OLC EDUCATION OPPORTUNITES: SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

The 2005 OLC Annual Conference and Exposition will bring together the educational programs with vendor exhibits for the first time in four years. Attendees will again enjoy education offerings divided into learning tracks, featured speakers, author lunches, and social events, and also will have the opportunity to meet with vendor representatives in the expanded exhibit hall and OLC Living Room. This is the last year for a traditional annual conference because the OLC is transitioning to a biennial format (2007, 2009, 2011, etc.). The 2005 Annual Conference and Exposition will be October 5-7 at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus. Complete program information and registration are available on the OLC Web site (www.olc.org).

2006 Conferences

Moving OLC's annual conference to a biennial format will allow the OLC to explore other educational programming options. The OLC has had great success with focused, two-day events like the diversity conference. In 2006, the OLC plans to bring in national speakers for more of these two-day conferences focused on different areas of library services (see the schedule below).

May 17-18, 2006..............Small Libraries Conference

June 7-8, 2006 ................Diversity Conference

August 16-17, 2006 ..........Children's and Young Adult Services Conference

September 13-14, 2006 ....Reference and Adult Services Conference

November 1-2, 2006 ........Management and Administration Conference

November 3, 2006............OLC Trade Show

Chapter Conferences

The one-day conferences that take place in each of OLC's six chapters focus on basic skills training, refresher programs, and best practices. Chapter conferences offer a great opportunity for library staff to attend a full day of educational programming without traveling across the state. The action council members of each chapter work with members of the OLC divisions to create a dynamic programming agenda for each of the chapter conferences (see the schedule below).

March 22, 2006 ..............Southeast Chapter Conference, Holiday Inn Zanesville

March 29, 2006 ..............Northeast Chapter Conference, Kent State University

April 7, 2006....................Southwest Chapter Conference, Dayton Marriott

April 21, 2006 ..................Central Chapter Conference, The Fawcett Center

April 28, 2006 ..................Northwest Chapter Conference, Toledo Hilton/Dana Conf. Center

May 4, 2006 ....................North Chapter Conference, Clarion hotel Independence

Online Learning

The OLC has three online learning programs available for free on the OLC Web site (www.olc.org): Staff Orientation, Ohio Reference Excellence (ORE) on the Web, and Marketing the Library. Completion of the online programs can be used as part of the Ohio certification program for public librarians (see page 20 for more information).

Training @ OLC

Training @ OLC was introduced in 2004 to provide timely, accessible training on issues of perennial interest to library staff. The small sessions (approximately 25 people) are held at the OLC office in Columbus and are facilitated by a wide range of library, business, and marketing experts. The series has featured numerous topics, such as Alternative Funding Sources, Effective Presentation Skills, and Conflict Resolution (see remaining 2005 schedule below).

September 8, 2005 ..........Transitioning To Supervisor

September 15, 2005 ........Interviewing Techniques

September 21, 2005 ........The Joys of Building Maintenance

October 27, 2005..............Testing Your Assumptions

November 3, 2005............0rganizational Resilience

November 16, 2005 ..........Ballot Issues