Great FREE RA Continuing Education Opportunity with Duncan Smith in Chicagoland

If you live within 2 hours of Chicago, I highly suggest you join me at the RAILS HQ in Burr Ridge for the following program...

Duncan Smith Presents!

When:		Tuesday, May 12, 2015 (2:00 PM - 4:00 PM)
Where:		RAILS Burr Ridge Main Meeting Room / Videoconference Room (In Person)
Cost:		Free

Duncan Smith is the creator and founder of NoveList, EBSCO Publishing’s electronic readers’ advisory service. Smith is a nationally recognized trainer and researcher in the area of readers’ advisory service. “Books: An Essential Service for Essential Libraries” a recent article was published in The Public Library Quarterly.

You’ve heard of whole collection RA which focuses on not only promoting a library’s books but its entire collection—DVDs, e-books and audio. But whole person? Join NoveList co-founder Duncan Smith as he sums up over 25 years of thinking about readers’ advisory and introduces this new concept.

Whole person RA focuses not on the library’s collection but on the interactions between staff, readers and collections. Smith argues that delivering the service our users really want means:
1. Identifying the true product of RA services (it’s NOT pushing books).
2. Getting all staff involved.
3. Moving out from behind the desk

Type:

Program

This event is sponsored by Reaching Across Illinois Library System.

Categories: Collection Development/Management, Electronic Resources, Readers Advisory

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I am very excited to be attending this program myself.  Duncan is always on the forefront of the evolution of RA Service.  I too have been thinking a lot about how public library services to adult leisure readers is evolving and changing, and I have already scheduled time this summer to explore the issue further so that I can help all of you better.  Attending Duncan's program will be a great first step.

I love webinars, but I learn so much better in a room with the trainer and other librarians. What I learn from my colleagues is often just as enlightening as what the speaker alone imparts. I know Duncan would agree.

So if you can make it, sign up. If you are anywhere in Illinois, I am pretty sure you can join the live video conference at a local library system HQ.

I will also be live tweeting the event, and will have a blog wrap up later that week. But again, if you are able to be there, come.