Handout for 2014 OLC Chapter Conferences: "Libraries tout the fact (and rightly so) that we are bastions of life-long learning for our patrons; however, library staff members sometimes neglect their own continuing professional development. Finding the time is always a challenge, but there is a wealth of free resources available at any time online for librarians to hone skills, stay current on the profession, and learn new things. This presentation will explain what’s available, why it’s important, and how to fit it (almost seamlessly) into your already busy schedule."

1. …Lifelong Learning for Librarians…
Free Professional Development and Current Awareness Resources and Tipsss
Ohio Library Council Chapter Conferences 2014
presented by
Chris May (cmay@mrcpl.org) and Don Boozer (don@cpl.org)
Free Online Coures/Tutorials for Professional Development
• Power Searching with Google - http://www.google.com/insidesearch/landing/powersearching.html
• iTunes U – https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/itunes-u/id490217893?mt=8
• Coursera – https://www.coursera.org/
• Open Culture – http://www.openculture.com/
• Library of Congress, Professional Development
o Various online modules on finding and using primary sources
o http://www.loc.gov/teachers/professionaldevelopment/
• MOOC-List – http://www.mooc-list.com/
• MIT Open Courseware – http://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm
• GCF LearnFree.org – http://www.gcflearnfree.org/
• OCLC WebJunction – http://www.webjunction.org/
o WebJunction Competency Index for the Library Field
http://www.webjunction.org/explore-topics/competencies.html
• CodeAcademy - http://www.codecademy.com/
• w3schools.com – http://www.w3schools.com/
• Open2Study – https://www.open2study.com/
o One example: https://www.open2study.com/courses/user-experience-for-the-web
• Locally- and statewide-purchased resources: Learning Express, Learn4Life, Universal Class
• Tutorials in Ohio Web Library – http://ohioweblibrary.org
• American Libraries LIVE – http://americanlibrarieslive.org/
o AL LIVE Archive – http://americanlibrarieslive.org/archives
• Booklist Online webinars – http://www.booklistonline.com/webinars
o Booklist Online webinar archive (present to 9/22/2009) link at top of webinar page above
• Public Library Association Online Learning – http://www.ala.org/pla/onlinelearning
o A few free, most charge a fee
Current Awareness Sources for the Profession
• EBSCOHost MasterFile database (in Ohio Web Library) includes access to RUSQ, Library Technology
Reports, School Library Journal, American Libraries, Library Journal
o Set up an email alert or RSS feed for specific topics:
http://support.ebsco.com/help/index.php?help_id=1166
• Ohio Library Council Division and Committee blogs & newsletters:
o Reference & Info Services Division Blog- http://olcrisd.wordpress.com/
o Adult Services Division Blog- http://olcadultservices.wordpress.com/
o Small Libraries Division- http://olcsmalllibraries.wordpress.com/
o Technical Services Division- http://olctsd.wordpress.com/
o Intellectual Freedom Committee- http://www.olc.org/IntellectualFreedom.php
o OLC Core Competencies- http://www.olc.org/CoreCompetencies.php

2. • Feedly – http://feedly.com/ and Twitter – https://twitter.com/
o A great way to consolidate one’s RSS feeds
o Don’t need a twitter account to follow Twitter (but it helps! Don’t need to tweet!)
o Apps available for iPhone and Android phones and tablets, too.
o Who would I follow? (In addition to the OLC blogs listed above)
http://www.getdegrees.com/careers/_the-top-fifty-librarian-blogs
http://oedb.org/ilibrarian/10-must-follow-twitter-accounts-for-book-lovers/
http://www.statetechmagazine.com/article/2013/03/required-reading-6-indispensable-
library-technology-blogs
http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/best-library-people-on-twitter_b11945
http://librarysciencelist.com/75-of-the-coolest-librarians-to-follow-on-twitter/
http://techland.time.com/2013/03/25/140-best-twitter-feeds-of-2013/slide/all/
http://www.onlinecollegecourses.com/2009/08/18/100-best-twitter-feeds-for-
librarians-of-the-future/
o Top Free Picks: RSS Readers – http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2420753,00.asp
Alternatives to Feedly
Create Homegrown Options
• Screencast-o-matic – http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/
• Jing – http://www.techsmith.com/jing.html
• Camtasia Studio – http://www.techsmith.com/camtasia.html
• Audacity® – http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
• Moodle – http://moodle.com/ (open source learning management system)
• No- or Low-Cost Tools – http://www.nptechforgood.com/2013/07/29/low-cost-tools-for-nonprofits/
Share Your Knowledge
• Present!
o Local Chamber of Commerce, traditional outreach venues
o OLC, ALA and its divisions (e.g., LITA, PLA, etc.), Computers in Libraries, etc.
o OELMA, E-tech Ohio
o Think outside the box!
• Publish!
o Explore both print and online publications
http://librarywriting.blogspot.com/
• Blog!
o Blogger – http://www.blogger.com (part of Google)
o WordPress – http://wordpress.com/
o Tumblr – https://www.tumblr.com/
o Twitter – https://twitter.com/
• Edit!
o Participate in Wikipedia using your library’s local, unique collections to link back to those
collections when a patron gets a Wikipedia article in the first hits of a Google search.
o Edit articles from your own personal interests.
o Understand how Wikipedia works from behind-the-scenes to be better at explaining to patrons