Cliff Landis leaves audiences feeling excited and inspired about libraries. He blends concrete examples with humor and insight to educate and entertain library workers.
Presentations and workshops are customized to fit your audience and updated to include the latest educational content. Presentations last from one to two hours. Workshops are longer than two hours and include interactive exercises. All topics can be delivered in-person or as online webinars / courses.
Select from the available topics below, or contact Cliff about customizing a session to fit your audience’s needs! Or, see some recommendations for Cliff’s presentations and workshops.
Crafting the User-Centered Library: Integrating Assessment into Planning and Executing Library Services
Description: Discover the practical (and often free) methods for gathering data from users in a variety of ways for user-centric design. You will learn techniques for implementing what your users need and want and will learn how to overcome the obstacles that may pop up.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify a variety of methods for collecting data and analyzing the results;
- Increase response rates using low-cost or free prizes;
- Effectively communicate data collection results to make changes in programs, services or policies;
- Ensure compliance with ethical research practices and institutional policies.
NextTech: Emerging Technologies and the Evolution of Learning
Description: With technology changing faster than ever, it is easy for educators to be left in the dust! In this session you will learn about some of the new and emerging technologies that are having an impact on learning and information management. Find out how augmented reality, ubiquitous computing, biotech, and robotics are shaping how we learn now and in the future. Discover how educational institutions are responding to these changes, and learn where to go to keep up with these changing technological innovations!
Learning Objectives:
- Identify cutting-edge technologies in computing, biotechnology and robotics that are impacting how we learn;
- Learn how the rise of the free culture movement is removing the obstacles of traditional educational systems;
- Discover the surprising educational research that is changing how we think about pedagogy;
- Keep up with changes in emerging technologies by subscribing to key information sources.
Say What You Mean: Professional Communication Skills for Librarians
Description: Excellent interpersonal communication skills are not just a requirement on every job announcement–they are vital to succeed in today’s library! Attendees will learn how to use different communication styles to interact effectively with people across several library settings. A variety of interpersonal communication topics will be covered, including: basic communication skills, direct vs. indirect communication, conflict management, and professional relationship maintenance.
Learning Objectives:
- Quickly identify the best method and style of communication for a variety of settings and situations;
- Exercise positive communication skills to maintain healthy professional relationships;
- Recognize and adjust to the different conflict styles that are present in the workplace (including your own);
- Practice paying attention to feedback to adjust your communication style as needed;
- Strike a balance between personal and professional communication.
Spreading the Word: Using Social Networking, Blogs & Microblogs for Outreach and Community Building
Description: Setting up your library’s Facebook page and Twitter account are easy—but what’s next? Learn the secrets to building and maintaining your library’s online community using social web tools. Find out about the best practices in outreach—including creating viral marketing campaigns and advertising events—as well as time-saving tips that will empower and motivate your library’s users to spread the word on your behalf!
Learning Objectives:
- Craft a Facebook page and Twitter account that will represent your library online;
- Save time and energy by updating multiple services at the same time;
- Reach new library users by building social web connections with existing users;
- Build community by advertising events and programs through the social web.
Shifting Sands: How Small Changes in Policy, Culture and Technology are Determining the Future of Libraries
Description: How did it come to this? Librarians are battling with shrinking budgets, hustling to keep up with emerging technologies, and dealing with policies and laws that threaten to marginalize our role in providing access to all users. Discover how changes in national and international policy, the growth of the free culture movement, and the rapid evolution of technology are having big impacts on libraries, and what you can do to help turn the tide.
Learning Objectives:
- Discover how the free culture movement is impacting copyright, fair use, and the creative commons;
- Identify the technologies that have caused revolutions in information sharing, from the printing press to the Pirate Bay;
- Recognize some of the current and forthcoming policy changes that are impacting libraries;
- Learn what you can do to help change policy and keep up with emerging technologies.
You-jitsu: Mastering your Online Presence (co-presented with Christian Steinmetz)
Description: Get a leg up on your fellow students in the world of social media – with social networks and online tools constantly changing and adding features, it’s easy to get ignore all those little details. But a few minutes of preparation can help prevent you from being hacked, or worse, making a fool of yourself online! Listen as two social media experts give you the tips necessary to become a master of your personal online presence.
Learning Objectives:
- Review some famous social media tools, and find out about the new ones you haven’t heard about yet
- Learn about what personal branding and marketing really are, and why they matter to you now
- Review the online mistakes, blunders and errors of others to prevent doing them yourself
- Find out how to stay abreast of changes to online services that are impacting your online privacy and security
Recommendations
“Cliff is a dream to work with! He delivered everything we needed, in a timely fashion: learning objectives, content, and an engaging & approachable presentation style that made our participants very comfortable. His expertise in the area of using social media to promote library services and build community among users is considerable. We look forward to working with him again: soon and often!” — Sophie Brookover, LibraryLinkNJ
“Cliff was wonderful! He agreed to give a keynote address at our conference with very little notice. His presentation was just what we were looking for: a humanistic vision of emerging technologies’ impact on academic libraries from a true futurist. His talk generated some forward-thinking conversation, and everyone in attendance came away more informed about the future of learning resources in higher education.” — Dan Hood, Librarian & Chair-elect, Association of Florida Colleges, Learning Resources Commission
