Public Library Workshops

The Library of Virginia's Library and Networking Division's Continuing Education Department sponsors a variety of training opportunities each year to help those responsible for library service to develop their skills and learn new approaches. Workshops and conferences cover such topics as library services to special populations, cataloging databases and reference services. An annual public library director's training is offered in the fall. We also periodically offer training for library trustees and friends. For more inforomation, please contact Cindy Church, the Library's Continuing Education Consultant, at cindy.church@lva.virginia.gov or 804-692-3773.

These programs and services are made possible by federal funding provided through the Library Services and Technology Act program administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

Some of the workshops offered include:

The E-Rate program was created out of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. It is intended to provide discounts on telecommunications services, Internet access, and internal connections to libraries and schools. The program is administered by the Schools and Libraries Division, which is a part of the Universal Service Administrative Company, on behalf of the Federal Communications Commission. The "E" stands for Education.

Through its Library Development and Networking Division, the Library of Virginia assists public libraries in understanding the E-Rate process, navigating the rules and regulations, preparing technology plans, and completing applications.

The Library of Virginia contracts with E-rate Central to provide consulting services for E-rate applicants. Greg Weisiger is the primary contact for questions regarding E-rate filing and application issues.

Find It Virginia is an online resource, available to Virginia residents with public library card, containing magazine and newspaper articles, encyclopedias and other reference works, TV and radio transcripts, company information and investment reports, health and wellness information, and homework help, plus photos, charts, maps, diagrams, and illustrations.

Through its Library Development and Networking Division, the Library offers two hands-on training workshops that expose users to the Find It Virginia databases. The two training sessions respectively introduce the basics and more advanced strategies of searching within the databases. The Find It Virginia database can be found at http://www.finditva.com

An instructor will talk about the best practices for excellent service at the Reference Desk. The importance of the Reference Interview will also be discussed and a video will be shown.

An instructor will cover many social software that have emerged within the last four years and how they can be adapted in the library environment.