Continuing Education: Frequently Asked Questions

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WHAT KINDS OF WORKSHOPS DOES SEKLS PROVIDE?

A wide variety of topics are covered at a mix of in person and online workshops and interest groups. Any topic relevant to library work would be a possibility for a workshop. We also provide online access to recorded workshops through Niche Academy and support participation in statewide “After Lunch” courses.

HOW CAN I REQUEST A WORKSHOP ON A PARTICULAR TOPIC?

Give your suggestion to April Hernandez or Sharon Moreland. We are always soliciting ideas for workshops. Occasionally we will have a formal survey about continuing education needs, but your suggestion is welcome at any time.

IS THERE A CHARGE TO ATTEND THESE WORKSHOPS?

Not for member libraries.

WHO MAY ATTEND?

Any staff member or library board member from an SEKLS member library. Occasionally there may be a workshop of interest to administrators or officials of the library’s parent municipality or institution. They are also welcome to attend, but if the workshop is one in which registration is limited top priority goes to library participants. In such a case, call to see if there is room for them. Staff members from libraries outside SEKLS may occasionally wish to attend, but should call SEKLS for approval before doing so. Space or cost considerations may pertain in such cases.

WHAT IS THE KANSAS LIBRARY CONFERENCE?

This is a statewide conference sponsored annually each spring by the Kansas Library Association. It lasts 2½ days, although you can attend any one day if you wish. Programs especially designed for trustees and Friends members are scheduled on one day (normally the Wednesday of the conference). There are a wide variety of short (1-2 hour) programs on all sorts of library-related topics to choose from during each time slot. There is also at least one keynote session with a speaker, business meetings of KLA roundtables and sections, an exhibit hall with vendors displaying books, materials, equipment, etc., and several entertainment or meal events with speakers (not included in the general registration cost). SEKLS recognizes the Kansas Library Conference as a very important continuing education event and makes several $250 grants available annually for SEKLS librarians to attend the conference. If needed for the allocation, your library can receive up to 7 non-SEKLS Continuing Education credits for sessions attended at Conference. Send the Consultant proof of attendance and the titles of the sessions attended to receive this credit.

Proof of attendance can be a photocopy of your name badge, a photocopy of your registration form, or a photocopy of the cover of the program. Each one hour training session (as opposed to a luncheon) can be counted as 1 hour of CE.

WHAT MAY GENERAL CONTINUING EDUCATION GRANTS BE USED FOR?

Any continuing education opportunity other than SEKLS workshops and the Kansas Library Conference. Examples would be workshops offered by other regional library systems; conferences of KLA sections or roundtables, such as the Public Library Section or College and University Library Section conference; college courses; national conferences such as ALA, ARSL, or PLA; or pre-conferences to the Kansas Library Conference. Continuing education opportunities not directly relating to libraries are eligible for CE grants if approved by the SEKLS System Consultant. Examples might be word processing courses, personnel management seminars, etc. Only one grant per library is given annually.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR GENERAL CONTINUING EDUCATION GRANTS?

Any staff member or trustee from an SEKLS member library is eligible.

HOW DO I APPLY?

Fill out the application under Conference Grant Application. If you receive a grant, you should submit documentation of your expenses following the event and a check will be issued.

HOW ARE MY HOURS OF CONTINUING EDUCATION TRACKED?

SEKLS tracks attendance for SEKLS-sponsored workshops. Continuing education for this purpose is counted by library, not by individuals. The hours may be earned by any staff member, and the hours for any one workshop are only counted once, regardless of how many people from the library attend the same workshop. Trustee attendance at SEKLS workshops may be counted for topics that are relevant to that library’s operations.

Credit for up to seven hours may come from non-SEKLS events. Non-SEKLS workshop credit will be given at the end of the year if those hours are needed to fulfill the minimum of twelve CE hours required for the allocation grant. A library that wishes to use non-SEKLS workshop hours for allocation credit is responsible for obtaining the necessary certificates from the workshop sponsor and for forwarding the certificates to SEKLS.

Libraries are responsible for tracking their own trustee continuing education hours and listing them with the allocation report at the end of the year.