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ALA to Host Career Development Facilitator Training

jbragg — Mon, 13 May 2013 19:29:23 +0000

The American Library Association will host Career Development Facilitator (CDF) sessions at its headquarters in Chicago, June 26 – 27, 2013. The deadline to register is Friday, June 14, 2013.

As a public librarian, you’re probably seeing more patrons who are requesting resources for guidance in their job search. The impact of the recent recession is still being felt by thousands of Americans who have lost their jobs and can’t figure out how to get a new one.

It’s also likely that you’re hearing from more individuals who are underemployed – those looking to find a better paying job, or a full-time job that is a bit more secure.

How do you answer all their questions? Do you know how best to direct them to find the latest resources for their job search? Do you know how to respond to their concerns when they don’t even know where to begin to look for work?

If you have seen patrons like these, you may be wondering how you can best serve them. If so, the Career Development Facilitator program may be the answer. Created by the National Career Development Association, this comprehensive training is designed to address the following facets of career planning and the job search, and represent what you will learn through this training:

Career resources and labor market information
Career planning processes
Basic helping and facilitation skills
Career development models and theories
Informal and formal assessment approaches
Diversity and specific population needs
Development and maintenance of an effective career resource center
Training others and program promotion
Case management and referral skills
Ethical and scope-of-practice issues
Professional and resource portfolios
Cutting-edge job searching
and more . . .!

This CDF training, with a special emphasis on the role of the librarian in helping patrons and job seekers will begin in the days immediately preceding the upcoming ALA Annual Conference in Chicago. The training consists of two days of in-person training, followed by an additional 12 weeks of self-paced online training, combined with teleconference calls, small group discussions and the opportunity to present to fellow participants (through technology) at the end of the course. The kickoff for the course will begin on Wednesday, June 26, from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Thursday, June 27, from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. It will be held at the ALA Offices located at 50 E. Huron Street in Chicago.

The course will be taught by Dr. Caitlin Williams, a CDF instructor and long-time resource for ALA members on career-related issues. The course is available at a special price for ALA members of $950.00 (which includes the in-person and online training, weekly teleconference calls, course manual, career assessments and additional support materials.

The course will end the second week of September. At the end of the training, participants receive a Certificate of Completion and are eligible to apply for the Global Career Development Facilitator Certification, if they wish.

If you are interested in this training and would like to learn more, or for registration information, please call Caitlin Williams at 831-917-7800 or email her at DrCaitlinWilliams@gmail.com.

The deadline to register this training is Friday, June 14, 2013.

For more information on the CDF designation, visit the National Career Development Association website.

What is a Career Development Facilitator (CDF)?

A Career Development Facilitator (CDF) is a person who works in any career development setting or who incorporates career development information or skills in their work with students, adults, clients, employees, or the public. A CDF has received in-depth training in the areas of career development in the form of up to 120+ class/instructional hours, provided by a nationally trained and qualified instructor.

This title designates individuals working in a variety of career development settings. A CDF may serve as a career group facilitator, job search trainer, career resource center coordinator, career coach, career development case manager, intake interviewer, occupational and labor market information resource person, human resource career development coordinator, employment/placement specialist, or workforce development staff person.

Call for Submissions: Women of Library History

jbragg — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 08:02:29 +0000

Is there a woman in librarianship who was near and dear to you and your library’s heart? Who has made history at your library? Perhaps a group of women who helped shape you or your community’s interaction with libraries? Maybe even someone whose portrait you pass every day?

In celebration of Women’s History Month this March 2013, the Feminist Task Force would like to invite submissions to highlight valued women in libraries. This is the perfect time of year to remember the contributions of these important women in librarianship—perhaps the founder or other woman (or group of women) who was significantly involved with your local library.

The FTF will host a blog at womenoflibraryhistory.tumblr.com with daily postings of historic women of librarianship throughout the month of March.

Why? Highlight the legacy that you still see alive today and share a piece of your library’s history with your patrons and library lovers everywhere in celebration of Women’s History Month. The write-up will be perfect for your library’s own blog. Its inclusion with the submissions of other libraries to this project will illustrate the breadth of contributions women have made to their communities through libraries.

To submit:

Email an image and brief write-up about a historic* woman or group of women of librarianship to womenoflibraryhistory@gmail.com. If you are including this as a post on your own library’s blog, be sure to include the link to your blog so we may include that in our posting to connect viewers to your library. If there is a book or other websites related to your submission, please pass that information along as well. Submissions will be accepted immediately and throughout the end of March.

*While we fully appreciate that there are women who have recently done and/or are currently doing amazing things for libraries, only submissions regarding historic women of libraries will be included at womenoflibraryhistory.tumblr.com. However, if there is interest we would be more than happy to also collect submissions for a companion (sister!) site to highlight and celebrate women MAKING history in libraries! Please let us know if you have any questions or input regarding this.

The Feminist Task Force is proud to bring voice and efforts to the intersection of feminist perspectives with issues related to libraries, librarianship, information services and ALA. To find out more and get involved, please visit us on any of our websites and virtual spaces:

Discussion list: http://libr.org/ftf/ftflist.html
Wiki: http://ftfinfo.wikispaces.com/
ALA Connect: http://connect.ala.org/node/65369
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/121097054767/

Free Resources Available to Help You Improve

jbragg — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 05:07:31 +0000

If you’re like many people who made resolutions at the start of this year, one of these probably included something about improving professionally. If you haven’t gotten started yet, we have some resources that might help.

National Seminars Training provides a wide variety of free resources including e-books, such as The Best Kept Secrets About Managing People; quick-tip videos, such as Communicating During Conflict; and a number of e-newsletters. This is a good place to start with professional … Read the rest

Celebrate at the ALA-APA Networking Reception this ALA Midwinter

jbragg — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 12:08:58 +0000

Tickets are $50 and can be purchased at the door, or in advance by registering on the ALA Midwinter Registration Page. Event code is APA1.

Proceeds from the event support the ALA Allied Professional Association’s (ALA-APA) work in promoting “the mutual professional interests of librarians and other library workers” through research, advocacy and enabling the certification of individuals in specializations beyond the initial professional degree.

Celebrate at the ALA-APA Networking Reception this ALA Midwinter

jbragg — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 12:29:36 +0000

Experience a taste of Seattle’s nightlife at this premier social event during the ALA 2013 Midwinter Conference. Take advantage of the opportunity to reconnect with old friends and meet new people at this networking fundraiser on Saturday, January 26, 2013, from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Come and enjoy an evening filled with music, dancing and more! Proceeds from the event support the ALA Allied Professional Association’s (ALA-APA) work in promoting “the mutual professional interests of librarians and other library workers” through research, advocacy and enabling the certification of individuals in specializations beyond the initial professional degree. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased by registering on the ALA Midwinter Registration Page. Event code is APA1.

Panel Discussion on Availability of Library Jobs

jbragg — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 13:47:51 +0000

In the face of negative messages about the value of the library degree and the future of the profession, what can we do as library professionals and educators to send a collective message about recruitment into the profession and into libraries? Do we have reliable data about jobs and placements? Do new graduates have the skills to compete successfully in a turbulent and often tight job market? What can ALA do to support new graduates, as well as other job-hunting professionals, in building their library careers? Save the date for a focused discussion sponsored by the ALA Recruitment Assembly on Friday, January 25, 3:30-5:00 pm, during the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Seattle.

Mark Your Calendars and Prepare to Celebrate at the Networking Reception

jbragg — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 13:39:01 +0000

Mark Your Calendars and Prepare to Celebrate at the Networking Reception

jbragg — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 19:42:07 +0000

Experience a taste of Seattle’s nightlife at this premier social event during the ALA 2013 Midwinter Conference. Take advantage of the opportunity to reconnect with old friends and meet new people at this networking fundraiser on Saturday, January 26, 2013, from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Come and enjoy an evening filled with music, dancing, and more! Proceeds from the event support the ALA Allied Professional Association’s (ALA-APA) work in promoting “the mutual professional interests of librarians and other library workers” through research, advocacy and enabling the certification of individuals in specializations beyond the initial professional degree. Tickets are $50, and can be purchased by registering on the ALA Midwinter Registration Page. Event code is APA1.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month Toolkit Is Here

jbragg — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 11:39:23 +0000

Prepare for 2012 National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) activities and observances. Held each October, NDEAM is a national campaign that raises awareness about disability employment issues and celebrates the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. This year’s theme is “A Strong Workforce is an Inclusive Workforce: What Can YOU Do?”

Read the rest

Mark Your Calendars and Prepare to “Celebrate Your Association, Celebrate Yourself” at the Networking Reception

jbragg — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 12:09:44 +0000

Experience a taste of Seattle’s nightlife at this premier social event during the ALA 2013 Midwinter Conference. Take advantage of the opportunity to reconnect with old friends and meet new people at this networking fundraiser, hosted Saturday, January 26, 2013, from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Proceeds from the event support the ALA Allied Professional Association’s (ALA-APA) work in promoting “the mutual professional interests of librarians and other library workers” through research, advocacy and enabling the certification of individuals in specializations … Read the rest