May 24, 2021
Niche Academy
17th February 2021
With Barney Allan (DCA) and Carolyn Waite (Lancashire County Council)
The Covid pandemic has caused a surge in demand for online content and services from public libraries, which has presented library users, staff and volunteers alike with a steep learning curve in accessing and using digital resources. With many staff now working from home, the need for an effective online learning management system is more pressing than ever.
Niche Academy provides training for public library staff and borrowers via embedded video tutorials that cover the most common library e-content platforms. The service also offers a space to host online events, storytimes, and quizzes and generally promotes online offerings in an attractive and effective way. In addition, subscribers get free access to hundreds of staff training videos created by leading libraries in the US and beyond, with the ability to quickly produce and upload your own training pieces as well. This service is designed to increase staff confidence and drive usage of e-resources and promote information literacy for library users, staff and volunteers. It also offers a space to host online events, storytimes, and quizzes and generally promotes online offerings in an attractive and effective way.
In this webinar, Barney Allan, of Niche Academy’s agent, DCA, will give a short overview of the service and Carolyn Waite, Information Development Manager at Lancashire County Council, will share her experiences of how Lancashire libraries have been able to implement the service to support training and promote usage of their e-resources.