RUSA announces all new fall online learning lineup

For Immediate Release
Tue, 08/12/2014

Contact:

Marianne Braverman

Marketing and Programs Manager

Reference and User Services Association (RUSA)

mbraverman@ala.org

CHICAGO Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) announces a new line up of online courses for professional development throughout fall 2014 RUSA online courses.  Registration is open. Courses begin as early as Sept. 22.

“RUSA’s courses are diverse and informative, having the ability to reach professional librarians in almost any setting, at any level of experience,” RUSA President Joe Thompson said. "In addtion to the full line-up of course, we also offer free and archived webinars! "

Business Reference 101  (four weeks, Sept. 22 - Oct. 17, 2014)
Feel more confident when faced with a business reference question and demystify SIC and NAICS codes, ROI and 10ks! The course will provide a framework for understanding the business reference process, as well as an overview of business reference sources. Participants will also have access to proprietary business reference databases such as Standard & Poor's NetAdvantage, Gale's Business Insights: Global, Morningstar, IBISWord, Plunkett Research Online and ReferenceUSA, among others. Taught by Celia Ross, associate librarian at Kresge Business Administration Library, University of Michigan, Ross School of Business.

Reference Interview 101   (eight weeks, Sept. 22 - Oct. 31, 2014)
This course focuses on the methods of evaluating reference service, behavioral aspects of reference service and the different types of questions that can be used to help patrons identify what they need. Its educational approach covers everything from the approachability of the librarian to following up with a patron. Perfect for support staff, library technicians, newly hired reference librarians and those librarians who want to brush up on their interview skills. Taught by David Tyckoson, associate dean at the Henry Madden Library, California State University, Fresno.

Introduction to Economic Data on the Web  (four weeks, Oct. 6 - Nov. 2, 2014)
A rarely seen course that focuses on free sources of available free economic data. Students will be given background information on economic concepts and terms essential to understanding economic reference questions. This course is organized around four major content areas of economic data: United States macro and regional data, international and trade data, financial data and special areas, including energy, transportation, agriculture, social welfare and education. Taught by Sharon Radcliff, business and economics Librarian, California State East Bay.

Introduction to Spatial Literacy and Online Mapping  (three weeks, Oct. 6 - 26, 2014)
This three-week course will introduce students and library staff to a variety of mapping tools and GIS technologies that are of interest to both public and academic library users. Topics include geographic literacy, GIS, online mapping (i.e. Google Earth, Google Maps to name a few). Taught by Eva Dodsworth, geospatial data services librarian, University of Waterloo Map Library in Waterloo, Ontario, and also part-time instructor at a number of Library and Information Studies Programs in North America.

Readers' Advisory 101  (seven weeks, Oct. 13 - Nov. 30, 2014. Live chats on Tuesdays, 3 p.m. Central time)
Be comfortable using readers' advisory services. Use RA tools, craft annotations, read in genres, articulate appeal and experiment with methods to offer RA services. Readers' Advisory 101 is tailored for support staff, library technicians, newly hired reference librarians and those librarians who want to brush up on their skills. Class segments are geared to cover issues of interest to staff in all types of libraries. Taught by Joyce Saricks, now retired, had worked exclusively at the Downers Grove Public Library in Illinois. Currently, She also teaches Readers’ Advisory at Dominican University’s Graduate School of Library Science.

Genealogy 101  (five weeks, Oct. 27 – Nov. 30, 2014)
This course is geared to reference staff with little or no experience in genealogy and will provide tools for assisting patrons with family history research. Topics covered include the U.S. Census, vital records, immigration research, military research and a variety of other basic genealogy sources. Students will also receive instruction in reference desk strategies and tools for further professional development. The course will cover archival material, print reference tools and online sources. The goal of the class is to give students confidence and skill in assisting family history researchers. Taught by Matt Rutherford, curator of genealogy and local history at the Newberry Library in Chicago.

**Reaching Every Patron **CEU credits available!  (four weeks, Oct. 6 – Nov. 2, 2014)
This course will discuss methods for reaching patrons with special needs in your community and how to help staff and your community create an inclusive environment. Participants will also gain the knowledge for defining success. Students will leave this course with a set of tools that can be used to establish outreach in their communities, create their own unique outreach programs and assist staff in working with patrons with special needs. Taught by Jordan Boaz, the children’s librarian for the Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library, a branch of New York Public Library.

Xtreme Bibliographic Searching for Interlibrary Loan & Reference  (four weeks, fall (TBD), 2014. Live Sessions on Thursdays, 1 p.m. Central time)
This course will take you from Mansel Pre 56 to Digital Repositories, DOAJ to Trove to HathiTrust. Don’t know those terms, then this course is for you!  Gain the ability to correct bad citations using Google scholar, PubMed, publisher web sites and other freely available web sites. Students will learn how to search and use resources such as HathiTrust and CRL, even if the library is not a member, as bibliographic verification tools, and learn how to use institutional repositories, Open Access resources, social network sites such as LinkedIn and academia.edu as bibliographic verification tools and fulfillment sources, to name a few. Co-taught by Tina Baich, Interlibrary Loan Librarian, IUPUI University Library and Collette Mak, head of resource access and delivery, University of Notre Dame.


RUSA is the foremost organization of reference and information professionals who make the connections between people and the information sources, services, and collection materials they need. Check out the division’s upcoming activities and important, ongoing work in the library community at www.ala.org/rusa.