Annual Library Automation User Conferences Follett and OPALS Scheduled for Spring 2020
In December, the New York State Education Department released a research study on the Roles of the School Librarian that clearly shows that the school librarian’s contributions are consistently shown to be of positive value to students, teachers and the wider school community. To support these valuable members of a school’s team, the Western New York Regional Information Center’s (WNYRIC) Library Services Teams will be hosting the Annual Library Automation User Conferences for both the Follett School Solutions and OPALS Media Flex Inc. systems.
The full-day workshop offers attendees the opportunity to meet directly with representatives from the respective automation systems. Collaboratively, the vendor presents alongside the Library Services Team.
“The conferences allow attendees to learn about new features, align the features to student achievement and technology integration and expand on managerial functionality and network with their regional counterparts,” Alicia Thompson, Erie 1 BOCES School Library System director and Regional Library Automation Service supervisor, said. “It also allows the vendor to hear the needs and concerns of the region and curate software programs that assist the school librarian meet district initiatives, as well as state and national curricular objectives.”
Numerous research studies on student achievement highlight the ways in which school libraries and school librarians are invaluable and integral to the learning process in the library, in the classroom, and beyond the school walls to the global community of learners. An Executive Summary of the document is available. These informative professional development workshops are designed to support certified school library media specialist and library paraprofessionals use the automation systems to implement the standards.
Registration for either event is required and will be posted on My Learning Plan (MLP) closer to the date. Registration will not be taken by phone.
The Follett Users Group will be held on Thursday, March 5, 2020 at the Erie 1 BOCES Education Campus 355 Harlem Road, West Seneca, NY 14224. For more info, please contact tsfollett@e1b.org.
The OPALS Media Flex Users Group will be held on Friday, April 3, 2020 at CA BOCES 1825 Windfall Road, Olean Road, NY 14760. For more info, please contacts tsopals@e1b.org.
If you have any general questions, please email erie1sls@e1b.org or call 716-821-7116.