FYI,

I’m passing along the opportunity for you to take these online courses being offered by the Library of Virginia. Any questions should be directed to Enid Costley, Library of Virginia,

...@lva.virginia.gov">Enid...@lva.virginia.gov

The original message is:

The registration process for the online courses, “Early Literacy and Books,” offered January 13, 2014 - February 7, 2014, and “Libraries and Autism: We’re Connected,” offered January 13 - 31, 2014 by the Library of Virginia, has encountered a bit of a glitch.  As a way of offering our apologies for this inconvenience, we (Library of Virginia) are doing the following:

Registration fee for Early Literacy and Books and Libraries and Autism will be waived, but participants will be required to obtain course materials, or be billed $25.00 and the Library of Virginia will provide course materials.

Everyone will be required to complete the two-session course on “Introduction to Moodle.”  This is true even for people who have already taken “Introduction to Moodle.” 

“Introduction to Moodle” is a free two-session course.  To register for “Introduction to Moodle,” go to http://www.vpl.virginia.gov/  click on Calendar; click the date, December 9, 2013; and then click the name of the course and complete the form.  The Moodle courses are designed to work with busy library schedules.  The course opens at 8:00 a.m. EST, but you do not have to be at your computer at that time.  The course is designed to allow you to work at your own time and any time, but there are deadlines for completing coursework. 

If you have more questions about Moodle, go to http://www.vpl.virginia.gov/ce-training/moodle-faq.html  or contact Enid Costley, Library of Virginia, ...@lva.virginia.gov"> Enid...@lva.virginia.gov

Before the course begins on Monday, December 9, you will be sent a user name and password as well as a link to the online course.

“Early Literacy and Books” and “Libraries and Autism” are both limited to 30 people each. The first 30 people registered for each course who complete “Introduction to Moodle” will be allowed into the course.  If more than 30 people per course complete “Introduction to Moodle” we will – 

·         Contact the instructor and see if more than 30 people can take the course.  The instructors must give permission, as we have contract agreements with them. 

·         Contract with the instructor to offer the course again within 1-2 months and give the interested participants first refusal. 

For “Early Literacy and Books,” the course materials are Ages and Stages by Karen Miller and Llama, Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney.

The goal of “Early Literacy and Books” (offered January 13 – February 7, 2014) is to introduce you to early literacy components and practices as set forth in the second edition of Every Child Ready to Read®, an initiative of the American Library Association. By the end of the class, you should be able to recognize what the early literacy components look like for each age-level of children, newborn to two-year-olds, 2 and 3 year olds and 4 and 5 year olds, and to demonstrate how the components and practices can be applied while sharing books with young children.

Overview of the Course
Session 1: Introduction, Information on Brain Development and Stages of Early Childhood Development
Session 2: Overview of Reading Research, Reading Process, Five Early Literacy Practices
Session 3: Oral Language, Three Ways to Engage Parents and Children in Interactive Reading, Overview of Early Literacy Components
Session 4: More in-depth information on four early literacy components, development over the age levels, and relating to books
Session 5: More in-depth on background knowledge component--development over the age levels, and relating to books; Relate components and practices to each other and to books and activities to extend books

Instructor:
Saroj Ghoting is an early childhood literacy consultant. She presents training workshops on early literacy, Every Child Ready to Read®, and on various aspects of storytimes at national, regional, and state conferences, and for library staff and their partners. She has a B. A. from Oberlin College in Ohio and her MLS from Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. She has been a children's librarian for over 35 years. She is co-author of two books published by the American Library Association: Early Literacy Storytimes @ your library, The Early Literacy Kit: A Handbook and Tip Cards which includes tips for all the school readiness domains, and Storytimes for Everyone: Developing Young Children's Language and Literacy which applies the updated research and approach of the second edition of Every Child Ready to Read® including supporting scientific and mathematical thinking to storytimes.

Libraries and Autism: We're Connected - course materials are The Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida and Library Services Special Needs Communication Guide" (available free online or print copy available through Library of Virginia)

Meg Kolaya and Dan Weiss (...@libraryconnections.net">Mega...@libraryconnections.net) developed Libraries and Autism: We’re Connected in response to the lack of information available on library service to those with cognitive challenges. Their training video and website provide an overview for excellent customer service to better serve those in the autism community. Providing staff with more in-depth training increases their comfort level in interacting effectively with patrons of all ages with ASD and their families. An additional benefit is that the basic customer services skills and techniques provided can serve as universal models for best-practices library service to all members of the public.

The workshops they have presented around the country have been met with a very positive reception. This online course expands on the workshop and will empower staff to enthusiastically embrace their role as ambassadors for their library, confidently utilizing new strategies and tips to provide effective and inclusive universal service.

During this four-week online course, offered January 13 – 31 2014 participants will develop an action plan to position your library as an effective community resource and consider what your role in that process could be. After assessing your library’s strengths and weaknesses in relation to universal access and service to the developmentally disabled, you will strategize a special project and/or library-based programming for the ASD community.

COURSE AGENDA
WEEK 1 - Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) A basic overview of ASD, current research, theories and controversies.

WEEK 2 - Customer Service Learn basic, easy-to-implement tips and strategies. Identify problems and issues in delivering excellent customer service in the library to those on the spectrum, their families and teachers.

WEEK 3 - Putting It Into Practice Assess your own outlook and expand your personal perspective, look at resources that support universal customer service and consider the impact of new technologies.

WEEK 4 - Strategies That Work Explore effective approaches to programming and service to the ASD community and develop an action plan for your library.

Meg Kolaya has been a public library director for 16 years, the last 12 at Scotch Plains (NJ) Public Library. Her library career before that ranged from archives and manuscripts to heading a pre-K to 12 school library to running the building and technology of a large public library. Many years of volunteer activities in museum settings and with community organizations has given her a wide and varied view of group dynamics and organization. She has served on local and state committees for libraries. Her ideal day is spent on a sunny beach with a great book, good friends and some dolphins to watch.

Dan Weiss is currently the director of the Fanwood (NJ) Memorial Library. Since he accepted that position in 1997 he has dramatically taken a small suburban library into the 21st century with improvements in facilities, staffing and service. He has served locally, regionally and state wide on many civic and library related committees and boards. In his current position Dan gets to do it all, from books and budgets and public relations and fund-raising to overseeing web development, graphics design and renovations, all while being the go-to-guy for overflowing toilets and salting the front walk. After hours, Dan continues his varied music career, now with well over 50 years of performing, singing, song-writing and playing the guitar under his belt. He loves all kinds of music with a special fondness for vocalists (Hank Williams, Ray Charles, George Jones and Billy Holiday), bluegrass, honky-tonk and acoustic roots country.

Enid Costley

Library of Virginia

800 East Broad Street

Richmond, Virginia 23219

804.692.3765

...@lva.virginia.gov">enid...@lva.virginia.gov