Dade County Library Association’s 21st Annual Workshop Focuses On YOUmedia

Feb. 11, 2012 - PRLog -- The DCLA’s annual workshop on Friday, March 30, 2012, from 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. will offer public, private and academic librarians and library supporters from around Miami-Dade to forget about the budget crunch and focus on croissants, coffee, collaboration, and common interests!  The workshop is open to everyone. The cost is $5 for DCLA members and $21 for non-members (which includes the $16.00 annual membership.)  Registration is available online at www.dclamiami.org, or at the door. For information, contact DCLA President Ellen Book at president@dclamiami.org  or 305-213-3934.  

The workshop focuses on the Library System’s new YOUmedia Miami, which is located at North Dade Regional, 2455 Northwest 183rd Street, Miami Gardens, FL 33056-3699. This project builds on the role libraries play as places of innovation and exploration. YOUmedia Miami is being supported by an $805,755 grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation’s Library Initiative.  Youmedia Miami will teach teens to tell multimedia stories about themselves and their communities. The workshop will explain how the YOUmedia grant was awarded, and how staff is teaching teens to use technology as a way to tell their stories and engage with the world around them in powerful and new ways.  

The curriculum behind teaching teens basic computer skills and to help kids think critically and creatively about their lives and community will be explored. Participants will see how the lab will teach teens how to publish an autobiographical digital story, how to use technology to visualize their favorite books, how to create short animated films or their own video games and how adult mentors are used to guide them through each step.

Keynote speaker, Concepcion Tuma, winner of the 2010 Human Resources Professional of the Year, will offer sage advice in her speech entitled Finding Your Competitive Edge – Career Options During Times of Recessionary Layoffs.

About the Dade County Library Association
The Dade County Library Association promotes the professional growth of its members, supports innovative library services, encourages cooperation among libraries, provides an annual scholarship to an outstanding student enrolled in a library and information science degree program, produces career enhancing workshops, tours of sites to enhance understanding of local resources, annual luncheons to address issues affecting libraries and staff. www.dclamiami.org

About the Miami-Dade Public Library System
The Miami-Dade Public Library System, the eighth largest in the U.S., and a recipient of the 2008 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, strives to be a compelling community destination by providing a five-star customer service experience. With 49 libraries and four bookmobiles, the library aims to reach every resident of Miami-Dade County who seeks informational, educational and recreational materials and offers access to a collection of more than 3.5 million books and materials; 1,735 public computers; 120 Self-Checkout machines and Wi-Fi at every location. The library system proudly serves more than eight million visitors who come through its doors annually, and another 4.4 million who access collections and services through its website: www.mdpls.org