Mohawk Valley Library System

Category: Workshops & Webinars

  • Free Webinar: Going Beyond Captions: Creating Accessible Instructional Videos

    Date: Wednesday, March 29, 2023
    Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
    Place: Online at https://tinyurl.com/mr2sr589
    Presenter: Melissa Wong
    Cost: Free

    Many libraries offer instructional videos for use on their websites.

    Unfortunately, research shows that oftentimes these videos are inaccessible to patrons with disabilities. For example, Clossen and Proces (2017) found that only 52% of the videos they examined were properly captioned, and many had additional accessibility problems.

    In this webinar, Melissa Wong will help participants learn to create fully accessible instructional videos. The webinar will begin with a brief overview of disability that puts accessibility practices into context, then introduce design practices that support accessibility, including planning, narration, typography, and graphic design. Finally, the workshop will introduce standards and practices for captions, transcripts, and descriptive audio.

    If you’re interested but not able to attend the live webinar, go ahead and register. We’ll send a recording to all registrants after the fact.

  • Free Webinar – Creating Accessible Digital Content

    Date: Wednesday, March 23, 2023
    Time: 12:30 PM – 1:15 PM
    Place: Online at https://nyslibrary.libcal.com/event/10288264
    Presenter: Sarah McFadden & Al Oliveras
    Cost: Free

    Please plan to join us for the next online Summer Reading Lunch & Learn session scheduled for Thursday, March 23 on “Creating Accessible Digital Content.”

    Accessibility is especially important as you plan for Summer Reading programs and other events, and create promotional materials to share information within your communities and library networks.  You want to make sure the content is inclusive and accessible for ALL members of your community!

    This session will cover the basics of web accessibility and some simple practices for creating accessible digital content across the library organization, with an emphasis on creating inclusive and accessible materials to support Summer Reading at your library.

    Presenters are Sarah McFadden and Al Oliveras, of the New York State Library Digital Services Unit.

    The program will be recorded and available for future viewing.  Questions?? Contact Sharon Phillips at nyslyouth@nysed.gov

     

  • YSS Spring Conference

    The 2023 YSS Spring Conference will be held in Lake George at the Courtyard Marriott on Friday, April 28th.  We hope you’ll join us at the “Queen of American Lakes” for a great line-up of speakers, workshops, and networking opportunities. The event features a full day of programming for those working in youth and teen services. 

    Highlights include the keynote address by Alex Gino, breakout sessions on a wide variety of topics, a luncheon with Chris Grabenstein, and a Space Science Institute Preconference Workshop (the eclipse is coming!).  It’s a great opportunity to network with staff from area libraries and to come away with some new ideas from your colleagues across the state!

    Check out the link below for the brochure and registration details.  Early bird registration rates end on March 17.

    https://www.nyla.org/2023-yss-spring-conference/

  • Free Webinar – Reading Buddies

    Date: Thursday, March 02, 2023
    Time: 12:30 PM – 1:15 PM
    Place: Online at https://nyslibrary.libcal.com/event/10277306
    Presenters: Katie Barker, Joe Burke
    Cost: Free

    This is the second in a series of Summer Reading Lunch & Learn sessions that will be presented.

    Over the past two summers, Altamont Free Library has teamed up with Literacy Coaches at Altamont Elementary School for their Summer Reading Buddies Program. Summer Reading Buddies (SRB) pairs rising first grade students who struggle with literacy skills with high school students who have been trained in early literacy instruction skills. Throughout the summer the students and tutors meet weekly to play literacy games, read to one another, practice sight words, and browse the library shelves for books of particular interest to the students. Students in the SRB program have shown improved literacy test scores and demonstrated an increased interest in reading, while tutors have gained teaching skills and increased senses of empathy, leadership, and responsibility. SRB is a low-cost, high-impact program that can work in nearly any library. We hope to see SRB expand to additional libraries and school districts in the coming summer.

    Contact person: Sharon Phillips, Youth Services Program Manager, nyslyouth@nysed.gov

  • Free Webinar – Library Policies for Today’s Communities

    Date: Wednesday, February 22, 2023
    Time: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
    Place: Online at https://www.webjunction.org/events/webjunction/library-policies-for-todays-communities.html
    Presenter: Jennie Garner
    Cost: Free

    Library policies have the power to facilitate inclusive, safe, and supportive experiences for all.  Join this webinar to learn the importance of crafting clear policies for your library, to help establish and set standards that ensure equity and safety for both staff and patrons. Follow North Liberty Library’s journey as they reviewed and renewed policies and procedures with a lens of inclusivity, for all areas of library operations. In this applicable approach for all library types and sizes, learn effective methods for building staff awareness and understanding of policies, and gain a fresh perspective on how policies can create flexibility, empathy, and allyship with those we serve.

    This webinar is hosted by WebJunction in collaboration with the Association for Rural and Small Libraries.

    Presented by: Jennie Garner, Library Director, North Liberty Library (IA) and 2023 President, Association for Rural & Small Libraries