91´«Ã½

CHCIAGO — 91´«Ã½ Editions announces a new iteration of its popular eCourse . Rebecca Miller, Carolyn Meier and Heather Moorefield-Lang will serve as the instructors for this six-week facilitated eCourse starting on March 31, 2014.

At the end of this eCourse, you will be able to:

• understand your library’s/community’s needs related to tablets and other technologies;
• become familiar with the types of tablets and other electronic tools that can enhance library services and staff productivity;
• set up a multifaceted tech tool program;
• use tablets and other tech tools efficiently and effectively;
• communicate effectively with a network of individuals with the same interests regarding tech tools;
• stay up to date with tablets and other tech tools.

Now that personal electronic devices like tablets, smart phones and digital cameras are ubiquitous, it’s important for librarians to be able to incorporate these devices into both library services and internal staff activity. In this first-of-its-kind eCourse, Virginia Tech librarians and gadget experts Rebecca Miller, Carolyn Meier and Heather Moorefield-Lang will show you what you need to know about these gadgets, from surveying the landscape of available products to purchasing and implementing these devices in your library. Over the six weeks of the eCourse you will also gain new tech skills, such as communicating via video blog or podcast and using Twitter and social bookmarking tools to share ideas.

eCourse outline

• • Overview and relevancy of eCourse material
  • Community/library needs assessment

• • Finding funding
  • Review of budget
  • Overview of technologies

• • Writing policies and reviewing licenses/agreements
  • Circulating the gadgets
  • Training staff
  • Assessment and evaluation of programs

• • Case studies
  • Discussion among participants of examples and/or ideas from their own libraries

• • Case studies: how staff members are using gadgets in their daily activities. Discussion will include apps for tablets, creative uses of technology in various activities, and other anecdotal information.

• • Strategies for managing information
  • Resources for current awareness

About the Instructors

Rebecca K. Miller is the college librarian for Science, Life Sciences, and Engineering at Virginia Tech. Previously, she served as the Digital Technologies Librarian at Louisiana State University and has published several articles on the topic of technology and instruction. Currently, she serves on the editorial boards of three journals and holds leadership positions in both national and state level professional organizations.



Carolyn Meier is the first year instruction librarian in Newman Library at Virginia Tech. She is a past co-chair of the Library Instruction Round table (LIRT) Transition to College committee. While at Virginia Tech, she developed and implemented an online research course for grad students and with other librarians in designing online modules for first year students. Her work and research interests focus on information literacy, assessment and new methods for improving instruction and finding new technologies to reach students.



Heather Moorefield-Lang is the education and applied social sciences librarian at Virginia Tech. She is the chair of the American Association of School Librarians Best Websites for Teaching and Learning Committee. Her current research is involved with the success and challenges of 3D printers in libraries and schools at every type and level. She is also delving into the research of digital citizenship and the online presence of our digital futures and afterlife.

Registration for this 91´«Ã½ Editions facilitated eCourse, which begins on March 31, can be purchased at the . Participants in this course will need regular access to a computer with an internet connection for online message board participation, viewing online video, listening to streaming audio (MP3 files), and downloading and viewing PDF and PowerPoint files.

publishes resources used worldwide by tens of thousands of library and information professionals to improve programs, build on best practices, develop leadership, and for personal professional development. 91´«Ã½ authors and developers are leaders in their fields, and their content is published in a growing range of print and electronic formats. Contact 91´«Ã½ Editions at (800) 545-2433 ext. 5418 or editionscoursehelp@ala.org.

purchases fund advocacy, awareness, and accreditation programs for library professionals worldwide.