Workshops

All workshops are highly interactive, providing different viewpoints and information while encouraging participants to discuss and add their own experiences and viewpoints. Workshops can be tailored to your group's interests and priorities.

"Cheryl is a superb presenter. She was interesting and fun. She was engaging and encouraged the audience's participation." – Rhode Island Library Association Conference participant

"Accessible, knowledgeable speaker" – NELA, Managing for Results participant

Change Implementation

User-based Library Services

Libraries that focus on user expectations and the users experience of the library are receiving tremendous support and positive responses from their community members. This workshop provides models of some of the new ways to deliver library services and an opportunity for staff members to explore how to apply these new models to their own library.

Thriving Libraries in the Experience Economy

Library users are time-stressed and financially-stressed. Successful new libraries anticipate users' needs and provide visual cues to faster services throughout the building and free up their staff to assist as needed. This workshop focuses on re-creating the library as a public commons for the community providing successful models and time to consider local applications.

Moving Into New Library Spaces

Major renovations and building projects are happy events for libraries, but very stressful for the people who are changing their workspaces and practices. This workshop is about honoring what what worked in the past, moving in to new service delivery methods and giving the staff an opportunity agree upon new communication, safety, and service delivery procedures.

Customer Service

Supporting Excellent Customer Service

This seminar for administrators promotes policies that enable your staff to consistently deliver public service that increases and encourages public support for the library.

Supporting the Smile in Customer Service

This seminar for employees responsible for the delivery of customer services in their libraries helps them handle the various situations that can arise when working with the public. It teaches them to handle these situations in a way that enhances the image of the library.

Managing Facilities for Results

"Excellent. Gave me courage to come back and tear the place apart" – participant evaluation

Based on the newest PLA Results book of the same name this workshop will teach staff members techniques so they can develop space in their existing building to offer new services. As libraries respond to users needs for new services one of their greatest challenges is finding the space in their current building to provide the service. This process will guide library staff members through the process of deciding which projects to prioritize for space in their building, how to go about planning the various resources that must be available for the new service, finding a good location for the new service in their existing building, and presenting their needs clearly to their funding authority.

Planning

Long Range Planning for Public Libraries

"Speaker was excellent presenter and adjusted to need of group to cover some basics." – Workshop participant

Using the new PLA Planning for Results model, this workshop is an effective tool toward the development of a library plan that assesses community needs. It then takes the library through the process of developing a vision and mission statement, supported by goals and objectives for the next five years. The assessment and reallocation of library resources based on the priorities developed in the plan is part of this process.

Long Range Planning for School Library Media Centers

New publications like Information Power and The Big Six are creating an environment where school libraries are looking to new models of service delivery. It is an exciting time in school libraries but one that calls for planning methods to implement the changes now being demanded of our librarians.

Long Range Planning for Trustees

There are many new and effective tools available to libraries for the planning process. This workshop introduces library trustees to the most recent planning models. It presents a variety of tactics for assessing your library's current service delivery and clarifying areas to build on current strengths and areas for new development.

Readers Advisory Services

Readers Advisory Interviews On The Fly

"Can you recommend a good book?", our most frequently asked, and often most dreaded question is also many users evaluation of a good library. This is a learned skill, and everyone can be trained to be more comfortable and please library users with their readers advisory service. This can be either an introductory or advanced level class depending on the experience of the participants.

Readers Advisory Services Implementation

"Well ordered and helpful presentation. She reallly kept my attention." – Conference Participant

There are many ways to implement readers advisory services in your library. Some are staff intensive, some involve active interaction with the library users and some are more passive and less staff intensive. Successful models from many libraries providing both on-site and virtual readers advisory services are discussed along with useful resources for improving your library's service.