Access SLA's newest distance learning program from your desktop - Special Libraries Association

Information Outlook, June, 1999

Are you looking for a convenient way to access SLA's cutting-edge educational programs, but don't have the time to leave the office? Do you want the quality of an in-person program, but budget dollars are scarce this year? The Professional Development department will launch its newest distance learning program the Real-time Desktop Courses sponsored by the West Group on June 30, 1999. These exciting new instructor-led, real-time courses closely mimic in-person programs, but allow you to participate from your desktop. Each course is scheduled for a specific day and time when you can participate and use audioconferening and web technologies.

On June 30 from 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. EDT, Steve Arnold, president, Arnold IT will serve as our instructor for the course Hot Trends to Energize Library Service Delivery. In the last six to nine months, new computing architecture has enabled a range of new user friendly applications and tools. These promise to revolutionize the delivery of library services. This session will focus on the following hot trends: XML, Linux, portals, new interfaces, and new searching systems to retrieve information (text and non-text).

Don't miss The Impact of Recent Changes to U.S. Copyright Law on September 21 from 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. or September 23 from 10:00 a.m.- 11:30 a.m. EDT (the same program will be presented both times) taught by Laura N. Gasaway, director of law library and professor of law, University of North Carolina Law Library. Recently, there were significant amendments to the U.S. copyright law which affect libraries in a number of important ways. This course which focuses on the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and the Copyright Term Extension Act, examines the changes in library practices mandated by these amendments. Pending legislation relative to databases will also be covered.

A practical, hands-on course Cybersleuthing will be available either on December 7 from 2:00 p.m.- 3:30 p.m. or December 9 from 10:00 a.m.- 11:30 a.m. EST. The program will provide you with a step-by-step action plan to find top quality business resources on the Internet. You'll have the opportunity to go to some specific sites that will prove to be Invaluable to today's Information professional.

Here's how you can take part in the Real-time Desktop Courses:

Register in advance as you would for any other SLA program. Registration materials are available on the SLA web site at http://www.sla.org/professional/desktop.html or by contacting the Professional Development department at 1-202-939-3679 or by e-mall at profdev@sla.org. The courses are only $45 each for SLA members! Upon registering, you will receive a confirmation letter along with handouts prepared by the instructor for your specific course. The confirmation letter will contain an 800 call in number that will connect you to the audio portion of the course the day of the program along with a web address and password to access the visuals that your instructor will be using.

Prepare for your course 15 minutes in advance of the starting time. Find a space where you will be comfortable. Confirm that this space has a speaker phone and a computer with Internet connection. Access your course visuals on the special web page set up for your course. Take out your handouts that were sent to you in advance.

Call the 800 number at the starting time. This will connect you via audioconference to the instructor and your classmates.

Enjoy the course! The instructor will guide you through the material keeping in mind that you are looking for practical applications of the concepts.

Be an active participant. There will be specific question and answer segments during the course. To ask the instructor a question, it's as simple as pressing a key on your phone. The operator will give you specific directions on the procedure during the program.

In order not to compromise the interactive nature of these courses, participation in each Real- time Desktop course is limited. Registration materials are available on the SLA web site at http://www.sla.org/professional/desktop.html or by contacting the Professional Development department at 1-202-939-3679 or by e-mall at profdev@sla.org.

For more information, contact Valerie Taylor (valerie@sla.org).