Training opportunity with Tutor.com University

Tutor.com is providing us with a new online training platform: Tutor.com University. 

This self-directed, interactive course is designed for any and all staff who work with students, adult learners, and job seekers. It guides staff through the patron experience within the platform and provides insights into engagement strategies, helpful tools, and more.  

If this sounds like it will be useful in your work, all you need to do is fill in this form! 

In the box for “library location,” please list your library’s name. For CLP, please enter your location as follows: CLP – [branch name]. In the box for “Consortium” please list ACLA. Select “No” under the question “Are you a program manager/admin for your Tutor.com Program?” 

Tutor.com processes these registration forms on the 15th and 30th of the month. Once you submit the form, Tutor.com will reach out with a link to set up your Tutor.com University account. You then have 30 days to complete the learning modules once you’ve started. You can click here to get started with the registration form.

If you think you might need extra time to complete the course, or if you have any other questions about Tutor.com University, reach out to Hilary Lewis or Mary Phillips.  

-Mary – Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh 

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Make Job Hunting a Breeze

A common request in libraries is for referrals for job hunting resources. What is a useful resource for creating a resume? Where can patrons look for jobs? Does this cover letter look okay?

Fortunately, the library offers plenty of resources to choose from when helping patrons. To assist with resume and cover letter prep, you can refer patrons to the database tutor.com. It offers college and career resources, and can help patrons with cover letters, resumes, applications, interviews, and more. Users can also connect live with an expert for 1-on-1 help or drop off a resume or cover letter to receive expert feedback on their document.

tutor.com ask a tutor or drop of a question image

If a patron is looking for something else, try referring them to Pennsylvania Job Resources, created by POWER Library. This landing page features a number of helpful links, including PA CareerLink, a Resume Builder, and SkillUp PA. These sites contain job postings, information about applying for benefits, free online job skills trainings, and much more.

Pennsylvania Job Resources

Erin Weaver, Bridgeville Public Library

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New databases, bird flu, and you! 

Bird flu! It’s in the news.  

Maybe your patrons are wondering about it. Maybe they’ve already transformed into giant chickens themselves! That’s what bird flu does right? I read that somewhere on the internet.  

Just kidding! When I go looking for information online, I start with library databases. I love Wikipedia dearly, but sometimes it will lead me astray. Just look at this link! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_Flu. 

Luckily for me, POWER Library has provided two new databases that can help with health information and much more: Health and Wellness and Academic OneFile Select, both from our pals at Gale. As with other Gale products, they look almost the same but contain different information aimed at different audiences. 

Health and Wellness contains full-text articles from medical publications and reference works, but also from more popular, general media outlets with a focus on health information that is approachable for a general audience. Here are the results for a search for “bird flu” with a publication date limiter of the “past month.” 

Notice that it leads with four audio clips from various NPR programs. Health and Wellness is for a general audience looking for reliable information that doesn’t get too deep into medical jargon. 

However, if your patrons do want jargon, we now have Academic OneFile Select

This resource is geared toward students, researchers, and curriculum-based learners. It provides access to full text articles across many disciplines, not just health, as well as also vocational/technical training material for students who are studying the trades. A nice complement to BlueCareer! 

But back to the chickens. If I do the same search for “bird flu” with that “past month” time limiter, I get results that may not be appropriate for a lay audience but will definitely help with a college student’s research. 

These new resources provide information for a variety of different types of patrons and are now live on the eLibrary website. Check them out! 

-Mary, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh 

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New BingePass Alert

Hoopla recently added a brand new BingePass to it’s growing selections. The Ken Burns Collection is now available to borrow for all hoopla users. As with all BingePasses, you only need to use 1 borrow credit to get hours upon hours of content!

Over 40+ years of great documentaries including The Civil War, Jazz, Country Music, Prohibition, The National Parks and more can be borrowed for an entire week. That’s prime bingeing material.

If you aren’t already familiar with hoopla’s BingePass offerings, now is a great time to check them out!

Happy watching!

-Richelle @ Sewickley Public Library

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