I’ve been back at NEKLS for a few months now, in the role of Continuing Education (CE) Consultant. As I work to provide useful learning opportunities for you, I’m learning so much myself. I appreciate the feedback and ideas people have shared with me. They really help as we plan future events.
The list of potential workshop topics seems almost infinite. Realizing that we won’t be able to provide training on all of those topics on our own, I’m always on the lookout for opportunities in other places, in which we can participate. Watch the “Coming Events” section on the NEKLS website for regularly updated event listings, including many free online webinars.
As always, NEKLS prioritizes collaborating with other libraries and library organizations around the state. We regularly participate in Kansas WebJunction events (provided by the State Library of Kansas) and encourage NEKLS libraries to do so, too. Another statewide effort I’m very excited about is 23 Things Kansas. Librarians from throughout the NEKLS region (Heather Braum, Eric Gustafson, Erin Downey Howerton, David Lee King, Royce Kitts, Sharon Moreland, Josh Neff, and Diana Weaver) and I are collaborating with from librarians around the state to put together this self-directed technology learning project. The official launch will happen January 11, 2010, so keep your eye open for news and announcements as we get closer to that date.
In addition to those online opportunities, we have received requests to offer smaller workshops at various locations around the region. We’re working to schedule some of those (a Readers Advisory workshop with Kaite Mediatore Stover is in the pipes, for example). The large annual events (NEST, Fall and Spring Assembly, Tech Day, School Librarian’s Workshop, etc) continue to be a priority, although we’re taking a good hard look at what’s most useful and what needs to be changed or updated. We also prioritize education related to NEKLS projects (KLOW, NExpress, etc), knowing that those projects cannot be truly effective without adequate training.
I am always eager to hear your suggestions related to learning opportunities. If there are workshops you would like us to offer or if there are speakers you would like to us to invite to speak, please let me know. In addition, we are putting together a Continuing Education focus group. This group will help us take a good hard look at where we are now with CE, where we want to be, and how we can get there. If you would like to be part of that group, please let me know.
It’s good to be back.
Brenda Hough is the Continuing Education Consultant at NEKLS. You can reach her by email (bhough (at) nekls.org), phone, or on several instant messaging platforms (look Brenda up by her email address). Visit the 
