NMRLS Continuing Education Program

Continuing Education Calendar - Fall 2005!
(September - December 2005)

Register Online!

Workshop Descriptions

By Request at Your Location
The following workshops are offered on-site for library staff:
Customer Service Workshop (Contact Susan Babb)

Public Library Long-Range Planning (Contact Scott Kehoe)

The School Library Planning Process (Contact Susan Babb)

Departmental Planning (Contact Mary Behrle)

Backing up data with CDs & DVDs (Contact Scott Kehoe)

Really Basic Scanning (Contact Scott Kehoe)

Digital Media on the Web: Music, audiobooks! (Contact Scott Kehoe)

The new floppy disks: USB "flash" drives, CDs, and DVDs (Contact Scott Kehoe)

Database Training: InfoTrac, eLibrary, Grolier, WorldCat, etc. (Contact Scott Kehoe)

Setting Up Your Library's Online Database Web Page (Contact Susan Grabski)

For complete Descriptions of these workshops, please visit http://www.nmrls.org/ce/custom.shtml

WebJunction Online Learning is Here!

WebJunction provides an extensive list of online workshops. WebJunction is a cooperative effort between the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and OCLC. The course categories cover everything from XML to Linux to Dreamweaver to the whole Microsoft Office suite. You can participate in the courses at your own pace from any computer with an Internet connection!
If you are interested in taking a fee-based WebJunction workshop contact Scott Kehoe, Consultant, NMRLS (scott@nmrls.org / 1-888-326-7772).
To see what is available, go to: http://webjunction.org
For course descriptions, click on the Learning Center tab.
*Note: NMRLS is sponsoring a set number of WebJunction fee-based, online workshops. NMRLS is participating in a state-wide Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant, a portion of the grant is being used to purchase online workshops form WebJunction.

YS Book Review
10/4/2005 -- 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM -- NMRLS, Danvers
11/2/2005 -- 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM -- NMRLS, Danvers
12/1/2005 -- 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM -- NMRLS, Danvers

The Youth Services Book Review Group meets once a month, from 10:00 to 12:00, at the NMRLS office in Danvers. Books from publishers are available to reviewers in advance of their publication date. Reviews are shared each session in round-robin fashion. New reviewers are always welcome! Just come and the books will fall into your hands! Contact Susan Babb) for more information.
**Note: If you review a book first, you get to keep it!
Registration is not required!

Making the Connections:
A MSLMA/NMRLS Library Media Specialist Discussion Series: What in the World is a Book Talk?
9/27/2005 -- 03:00 PM to 06:00 PM -- Amesbury Middle School

Maureen Hardin, Library Media Specialist at the Amesbury Middle School, will discuss her Book Talk program and her LSTA grant experience which involved adding Guest Book Talkers (parents, community members and students) to her "Festival of Books" program. Following the presentation will be time for questions, success stories, and book talk ideas.
Please note: Ten (10) PDPs will be awarded if 3 of the 4 Sessions are attended. Each session will be 3 hours in length. An additional hour is earned through a demonstration of completing a related product. This series has been approved by the DOE.
Special Opportunity for Additional Hours: 3 more hours towards the 10 PDPs will be granted to those attending the Strategic Planning Exercise at the NMRLS Annual Meeting on Wednesday, November 16! Registration materials will be sent in October!

The Digital Media Players on Your PC (or your library's public workstations!)
9/28/2005 -- 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM -- NMRLS, Danvers

Windows Media Player (included with WindowsXP), as well as other free players such as RealPlayer, WinAmp, and iTunes/QuickTime, can be used to play and organize digital media files on your computer. And you probably didn't know they were there! You can also listen to streaming radio stations, play and copy CD's, create your own CD's, play DVD's, and copy music and videos to portable devices. This demonstration will provide you with an overview of the easy to use and powerful features of Windows Media Player and others . The NMRLS Training Lab will also be open to allow participants the opportunity to try different players and their features.
This workshop is presented by Barbara Andrews of Andrews Consulting.
This program is funded through a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and implemented by the six Massachusetts Regional Library Systems

YA Librarian Roundtable: Get into gear with program ideas!
9/29/2005 -- 11:30 AM to 01:00 PM -- Newburyport Public Library, Newburyport

Join your colleagues in a lively discussion on YA programs. What makes for a good YA program? Is there such a thing? Share your tips and strategies and take home new ideas.
Bring your lunch. Beverages and dessert will be provided.

Downloadable Audiobooks Demonstration and Discussion -- Register Here!
9/30/2005 -- 09:30 AM to 02:00 PM -- Reading Public Library, Reading

Members and staff of MVLC, NOBLE, and NMRLS met in July to discuss options for a joint project to provide access to downloadable audiobooks. We discussed the options available to libraries and information provided by vendors and concluded that we need to invite vendors to present options to the membership in order to determine the best directions. We have scheduled a meeting and invited representatives of three vendors as well as users of these three services. After the presentations, we invite you to join us for a planning meeting to determine the next steps toward implementation of a group purchase to bring this service to patrons of MVLC, NOBLE, and NMRLS member libraries.
Agenda (Revised on 9/22/05)

9:15 Coffee

9:30 Recorded Books/NetLibrary Demo and Q&A - Jim Petersen, Vice President, Library Development

10:20 Break

10:30 Overdrive - Digital Library Reserve Demo and Q&A - Michael Shontz, Account Executive

11:20 Break

11:30 Brief presentations by users:
Recorded Books by Barbara Bailey, Welles-Turner Memorial Library, Glastonbury CT
Overdrive by Laurie Lessner, SAILS Library Network, Middleborough, MA

12:50 Break

1:00 Discussion on next steps for MVLC, NOBLE, and NMRLS members

2:00 Adjourn

NOBS and NMRLS Summer Reading Program Wrap-Up and Preview
10/3/2005 -- 09:30 AM to 11:30 AM -- NMRLS, Danvers

Intended for librarians (but open to all) who participated in the Massachusetts Regional Library Systems' Statewide Summer Reading Program Going places @ your library®.
At this roundtable program you will:

Bring samples of library publicity, displays, and programs to show and discuss with colleagues
Share your successful summer program tips & techniques with your colleagues
Take a look ahead at SRP 2006 "what's buzzin' at your library"!

This workshop will be facilitated by NMRLS Consultant, Susan Babb.
Coffee begins at 9:30.

Pain in the Brain
10/5/2005 -- 10:00 AM to 01:00 PM -- Rowley Public Library

This customer service workshop delivers new insight into why teens and pre-teens act the way they do and tips on correcting inappropriate library behaviors. Young adult librarians who bring library generalists to the workshop receive a special prize!
Presented by Beth Gallaway, Consultant, Metrowest Regional Library System and ALA Serving the Underserved Trainer.

The new floppy disks: USB "flash" drives, CDs, and DVDs
CANCELLED 10/6/2005 -- 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM -- NMRLS, Danvers
OR
CANCELLED 10/6/2005 -- 03:00 PM to 04:30 PM -- Chelmsford Public Library

What's a floppy? Need a cheap easy way to back up or transfer data on your computer? USB flash memory drives are the new floppy disk! Theses devices are an easy way to move and store a lot of data at a relatively cheap cost. CDs & DVDs are also cheap, if not cheaper, and a stable back-up for y our hard drive. Learn the basic issues, terminology, and technical aspects of creating you own CDs and DVDs. And if creating CD/DVDs isn't easy enough there's thumb drives, also known as USB drives. You plug 'em in and transfer your data, that's it!
This session will be taught by NMRLS Consultant Scott Kehoe.
Please Note: this workshop is also available to member libraries "By Request at Your Location." For details on all NMRLS on-site workshop options go to: http://www.nmrls.org/ce/custom.shtml
(Contact Scott Kehoe).
Space is Limited

MassCat : Unique Resources at Your Fingertips
CANCELLED 10/12/2005 -- 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM -- NMRLS, Danvers

Have you ever wanted to do some reading about the native plant life in Berkshire County or consult a copy of the sheet music for your favorite cantata? You can find examples of these things and so much more in MassCat, a union catalog and resource sharing network funded and supported by five of the six Regional Library Systems. MassCat contains some unique items that could help fill a hard-to-find ILL request or aid in answering a challenging reference question.
And it's all part of a database of libraries based in Massachusetts, come learn how to put this unique resource to work for you!
This hands-on workshop will be lead by Nora Blake, MassCat Manager.

Windows Movie Maker - Hands on!
CANCELLED 10/12/2005 -- 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM -- Lowell Senior Center Computer Lab, Lowell

Instead of PowerPoint why not try Windows Movie Maker, a free component of Windows XP, to create presentations from your photographs, videos, and music. Movie Maker is easy to use and includes features such as adding transitions, special effects, titles, and audio clips. The movie can be saved on a CD or DVD and also emailed or uploaded to the web.
This hands-on workshop is presented by Barbara Andrews of Andrews Consulting.
This program is funded through a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and implemented by the six Massachusetts Regional Library Systems.
Space is Limited, some attendees may share a computer if class is full.

Basic Library Techniques (BLT) - Collection Management
10/20/2005 -- 10:00 AM to 04:00 PM -- Merrimac Public Library, Merrimac
AND
10/26/2005 -- 10:00 AM to 04:00 PM -- Merrimac Public Library, Merrimac

This two-session workshop is one of the Basic Library Techniques courses required for state certification of non-MLS directors of Public Libraries serving communities with populations under 10,000.
This workshops will include an overview of effective collection management tools: evaluating materials, selection tools, and collection policies. Issues such as intellectual freedom and censorship will also be discussed. Practical tips on using online databases as selection tools (OCLC WorldCat, Gale InfoTrac) as well as "real world" experience in budgeting, acquisitions, and weeding, will help put it all together for attendees.
Participants may want to bring a brown bag lunch. We will break for lunch during each session.
Presenters:
Susan Babb, NMRLS
Mary Behrle, NMRLS
Scott Kehoe, NMRLS
Beth Mazin, Memorial Hall Library, Andover

More than Basic Excel: Macros and Linking Cells and Spreadsheets
10/25/2005 -- 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM -- NMRLS, Danvers

If you perform a task repeatedly in Microsoft Excel, you can automate the task with a macro. A macro is a series of commands and functions that can be run whenever you need to perform the task. Another way to enhance your use of Excel is to create links between cells in the same worksheet or between cells in different workbooks. This is a hands on workshop.
This hands-on workshop is presented by Barbara Andrews of Andrews Consulting.
This program is funded through a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and implemented by the six Massachusetts Regional Library Systems.
Space is Limited, some attendees may share a computer if class is full.

Crime Prevention in Your Library
10/25/2005 -- 01:30 PM to 03:30 PM -- Burlington Public Library, Burlington

Crime...we hate to think about in our buildings, but need to know how to handle it. Jon Tiplady, retired Danvers Police Lieutenant, will discuss situations you might encounter in your library and present strategies to empower you to understand and react to suspicious activities. You'll learn to identify potential problem areas in your building and think about ways to deter crime.
Please send topics that concern you to Mary Behrle ahead of the session, so that the training will be geared to the needs of the group attending.

PowerSearch InfoTrac - learn tricks & tips using the new PowerSearch interface
10/27/2005 -- 09:30 AM to 11:30 AM -- Tewksbury Public Library, Tewksbury

Thomson Gale's new PowerSearch for InfoTrac is a multi-database search interface that makes it possible to conduct a single search in up to 8 of the following Thomson Gale statewide databases:

General Reference Center Gold
Expanded Academic ASAP
Health Reference Center Academic
General BusinessFile ASAP
Business and Company Profiles
Student Edition
Professional Collection
Gale Virtual Reference Library

Thomson Gale trainer Stacey Knibloe will be conducting lecture style two-hour overview sessions throughout Massachusetts.

¿No Comprende? Spanish Health Information Resources for English Speaking Librarians
10/27/2005 -- 12:30 PM to 04:30 PM -- NMRLS, Danvers

Do you have a growing Latino population in your community? Do you need to find health information in Spanish fast but don't know where to look? Are the only words in your Spanish vocabulary burrito and gracias? If you answered yes to these questions, then this is the class for you. This 4-hour hands-on class will cover resources for learning basic, library, medical, and Internet Spanish vocabulary. You will also learn to evaluate and identify health websites in Spanish to which you can direct your patrons.
Objectives: Participants will be able to...

Identify print and online resources for basic, library, medical, and web Spanish vocabulary.
Pronounce the letters in the Spanish alphabet and type special Spanish characters like accent marks.
Identify the criteria for evaluating health websites.
Evaluate online health information resources that are in Spanish.
Identify reliable online Spanish health information resources.

¿No Comprende? class handout: http://nnlm.gov/sea/aboutus/classmaterials/nocomprende.html
This hands-on workshop will be lead by Michelle Eberle, Consumer Health Information Coordinator, NN/LM New England Region.
Space is Limited, some attendees may share a computer if class is full.

Managing Straight-Out Programming
CANCELLED 10/27/2005 -- 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM -- Wilmington Memorial Library, Wilmington

Wilmington Youth Services Librarians Susan MacDonald and Nathalie Demers provide their community with a full calendar of events for all ages. Included are traditional storytimes but also innovative programs such as the recent "Vote! It Does a Nation Good" centered on the 2004 Presidential election. Susan and Nathalie will share how they manage their "straight out" programming from development to publicizing to presentation.
Participants are welcome to bring their programming ideas to share as well with their tips and strategies on how they manage their programming in their library.

Creating a Database Using Microsoft Access 2003
10/31/2005 -- 10:00 AM to 01:00 PM -- NMRLS, Danvers

A database is a useful tool for organizing large amounts of data such as for book orders, inventories, mailing lists, and even a simple catalog of books or music. In this hands on workshop you will learn the basics of Access 2003, the database component of Microsoft Office 2003. Topics to be covered include planning a database, creating a database, editing and deleting records, and creating tables, queries, forms, and reports.
This hands-on workshop is presented by Barbara Andrews of Andrews Consulting.
This program is funded through a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and implemented by the six Massachusetts Regional Library Systems.
Space is Limited, some attendees may share a computer if class is full.

Difficult Patron Behaviors and Library Security
11/1/2005 -- 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM -- NMRLS, Danvers

Hank McLaughlin, Security Manager for Northeast Health System (Beverly Hospital, Addison Gilbert Hospital, and Beverly Hospital Hunt Center), will address the challenges that library staffs face as they serve patrons with psychiatric or behavioral health issues.
He will answer questions following his presentation.

Genealogy 101: Print Resources
11/2/2005 -- 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM -- Lynnfield Public Library

The Lynnfield Public Library houses an extensive genealogy research collection owned by the Essex Society of Genealogists (ESOG).
This workshop is for public services staff members who respond to genealogy queries in their libraries. Participants will learn the best print resources to use to start their genealogy researchers on their way.
Instructors Roselyn Listernick, Marilyn Fitzpatrick and Ginny Basken of ESOG will guide participants through the resources held at Lynnfield Public Library.
Space is limited.

YA Discussion: The Standards
11/3/2005 -- 01:00 PM to 02:30 PM -- Flint Memorial Library, North Reading

Members of the YA Standards Revision Committee invite you to join them in a review and discussion of the document. Bring your questions! Bring your comments! Learn about a very important document you can use to develop a plan of service for teens in your library as well as a useful tool for convincing library administration, staff, customers, and the budget makers (town/city governing boards) to support such a plan of service.
This workshop will be led by Beth Kerrigan, Head of Children's Services, Memorial Hall Library, Andover, and Co-Chair of the Sub-Committee on the Standards for Young Adult Librarians.

Assistant Directors' Forum
11/3/2005 -- 12:00 PM to 02:00 PM -- Memorial Hall Library, Andover

Join your Assistant Director colleagues to share ideas and information at this Fall meeting. Forum discussion topics are chosen by the group attending. Please send agenda items to Mary Behrle.
Remember to bring your lunch.

More Than Basic Microsoft Word: Templates, Macros, and Mail Merge
11/7/2005 -- 10:00 AM to 01:00 PM -- Lowell Senior Center Computer Lab, Lowell

Many features to enhance your productivity such as templates, macros, and mail merge are available in Microsoft Word. Templates determine the basic structure for a document and can contain settings such as autotext entries, fonts, page layout and special formatting. Macros are useful for speeding up routine editing and formatting and can automate tasks which are often repeated. Mail merge can be used to create letters, mailing labels, and envelopes for a large group.
This hands on workshop is presented by Barbara Andrews of Andrews Consulting.
Space is Limited!
This program is funded through a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and implemented by the six Massachusetts Regional Library Systems

Sixth Annual Meet the Author
11/7/2005 -- 03:30 PM to 06:00 PM -- Peabody Institute Library, Danvers

The Sixth Annual Meet the Author/Illustrator convenes at the Peabody Institute Library, Danvers, on Monday, November 7. Join in an afternoon of literary delight and delightful refreshments and meet:

Terry Farish - The Cat who Liked Potato Soup
Yetti M. Frankel - The Big Blue Lump, Libby and the Cat
Barbara O'Connor - Moonpie and Ivy, Taking Care of Moses
Cathleen Twomey - Charlotte's Choice, Beachmont Letters

Following a panel discussion where they will share their stories about their work and themselves, audience members will have an opportunity to ask questions of the authors.
Books will be available for purchase (credit card and checks only) and signing.

Making the Connections: A MSLMA/NMRLS Library Media Specialist Discussion Series: Design Your Own Curriculum Framework!
11/8/2005 -- 03:00 PM to 06:00 PM -- Methuen High School, Methuen

Join your colleagues in a discussion and a working session of how to best use the DOE resources in your library. Proactive collaboration is key. Linda Friel, Supervisor of Media Services at Methuen High School, and Gerri Fegan, Library Teacher at the Amesbury Elementary School, will share how they have created lesson plans and tied into district curriculum maps using the Frameworks. Linda and Gerri are also the Northeast Co-Directors for MSLMA.
Please note: Ten (10) PDPs will be awarded if 3 of the 4 Sessions are attended. Each session will be 3 hours in length. An additional hour is earned through a demonstration of completing a related product. This series has been approved by the DOE.
Special Opportunity for Additional Hours: 3 more hours towards the 10 PDPs will be granted to those attending the Strategic Planning Exercise at the NMRLS Annual Meeting on Wednesday, November 16! Registration materials will be sent in October!

Emerging Technologies and Information Gathering
11/8/2005 -- 10:00 AM to 04:00 PM -- Tewksbury Public Library, Tewksbury

What are the new and upcoming technologies you and your patrons will be using to locate information? In this workshop you'll get a chance to find out how text messaging, products being developed using search engine technology, federated searching, RSS, wireless, handheld devices, and more relate to the ways in which people seek out information.
Join us in this workshop presented by Linda Braun, founder of LEO, Librarians and Educators Online.
This program is funded through a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and implemented by the six Massachusetts Regional Library Systems.

Emerging Technologies: the gadgets & gizmos
11/9/2005 -- 10:00 AM to 04:00 PM -- Peabody Institute Library, Danvers

Get the low-down on all the electronic devices and gadgets that your patrons are bringing into your library or that you may be lending to your patrons sooner then you know. Other than email and chat, how else are your public computer terminals going to be used in the near future !?
If you haven't tried music or audiobook downloading; or received the latest reviews of music, books, TV, or movie via an RSS feed, you might not realize the various ways technology is being used for entertainment purposes. Libraries are beginning to develop programs and services that use new and emerging technologies so that patrons can electronically access leisure-time materials.
Join us in this workshop presented by Linda Braun, founder of LEO, Librarians and Educators Online.
This program is funded through a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and implemented by the six Massachusetts Regional Library Systems.

NextGen Librarian Forum
11/10/2005 -- 12:00 PM to 02:00 PM -- NMRLS, Danvers

Join us for this second next-generation librarian discussion. Agenda topics will be driven by the group attending. If they are anything like the first meeting, they will be exciting and energizing!
We're looking for NextGens of all ages, who have been in the library profession five years or less. Come to meet your colleagues at other NMRLS libraries.
Bring your lunch and we'll provide coffee.

Something Wiki This Way Comes: an introduction the Wikipedia
11/14/2005 -- 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM -- Peabody Institute Library, Danvers

The Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia. Anyone can create or edit articles here, but it's not anarchy! Thanks to a large number of international participants, excellent software and conflict resolution procedures, the size and quality of this unique resource improves by the hour.
This workshop will be lead by Elizabeth Thomsen, Member Services Librarian, North of Boston Library Exchange (NOBLE).

Basic Image Editing for Free!
11/15/2005 -- 02:00 PM to 04:00 PM -- Tewksbury Public Library, Tewksbury

Picasa, IrfanView, and JPegger are three free programs that can be used for basic image editing. Picasa is a free download from Google and is great for organizing pictures and has great search capabilities. Picasa makes editing easy by previewing changes in real time and by providing for multiple levels of undo to revert to the original image. IrfanView is a simple image viewer and editor that supports all major graphic formats and allows you to modify color depth, crop, and sharpen images. JPegger provides standard image management functions as well as the ability to create autorun CD's for an easy way to distribute pictures. This demonstration will look at all three programs and where to get the downloads for free.
This hands-on workshop is presented by Barbara Andrews of Andrews Consulting.
This program is funded through a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and implemented by the six Massachusetts Regional Library Systems.

More Than Basic Microsoft PowerPoint 2003
11/17/2005 -- 10:00 AM to 01:00 PM -- NMRLS, Danvers

Using Microsoft PowerPoint 2003 you can create impressive presentations for meetings and training programs. Beyond creating and editing slides, masters can be designed for slides, notes, and handouts. Many color schemes and designs are included in this program but custom color schemes including formatting of bullets can be created to match your library's publications and web site. Additional interest can be produced with WordArt, shapes, sounds, movies, animations, and even music from your own CD. Also included will be delivering the presentation using custom slide timings, Kiosk mode, and packaging the presentation on a CD.
This hands-on workshop is presented by Barbara Andrews of Andrews Consulting.
This program is funded through a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and implemented by the six Massachusetts Regional Library Systems.
Space is Limited, some attendees may share a computer if class is full.

What's on Your Mind? a MLA/NMRLS Paralibrarian Discussion on Communication
CANCELLED 11/30/2005 -- 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM -- Abbot Public Library, Marblehead

This workshop follows the brainstorming workshop held for paralibrarians. One of the top topics paralibrarians wanted to pursue is the issue of communication: how can I as a library assistant communicate effectively not only with other staff but with my director? And why should I?
Join your colleagues and hear the success story of Bonnie Strong, Director at the Abbot Public Library in Marblehead, and her staff. Bring your questions and learn tips and strategies of successful communication and team-building skills.

Basic Book Repair
11/30/2005 -- 10:00 AM to 02:30 PM -- Reading Public Library

The hands-on workshop is for staff and volunteers in technical services departments who are responsible for mending books. It will cover the basic techniques of book repair: materials needed, the structure of a book, hinge tightening, page repair with archival tape, page repair with Japanese tissue, tipping in a page directly, tipping in a page with a hinge, corner strengthening, and rebacking a book by replacing the spine cover.
Upon registration, participants will receive a list of supplies to bring to the workshop to aid their hands-on experience.
The workshop is taught by Gregor Trinkaus-Randall, Preservation Specialist, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.
There will be a half-hour break for lunch. Please pack a brown bag.

Graphic Novels aren't just another name for comic books: An online discussion with Linda Braun CANCELLED
12/1/2005 -- 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM -- an online discussion using Internet Explorer

If you would like to talk to other librarians about graphic novels - what they are, where to find them, and how to add them to the collection - then join us in this 90 minute chat session. You'll be able to learn about graphic novels from the comfort of your library, office, or home. Just log in to the URL provided when you register for the session and you'll be ready to go on the day of the session.
When you register along with the chat room URL we'll send you titles of articles and website URLs that you can look at in order to get ready for the session led by Linda W. Braun.

Connecting Boys With Books
12/5/2005 -- 09:30 AM to 12:30 PM -- Stevens Memorial Library, North Andover

Boys are in trouble. All right, it seems boys are always in trouble, but this is serious. Boys are failing to read at an alarming rate. Libraries are not solving the problem because boys are not a presence in libraries. Find out how we lose boys, and why, what the consequences are for boys, and what we as librarians can do to save boys from lives as non-readers.
Michael Sullivan, Director of the Weeks Public Library in Greenland, NH, storyteller, chess teacher, and author of the book Connecting Boys With Books (ALA, 2003) and The Fundamentals of Children's Services (ALA, 2005) will share practical, proven, and sometimes off-beat suggestions on how to turn boys into life-long readers.

Playing Games: More To It Than You Might Expect. An online discussion with Linda Braun CANCELLED
12/6/2005 -- 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM -- an online discussion using Internet Explorer

There's been lots of talk in the news and in the professional literature about gaming. But, what's the real story and what should libraries know and think about when considering integration of games and gaming into their programs and services? That's what we'll talk about during this online chat. You'll have the chance to ask questions and learn what makes gaming more than plain old entertainment. Facilitated by Linda Braun.
When you register we'll send you the chat room URL.
This program is funded through a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and implemented by the six Massachusetts Regional Library Systems.

Firewalls, Spyware and Spam - Oh, My!
CANCELLED 12/7/2005 -- 03:00 PM to 04:30 PM -- Tewksbury Public Library

If your PC is runs Windows and is connected to the internet, it probably has software installed on it that tracks information about you, without your knowledge. This type of unsolicited commercial software, also known as spyware, malware and parasite software is providing information about you to other people on the Internet for their profit. Find out what spyware is, how it gets on your PC, how to remove it and how to protect yourself from this threat.
This session will be taught by TIC Consultant Dy Brockbank.
Note that this is not a hands-on workshop.
This program is funded through a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and implemented by the six Massachusetts Regional Library Systems.

Time Saving Features of Microsoft Office 2003 - Move Files Between Applications
12/8/2005 -- 10:00 AM to 01:00 PM -- NMRLS, Danvers

Take advantage of the ability to move files created in one Microsoft Office application to another application in Office. Text or graphic files can be converted to PowerPoint presentations, spreadsheets can be converted to relational databases, and Access reports can be converted to text files and HTML files. Why duplicate your work, when you can easily move the files or create linked objects. This is a hands on workshop.
This hands-on workshop is presented by Barbara Andrews of Andrews Consulting.
Space is Limited, some attendees may share a computer if class is full.
This program is funded through a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and implemented by the six Massachusetts Regional Library Systems.

Digital Audio on the Web: digital audiobooks & music are here!
12/14/2005 -- 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM -- Stevens Memorial Library, North Andover
OR
12/14/2005 -- 02:00 PM to 04:00 PM -- Chelmsford Public Library, Chelmsford

With all the media hype, are patrons going to start asking if they can download music at the library? What's the next trend in audiobooks? And what's an iPod? If these are questions that you need the answers to, then this is the workshop for you!
Napster is legal, Apple iTunes has sold over 250 million songs online, iPod is the new Walkman, the times are a changin' ... How people, especially young people, buy and listen to music is changing drastically! Microsoft, Yahoo!, and Real are all in the arena with their own online music services. Changes in the audiobook and music industry are effecting how libraries offer audiobooks (and eventually music) to their patrons. So start thinking ahead, the future is here already! No karaoke will be performed.
This session will be taught by NMRLS Consultant Scott Kehoe.
Please Note: this workshop is also available to member libraries "By Request at Your Location." For details on all NMRLS on-site workshop options go to: http://www.nmrls.org/ce/custom.shtml

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