WebJunction Key Course Messages

2011-04-18T23:52:34Z

Attached are the weekly WebJunction Key Course Messages. Use these as a starting point for your course marketing messages!

Course Marketing – Key Messages

November 2010

Reaching Teenagers

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YA and teen services in your library? “Reaching Teenagers” course on WJ: http://www.webjunction.org/catalog/-/courses/details/690535

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This month, WebJunction is focusing on services for YA and teens. In our “Reaching Teenagers” course, you’ll learn about specific ways you can reach out to teens, new tools that you can use to define or redefine your teen program, and view sample projects that can be used in your own programs. Learn more or sign up here: http://www.webjunction.org/catalog/-/courses/details/690535

Moving to Office 2010

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Upgrading to Office 2010? Library moving from Office 2007 to 2010? See what’s new with this WJ course: http://tinyurl.com/244fz64

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Upgrading to Office 2010? Library moving from Office 2007 to 2010? We've got the course for you on WebJunction. Explore key new features and enhancements in the 2010 releases of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access. Topics covered include Office Backstage, Live Preview Paste, Sparklines, Slicers, graphic and video creation and editing tools, PowerPoint Broadcast Service, screenshot capture and clipping tools, Web Apps and Office Mobile. This course is sure to save time and eliminate confusion as you make the switch.

http://www.webjunction.org/catalog/-/courses/details/108373093

Introduction to Cataloging for Non-Catalogers

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Why and how do we catalog? And who is MARC? "Introduction to Cataloging for Non-Catalogers" via WebJunction knows http://tinyurl.com/24t4gz4

LONG VERSION – Add this to your own newsletter or listservs:

Need to know about cataloging, but wouldn’t actually call yourself a cataloger? WebJunction’s “Introduction to Cataloging for Non-Catalogers” course is made for you. From the why of cataloging to its history, methods, techniques history, subject classification and MARC, this is the perfect introduction to this core library activity. http://www.webjunction.org/catalog/-/courses/details/40695484

This course is also part of the Library Basics course set, which has plenty of other useful courses to choose from: http://www.webjunction.org/librarybasics

Reaching Reluctant Readers

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Looking to reach reluctant readers? Online course for library staff: http://www.webjunction.org/catalog/-/courses/details/690545

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“Reaching Reluctant Readers” is an online course at WebJunction that covers both how to recognize reluctant readers and how to enhance the library environment so that it welcomes the reluctant reader. It also discusses how to design programs that engage the reluctant reader, as well as how to design programs that tap into teachers’ knowledge about reluctant readers. Finally, you’ll be connected to resources that appeal to reluctant readers and resources professionals can access that offer further suggestions. It’s all part of our current focus on YA services at WebJunction. http://www.webjunction.org/catalog/-/courses/details/690545

Course Set: Customer Service for Libraries

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Looking to hone your customer service skills? The Customer Service for Libraries course set is for you, and for the month of December the courses are 25% off. http://www.webjunction.org/customerservice

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We all know that providing excellent service to our patrons is essential to sustaining the library's central role in the community. WebJunction offers a Customer Service for Libraries course set that will build your skills to provide excellent service and deal with the difficult situations that can arise when working with the public. The curriculum applies current best practices from the business world to a library setting.

Enroll in and complete all five courses to acquire the tools to apply to almost any customer situation, or choose from the set those courses that focus on the specific areas you want to work on. And, for the month of December, all 5 courses in the set are on sale for 25% off their normal price. The discount applies to both individual and institutional purchasers. Remember that, once enrolled, you have a whole year to complete the courses. http://www.webjunction.org/customerservice

December 2010

Dealing with Angry Patrons

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Dealing with Angry Patrons=minimize conflict, defuse patron anger and identify the underlying issues. http://tinyurl.com/2v9lxe6

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Dealing with Angry Patrons (LibraryU)

http://www.webjunction.org/catalog/-/courses/details/42664263

No one enjoys having to deal with an angry patron, but with proper preparation, and by developing the specific set of skills required, you can minimize conflict, defuse patron anger and identify the underlying issues so that you can help find the best solution.

This course on Dealing with Angry Patrons is designed to help you improve your skills in dealing effectively with angry customers. It outlines a two-step method for responding to anger, by teaching the staff member to first deal with the patron's feelings, then deal with the person's problem. It includes practice with realistic patron encounters.

Weeding the Library Collection

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It may be colder outside, but that's a perfect time for "Weeding the Library Collection" (the course that is): http://tinyurl.com/269ohx9

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“Weeding the Library Collection” is a necessary activity and also, happily, a course you can take via WebJunction. If you mention collection development a lot of library staff think of selecting new materials for the library. Weeding - removing library materials from your collection - is an integral part of collection development. In this course you will discover why that is true and then learn weeding techniques, developing weeding policies and avoiding common pitfalls.

The information is relevant to all types of libraries and addresses the weeding of all types of library materials, including adult and children's collections, as well as print and non-print materials.

This course includes reasons for weeding the library collection and how to identify print and online resources to aid in planning an effective weeding program. Using published weeding guidelines to develop criteria for weeding collections, the developing of a weeding plan for the library (which includes a schedule, criteria for specific subject areas and material types, and procedures) is also examined. Additionally ways to avoid common pitfalls and problems with weeding such as "unweedable" gifts, "sacred" memorial donations, the "recommended collection size" trap, fear of admitting a selection error, and others are examined along with a discussion of how to incorporate weeding in the library's collection management policy. Finally, the course helps students identify tools associated with automated library catalogs that can assist in weeding such as inventory reports, collection age reports, and others.

So if you feel the need to weed, this is a course for you. Details and registration can be found here: http://www.webjunction.org/catalog/-/courses/details/40695485

January 2011

Developing a Marketing Plan for Your Library (LibraryU)

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This course teaches you a 7 step approach to creating an effective marketing plan for your library. It works! http://tinyurl.com/28phgpz

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Developing a Marketing Plan for Your Library (LibraryU) An effective library marketing plan can be crucial to ensuring the library remains a central and vibrant part of the community that is valued by both patrons and funders. In this course, “Keep it Simple: Developing a Marketing Plan for Your Library” you’ll learn a clear, 7 step approach to creating just such a plan for your library. These are the seven steps the course covers, but the details in the actual course are where it really all comes together:

1. Understand what marketing a library entails

2. Follow a clear, 7 step approach to marketing

3. Create a marketing plan for the library

4. Prepare quality collateral/print materials for the library

5. Create a better level of communication with the media

6. Develop partnerships that benefit the library

Developing Motivating Messages (LibraryU)

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Need to develop targeted, effective & motivating library messages? This course helps: http://tinyurl.com/29e7of8

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Developing Motivating Messages (LibraryU)

This course provides an interactive opportunity for you to learn how to effectively develop a wide variety of targeted messages for most any library program or service. Whether the messages are for outreach opportunities, dealing with the media, press releases, flyers, or Board Meeting presentations, the tools here will work for you. This course includes simple but powerful work sheets that you can use when creating directed messages for your specific program, services and audiences. Learn to analyze your audience, develop your message and then enhance it to best effect, all in the aid of communicating the value of your library and getting more or your community involved.

http://www.webjunction.org/catalog/-/courses/details/33721356

Delivering the Message

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Delivering the Message. Communicate the value of your library with power and confidence! http://tinyurl.com/246yfd6

LONG VERSION – Add this to your own newsletter or listservs:

Delivering the Message Whether it is online of in person, when you need to make a crucial presentation knowing your material well is only part of the challenge. Often what’s really missing in presentations is a clear, engaging and positive deliver. This course lead you through these critical presentation skills and offers actionable tips, tricks and suggestions. You’ll learn more about how to use body language, gestures, language and tone of voice to deliver an even more effective and memorable presentation. http://www.webjunction.org/catalog/-/courses/details/31201391

This course is also part of the Communicating the Value of Your Library course set, which has plenty of other useful courses to choose from: http://www.webjunction.org/commvaluecourses

Improving Your Communication Skills: Presentation Skills for Librarians (LE@D)

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Improving presentation skills means improving communication skills. Learn more here: http://tinyurl.com/26mwoz7

LONG VERSION – Add this to your own newsletter or listservs:

Improving Your Communication Skills: Presentation Skills for Librarians (LE@D) Most communication within libraries is of the one-on-one variety. With the exception of the library director and the librarian or staff members that teach public classes, many of us have been able to avoid speaking to groups. But that is becoming less and less common and many of us find we are ready to take the “presentation plunge”. If that is you, or even if you would just like some solid, useful presentation and communication tips, “Improving Your Communication Skills: Presentation Skills for Librarians” is here to help.

This course is designed to provide you with the basics and covers areas like organization and presentation of information, as well as how to present yourself to increase the audience’s receptiveness to your messages. You’ll finish being able to:

List at least three ways to identify each of the three learning/communication styles

Identify three ways you can improve your next informal presentation

Identify three ways you can improve your next conference presentation

http://www.webjunction.org/catalog/-/courses/details/690504

NOTE: After you enroll, you will receive an additional email with special LE@D login information within 3 business days. If you do not receive the message, please email courses@webjunction.org. After completing the course, click the Launch button on your My Courses page and follow the instructions to record completion.

Basics of Microsoft Office

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Microsoft Office? These courses cover it! 2010? http://tinyurl.com/4s37oy5 2007? http://tinyurl.com/4nuh7h6 2003? http://tinyurl.com/4zhqowf

LONG VERSION – Add this to your own newsletter or listservs:

Basics of Microsoft Office From understanding how Microsoft Office works, to the basics of Word, Excel and Outlook, we’ve got the courses to get you and your coworkers learning and using these tools more effectively and efficiently. We’ve even got all of these offerings available across three version of Microsoft Office including:

Microsoft Office 2010 (Basics of Office 2010, Word, Excel and Outlook)

http://www.webjunction.org/office2010

Microsoft Office 2007 (Basics of Office 2007, Word, Excel and Outlook)

http://www.webjunction.org/office2007

Microsoft Office 2003 (Basics of Office 2003, Word, Excel and Outlook)

http://www.webjunction.org/office2003

So brush up, increase your productivity and learn some new tips and tricks you can put to use most every day with these Microsoft Office courses. And for you experts out there, consider helping your coworkers join you in your expertise and pass these links along to others who might put them to practical use!

February 2011

Microsoft Office 2010 Basics

SHORT VERSION – Tweet it!:

Want to know more about how to use Microsoft Office 2010 more effectively? How about Word, Excel or Outlook 2010? http://tinyurl.com/4s37oy5

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Microsoft Office 2010 Basics

Turns out, even folks who are able to deal fairly easily with changes in the version of Office they use often miss out on some basic features and changes that can really increase efficiency…and save some headaches along the way. So we have two new courses to get you up to speed with Microsoft Office 2010. We’ve also got two courses each on the new versions of Outlook, Excel and Word. The time spent learning in these course comes back to you over and over again in both time and stress saved, so take a look and start learning here today: http://www.webjunction.org/office2010

Microsoft Office 2007 Basics

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Microsoft Office 2007? You might actually be surprised what you don't know...yet. Check these courses out: http://tinyurl.com/4nuh7h6

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Microsoft Office 2007 Basics

Planning on using Microsoft Office 2007 a bit longer? That actually might not be a bad thing at all. In fact, it may present you with an opportunity to see what you’ve been missing. How? Well, by taking a course or two on this popular office suite’s functionality and on Excel, Outlook or Word, you have a chance to learn best practices and new efficiencies for tools you are likely already familiar with. This will help with retention and also help you see more clearly how the things you’ve learned end up saving you time and frustration. Here’s a link to get your on your way: http://www.webjunction.org/office2007

Microsoft Office 2003 Basics

SHORT VERSION – Tweet it!:

Still using Microsoft Office 2003? There's still plenty to learn and lots of expertise and efficiency to gain: http://tinyurl.com/4zhqowf

LONG VERSION – Add this to your own newsletter or listservs:

Microsoft Office 2003 Basics

Plenty of libraries and library customers are still using Microsoft Office 2003. That means there are also lots of people out there who have many, many useful things to learn about how to most effectively use the office suite features at large and programs like Word, Excel and Outlook. That works out just fine because we have a group of courses to get everyone up to speed and familiar with basic best practices when it comes to using all of these tools: http://www.webjunction.org/office2003

Office 2003 might not be the latest suite of tools from Microsoft that libraries use, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a slew of useful things to learn. Join in today!

Mar-11

Learn Tutorial Creation with Adobe Captivate

SHORT VERSION – Tweet it!:

Looking to create online tutorials for patron or staff training? WJ has the course for you http://tinyurl.com/5w5kkt5.

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Learn Tutorial Creation with Adobe Captivate

Looking to create online tutorials for patron or staff training? Adobe Captivate 4 is a powerful, yet easy to pick up screen capture tool that excels at creating interactive software simulations and tutorials. Our new 90 minute course will teach you the basics of how to record, edit, add captions and graphics, and even assessments. Captivate allows you to easily create the kind of software simulations you thought only the pros could make.

Also this month, we have added new Adobe Creative Suite 4 courses for Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and Dreamweaver. Check them out!

Basic Web-based Reference (LibraryU)

SHORT VERSION – Tweet it!:

Chat and email reference, oh my! This “Basic Web-based Reference” course gives you tips to make the best of it: http://tinyurl.com/46bjfq3

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Basic Web-Based Reference (LibraryU)

“Basic Web-based Reference” is designed to help you provide the best basic web-based reference service involving e-mail and chat that you can. The course gives you step-by-step guidance, plenty of tips and resources and also covers some of the advantages and disadvantages of online reference. Sign up here:

http://www.webjunction.org/catalog/-/courses/details/40695481

Operating System Basics

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Operating a system? Start here: Windows 7: http://www.webjunction.org/catalog/-/courses/details/96301529 XP: http://www.webjunction.org/catalog/-/courses/details/1351197 Vista too: http://www.webjunction.org/catalog/-/courses/details/85132205

LONG VERSION – Add this to your own newsletter or listserv

Operating System Basics

We’ve got the basics of your operating system covered in these courses. They’ll help you understand how things are organized in each operating system and will cover all the basics of how to configure and set things up to best effect for you and your library.

· Windows XP: Getting Started

http://XX.webjunction.org/catalog/-/courses/details/1351197

· Windows Vista: Getting Started

http://XX.webjunction.org/catalog/-/courses/details/85132205

Windows 7: Getting Started

http://XX.webjunction.org/catalog/-/courses/details/96301529

April 2011

Web Development Fundamentals

SHORT VERSION – Tweet it!:

Need to understand the basics of web development? This freshly updated course is the one you’re looking for: http://XX.webjunction.org/catalog/-/courses/details/115176943

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Web Development Fundamentals

Need to design and publish a web site but don’t know much on the topic? Get started off on the right foot with this freshly updated “Web Development Fundamentals” course via WebJunction. The course covers how to use HTML and CSS to develop web site content and even explains clearly how DHTML, XHTML, XML, and JavaScript can fit into your web site implementation. It also introduces you to advanced web techniques such as developing for mobile devices, client and server scripting, and how to manage and connect to databases.

Get more info and sign up here: http://XX.webjunction.org/catalog/-/courses/details/115176943

Web 2.0 Fundamentals

SHORT VERSION – Tweet it!:

Are people still talking about Web 2.0? Sure they are! But what does Web 2.0 cover anyway? This course explains: http://XX.webjunction.org/catalog/-/courses/details/96301520

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Web 2.0 Fundamentals

After all this time, why are people still talking about Web 2.0? This course explains while providing a strong overview of what it all means and the roles that Web 2.0 technologies play in the real world. Learn about things like the impact of social networking, and Web 2.0 development technologies including HTML, XML, JavaScript, Ajax, mashups, SOAP, web services, and Representational State Transfer (REST) services by signing up here: http://XX.webjunction.org/catalog/-/courses/details/96301520

Dreamweaver: Setting up a Site and Adding Content

SHORT VERSION – Tweet it!:

Making web sites? Using Dreamweaver? We’ve got the courses you need. For CS4: http://tinyurl.com/4pxw8l2 For CS3: http://tinyurl.com/4sc97t3

LONG VERSION – Add this to your own newsletter or listservs

Lots of folks use Adobe Dreamweaver to create and manage their web sites. Why? Well, for starters it is an established and versatile web site development application, one that can also be used for a wide variety of site creation from small to larger, simple to complicated. These Dreamweaver courses explore the concepts behind creating a new site in Dreamweaver CS3 or CS4, and also cover configuring site properties, application preferences, adding content, and manipulating text.

Dreamweaver - Setting up a Site and Adding Content:

CS4: http://www.webjunction.org/catalog/-/courses/details/113945529

CS3: http://www.webjunction.org/catalog/-/courses/details/39633051

PowerPoint 2010: Getting Started

SHORT VERSION – Tweet it!:

Make PowerPoint work for you! "PowerPoint 2010: Getting Started" http://tinyurl.com/4c5ysnj also PowerPoint 2007: http://tinyurl.com/4qpczjk

LONG VERSION – Add this to your own newsletter or listservs

PowerPoint 2010: Getting Started PowerPoint is the presentation program you see used most at conferences, in meetings and online. It allows you to create professional-looking slide-show presentations, but only if you know how to use it. This course will get you up to speed and on your way to making effective presentations that express your ideas and share your information effectively. Get an introduction to the main components of the PowerPoint 2010 interface, learn how work well with slides, how to format text, what text boxes are for and how to use templates and themes to create the effect you want.

“PowerPoint Getting Started” comes in a 2010 version as well as a 2007 version:

2007

http://www.webjunction.org/catalog/-/courses/details/36791434

2010

http://www.webjunction.org/catalog/-/courses/details/115275881

WebJunction - Volume Course Administration

WebJunction Key Course Messages