Expert Series: Open to All - Are You Really? - Jacksonville (02/28/17) 

Is your library only serving half your population?  This workshop will address ways to accommodate active, hands-on, and auditory learners with surprising results.  You will have the tools and confidence to introduce a new way of thinking about libraries to your administration, staff, and public delivered in this session of give and take, exploration, and ample time for questions and conversation.

Opportunities for individual coaching/mentoring sessions in the evening of 2/27 and the afternoon of 2/28, contact register@neflin.org for details.

Learning outcomes:

1. understanding of and appreciation for different learning styles
2. immediately implementable ways to create programs and services for active learning
3. identifying the attributes needed to take risks and lead change

Expert Facilitator: Maxine Bleiweis

Shifting gears from directing three award-winning public libraries over a span of 40 years, Maxine Bleiweis is spreading her innovative ideas and approaches to traditional services to keep libraries relevant and ahead of the curve.  In her new chapter as Maxine Bleiweis & Associates, she is being called upon to speak on customer service, coach managers, guide strategic planning and innovative thinking, and implement the newest design thinking for library buildings.

Under her leadership, Bleiweis’ libraries were awarded 5-Star Status and were finalists for the IMLS Medal of Excellence.  During her tenure, she established the first major makerspace and mini maker faire at a public library and was the first to introduce humanoid robots to teach computer coding. She authored the book, Helping Business: the library’s role in community economic development. She was named the Connecticut Outstanding Librarian of the Year in 2011 and the 2015 recipient of the PLA Charles Robinson Award for Innovative Leadership.

Cost: NEFLIN classes are free of charge for Florida library staff.  Registration is required for all classes and NEFLIN members get priority.

NEFLIN Expert Series 2017 has been funded under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by the Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services.