Librarians here at CLP enjoy opportunities to do some pretty amazing work. We educate, inform, and often end up learning right along side the customers and patrons we so happily serve. One of my great pleasures in my work remains my role on CLP’s Technology Training Team. This relatively small sub-group of CLP staffers principally goes about the business of teaching customers and fellow employees how to use CLP’s eResources.
We most often help the public in this capacity through our regularly scheduled Gadget Labs. You can also find listings for imminent Gadget Labs on our Upcoming Events page here. So exactly what can you learn about at one of these Gadget Labs? Not surprisingly, gadgets of course! When we speak of gadgets at CLP we generally mean any handheld device that allows a person access to our eResources. This most often includes eBooks, audiobooks, music, and magazines from the eNewsstand. Gadget Labs offer you the chance to test and handle a number of sample devices from some of the most popular manufacturers, but more often we find ourselves helping customers with their own gadgets that they have brought along, and therein lies the real beauty of these ongoing programs. You get hands-on, in person help with sorting out any issues you’re having accessing our content.
So if you want to figure out how to download three totally free songs per week from Freegal, we’ve got you covered. If you want to learn how to sign up for Zinio and subscribe to hundreds of popular magazines and read them on your computer, iPad, or tablet device, we can make that happen. If you’re into audiobooks and you want to learn how to get them on your smart phone, we’ve got two great options we can show you. Or if you want to sort out how to get some eBooks on your new eReader, we’ve got well over 20,000 titles we’re very excited about showing you how to access!
While just about everyone at CLP recognizes that print books and other physical resources will not be going away anytime soon, we have also made a commitment to staying on the cutting edge of these new and emerging technologies. We demonstrate this commitment and excitement at every Gadget Lab, and we invite you to come and join us in the process!
–Scott
Eleventh Stack 