PLA webinar offers ideas to revitalize the reference department

CHICAGO — At 1 p.m CST, Nov. 15, the Public Library Association (PLA) will present a live, one-hour webinar, "On Life Support, but Not Dead Yet! Revitalizing Reference for the 21st Century." The changing way that people use libraries has forced a reconsideration of the reference department to ensure it remains a valuable and central part of the library. This webinar will help participants understand how to redefine the role of the reference department, develop programs and services designed to increase the number of reference transactions and devise strategies to increase the exposure of their reference staff. 

Instructors include Celeste Choate, associate director of services, collections and access, Ann Arbor (Mich.) District Library; Jason Kuhl, executive director, Arlington Heights (Ill.) Memorial Library and Richard Kong, digital services manager, Arlington Heights (Ill.) Memorial Library.

"On Life Support, but Not Dead Yet! Revitalizing Reference for the 21st Century" is the third in the three-part “PLA Conference Webinar Series.” PLA has developed this webinar series to present a selection of top programs and ConverStations with original presenters from PLA 2012 Conference. Save when you register for all three webinars—you’ll receive archive access to the first two webinars “The State of E-Books in Public Libraries and Publishing” and “The Elusive Library Non-User: How to Find Out What Non-Users Want” The cost to attend the entire series is $69 (PLA Members), $79 (ALA Members) and $89 (Nonmembers). Groups of any size can register for the entire series for $289.

Registration for the single webinar, "On Life Support, but Not Dead Yet! Revitalizing Reference for the 21st Century" costs $28 (PLA Members), $31.50 (ALA Members) and $35 (Nonmembers). Groups of any size can register for individual webinars for $129.

For more information about PLA, contact the PLA office at (800) 545-2433, ext. 5PLA, or visit PLA’s website at www.pla.org. PLA is a division of the American Library Association. PLA’s core purpose is to strengthen public libraries and their contribution to the communities they serve. Its mission is to enhance the development and effectiveness of public library staff and public library services.