Answering health & medical reference questions with Dean Giustini

When: Thursday, November 19, 2009 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Facility: Lynn Valley branch (computer lab), NVDPL
Location: Lynn Valley Branch North Vancouver District Public Library
1277 Lynn Valley Rd.
North Vancouver, BC

Description:

"Answering health & medical reference questions: an introduction for information professionals"

Instructor: Dean Giustini

Workshop goals:
· To develop approaches in locating credible health information in your library -and on the web
· To provide hands-on experience searching for health information in key sources, medical databases & search tools
· To discuss advanced (or expert) searching; how to deal with difficult queries using virtual reference tools, referral services & social media

Overview:
This 5-hour course focuses on identifying and using high-quality consumer and research-level sources of health information in answering reference questions in Canadian library settings. Participants are introduced to key print and electronic sources in health and various techniques used to evaluate websites ‘on the fly’. Participants will learn how to classify information needs and strategize how to locate credible, accurate information as well how to match information to patron requests. Search tools such as Google, Bing and PubMed will be used as well as fee-based sources such as the eCPS, the Cochrane Library and resources licensed by eHLBC. The instructor will use examples that touch on cultural sensitivities and health literacy.

Agenda:
1. Types of health information – online & print/license and 'free'
2. Consumer health information questions
3. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)
4. Biomedical research questions
5. Current events and awareness

Methods:
Instructional methods include lecture, demonstration, discussion, small group work and hands-on exercises.

Instructor Bio:
Dean Giustini is a reference librarian at UBC's Biomedical Branch Library at Vancouver General Hospital. Definitely an "early adopter" of social media, he has gained attention for his blogging and his maintenance of the UBC Health Library wiki. Dean is an editor at Open Medicine, 2007 Canadian Hospital Librarian of the Year and one of the Library Journal's 2009 Movers and Shakers.

Maximum class size: 12

Cost: $95 BCLA Members; $125 Non-members

Registration deadline: noon, Monday, November 16, 2009 (but please register as soon as possible, as this event may sell out quickly!).

Please note – if you have successfully registered, you will receive a confirmation email (invoice if cheque payment, receipt if credit card payment). If you have any questions about registration, please contact the BCLA Office at office@bcla.bc.ca . Cancellations will only be accepted until the registration deadline, and may be subject to a cancellation fee of up to $25.00
Ticket(s)
BCLA Member $95.00
Non-member $125.00

Click here to register

Building a Better Website: Website Redesign

Building a Better Website: Website Redesign

Monday, November 02, 2009 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Registration: http://www.bcla.bc.ca/redesign/

Location:
Classroom 130 (computer lab),
McPherson Library,
University of Victoria

Presenters:
Kay Cahill
Cecily Walker

Date:
November 2, 2009

Time:
9:30am – 4:30pm
Lunch is NOT included, but there will be a one hour break.

Description:
Building a Better Website

During this session we’ll cover all the basic elements you need to know to create a user-friendly, practical website. We’ll look at gathering requirements to ensure a user-centred design, the advantages and disadvantages of content management systems, how to design a great user interface, and how to use existing web tools, technologies, and social media services to enhance your site and create a rich and compelling user experience that isn’t gimmicky. Attendees will also have the opportunity to build and customize a small site in www.wordpress.com.

Who Should Participate:
This workshop will be of interest to anyone working in a library who would like to learn how to design a user-friendly website, and make the most of the myriad opportunities that exist on the modern web for enhancing and promoting your library’s website.

Outcomes:
Participants will:
Understand the importance of requirements gathering and user-centred design
Become familiar with the key advantages and disadvantages of content management systems
Have an overview the range of tools available to enhance websites and improve user experience

About the Presenters:
Kay Cahill is Vancouver Public Library’s Librarian II for Website and Community Development, and was part of the project management team for the redesign and relaunch of www.vpl.ca. With fourteen years’ experience in public libraries in the UK and Canada and a passionate interest in developing and delivering library services in the online space, she is committed to creating websites that are all about the user.

Cecily Walker is Web Services Librarian at VPL. She has a keen interest in user experience, information architecture, social media, and building online communities. Prior to joining VPL, she worked as a User Experience Architect with HSBC, and as a Usability Analyst for Sage Software. With fifteen years of self-taught web creation experience, she is committed to helping libraries and library staff create “websites that stick”.

Fees & Registration:
Members $100
Non-Members $125

If you have any questions about registration, please contact the BCLA Office at office@bcla.bc.ca . Cancellations will only be accepted until the registration deadline, and may be subject to a cancellation fee of up to $25.00

Class Size:
18 Students

Please note – if you have successfully registered, you will receive a confirmation email (invoice if cheque payment, receipt if credit card payment). If you have any trouble with registration, please contact the BCLA Office at office@bcla.bc.ca

Deadline for registration: 3:00 pm, Thursday, October 29, 2009 (but please register as soon as possible, as this event is likely to sell out quickly).