Training opportunities coming up in the next month that deal with connections and outreach and volunteers include: Friday, March 16, CLiC workshop in Greeley, 1:30 to 2:45 * Community Connections: "Who's Buzzing Around Your Hive and Are They Worth the Stings?": The best marketing and advocacy are always two-way, and the fastest and cheapest techniques are via connections. Learn to capitalize on your community connections, build a base of support in your community, reach out, communicate with your target market (whether that's families, students, the general public) to involve them. Use word-of-mouth, networks, and viral marketing, to strengthen not only your library but also its neighborhood. Practice by mapping your library's, neighborhood's and your own assets and links. Thursday, March 22, CLiC workshop in Grand Junction, 3:15 to 4:30 * Fiction and Nonfiction--the Truth about Volunteers: Get realistic about what volunteers contribute to a library program. Maybe you've avoided a volunteer effort because you thought it would be too much work. . .perhaps others at your library or school have unrealistic expectations. . .or maybe your current program just needs some refining. This workshop includes recruitment and retention. Lots of practical advice and interaction. Register for either of the above two at http://clicweb.org/continuing_education/clic_workshops/springworkshops20 07.php Monday, April 2, Paralibrarian Workshop: * Community Connections: "Who's Buzzing Around Your Hive and Are They Worth the Stings?": The best marketing and advocacy are always two-way, and the fastest and cheapest techniques are via connections. Learn to capitalize on your community connections, build a base of support in your community, reach out, communicate with your target market (whether that's families, students, the general public) to involve them. Use word-of-mouth, networks, and viral marketing, to strengthen not only your library but also its neighborhood. Practice by mapping your library's, neighborhood's and your own assets and links. * It's Not Easy Being Green or different in any way--Diversity Training in Cultural Responsiveness. Open your eyes and ears. Get ready for new perspectives on libraries from the people who count--the diverse public. In this two-hour overview, you'll take a self-assessment of your library's current status, hear about diverse groups and how to connect with them, and begin your own plan to respond to your service area's needs. You'll hear from a panel that includes Terry Marcotte from the Colorado Talking Book Library, along with Warren Taylor, former librarian, community activist, and involved with numerous mental and emotional health organizations. Believe it or not, you'll leave with lots of ideas and even a strategy. See http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?i=afd7268f-5e8d-4567-9dc 8-fc5c35e3fee9 for this conference Bonnie F. McCune Library Community Programs Consultant [log in to unmask] DID YOU KNOW? In 2004, Coloradans borrowed more items from libraries (96.5 million) than purchased Powerball tickets (80.4 million)! Colorado State Library 201 E Colfax #309 Denver, CO 80203 (v) 303.866.6891, (f) 303.866.6940 Bonnie McCune has more than 30 years experience with nonprofits and government agencies in marketing and community relations. She worked in the Denver Public Library's Marketing Department for eight years as public relations manager and has been with the Colorado State Library for seven. She also has been executive director of a small arts organization, on central staff of political campaigns, hosted a cable tv show, produced numerous print publications, managed Denver's beautification program, worked in higher education, and was active in grassroots neighborhood and environmental movements. In addition to managing CSL's early literacy initiative and the @your library advocacy campaign, she's jumpstarting a statewide library friends group and a Denver children's literacy organization. As a free-lance writer, she co-authored "Recruiting and Managing Volunteers in Libraries," published by Neal-Schumann, has had numerous credits in local, regional and national publications, and is especially interested in arts and entertainment. She has been a finalist to the Pillsbury Bake Off and twice a finalist to the National Chicken Cooking Contest. She is currently at work in her spare time on her fourth unpublished novel.