Oct 2
Presented by OCLC and Minitex, this live online course provides instruction to new or experienced users on copy cataloging using the CatExpress interface. This course covers the copy cataloging workflow including searching, holdings maintenance, exporting and downloading records. After completing this course, the learner will be prepared to fully utilize the CatExpress service.
See the three sessions available and register by clicking here.
Sep 13
WiscNet is hosting a “What’s up at WiscNet?” session next Thursday. We know the developments at WiscNet are critical to many of our members, so we wanted to share this information with all of you, from John Pederson:
Hello everybody! A number of folks are asking when the final installment of “What the FAQ WiscNet?” will roll out. Thursday, September 19th, 10:00am. I’m hosting a Google Hangout next week that will both recap where we’ve been [Part #1], [Part #2] and address the most recent developments regarding WiscNet. I know many of you are either coming back off summer break or rebounding from the craziness surrounding teachers and students coming back to school. This will be an excellent chance to catch up on what you need to know about the recent past, present, and future status of WiscNet and the aftermath of another legislative budget session late last spring.
What’s Up at WiscNet? The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Thursday, September 19, 2013 – 10:00am – 11:00am
Google Hangout We’ll be online around 9:45am.
Sep 12
UW-Madison’s School of Library and Information Studies has a number of interesting online courses for continuing education. Here are some highlights:
RDA: What you need to know (1.8 CEUs/18 LEUs)
September 23 – November 1
As RDA is implemented, catalogers will want to be prepared to use this new standard. This course will provide an introduction to the underlying principles and fundamentals of RDA.
“There’s a Policy for That!”: Public Policies for Public Libraries (1.6 CEUs/16 LEUs)
October 14 – November 15
Policies establish a framework on which to build smooth and efficient library operations. Carefully crafted policies provide consistency for patrons and staff, promote equitable access, help to resolve misunderstandings, reduce incidents of conflict and help to protect from litigation.
American Indians @ Your Library: Improving Collections and Exploring Outreach (1.4 CEUs/14 LEUs)
October 28 – November 22
This four-week crash course will introduce some core concepts of American Indian studies; strategies for finding and evaluating youth literature, contemporary fiction, non-fiction, and websites; and a few tips to start you on an enriching lifelong path learning about––and working with––American Indian peoples.
For the full listing of SLIS’ online fall courses, visit http://www.slis.wisc.edu/continueed.htm.
Sep 10
OCLC has a number of new resources and events coming up:
Read more updates from OCLC here.
Sep 10
The Wisconsin Historical Society is sponsoring a series of FREE webinars specifically tailored for public librarians. Interest in genealogy is growing, and these webinars will help librarians meet that growth with resources, research methods, services, and preparation.
The first two webinars focus on two of the most widely used genealogy websites, Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org. Your patrons are likely to know these the best, so become more familiar with these complex websites by signing up for our webinars on September 16th and September 18th.
The webinar on September 24th will discuss the genealogy collections and services found at the Wisconsin Historical Society, one of the top 5 genealogy collections in the country. Lastly, for more information, websites, and resources to send you off, join us for the final webinar in the series on September 30th.
To sign up for any or all of these sessions, email asklibrary@wisconsinhistory.
All sessions are scheduled for 1:00-2:30pm and will be led by Lori Bessler, Reference Librarian and Outreach Coordinator for the Wisconsin Historical Society’s Library-Archives.
Sep 6
Harness the collective knowledge of Wisconsin librarians by joining us for one of six regional community meetings hosted by WiLS! 
Connect with colleagues from around your region to get perspective and advice on upcoming projects or current challenges. Hear what others are doing to move their library service forward in spite of shrinking budgets. Share your stories about interesting initiatives and collaborate with others on theirs. These free events are open to anyone, of any library type…and your partner organizations, too. There will probably be cookies!
There are six meetings around the state:
Click here to register for a meeting.
Details about each location will be sent out closer to the meeting date, and if you are interested in speaking to the group for three to five minutes regarding a topic of particular interest to you or the community, either indicate that on your registration form or contact the WiLS host for the session you are attending. We hope to see you there!
Sep 1
OCLC has an upcoming webinar on WorldShare ILL that may be of interest to WiLS members:
Who’s Using WorldShare ILL Now? Practical advice from real users
In this webinar, four OCLC WorldShare® ILL users will share practical advice about completing a successful transition to the new service.
Date: September 5, 2013
Time: 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Register for this webinar here
Aug 26
The seventh annual Local History and Historic Preservation Conference will take place in Wisconsin Rapids on October 11 and 12. This statewide conference, sponsored by the Wisconsin Historical Society and the Wisconsin Council for Local History, offers in-depth sessions with experts in the field, tips to help expand your current outreach, and fun networking opportunities!
A ful conference agenda and registration information are available here.
Sessions and workshops that libraries will find especially valuable include:
Building Digital Collections Part 1: Planning and Creating a Digital Project
Building Digital Collection Part 2: Managing and Sharing Your Digital Content
Emily Pfotenhauer, WiLS and Sarah Grimm, Electronic Records Archivist, WHS
Archives 101: Processing Archival Collections
Richard L. Pifer, Director of Reference and Public Services, WHS
Archives 102: Public Services for Archival Collections
Greg Kocken, University Archivist, UW-Eau Claire and Peter Shrake, Archivist, Circus World Museum
Preserving Photographs: The Basics
Sally Jacobs, Archivist, WHS
Oversize, Overwhelmed? (Managing Oversized Paper Collections)
Robin Carlson, Conservator, WHS
Sharing Collections on the Web
Michael Edmonds, Digital Collections and Web Services, WHS
Fundraising Success Fundamentals
Diane Nix, Co-Director, Wisconsin Historical Foundation
Getting the Most from Your Local History and Family History Research
James Hibbard, University Archivist, UW-Platteville
Connecting Young Audiences to People and Places in History
Bobbie Malone, Office of School Services, WHS and Beth Lemke, Museum Educator, Wisconsin Historical Museum
Bringing “Them” on Board: Engaging Your Community
Jason Tish, Madison Trust for Historic Preservation and Destinee Udelhoven, Historic Indian Agency House
Aug 5
On July 26, OCLC WebJunction held a webinar on Libraries & Health Insurance:
For many Americans, libraries are the “go to” places for consumer health information. Open enrollment for the new Health Insurance Marketplace begins on October 1 and libraries will likely see local demand for information. IMLS is working together with the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare and with WebJunction and ZeroDivide to provide library staff with the online resources and community contacts they will need to respond to questions about the Marketplace. Please join us to learn more about how your library can increase awareness and involvement around these needs.
The complete archive from this session is now available.
You can also sign up to receive updates about this project.
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