personal issue): Wednesday, April 1 (Far Hills, evening): Wine-Around social. Organized by NJSLA.

Late April (New Brunswick, tentatively set for 6 p.m.): NJSLA Signature Event: Alice Rankin Distinguished Lecture. More details to come. Contact Eric Schwarz. Organized by NJSLA.

Wednesday, May 27 (Princeton, time to be announced): Tour of the Frank Gehry-designed Lewis Library at Princeton University. Contact Elana Broch. Organized by Princeton-Trenton SLA.

NJSLA Program Planning Social - March 16 in Bedminster

NJSLA will hold a social event and discussion of programs planned for 2009, from 6 p.m. to about 8:30 p.m. Monday, March 16. There will be no formal program, so you can arrive later than 6 if needed. The social will be held at the home of former Chapter President Ruth Wolfish. A light dinner will be served, and all are welcome, as long as you RSVP to Eric Schwarz. (Eric will send you the address and directions once you RSVP, preferably by March 11.)

For more information on our programming ideas and need for volunteers, please see the previous blog entry. (You're welcome to come even if you don't have time to volunteer now.)

Career Day for Students, Recent Grads and Professional Mentors - March 6 in New Brunswick

The Rutgers LISSA (Library and Information Science Student Association) is sponsoring a Career Day for students, Friday, March 6. This is an opportunity for SLA members to network with Rutgers students and recent grads.

The Career Day will start at 9:30 a.m. and will be held in the Pane Room of the Alexander Library on Rutgers' College Avenue campus in New Brunswick.

Leslie Burger, director of the Princeton Public Library and past ALA President, will deliver a keynote address. A resume workshop which will include one-on-one feedback from librarian volunteers. There will also be networking time after the speakers and workshop.

This is not just an opportunity for last-semester students. All students and recent alumni are welcomed and encouraged to attend. This is a fantastic opportunity to soak up some wisdom and to network with
professionals in the field and your own classmates.

To sign up, please email Mary Fran Daley a brief description of which field(s) you are interested in (youth, schools, tech services, management, archives, acquisitions, corporate, academic, public reference, etc.). Please attach your most recent resume in MS Word to this email. So that we
have the right balance of volunteers for the resume reviews, please send this email by Wednesday,
Feb. 18. LISSA will send participants a confirmation after Feb. 23.