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Preconference Workshops

Preconference Workshops will be held Wednesday, October 17.

8:30 am–12:30 pm (4-hour)

Getting Real with Virtual Reality
If you've ever thought about having programs using Virtual Reality (VR) in your library, here's your chance to learn how. The Washington State Library (WSL), the University of Washington's Information School (iSchool), and a few of the participating libraries from the VR in Libraries project will guide you through a hands-on experience using the Oculus Rift and Oculus GO VR systems and share some of the pros and cons learned from the VR in Libraries project. Participants will come away knowing how to develop their own educational program, how to safely operate a VR system in the library setting, and learn what the VR in Libraries project is and how to apply for participation. Think about the impact that the cell phone has made on society, then consider how VR is set to change the way we learn, conduct business, recreate, socialize, and even heal. It's the next tech frontier and your library can be on the forefront, so don't miss out.

Presenters:
Joe Olayvar, Info Tech Consultant, Washington State Library
Cindy Aden, Washington State Librarian
Cindy Ball, Oculus Education Manager
VR Program Librarian, TRL
VR Program Librarian, KCLS
Megan Dazey, Puyallup Public Library
Isaac Huffman, Mount Vernon Public Library
Cynthia McCurdy, Oculus
Jin Ha Lee, University of Washington iSchool, Research Team
Kung Jin Lee, University of Washington iSchool, Research Team
Johanna Talbott, 
Library Technical Support Specialist, Richland Public Library

Sponsor: WLA Washington Library Trainers (WALT) Section

Cultivating Gracious Space at Your Library
Does your library have Gracious Space? Gracious Space is a simple framework developed by the Center for Ethical Leadership that can lead to profound changes in the way we connect, collaborate, and interact with each other and our communities. It's a "spirit" and a "setting" where we "invite the stranger" and "learn in public." Regardless of your title, position, or type of library, you can cultivate positive change in your organization and community by using the Gracious Space framework. You will leave this workshop with practical ideas on how you can plant the seeds of Gracious Space in your library.

Presenters:
Darlene Pearsall, Staff Development Educator, King County Library System
Terry McQuown, Staff Development Coordinator, King County Library System

Sponsor: WLA Washington Library Trainers (WALT) Section

Designing Our World: Hands-on Engineering Activities
Do you work with youth? Do you ever struggle to present STEM activities because you don't "feel like a STEM person"? Are you interested in learning hands-on engineering activities that take advantage of your strengths as a librarian? Would you like more program ideas for tweens and teens? If so, then join us at this hands-on workshop where we'll explore the Designing Our World resources from the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry! These activities were specifically designed to be fun and engaging for 9–14 year-olds, with an emphasis on equity. The activities rely on inexpensive, widely available materials to show kids that engineering is creative, social, and altruistic. Leave with materials you can begin using right away!

Presenters:
Catherine Schaeffer, Teen Services Librarian, King County Library System
Jennifer Wooten, Teen Services Librarian, King County Library System

Sponsor: WLA Children & Young Adult Services (CAYAS) Section

 


2:00–5:00 pm (3-hour)

A Poster’s Not Enough: How to Effectively Market Your Library
With increasing competition from Amazon and other content providers, marketing your library is more important than ever. Case studies show that when you effectively market your library, brand awareness and preference and use-visits/circulation increase. With this interactive workshop, you’ll learn how to get started marketing your library, measure success, get internal buy-in and boost collaboration, use tried-and-true marketing strategies, employ digital marketing tips and tools, and build a solid brand and why it matters. You’ll learn from library marketing professionals, as well as industry experts. Each topic includes a brief lecture, audience activity, and plenty of time for questions and participation.

Presenters:
Lizz Roberts, Whatcom County Library System Community Relations Manager
Tak Kendrick, Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries Communications and Marketing Director
Mary Getchell, Pierce County Library System Communications and Marketing Director
Megan Cook, Red Rokk Art Director
Sherri Huleatt, Red Rokk Marketing Director

Measuring Outcomes for Any Service or Program
Libraries are increasingly turning to outcome-based evaluation to measure their success—but developing, promoting, and measuring outcomes continues to be a challenge for many library staff. How do event and service outcomes relate to strategic plans, missions, and visions? When is it a good idea to use an existing outcome, and when should you craft a new one? Who should be thinking about outcomes, and when should outcomes be measured? In this preconference workshop, attendees will discover how outcomes can be the useful “glue” that staff at all levels can use to connect programs, services, missions, priorities, and plans. Prior to the conference, registered attendees will be asked to complete a short survey to provide the presenters information about a specific service or program they would like to explore in the workshop. Presenters may select some of these services or programs to profile in the workshop, but all attendees will have the opportunity to explore, discuss, and collaborate on developing measurable, supportable outcomes for the services and programs they bring.

Presenters:
Sam Wallin, Analyst / Project Coordinator, Fort Vancouver Regional Library
Brianna Hoffman, Librarian

Bats, Bubbles and Boogaloo: Cultivating Fully-engaged Learning with Camp Read-a-Rama
Summer reading meets summer camp! Move, groove, sing, and dance while you learn the educational model of Camp Read-a-Rama, a summer day camp for 4 to 11 year-olds that uses children's books as the springboard for all activities. Camp Read-a-Rama integrates science, writing, games, crafts, songs, movement, technology, and more to engage campers in book-centered themes. Staff mantras are "100% engagement 100% of the time" because "Dead time will kill your program." Enrich your summer reading programs with immersive activities, resources, and creative ideas from Camp Read-a-Rama that will help kids learn to "live books."

Presenters:
Dr. Michelle H. Martin, Beverly Cleary Professor for Children & Youth Services, University of Washington iSchool
J. Elizabeth Mills, Doctoral Candidate, University of Washington iSchool

The Fake News Survival Guide: How Librarians & Educators Can Foster Information Literacy in Their Communities
Fraudulent news and information is all over the Internet and ramping up. Do you want to address the need for better digital information literacy skills in your community but aren’t sure where to start? Hear from a teacher, an adult services librarian, and a college instructor at the front lines of this issue. Attendees will learn about resources, curricula, and best practices for engaging students, seniors, and other community members, as well as ways to take the lead in designing programs and classes to foster information literacy in their communities.

Presenters:
Di Zhang, Adult Services Librarian, The Seattle Public Library
Katie Nedved, Teacher Librarian, Henrietta Lacks Health & Bioscience High School, Evergreen Public Schools
T. Andrew Wahl, Journalism & Media Communication Instructor, Everett Community College

Makerspaces in the Future Ready Library
Are you curious about how you can support STEM without sacrificing literacy in your library? Learn how you can use makerspaces to build relationships, model successful student engagement, increase capacity, and foster both STEM and literacy. Explore how you can position your library program for recognition in Future Ready Schools, an initiative to maximize digital learning opportunities in schools. Leave with a list of all-ages makerspace activities and tools to promote critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. Hands-on participatory activities include robotics, engineering, Makey Makey invention kits, 3D pens, and more! Each activity will include corresponding Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and American Association of School Librarians (AASL) standards, as well as a literature connection.

Presenter:
Trish Henry, Lilead Fellow, Future Ready Microcredential Evaluator, District Library Coordinator, Mead School District