14th Annual

Very Important Paraprofessional

Library Workshop

Friday, May 14th, 2010

8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

EpiCenter, 13805 58th St N, Largo, FL 33760 (directions)

Regular In Person Registration cost: $55
(includes training materials and a boxed lunch)

Online Only Registration cost: $25

Click here to register online NOW!

Three ways to register

1. Online

Click here to register online NOW!

2. Mail

Complete the in person course registration form or the online course registration form and enclose a check payable to St. Petersburg College or include credit card information (American Express, MasterCard, or Visa).

Mail to: Corporate Training, St. Petersburg College, PO Box 13489, St. Petersburg, FL 33733-3489

3. Fax

Complete the in person course registration form or the online course registration form. Be sure to complete and sign credit card information (American Express, MasterCard, or Visa ), then fax it to (727) 538-7228.

NEW this year...

Online Sessions

If you sign up for online only, you will be able to participate in the four below sessions only. There are no session choices.

Session #1 (9:15-10:30am)

Social Networking, Chad Mairn

People, places, things and ideas are becoming more and more connected thanks to social media. Join Chad Mairn as he introduces and demonstrates social networking; blogging and micro-blogging platforms; multimedia sharing web sites; location-aware applications; wikis, and other social media tools that can help enhance a library’s purpose and primary objectives.

Session #2 (10:45am-12pm)

Mobile Technologies, Diana Sachs-Silveria

Internet access via mobile phones is growing at a fast pace.  It is predicted in the next few years, Internet access via mobile devices will become more common than through PCs.  The integration of smart, small mobile devices and the internet is revolutionizing the way we interact with the world around us with augmented reality, living books, mobile payments, and much more.  This session will explore these cutting edge mobile technologies and how these new tools can make libraries more relevant than ever. 

Session #3 (1-2:15pm)

Taking Care of Our Customers - Inside and Out!, Linda Bruno

In this whirlwind society, it’s easy to take our patrons for granted – after all, where else can they go, right? Wrong, of course! These days there are many library “competitors” and it’s important to the health of our libraries to make sure we are not only a resource for our communities, but also a welcome respite from the bad news that seems to be coming at them from every angle. We’ll discuss what they love to hear – and things you should never say! We’ll also discover ways to nurture those customer relationships – and make your library into your patrons’ “third place” – the place everyone wants to be.

Session #4 (2:30-3:45pm)

Returing Balance to Your Life, Linda Bruno

Do you dread the hustle-bustle of the every day grind? Feeling out-of-balance for no apparent reason? Stressed because of all the bad news being thrown at us? It’s the age-old $64,000 question: How do we achieve balance in our lives in the “Daytimer – Blackberry – email – voicemail – fax – cell phone – pager world” in which we live? How do we remove ourselves from the onslaught of bad news we’re subjected to every day? Maybe it’s time to make time for YOU and attend this eye-opening workshop, where you’ll learn how to take back control of your life. We’ll uncover the time robbers that have been stealing your most precious commodity – and learn how to deal with them more effectively. You’ll have an opportunity to reflect on what is most important in your life and decide how you’re going to make time for those priorities. And as a bonus, you’ll find an extensive list of ways you too, can return balance to your life.

In-Person Session Choices

Concerent Session #1 (9:15-10:30am)

1a. Library Yoga, Michele Robbins-Poff

Please join us for a healthy, relaxing experience - YOGA. Learn to take a few minutes out of your busy, hectic workday to unwind, re-energize, rejuvenate and calm the mind -- whether you're sitting at your desk, on the last few minutes of your break or, after a stressful project. Everyone can benefit with a few proven techniques that balance the body, mind, and spirit through breathing, easy stretching, and relaxing -- in less than five minutes.

1b. Storytelling for Beginners, Mike Bryan

Learn the art and craft of traditional oral storytelling. Covers sources and types of stories; methods of oral storytelling; how to identify and learn stories appropriate for oral telling; use of memory and performance skills.

1c. Doing it on the Cheap - Cost Effective Youth Programming, Phyllis Gorshe and Olivia Wilson

See how we produce fun and inexpensive programming for toddlers to tweens!  Learn some creative secrets and get some new ideas!

1d. Readers Advisory 2010: How to Survive without Traditional Resources

In lean times we have to pull our boots up by the straps and find new ways to aid us in Readers Advisory services.  A lot of our budgets are slashed to the bone and online reader advisory databases gone.  How can a library worker spark some interest? Join us investigating some old favorites, and help share some new ideas on the subject.

1e. Get your patrons the help they need finding jobs, applying for assistance, & obtaining government information (Hands-on), Nancy Fredericks and Rogers Hayden

Libraries have always been the place where community members go to find information and access the Internet. Now more than ever, citizens are coming to libraries to access vital services such as food stamps, medical information, jobs and more. The number of government programs and websites available can overwhelm library staff. This session will help you learn where you can access the information you need to help your library customers.

1f. What you don’t know about Google can really help you! (Hands-on), Tracey Reed

Google in many ways has taken over our lives. We don’t search, we google. For most library staff, it’s the first place they look for information. For almost everyone else, it’s the only place they look for information, and if they can’t find it there, it must certainly not exist. But it’s so much more powerful and has so much more than that simple search box. In this session, you’ll learn simple tips and tricks that you can use to better your search results, including using services such as Google Images, News, Maps, and more to narrow down the scope of your searches.

Concerent Session #2 (10:45am-12pm)

2a. Library Yoga, Michele Robbins-Poff

Please join us for a healthy, relaxing experience - YOGA. Learn to take a few minutes out of your busy, hectic workday to unwind, re-energize, rejuvenate and calm the mind -- whether you're sitting at your desk, on the last few minutes of your break or, after a stressful project. Everyone can benefit with a few proven techniques that balance the body, mind, and spirit through breathing, easy stretching, and relaxing -- in less than five minutes.

2b. Survival Spanish for Library Staff, Rosa Rodriguez

Spanish is Florida's "second language," yet many of those who work in Florida libraries speak little or no Spanish. Do any of the following situations apply to you? Workshop Description: This workshop will provide library staff with basic skills for communicating with Spanish-speaking patrons. The focus will be on library terminology and phrases and conversational Spanish. This emphasis on basic vocabulary and short sentence structure will help you to improve your communication with the Spanish-speaking public, enabling you to better meet the community needs of this segment of library patrons. Workshop resources will include custom "quick guides" and "cheat sheets" that you can use immediately in your job.

2c. Communicating Across Generations,Joyce Thompson

At home and at work, we interact daily with people from different generations who share different experiences and viewpoints. What defines a generation and how are the generations delineated? Better yet, how do we successfully interact with all of them? Which communication style works best for each generation? This session focuses on these thought provoking issues by helping participants identify effective strategies for improved communication across the generational divide.

2d. Teens don’t INTEND to Ruin Your Day, Bill Harris and Megan Danak

Do you find yourself looking at the clock and thinking, "Oh no, school's out- those teenagers will be here soon…"? Don't let the after-school rush bring you headaches and dread! Teenagers don't act the way they do to be spiteful, they act that way because their brains are not yet fully developed. Learn how adolescent development affects teen behavior and how you can help make their library experiences positive, both for teens and staff. After all, teens are customers too.

2e. Legal Resources on the Internet (Hands-on), Sally Waters

Hands-on introduction to sources for finding state and federal cases, statutes, forms and other types of legal information, as well as law from other countries and legal self-help information.

2f. Social Networking (Hands-on)

Concerent Session #3 (1-2:15pm)

3a. Teen Programming Ideas--Gaming and More, Paul Stonebridge

Looking for ways to entertain the teens in your library?  Need ways to bring in the YA crowd? Join us for a discussion of some of the most interesting, cost effective, and easy programs available. Included will be a hands-on demonstration of some of the latest gaming products with instructions for hooking up systems.

3b. E-Pub For Dummies: Everything you need to know. Nothing you don’t., Al Carlson

E-Books.  E-Magazines.  E-Readers.  Egad! What is E-Pub all about, and what does it mean for libraries? We’ll provide a “no tech-talk” overview that will make you say, “Aha!  Now I get it!” (Session includes a small E-Reader petting zoo.)

3c. What I've learned from 35 years of making mistakes, Bob Verbesey

Bob Verbesey is the current Executive Director of the Southwest Florida Library Network.  Before that he managed public and academic libraries for over 30 years . His presentation – What I’ve Learned from 35 Years of Mistakes – was first delivered as the Gillard Lecture at St. John’s University.  In this presentation, Mr. Verbesey shares what he has learned about working successfully in libraries during his varied career.  From the initial hire until retirement, learn what kind of employee behavior earns respect and appreciation from management, and what kind of management behavior earns respect and appreciation from employees.in New York and Florida.  He has taught in MLS programs at four universities, most recently at Florida State University.  His articles have been published in a variety of library-oriented publications, including Library Journal, American Libraries, and Library Administration and Management.

3d. Becoming a Library and Information Professional, Linda Swain

Are you considering getting your Master’s in Library and Information Studies? If you are working in a library or an organization that requires the expertise of an information professional—and wondering what it would take to get a Master’s Degree to become a professional Library or Information Professional or School Media Specialist—then this informative workshop is for you. The presenters will cover the degree programs at Florida State University and University of South Florida and admission requirements, distance learning options, costs and financial aid availability. Join this session for all your questions to be answered.

3e. Are you smarter than a 5th grader about your health? (Hands-on), Karen Roth

This presentation will show the participant reliable web sites to find readable, accurate health information, from general information to finding a doctor and a good hospital.

3f. Surfin' with Kids: Safe, Fun and Educational Websites (Hands-on), Katie Banks

Explore some kids' internet sites that encourage fun and learning in a safe environment.

Concerent Session #4 (2:30-3:45pm)

4a. Handling Conflict at Work, Joyce Thompson

In this module, participants will explore the definition and origins of conflict. Five modes of conflict resolution will be discussed as well as the appropriateness of each mode for use in different conflict situations. Finally, the P.E.A.C.E. technique will give participants a framework for discussing and resolving conflicts at work.

4b. Resume Writing Tips for Patrons, Ann Ivey

Learn basic resume writing tips to help patrons create a winning resume. Topics include: Emphasizing skills and achievements, covering gaps in employment, the 8 second rule, and attaching resumes online through email.

4c. If Only It Were That Easy… But It Is!, Jean Peters and Karen Slaton

We all know the difference between good and bad customer service.  So why is it so challenging to consistently deliver the "good?"   This session takes a practical, common sense approach to meeting - even exceeding -  the expectations of library customers in a 2.0 world.

4d. Personality Type in the Workplace, Kevin Griffin

Have you ever wondered why you get along well with some coworkers but find it difficult to get along with others? Join us and find out how personality type affects our personal and professional relationships.

4e. Virtual Hangouts - websites to amuse and enlighten the YA crowd (Hands-on), Paul Stonebridge

Keeping teen patrons occupied and entertained outside of programs can be tough.  Staying up on the latest pop culture can be even tougher.  Gain insight into both in this online tour of some of the best and hottest sites on the Net for the YA crowd.

4f. Keyboard Quickies from A to Z (Hands-on), Mary Walthall

Hands on computer session emphasizing Keyboard Quickies from A to Z.  These shortcuts work in any Windows application as well as the Internet.  Shortcuts will save you time and energy!  Additional  topics will be offered and questions from the participants will be welcome.