Dealing with Difficult Patrons workshop

Where: SALS Training Room
Who: Library staff, directors and volunteers

Every library employee encounters difficult patrons and users from time to time. Whether it’s a troublesome group of teenagers, a loud patron, an angry or even dangerous person, the experience of dealing with someone unpleasant is common for staff in libraries of just about all sizes and types.

In this workshop, library safety and security expert Steve Albrecht will show you how you can deal with these problem patrons effectively, efficiently, and without creating major disruptions in your library environment. Library employees at all levels will learn strategies for dealing with such patrons and effectively diffusing challenging situations.
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Keeping Senior Citizens Safe Online

Senior Citizens are online, too

Senior citizens are embracing the digital age in greater numbers every year. Fifty-three percent of adults age 65 and older now use the Internet and online tools such as email, according to the Pew Internet & American Life Project.  Among those Internet users, seventy percent report going online daily.

Not surprisingly, the Internet offers many benefits to older Americans, including the ability to stay in touch with family members near and far, and across generations. A 2012 study by Microsoft and AARP found that online communication often was credited for improving dialogue among family members.

The Internet helps senior citizens connect with society, bringing vital information and resources to them. For instance, they can bank and shop from the convenience of their homes. Many sites are geared toward the needs and interests of senior citizens, and growth of such sites is expected to continue.Continue reading→

Libraries and the Affordable Care Act

American Library Association (ALA) President Barbara Stripling issued the following statement:

“The American Library Association anticipates that many Americans will turn to libraries for help in accessing enrollment information when open enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace component of the Affordable Care Act begins on October 1, 2013.

“Our research shows that Americans regularly turn to their local libraries as a trusted resource for information regarding government initiatives and programs. A recent study showed that more than a third of library computer users (28 million people) use library computers and seek assistance from librarians for health and wellness issues, including learning about medical conditions, finding health care providers, and assessing health insurance options. A 2012 ALA study found that 97 percent of libraries reported assisting library patrons with applying for and accessing e-government services.Continue reading→