Seeking Synchronicity Revelations and Recommendations for Virtual Reference (OCLC research report webinar) and AaL facilitated discussion

OCLC Research in partnership with Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey pulled over five years of virtual reference research into a summary with specific and actionable suggestions in Seeking Synchronicity: Revelations and Recommendations for Virtual Reference.

Seeking Synchronicity: Revelations and Recommendations for Virtual Reference

an OCLC research report webinar

DATE: January 31, 2012

TIME: 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm  (EST)

LOCATION: OCLC’s Online Classroom

and

an Ask a Librarian facilitated conversation

DATE: February 1, 2012

TIME: 10:00 am – 11:00 am  (EST)

LOCATION: TBLC’s Online Classroom

On January 31, 2012 from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. (EST), co-authors Lynn Silipigni Connaway (OCLC Research) and Marie L Radford (Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey) will review the report’s findings and address topics such as:

·         The exaggerated death of ready reference
·         The importance of query clarification in Virtual Reference
·         Boosting accuracy and building better relationships in Virtual Reference
·         Learning from Virtual Reference transcripts
·         Convenience as a “hook” to draw users to Virtual Reference
·         Generational differences in how people perceive reference interactions and determine success
·         The need for more and improved marketing of Virtual Reference

For more information about the Seeking Synchronicity: Revelations and Recommendations for Virtual Reference report click here.

To register with OCLC for the January 31st webinar click here.

After this OCLC-sponsored webinar, participants are invited to return on Wednesday, February 1, 2012 from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. when Ask-a-Librarian staff facilitates a continuing discussion among Florida librarians.  For more information about the discussion session and to register click here.

Academic Desk opens today

This is a reminder that the Ask a Librarian Academic Desk reopens today, so staff will be covering either the Collaborative or Academic Desk depending on their library’s scheduled statewide shifts. (Academic Desk hours are Monday-Friday, 10a-4p ET). Have a great week!  

Hot Topics webinars: OverDrive E-Books & Audiobooks

Forgot to register before the holidays?  Space is still available in our two Hot Topics webinars on OverDrive… register for both today!

 

Hot Topics: E-Books! Putting OverDrive E-Books onto eReaders: A Guide For Library Staff

Wed., Jan. 11, 2012, 2-3 pm ET

Hot Topics: Audiobooks! Putting OverDrive Audiobooks onto Portable Players: A Guide For Library Staff

Wed., Jan. 18, 2012, 2-3 pm ET

Audiobooks and E-Books

 

OverDrive audiobooks & ebooks are popular with library patrons. But many of them have a hard time putting it all together: finding available e-books or audiobooks on the digital download site and then transferring them to their PC, e-reader, or listening devices. With information presented by TBLC’s own resident genius & System Administrator Al Carlson, these two webinars will equip public service staff of all library types with the skills they need to assist patrons at any stage of the process.

 

 

Topics include:

  • Finding immediately available audiobooks (Hot Topics: Audiobooks!) or e-books (Hot Topics: E-Books!) on an OverDrive site, installing Adobe Digital Editions and creating an Adobe identity.
  • Downloading audiobooks (Hot Topics: Audiobooks!) or e-books (Hot Topics: E-Books!) to a PC, and transferring (sideloading) them to e-readers/listening devices.
  • Direct downloads to smart phones, iPads, and other web-enabled devices.

Register for both webinars today!

Collaborative Desk opens today! (Academic is still closed)

This is a friendly reminder that the Ask a Librarian Collaborative Desk will reopen this morning at 10 am ET.

The Academic Desk will remain closed this week to accommodate library closings and availability. During this time, all staff normally scheduled to cover Academic should continue to check the Collaborative Desk box (rather than Academic) when logging in for their scheduled shifts as they did during December. Regular Academic Desk hours begin next Monday, January 9, 2012. (Local hours are not affected by statewide closings.)

* Upcoming closing: the Ask a Librarian statewide desks (Academic and Collaborative) will be closed on Monday, January 16th.

Happy New Year from all of us at TBLC!

 

statewide Ask a Librarian holiday closing schedule

Just a friendly reminder of the statewide Ask a Librarian closing schedule for December and January:

• Wednesday, December 21 (closing at 5 pm)
• Thursday, December 22 thru Monday, January 2 (Collaborative Desk closed – service reopens on Tuesday, January 3)
• Monday, January 16 (closed)

Note: These closings are for the statewide service, so your library is still free to staff local desk hours during those days.

As in previous years, the Academic Desk will remain closed throughout the month of December and the first week of January to accommodate library closings and availability. During this time, all staff normally scheduled to cover Academic should continue to check the Collaborative Desk box (rather than Academic) when logging in for their scheduled shifts.

Happy Holidays to our fantastic member libraries from all of us at TBLC!

Hot Topics: OverDrive E-Books & Audiobooks Webinar Series

Introducing two new Hot Topics webinars on OverDrive… register for both today!

Hot Topics: E-Books! Putting OverDrive E-Books onto eReaders: A Guide For Library Staff

Wed., Jan. 11, 2012, 2-3 pm ET

Hot Topics: Audiobooks! Putting OverDrive Audiobooks onto Portable Players: A Guide For Library Staff

Wed., Jan. 18, 2012, 2-3 pm ET

Audiobooks and E-Books

 

OverDrive audiobooks & ebooks are popular with library patrons. But many of them have a hard time putting it all together: finding available e-books or audiobooks on the digital download site and then transferring them to their PC, e-reader, or listening devices. With information presented by TBLC’s own resident genius & System Administrator Al Carlson, these two webinars will equip public service staff of all library types with the skills they need to assist patrons at any stage of the process.

 

 

Topics include:

  • Finding immediately available audiobooks (Hot Topics: Audiobooks!) or e-books (Hot Topics: E-Books!) on an OverDrive site, installing Adobe Digital Editions and creating an Adobe identity.
  • Downloading audiobooks (Hot Topics: Audiobooks!) or e-books (Hot Topics: E-Books!) to a PC, and transferring (sideloading) them to e-readers/listening devices.
  • Direct downloads to smart phones, iPads, and other web-enabled devices.

Register for both webinars today!

Seeking Synchronicity Revelations and Recommendations for Virtual Reference (OCLC research report webinar) and AaL facilitated discussion

OCLC Research in partnership with Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey pulled over five years of virtual reference research into a summary with specific and actionable suggestions in Seeking Synchronicity: Revelations and Recommendations for Virtual Reference.

Seeking Synchronicity: Revelations and Recommendations for Virtual Reference

an OCLC research report webinar

DATE: January 31, 2012

TIME: 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm  (EST)

LOCATION: OCLC’s Online Classroom

and

an Ask a Librarian facilitated conversation

DATE: February 1, 2012

TIME: 10:00 am – 11:00 am  (EST)

LOCATION: TBLC’s Online Classroom

On January 31, 2012 from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. (EST), co-authors Lynn Silipigni Connaway (OCLC Research) and Marie L Radford (Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey) will review the report’s findings and address topics such as:

·         The exaggerated death of ready reference
·         The importance of query clarification in Virtual Reference
·         Boosting accuracy and building better relationships in Virtual Reference
·         Learning from Virtual Reference transcripts
·         Convenience as a “hook” to draw users to Virtual Reference
·         Generational differences in how people perceive reference interactions and determine success
·         The need for more and improved marketing of Virtual Reference

For more information about the Seeking Synchronicity: Revelations and Recommendations for Virtual Reference report click here.

To register with OCLC for the January 31st webinar click here.

After this OCLC-sponsored webinar, participants are invited to return on Wednesday, February 1, 2012 from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. when Ask-a-Librarian staff facilitates a continuing discussion among Florida librarians.  For more information about the discussion session and to register click here.