One of the most important ways Infopeople measures the success of its training is through learner feedback. These comments inspire us to always try to improve our offerings and better address the needs of our audience. Here are some selected comments from our online courses:
- From Foundations of Library Services (instructor: Stephanie Chase): I want to thank Infopeople for having offered every course that I needed to complete my LSSC! Thank you for the courses you offer, the easy accessibility to work at your own pace, and the affordability of your courses. I love the layout of the courses. The instructors are very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. I look forward to doing more courses through Infopeople!
- From Understanding and Applying Adult Learning Theory to Improve Library Services (Instructor: Lauren Hays): "I'm grateful for courses that increase my learning, are applicable to my work, and can be completed with a reasonable time expectation."
- From Readers' Advisory for Teens (Instructor: Sarah Flowers): "I learned that adolescent brains are still developing, and function differently. I learned unique ways to present and organize displays. Before this course I was completely unfamiliar with Pinterest, and as a result of this class I now know how to use it to create book lists."
- From STEAM in the Public Library: Engaging Children in Learning (Instructor: Amy Koester): "Every activity that I completed fit with my job. It was nice to see how the STEAM program could enhance programs and classes already on offer. Being a K-12 school we offer a variety of courses--and these activities/courses change with interest from students and staff. From this course, I now have new resources which to use to reach out and collaboration with teachers in different divisions of our school."
- From Strategic Planning That Doesn't Hurt a Bit (Instructor: Catherine Hakala-Ausperk): "I think I finally understand why the strategic plan is so important to making sure that the library is helping the community in the most effective way. Previously I saw strategic plans asa nuisance to do and something to avoid as long as possible. have changed my mind now, and I see this task as a vital part of making sure your library is relevant to the community you serve. Yes, you turned me around!"
- From Library Services for Patrons Experiencing Homelessness (Instructor: Julie Winkelstein): "So much I am still trying to absorb it all, From learning new words (and preferred word) and acronyms, to understanding all the unmet needs and how the library can help to meet them, to the entire structure of resources that are available in communities, and most importantly how much the library can help those in need. The take away for sure was what can we as librarians do and how soon can we start doing it."
- From Emotional Intelligence in the Library Workplace (Instructor: Catherine McHugh): "I can apply the information about affects, about how the brain works, and about how to block reptilian responses to difficult people and situations. As a manager, this information is as useful to me in dealing with patrons, as it is in dealing with my staff -- and perhaps even with my supervisors. The Ted Talk with Professor Amy Cuddy was especially inspiring. I've shared it with my sister and with some of my staff. We all had a good cry at the end of it, and we knew the advice would serve us well in professional and personal situations."
- From Library Grants 101 (Instructor: Stephanie Gerding): "All aspects of the course can be integrated into my job. I hope to dedicate a portion of my ongoing workload to research grants and put together grant teams."
- From Pop-up Libraries: Out of the Stacks and into the Community (Instructors: Jeff Kaplan and Kane Tsay): "I felt like the instructors provided enough information and variety of approaches that I can adapt this concept to a 'baby' version to start, with the goal of more elaborate pop-up libraries in the future. I hadn't considered fixed outreach possibilities beyond tabling, and our current method of tabling wasn't seeming to have a great impact or offer the engagement with visitors that we were seeking. The models of pop-up libraries provided in the course were just what I needed!"
- From Maintaining a Safe and Respectful Library (Instructor: Catherine Hakala-Ausperk): "As libraries change and evolve we will constantly be needed to retrain staff and reassess our internal and external culture. This course is a great tool for that ongoing process." and "This class is giving me so many ideas to bring up to our director/librarians on things we can improve. At the beginning of the class i believed that there wasn't anything we needed to change but I am realizing more and more how much we can definitely improve!"