The Massachusetts Library System is pleased to announce that we have contracted with ALA to provide our members with access to their live webinars.  These webinars are free to MLS members who register through our calendar.  Please do not register directly with ALA. Members who register directly with ALA are responsible for paying their registration fee. 

Please help us keep MLS sponsored training free for all members. If you are unable to attend the live webinar, please cancel your registration. A cancellation link can be found in your confirmation email, or you may contact Sarah Donnelly at sdonnelly@masslibsystem.org to cancel. 

Description

What makes a resource reliable? When you have the responsibility of answering important questions for your patrons, it’s crucial that you are confident in the sources you consult for those answers.

In this 90-minute session, you’ll learn the basics of evaluating a resource’s purpose and authority and how to understand the significance of different resources and varying concentrations of resources in your collection. You’ll learn the basics of incorporating this analysis into your interaction with patrons and the importance of transparency in the entire process.

Learning Outcomes

After this event, participants will:

• Understand several methods of evaluation used in reference work
• Understand basic strategies for matching resources with patron needs
• Have familiarity with the specific steps needed to evaluate both print and online resources

Presenter

Francisca Goldsmith has been teaching library staff development courses for both paraprofessionals and professional librarians in reference methods and best practices for over 20 years. She currently develops and delivers online courses for the Infopeople Project and for the American Library Association and has written several professional texts, including Crash Course in Contemporary Reference (Libraries Unlimited, 2016). Her library career has spanned public, school, and academic libraries, in reference departments, youth services, and collection management.

Accessibility Information

If you have questions or requests regarding accessibility, contact ce@ala.org or at 312-280-5100.