MHLS - Professional Development - On-Demand Training & Consultations

Professional Development
On-Demand Consultations & Training

All training sessions and consultations are free of charge, customizable and can be brought your library at your convenience.

Basic Maintenance of Public Access Computers: Designed for member library staff. Learn how to keep you public access computers up and running with simple routine procedures that will help prevent problems in advance.
Time: 1 hour. Contact: Mohamed Toufali, Director of Computer Operations, mtoufali@midhudson.org or 845.471.6060 x38

Collection Development from Toddler to Teen: Wondering if your children's and young adult collections are up to par? Do they look a bit shabby and unappealing? This consultation will help you identify resources to use in bringing your collection up to date to better serve young people in your community. The philosophy and logistics of the weeding process will also be included.
Time: 1.5 hours. Contact: Margaret Keefe, Coordinator of Youth Services, mkeefe@midhudson.org or 845.471.6060 x35.

Community Presentations & PowerPoint: For library staff and trustees: Learn the basics to pull off an effective community presentation and learn to use PowerPoint in this hands-on session. Time: 2 hours. Contact: Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, Coordinator of Member Information rsmith@midhudson.org | 845.471.6060 x39

Customer Service: How to keep your patrons happy, and how to respond when they're not. Learn the importance of identifying patron needs and wants, treating patrons with courtesy, and making the library experience easy. Learn how to manage difficult situations in a way that leaves both staff and patrons with their dignity intact. Time: 1 hour. Contact: Sue Hermans, Central Reference Library Services Coordinator shermans@poklib.org 845.485.3445 x 3321

Electronic Resources @ Your Library: Learn about the Online Public Library Catalog (including Request-a-Title) and the HOMEACCESS databases (where patrons can read thousands of magazines and newspapers for free!). This session will give you an overview of what your library is offering electronically to patrons. Time 2 hours. Contact: Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, Coordinator of Member Information rsmith@midhudson.org | 845.471.6060 x39. For more in-depth training on databases included within HOMEACCESS, see the HOMEACCESS Training section below.

HOMEACCESS Training: Gain an overview of the HOMEACCESS electronic resources, with a closer look at some of the most popular ones. Time: 1 hour. Contact: Sue Hermans, Central Reference Library Services Coordinator shermans@poklib.org 845.485.3445 x 3321

Library Programming: Learn how to strengthen public programming in your library. Time 1/2 hour Contact: Rebekkah Smith Aldrich rsmith@midhudson.org | 845.471.6060 x39 OR for children's and teen programming: Margaret Keefe mkeefe@midhudson.org | 845.471.6060 x35

Local History Materials: Learn how to make the right choice for your library and community about your library's involvement with local history materials. Contact: Merribeth Advocate, Outreach & Education Coordinator madvocate@midhudson.org 845.471.6060 x54

Millennium Circulation, Cataloging, or Acquisitions training: Do your staff need a refresher course in one of the Millennium modules? Schedule a customized session with MHLS Automated Systems Manager, Laurie Shedrick to receive:
· An overview of Millennium Circulation, including Holds
· Data entry - what you need to know
· Acquisitions-including ordering through a vendor site
· Where to turn for more information
Time: 2 hours (your session may be shared with other libraries, depending on demand). Contact: Laurie Shedrick, Automated Systems Manager, lshedrick@midhudson.org or 845.471.6060 x21.

Millennium for New Directors: New or nearly new and untrained in using Millennium? Schedule time with MHLS Automated Systems Manager, Laurie Shedrick to receive:
· An overview of Millennium Circulation, including Holds
· Data entry - what you need to know
· An overview of how you can use Millennium Management Reports to get information about the circulation of materials at your library
· Where to turn for more information
Time: 2 hours. Contact: Laurie Shedrick, Automated Systems Manager, lshedrick@midhudson.org or 845.471.6060 x21.

OPAC Training: Learn how to use the Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC) to perform advanced searches, place holds and find materials in a variety of formats. Time: 1 hour. Contact: Sue Hermans, Central Reference Library Services Coordinator shermans@poklib.org 845.485.3445 x 3321

Readers' Advisory: Expand your library's commitment to serving fiction readers with Readers' Advisory training. Learn how to:
· Conduct the Readers' Advisory transaction
· Identify the "appeal" characteristics of a book
· Suggest works that relate to what the reader considers important
Time: 1 hour. Contact: Sue Hermans, Central Reference Library Services Coordinator shermans@poklib.org 845.485.3445 x 3321

Reference Interview
Patrons have varying needs for information. Develop your ability to determine what they are really looking for and how to satisfy their quest for information. Training includes current practices necessary to protect the privacy of patrons. Time: 45 minutes
Contact: Sue Hermans, Central Reference Library Services Coordinator shermans@poklib.org 845.485.3445 x 3321

Reference Topics: Contact: Sue Hermans, Central Reference Library Services Coordinator shermans@poklib.org 845.485.3445 x 3321

Teen Space: Wondering how to find separate space for your teen collection along with a spot for teens to hang out? Even if you think you have no space, there are ways to create a teen spot with displays, decorations, signage, and more. Resources for building a teen space will be discussed, along with the positives that go with serving teens. Time: 1 hour. Contact: Margaret Keefe mkeefe@midhudson.org | 845.471.6060 x35

Volunteer Management: Looking for new volunteers? Need to organize your current volunteers? Let's have a conversation about how you can improve your situation. Contact: Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, Coordinator of Member Information rsmith@midhudson.org | 845.471.6060 x39.

WilsonWeb: Learn to use the electronic versions of Fiction Catalog, Public Library Catalog, Children's Catalog, Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, and Senior High School Library Catalog, plus archives. Contact: Sue Hermans, Central Reference Library Services Coordinator shermans@poklib.org 845.485.3445 x 3321 for further information.

Updated July 9, 2007

Available Trustee Consultations

Available Friends Group Consultations