Colorado Libraries » Continuing Education

StoryBlocks: A New Tool To Build Early Literacy Skills

Michelle — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:34:20 +0000

The Colorado State Library announces the launch of www.storyblocks.org,
an online video collection featuring one-minute songs and rhymes for babies, toddlers and preschool children in both English and Spanish. Filmed in partnership with Rocky Mountain PBS, librarians throughout Colorado share successful activities as well as literacy tips. Parents, child care providers and others will discover ways to engage very young children in fun and playful interactions that also build healthy brain development.

StoryBlocks.org is a project of the Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy (CLEL), an advisory group to the State Library. CLEL received a federal grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to create the videos and Web site. The goal is to build awareness and to encourage parents and others to engage with children from birth on early language and pre-literacy skills. The methods used in the videos are based on brain and child development research that show the impact that songs, rhymes and stories have on very young children.

Eight Colorado public libraries helped to fund the project: Arapahoe Library District, Denver Public Library, Douglas County Libraries, Fort Morgan Public Library, Lafayette Public Library, Salida Regional Library and Westminster Public Library. Donations also came from two non-profit organizations: Friends of Food for Thought and Library People and one anonymous donor.

View press release (PDF)

For more information on StoryBlocks.org, contact Patricia Froehlich, youth services senior consultant at the Colorado State Library, 303-866-6908.

NASA Space Science Workshop

Michelle — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 15:58:16 +0000

On behalf of Keliann LaConte, Education Department, Lunar and Planetary Institute:

Connect children and youth with your library’s space science resources! Join us for a FREE NASA-supported workshop designed to help you bring space science to your programs through hands-on activities.

Harmony Library
4616 South Shields
Fort Collins, Colorado 80526
September 2-3, 2010

“Explore! Hero Moon” will acquaint you NASA’s investigations into the ongoing saga that has shaped our Moon. Discover our scientific, cultural, and personal understanding of Earth’s nearest natural neighbor. Scientists and educators from the NASA Lunar Science Institute and the Lunar and Planetary Institute will share space science information, resources, hands-on activities, and demonstrations developed specifically for you to infuse into your programs with children and youth ages 8 to 13 and their families.

The workshop is FREE. A $150 stipend is available for 30 participants. A stipend request form will be emailed to participants on a first-come-first-accepted basis.

Space is limited! Register by July 16, 2010.

View flyer (PDF)

Books fixed, librarians happy

judy — Tue, 11 May 2010 16:19:43 +0000

Librarians arrived in droves with their sadly mangled books tucked under their arms or stashed in book bags. Their mission – get those books back on the shelves! Kary Barth from Kapco Inc. conducted a three hour book repair workshop sponsored by CLiC and hosted by the Pueblo City-County Library District. Librarians left with grins and newly repaired books.

Colorado’s 2010 Anti-Tax Ballot Issues : Their Impact on Colorado and its Libraries

judy — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 13:12:43 +0000

Andrew Romanoff to speak at Colleague Connection 2010 – Wednesday, April 7.

Andrew Romanoff, current US Senate Candidate and former Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives, will be providing background on current Constitutional fiscal restrictions and how they hinder legislative action in Colorado.
Rich Jones, Director of policy and research, Bell Policy Center will discuss the fiscal impact on Colorado if the ballot issues are successful.
Jamie LaRue, Director of the Douglas Library District, will be discussing the impact on libraries and action we can take to prevent their passage.

Three ballot issues aimed at drastically reducing the taxes and fees required of Colorado’s residents will mean extreme cuts to all tax and fee-funded Colorado institutions if they are passed in November. Every sector of Colorado’s economy and government will be affected by their passage. As citizens, librarians need to be aware of the potential effects of their passage on education (pre K-12 and higher education), businesses, and municipal, county, special district, and state governments. How will corporate, school, academic, and public libraries continue to serve their communities if they are passed?

The Bell’s analysis on proposed ballot initiatives.

Where & When?

University of Denver Driscoll Center North Gallery and Ballroom

5:30–6:30pm Networking Reception & Vendor Showcase, 6:30pm Dinner, 7:00-8:30pm Presentation

$25 for students, $35 for sponsor group members, $45 for non-members (CHECKS ONLY) (Student scholarships will be awarded by drawing, register by March 26th)

Colleague Connection is an annual event sponsored by Colorado library organizations to encourage networking and learning among students, paraprofessional staff, librarians, trustees and friends of libraries. Anyone interested in libraries and the future of libraries is welcome to attend.

Questions? Please contact: Tamara Phalen, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP, TPhalen@BHFS.com

Posted on behalf of Lynne Fox – AMLS, MA, AHIP, Education Librarian
Health Sciences Library, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado Denver

CLiC Spring Workshop Draws ‘Unexpected Guests’

judy — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:41:29 +0000

Look what a fine and distinguished panel appeared at the CLiC Spring Workshops in Grand Junction this week. A great day of learning, networking, innovation, inspiration and fun is coming your way on April 8 in Fort Collins and April 22-23rd in Pueblo. Check out all the details and don’t miss your chance to be part of Kurtis Kelly’s workshop. Remember, the President and the Senator will be waiting…

An Evening with John Adams

judy — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:42:36 +0000

The John Adams Unbound exhibit scheduled to appear on the CSU- Pueblo campus March 8- April 15. The University Library will host the exhibit, which will be in the foyer of Hoag Hall. A sneak peek of the Adams exhibit will be held from 6-7 p.m. in the Occhiato University Center Hearthwell Lounge followed by the dinner in the OUC Ballroom at 7 p.m. and the live performance at 8 p.m. The cost is $35 per person or $350 for a table of 10. To purchase tickets or a table, contact Julie Fronmueller at 719-549-2826 or julie.fronmueller@colostate-pueblo.edu. For more information on the event click here.

Attend a Webinar on Colorado Libraries 2.0 – Feb 4th

Michelle — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:36:57 +0000

Colorado Libraries 2.0 is a free, professionally developed online training program designed in modules that relate to tasks we perform in our libraries. To find out more, please plan on attending a webinar describing the program. The webinar will provide information for both staff and administration.

Date: February 4, 2010
Time: 10:00 – 10:30 a.m.

An Internet connection and a USB headset is required for this session.

To join the webinar:
Step 1:
Access the meeting room online. Please enter your name as a guest as you log in.

Step 2:
In advance of the meeting, please run through the connection test.

Please consider logging in to the meeting 10 minutes in advance to make sure we can troubleshoot any technical issues, and not take time away from our session to do so.

For more information:
Christine Kreger, 303-866-6946

Explore the Colorado Libraries 2.0 website

Literacy-Enhanced Storytimes Workshop – March 19

Michelle — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:44:08 +0000

Want to juice up your library storytime? Make your storytimes better-than-ever? Attend an all-day interactive and hands-on workshop using the 6 skills and techniques of Every Child Ready to Read (ECRR) in your library storytimes.

Experienced trainer Carol Wagstaff (Douglas County Libraries) and Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy (CLEL) will review ECRR resources and coach you through how you can use ECRR techniques and plan a literacy-enhanced storytime. Come prepared to practice dialogic reading and give parent tips.

The workshop will be limited to 25 participants and priority will be given to Western Slope libraries. Additional registrants will placed on a waiting list.

Registration fee: $15.00
Location: Montrose Public Library
Date & Time: March 19, 2010, 8:30am-3pm
Questions: Patricia Froehlich, CDE – State Library, 303-866-6908

Register Now!

Library Support Staff Certification Programs Accepts Candidates

Diana — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:47:38 +0000

Beginning January 25th, ALA-APA will accept applications to the first national, voluntary certification program for library support staff. Candidates who demonstrate achievement in six sets of competencies by completing approved courses or submitting portfolios that demonstrate achievement will be awarded the LSSC. Applicants do not have to be a member of ALA. The application fee is $325 for ALA members and $350 for non-ALA members. Complete information about the LSSC program and the application form are available online at http://www.ala-apa.org/lssc/.

The Colorado Library Consortium (CLiC) is offering financial assistance to library staff enrolling in the certification program. CLiC will reimburse selected individuals for half the registration cost (up to a $175 value). The deadline for submitting the financial assistance application is February 28th. Contact Judy Van Acker, 719-640-5979, with questions.

Free Web 2.0 Training for Librarians and Staff

Michelle — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:41:10 +0000

Want to use Web 2.0 to communicate instantly and effectively? What about collaborating in real time, sharing photos, videos, and documents, or using other tools to increase productivity?

We all know that Web 2.0 tools are essential for communicating and creating in today’s fast-paced world. If there are tools that you or your staff want to learn more about, or if you just need to brush up on the basics, please visit the Colorado Libraries 2.0 website.

Colorado Libraries 2.0 is a FREE learning program to help library staff become familiar with Web 2.0 tools. The program is designed in modules associated with categories of tools:

1. Communication
2. Collaboration
3. Visual Communications
4. Personal Learning Environments (PLE)
5. Productivity Tools
6. A capstone project – Your PLE

Additional modules will be available in 2010.

Join with others from your library to get the most from the program !

Colorado Libraries 2.0 was created by Reach – Leading Learning in Libraries – a group of library staff members committed to sharing continuing education opportunities with others.