Webinar recordingFormat: Webinar, original date March 18, 2015
Hosted by: TechSoup
Length: 1 hour

Do you help library patrons with e-readers? E-Readers have changed the way people consume information – and the way libraries operate. More than 50% of American adults now own an e-reader, and e-reading is on the rise. However, many people still need help downloading e-resources from the library. The challenge is that there are so many different types of e-readers and e-books that patrons can get confused by what to download.

Come learn tips and tricks for how you can provide better assistance and customer service to library patrons with e-readers. We will hear from e-reader experts who have been making a difference in their libraries.

Presented by: Jennifer Hrusch and Megan Vasquez

Webinar recordingFormat: Webinar, original date August 29, 2012
Hosted by: TechSoup
Length: 1 hour

Thinking about how to most effectively help people learn to use e-readers? According to the recent Pew Research Center report, Libraries, patrons, and e-books, many libraries offer at least some form of instruction on e-readers and e-books for patrons. Those include in-person classes, drop-in labs, printed tutorials or FAQs, and online tutorials. The first Edge Benchmark suggests that libraries provide monthly structured and scheduled digital literacy training.

Keeping up with the changing landscape can feel overwhelming for instructors. How are library instructors successfully navigating this sea of change? View this session to hear the instructor perspective on keeping up and helping others.

Presented by: Diana Weaver and Amber Slaven

Webinar recordingFormat: Webinar, original date February 5, 2014
Hosted by: Infopeople
Length: 1 hour

Ebooks are increasingly in demand, and libraries may experience a gap between their users needs and their ebook services. A combination of marketing, tech support, and readers' advisory can fill this gap.

Though ebooks can present a new set of challenges for libraries, many ebook services can be merchandised using tools that library staff are already familiar with, making it easier for libraries to provide the human element so crucial to recommending books.

This webinar will help you develop a more comprehensive plan for ebook merchandising in your library and online, allowing you to better serve your current ebook readers, as well as reach out to a new group of users.

Presented by: Stephanie Anderson

Self Paced CourseFormat: Self-paced Course
Developed by: Funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services
Length: 1 hour

Asking the right questions, tracking clues, and following paths of inquiry are part of the process to support your eReading patrons. With all the combination of eReader devices, file formats, and eContent providers, how can we possibly be prepared for each encounter?

Learning Objectives

eReader Devices:

  • Recognize the differences between tablets, smartphones, and eReaders.
  • Compare their pros and cons.
  • Identify by sight some of the most popular devices.

Files and Apps:

  • Identify basic eBook file formats.
  • Locate eReader apps based on device.

Digital Rights:

  • Recognize importance of digital rights management in accessing eContent on multiple devices.
  • Follow steps to install Adobe Digital Editions


Course Design: Infopeople

Webinar recordingFormat: Webinar, original date September 16, 2015
Hosted by: TechSoup
Length: 1 hour

Are you starting to check out devices like e-readers, tablets, and laptops? Making devices available for public use may seem challenging and overwhelming. However, the right combination of technology, organization, and policies can help your library create a popular checkout program that your patrons will love.

In this webinar learn what one library is doing to expand checkout to cover a wide range of devices, including Kindles, iPads, and Google Chromebooks. Hear best practices, tips, and advice to help you get started (or to improve your existing device checkout program).

Presented by: Stephen Tafoya

Webinar recordingFormat: Webinar, original date July 8, 2015
Hosted by: NCompass Live, Nebraska Library Commission
Length: 1 hour

Librarians have always taught the public how to use the tools that serve their information needs, but now there's an ever-changing variety of personal devices that patrons use to access our services. How do front-line staff with self-taught or very basic knowledge of technology stay savvy about the latest and hottest gadgets? How do we train non-technical staff to effectively troubleshoot and train our patrons on using their own gadgets? By discussing her recent Library Journal article, Jennifer Koerber will offer suggestions and resources to train and support your library staff.

Presented by: Jennifer Koerber

webinar recordingFormat: Webinar, original date April 3, 2013
Hosted by: WebJunction
Length: 1 hour

Our library patrons want help in learning how to use their mobile devices such as an e-reader, smartphone, or new tablet--and it can feel like an insurmountable task to help them all. Join us for some practical guidance on how libraries can help patrons with a variety of gadgets. Well share tips for how to set up realistic formal training sessions and how to best offer one-on-one assistance. You will also gain examples of practical training outlines, how-to guides, and video tutorials.

Presented by: Jennifer Birnel

Webinar recordingFormat: Webinar, original date January 21, 2015
Hosted by: Nicolet Federated Library System
Length: 1 hour

No matter a library's size or budget, we are all looking for ways to increase staff efficiency and better serve our patrons. This webinar will focus on practical and creative ways to use tablet technology (including reference, circulation, payments, storytime music, program registrations, and more!) to stay on the leading edge of customer service.

Presented by: Leah Kulikowski

Webinar recordingFormat: Webinar, original date December 16, 2015
Hosted by: NCompass Live, Nebraska Library Commission
Length: 1 hour

Do you find it difficult to spend sufficient time with patrons and their technology questions? L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, has adopted a program called Tech Tuesdays that allows staff to spend more time with patron’s technology questions. We offer informal walk-in hours to answer patron’s questions about their personal devices, such as e-readers, tablets, laptops and smartphones. Topics include how to load e-books, apps and music onto devices and basic computer and internet search skills. We don’t claim to have all the answers, but we offer the time and resources to work with patrons to solve their technology issues. This session will address branding, marketing, promotion of the program and service models seen at other public libraries such as workshops, appointments and working with partners to provide technology instruction outside of the library. We will also share our challenges, successes and the immediate response we've received from our patrons.

Presented by: Jennifer Cook and Peter Rudrud