Thursday, September 19, 2013

Pre-Conference Sessions - 1:00-4:00 pm

 16 Ways to Sharpen Your Grant Writing Skills

Fran Kimmel, Author

Present your best case to granting agencies and get the attention and funding your project deserves.  In this workshop, you will learn tips and strategies to sharpen your grant writing skills and develop an irresistible proposal.

Your Library and Comics

Jay Bardyla, Happy Harbour Comics

A library is often thought of as a resource, but in the current day of easy and immediate access, libraries need to look at their facilities in new ways, such as a retail store.  How are you attracting customers?  Which customers aren't visiting your store?  How do you make your books pop and grab interest?  And how can the rising boom in pop culture, stemming from comics, help you make your library a bustling place people want to be?

Jay will discuss demographics, retail concepts, displays and event ideas, along with a basic introduction to comics and how you can use them to help put some pop (culture) into your library!

Online Databases - Limit 20

APLEN Staff

The Alberta Public Library Electronic Network (APLEN) encourages and facilitates cooperation and resource sharing among Alberta public libraries.  This session will highlight training opportunities and resources available through APLEN.  Come hear more about online databases, project management training, new software on the mobile training labs including MinecraftEdu and the APLEN Training Centre (public library resource sharing website).

Friday, September 20, 2013

Session A - 8:30-10:00 am

A1.  New Fall Titles

Ren Speer, ULS

Join our United Library Services representative, Ren Speer, as he shows you the latest in fall titles.  This session is great for growing your collection.  Come out and see what ULS has to offer!

A2.  Gadget Lab (Tablets, E-Readers)

APLEN Staff

The gadget lab is available for libraries in Alberta to borrow throught APLEN.  In this session an APLEN staff member will be present to show you which gadgets come with the lab, the apps that can be loaded into them, and how they may be used in your library setting.

A3.  Time Management

Isabelle Cramp, Manager, Morinville Public Library

"Ain't nobody got time for that!": Tips and tricks on re-gaining control of your time so you can get things done.  It is easy to become overwhelmed by everything that needs to be done in one day (mail, email, deposits, phone calls, paying bills, supervising staff, working at the front desk....)  If you can't see your desk anymore because work is piling up, if you feel like you live at your place of work, and if you feel like you have little control over your time, join me to identify how you spend your time and what time management methods you can use to get more things done.

A4.  Publisher - Limit 20

Denise Bjorkman, Librarian - F.G. Miller High School

Learn more about Microsoft Publisher and how it can be used to make your workflow more efficient and effective.  Come with your questions and watch your knowledge grow.

A5.  Space Planning

Chris Loveday, Foothills Systems & Gaylord

Tired of your library's current layout?  Looking for ideas to transform your adult/teen/children's section?  This session is designed to help you see the possibilities and make decisions that will have a strong impact on how your patrons see and use library space.

Session B - 10:30-12:00 pm

B1.  Cyber Bullying

Kristen Bespalko, St. Paul & District Ambulance Service

We will discuss the dangers of cyber bullying of our youth and how you can be an active participant in prevention.

B2.  Human Resources

Dimitir Pojidaeff (CHRP), HR Group Management Consultants

Policy or Common Sense.  We are so governed by policies, rules and regulations, especially in the public sector, that in their absence people stop thinking for themselves and take no action even when required.  The process governs instead of the desired result.  Policies are all too often misused and undermine the use of practical common sense.

B3.  Photography

Sherri Hébert, On 3 Photography

Learn tips and tricks to take more eye appealing photos, as well as learning what "Manual" mode is and some fun things to try on your own.  Feel free to bring your own camera or device!

 B4.  Windows 8

Jodi Arrowsmith, NLLS Staff

What is Windows 8?  Windows 8 is the next generation of operating systems.  This session is intended as an introduction to Windows 8.  We will work together to investigate the potential of the system, identify similarities that you as a user are accustomed to and review the overall system approach to computing.

B5.  Self-Published Author Panel

Eileen Schuh, Jennifer  Flanders Van der Hoek, & Diane Ziomek

Eileen Schuh, author of four books, is both self-published and traditionally published.  She brings her experiences in book-marketing strategies, as well as in the technical and financial aspects of self-publishing.  Publishing credits: The Traz, The Traz School Edition, Schrodinger's Cat, and Fatal Error.

Jennifer Flanders Van der Hoek - Author of The Phantom of Lone Pine Lake, Jennifer will be contributing her experiences as a self-published writer.

Diane Ziomek will educate authors on the benefits of self-publishing both print and eBooks.

Session C - 2:30-4:00 pm

C1.  E-Resource Strategy

Kerry Anderson & Ken Feser, Libraries Branch, Municipal Affairs

How do you solve a problem like e-content?  E-content continues to be an area of growth for public libraries, but it also poses challenges to established service models.  Join Ken and Kerry for a brief survey of the e-content environment as it currently exists, both provincially and beyond; a description of some potential strategies that may be useful; and ideas and plans that are currently under consideration at the provincial level.

C2.  ALTA

ALTA Trustee
Advocacy, Building Stronger Relationships.  Empower your library by building stronger relationships with your municipal councillor, influencers, and decision makers in your community.  Advocacy opens the door to communication, ensuring your funders understand your library is vital to the quality of life of residents and to the educational, economic, social and cultural development of your community.  Join us as we explore advocacy tools for local and provincial government officials and prepare your library for the municipal elections this fall.  Trustrees are powerful advocates.

C3.  Fort George Tour -  Limit 20

Take a trip through time and visit Fort George & Buckingham House Provincial Historic Site.  The location of two competing fur trade posts.  The bus will leave no later than 1:00 pm and be back by 5:00 pm.

C4.  Programming

Leslie Price, Branch Manager, Cold Lake Public Library

Libraries Rule!  Local libraries have become a refuge, a research facility, entertainment center and literary events headquarters.  What more can you do?  Get practical advice on how to adopt and optimize programs for your library.  Learn from our experience how to bring vitality back to your programming and recognize when change is needed.  This session will discuss practical ways to adapt services and programs to meet the needs of those you serve.  The final product, exemplary service delivery, results in comunity support, participation and use.

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Session D - 8:45-10:15 am

D1.  Alberta Wide Borrowing

Kerry Anderson, Libraries Branch, Municipal Affairs & Jodi Dahlgren, Manager, Wainwright Public Library

This province-wide initiative will allow library clients to use all Alberta public libraries as if they were in their home library.  This change in practice is exciting yet nerve-wracking at the same time.  This session will provide a panel of library personnel that have successfully managed increased traffic with new workflows and lived to tell the tale.

D2.  Extreme Couponing

Therese Poitras, Extreme Couponer

Come join us for a session of learning how to save hundreds of dollars on your grocery bill.  Don't miss this opportunity to learn about using coupons to your advantage.  You will learn how to buy items at rock bottom prices, sometimes free or at cost.

D3.  Book Repair -  Limit 8

Patty Mathiot & Sue Frisby, NLLS Staff

Sue and Patty go through the process of what happens to a book when it reaches NLLS and what steps one can take to enhance the life of that book.  They also go through steps to repair books that are showing wear and tear.

D4.  Polaris - Limit 20

Colette Poitras, NLLS Staff

This session is intended to be a refresher for Polaris users.  Learn new shortcuts and ways to improve your workflow.  We will also be covering some of the changes that have come in with Polaris 4.1. 

D5.  Books for Reluctant Readers

Connie Forst, Manager, Tofield Public Library

Fishing with a reluctant reader - a look at how to cast, catch and reel one in.  This is not a session about fishing, but it will explore how reluctant readers (often boys, but sometimes girls too) feel there is nothing they are interested in at the library.  The session will explore the dynamics of how to identify a reluctant reader and define one.  We'll look at a few ways to captivate these elusive creatures with a few tips, a couple of tricks, and use lots of creative booklists as lures.  Come discover some catch and release techniques and reel in your own readers.  No hip waders required!

Session E - 10:30-12:00 pm

E1.  Board Round Table

Larry Tiedemann, NLLS Board Chair

Larry will lead the round table discussions.  Bring your questions as a board member, what works and what doesn't, and your tips and tricks.  This is a time for information sharing.

E2.  Library Managers Round Table

Come prepared to share your questions, best practices and innovations in serving your community.

E3.  Programming Round Table

This is a great opportunity for you to share some of the fabulous programming ideas you have with others.  Share your greatest successes and your epic fails - all can be used by someone else as a learning tool

E4.  ILL Question Period

Colette Poitras, NLLS Staff

This session will be a guided Q & A, with an NLLS resource person available for reference.  Come prepared with all of your ILL questions.

E5.  TownLife (Website)

Clinton Boyda, TownLife

Clinton Boyda has been with TownLife since its inception and is excited to showcase how to take advantage of the unique features this website platform has been created to offer, with a key focus on benefits for your library.