If you attended one of MSL's regional meetings in the spring and speed dated with specialists, you'll remember hearing about the planning for a Maine version of RIPL - the data and evaluation boot camp.  Planning has reached fruition and we're happy to announce the launch of this series on October 18.  The intention of the series is to build a community of engaged data and evaluation librarians to learn together about this topic and enable this cohort to build their own library impact stories using the techniques learned.

Why is data important?  Has anyone ever asked you "Why is the library doing that?" or "What difference does the library make?" Data and stories can help you answer these questions. They can be used to build relationships, communicate with staff and stakeholders and for planning and management. Think about it like this: What you measure you pay attention to.

Participants will work through a series of webinars and then meet for online discussions to talk about the webinar and help each other learn.

We'll meet every 2 weeks (with breaks for the MLA Conference and holidays!).

October 18 - Introduction 
November 1- Introduction to Planning and Project Management
November 22 - Community Needs Assessment
December 6  - Outcome Based Evaluation
December 20 - Data Sources
January 10 - Data Visualization
January 24 - Using Data to Tell the Library's Story

Maine is part of a national grant to bring this training as a 2 day event to the New England region. Participants in this online program will be primed to get the most out of that event in late summer 2017.

Register on the statewide CE calendar:  http://evanced.info/maine/evanced/eventsignup.asp?ID=3906 .  When you register, you will receive the series syllabus with links to the webinars to be viewed before each online meeting.

Stephanie Zurinski, 
CE Coordinator
Maine State Library
64 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0064 
207 287-5632
207 287-5620