Program Review - Solar Made Simple

The Chester County Library in Exton hosted Solar Made Simple on September 22, 2009.
The program was presented by Michael Chambers from Chesapeake Solar, a GroSolar Company.

The 56 participants came prepared with notebooks and questions galore. The presentation had the potential to take a sales-pitch turn, but Mike was really understanding that this was a library and removed anything resembling selling in his PowerPoint before the event.

There was some reference to "I can't talke about that" throughout the presentation. But for the most part, he did stick to information that could be used by all.

Mike even learned some new things from participants. Did you know that a Solar Panel is sized using a Golden Ratio? Or that Germany is trying to develop a way for Solar Panels to collect energy even when it's cloudy?

Our participants really did their research!

For the amount of effort needed by the library (none) this was an extremely successful and stress free event. Mike came prepared with his presentation, a table of information, and a sign that displayed the way solar power works, which we posted outside of the room as a welcome.

The Green Valleys Association came with some flyers for their upcoming Chester County Solar Tour, and gave a little blurb at the end of the program to let participants know they could come.

All in all, the event went great. The people gained tons of new knowledge and information, and the library had people scurrying around, post program, using computers, and looking for books that further would help them with solar knowledge.

Program Idea - Understanding Home Care Care Options

Program Name: Understanding Home Care Care Options

Presenter: Karen Devine, Community Liaison for Bayada Nurses
Contact Information: 610-992-9200 kdevine@bayada.com

Program Fee: Free

Program Description: Home care is a very personal service and choosing an agency is an important decision. With the growth in home health care and the number of agencies that provide these services, consumers are faced with a wide range of choices when selecting a home care agency. If you are considering home care, ask questions and learn as much as you can about the agency that will be sending caregivers into your home.

Length of Program: 1 hour

Preferred Audience Size: n/a

Presenter's Requirements: Projector and Screen, Table for display materials

Presenter will bring: PowerPoint presentation, and refreshments (if requested)

Which Libraries will they present at:
Bayard Taylor Memorial Library
Chester County Library
Chester Springs Library
Coatesville Public Library
Downingtown Library
Easttown Library & Information Center
Henrietta Hankin Branch Library
Honey Brook Community Library
Malvern Public Library
Paoli Library
Parkesburg Free Library
Phoenixville Public Library
Tredyffrin Public Library
West Chester Public Library

Program Idea - Erasing Myths, Discrimination, and Violence

Name of Program: Erasing Myths, Discrimination and Violence: Helping our students achieve in safety and free from labels, danger and fear

Presenter: Michele M. Paiva, Author, International syndicated writer former legal educational book advocate, "Mom"
Contact Information: 484-574-3795 mmpaiva@mac.com

Fee for Program: Free

Program Description: The program is twofold. The program helps parents of K-12 and College students to best communicate with schools and to best advocate for their child in a way that is non-confrontational where the goal is not to "win" but to work together in the best interest of the child.
The other aspect is to help those who have or may have a learning disabled, gifted, or talented child OR any child to achieve their abilities without ceilings and to help parents do so in a way that is economical and proactive.
It would be fantastic if I could bring my teens and have a second room where parents who can't afford babysitting could have children watched (school age/elementary) even if that meant my teens are in the book areas with the children as a helper.
I want this to be easy for parents - they have enough on their plates!

Length of Program: One hour - 90 Minutes

Preferred Audience Size: 20-50 works well. More is always fine.

Presenter Requirements: Table for books (if books for sale are allowed)

Which System Libraries will they present at: ALL

Program Idea - Solar Made Simple

Name: Solar Made Simple

Presenter: Michael Chamber, Mid-Atlantic Representative for Chesapeak Solar
Contact Info: 302-650-9890 michael.chambers@grosolar.com

Fee for Program: Free

Program Description: A solar energy system on the roof of your home allows you to stabalize your energy futures and to make a positive environmental contribution all at the same time. Solar energy today offers multiple benefits to you and your planet tomorrow.

• Is Solar right for you?
• Are you concerned about climate change, rising energy prices, and dependence on foreign resources?

This presentation is designed for homeowners that are interested in utlizing solar energy. Learn how solar works, how to know if your home is right for solar, and how to use state grants and federal tax credits to help pay for a system.

Program Length: 1-2 hours

Preferred Maximum Audience: 20-40

Presenter's Requirements: Projector and Screen

Presenter will provide: Laptop and PowerPoint presentation as well as solar panel samples.

Which System Libraries will they present: All

Free Gaming in Libraries Course

I just received an e-mail with this awesome opportunity.
Want to do gaming in the libraries but not sure what your first step should be? Here is some helpful FREE information to use as a guide.
Enjoy!

Free Gaming in Libraries Course via YouTube

Scott Nicholson, associate professor at Syracuse University's School of Information Studies, will be teaching a video-based course on the basics of gaming in libraries. Every day during the month of June, participants will be able to view a new video exploring some concept of games or how libraries can integrate games into their programs. The class will cover games appropriate for all age groups in many types of library settings. Throughout the month of June, Scott Nicholson will teach IST 600 Gaming in Libraries in three online spaces, two of which are freely available to anyone:

· The Syracuse University YouTube channel, where video lectures and guest speakers will be posted, and where students enrolled in the class will be required to post weekly video responses. (http://www.youtube.com/syracuse)

· American Library Association (ALA) Connect , a social networking site for the ALA that will host the discussion of students, speakers, librarians, and other participants from the general public. (http://connect.ala.org/forum/10310)

· The iSchool¹s online learning management system, a private space for enrolled students to ask questions and submit their assignments.

Students and other participants in the class can expect to gain a solid understanding of the spectrum of types of games, know how libraries typically use games, and be able to select games for their own libraries based upon the goals of the program and the mission of the library. They will learn how to start a gaming program, how to facilitate the activity, how to assess the program, and how to tie the assessment back to the library¹s mission. Nicholson¹s biggest goal for the course is to bring together students, librarians, gamers, and representatives of the gaming industry for a month-long discussion about the roles that games can play in libraries. The course is being offered by the Syracuse iSchool to its students and students enrolled at partner schools through the Web-based Information Science Education (WISE) Consortium.
The course is being funded by the Kauffman Enitiative Project at Syracuse University.
The primary blog for the course is at http://gamesinlibraries.org/course

Libraries Guide to Gaming

ALA has received a grant from the Verizon Foundation to create a Guide to Gaming for Libraries

A link to the press release is below.

http://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/news/pressreleases2009/march2009/olosgamingtoolkit.cfm

Program Idea - Writing Resumes & Cover Letters That Get Interviews

Program: Writing Resumes and Cover Letters that Get Interviews

Presenter: Richard J. Lukesh, President

Presenter's Organization/Company: Lukesh Consulting Group, Inc.

Program Fee: Free

Description: My FREE book, Secrets to Getting Hired, identifies:
A. Information Marketing and Direct Marketing strategies for writing a resume and cover that will allow candidates to distinguish themselves in the current competitive job market.
B. Selected Sales Presentation tactics to use during a job interview that will allow candidates to out-position the vast majority of other candidates who are inverviewing for the same job.

Requirements: Laptop with USB port, and Projection Screen, additional laptop connected to the internet so Mr. Lukesh can allow participants to view websites (optional)

Equipment Presenter will bring: Laptop if needed. Has had issues in the past connecting his laptop to projector equipment

Length of Program: 1 hour + 30 minute q&a

Libraries willing to present at: ALL

Program Idea - College Admissions: What Every Student and Parent Should Know

Program: College Admissions: What Every Student and Parent Should Know

Presenter: Renee Sherman Strauss, Ph.D.

Presenter's Title: School Psychologist/Educational Consultant

Organization/Company: College Way Educational Consulting, LLC

Description: Approaching college, students and parents can be filled with questions and confusion. Join us for an informative presentation on how students can prepare themselves for college, identify colleges that are a good fit, and maximaize their chance fo admissions to colleges.

Fee: Free

Length of Program: 1 hour

Preferred Maximum Audience Size: n/a

Presenter's Requirements: n/a

Equipment Presenter will provide: n/a

Availability: Flexible Times and Hours

Libraries willing to do program at:
Malvern Public Library
Chester County Library
Downingtown Library
Paoli Library

Chester County Reads 2009 - Update

The Chester County Reads Program Options have been sent out!

All programs should be booked by February 4th to Guarantee Inclusion in the Program Guide.
We can work with you if you need more time, but you have to let me know!

The Kick-Off event will be held on Tuesday, March 3, 2009 at 7pm at the Chester County Library in Exton.

If you did not recieve the list of Program Options, please contact me at:
nmccourt@ccls.org

Programming Website - ALA

The ALA has a wonderful resource for all you programmers out there.

http://www.programminglibrarian.org/

The Web site includes a resource library, live learning opportunities and a blog to keep librarians informed of upcoming opportunities and provide inspiration for new library programs. As the site continues to develop, users will find more resources, ideas, and opportunities to network with peers and programming experts.

I especially enjoyed perusing the library and seeing what Touring Exhibitions they had available.