Thoughts and Tips on Doing Presentations

Pixabay Image

I am in the midst of a flurry of presentations on all things youth services. From webinars to conference sessions; keynotes to breakout sessions,  I've been busy prepping ten presentations for March and April's "showtime-gotime." In addition, since January, being an instructor/co-instructor for three classes - both at the graduate and continuing education level - has kept me hopping. These five intensive months of mad slide deck/recording/scripting content-creation soup is at the heart of my consulting work so I think it's fun!

With audiences that vary from grad students, public librarians, academic librarians, adult librarians, school librarians to my favorite - my family of youth librarians - each presentation has to be fine-tuned to meet the needs of the particular listener. It's a great challenge.

All this prezi-power has me thinking about how to prepare for a presentation - whether online or live. Here are a few thoughts from my corner of the world:

Initial Proposal - it's important and should reflect exactly what you will be addressing. Attendees don't like to be sold a "bill-of-goods" that isn't addressed in the presentation. Take time to make it right (even when its for something 6 months away), doable with your knowledge or skill set, and substantive in content. Don't put in everything in the world. Keep to your main focus (you can always pitch another proposal to cover other topics).

Think "Title" - make it snappy. Use your subtitle for the less fancy part of the description. People may come to "Changing Your SLP" but "Busting SLP Barriers: Changing Your SLP" may pique attendee's interest more. Title creation is fun! What is the main thrust of your talk? It will suggest a great title, play on words or image that will draw people in.

Acknowledge Your Source(s) - was a major point in your talk learned from or developed by another person? Acknowledge and thank them. None of us come to any of our knowledge like Athena out of the head of Zeus. We all start our thinking somewhere. Be generous in connecting to the person, book or source of your inspiration.

Writing Content

• Your Proposal Matters - your proposal is often what attendees read to decide if they will come to your session. So be sure to have the proposal in front of you as you create the slide deck and script. Keep checking back to see if you're on track. I often go off on tangents as I create. The proposal description helps me trim away those loose threads and keep the presentation focused on the topic. 
• Keep It Organized - whether you prep the prezi as a "sit-and-get" or audience participation/discussion, make sure you have a recognizable beginning, middle and end and that you keep loose threads out of the picture. Whether you do this through an initial outline or a tight final edit, it will keep you focused on your topic.
• Build in "Slack"- as you write, be sure to leave lots of time in your "script". Often speakers insert unexpected anecdotes; a longer explanation if people are confused or want to answer questions from the audience. By leaving some slack, you allow that unhurried time.
• Start Strong - the first 3 minutes of your presentation are where you hook your audience. Don't spend it introducing yourself  or providing your bonafides to speak on the subject or asking audience questions (you can always do that a slide or two in). Hop right into content. 
• Keep Your Audience at the Forefront - remember, you may be speaking to an audience of multitype librarians; to directors; to staff who come from extremely small communities as well as multi-branch urban areas. Make sure your content speaks to ALL, not just to your own experience and background.

Slide Deck Creation

• Slide Content - Text - don't be text-heavy; use your text as an outline of your points by using a word or phrase. Having your entire script on slides is difficult for people to absorb. Consider instead a word, a phrase, a quote - perhaps coupled with an image. 
• Slide Content - Pictures -if you rely mainly on pictures only or little text - and plan to share the deck through a PDF post-presentation - consider doing animations that transitions from an image to a final bulleted outline of the topic addressed in that slide. That way your PDF slidedeck can double as a "handout" of information rather than just images. 
• Images - illustration, photos, memes are all useful - and you can mix them up no matter what purists say. 
• Animation - make sure the animation or gif serves your point. Don't use them if its just to wake people up. If using gifs, which are visually intensive and arresting, let them "talk" for you and don't leave them on screen long. They hold audience's attention visually and often lose the audience aurally.
• Copyright - Always credit images used from sources - whether from a copyright-free source like Pixabay or images you find online. Write for permission if it isn't clear that the image is in the creative commons. It's a pleasant surprise how many yes's you receive. 
• Design - play with what works best for you. Vary the position of text/image from slide to slide to create visual interest. Take advantage of themed layouts in Powerpoint, Prezi and Google slides to create interest.

Final Prep

• Practice - go though the deck exactly as you would for the presentation. It points out awkward phrasing (we often write and talk quite differently); helps you on your timing (people either rush or slow way down) and gives you a final chance to correct any problems in your slide deck.
• Online vs In-Person - when doing online presentations you need to slow down your delivery; work on removing "ums" and "ahs" and add more slides or animation transitions. People listening/watching need that to help them stay tuned to you. In person, you and your personality are part of the formula so you can use fewer slides and talk at a more normal pace.
• Slidedeck Sharing -if not using Google Slides, transfer your presentation there and share the link. Make sure your "script" for each slide is in the notes field for easy reference by attendees.

Showtime!

• Scripts - Know your script but feel free to have notes or the full script to refer to. If you are speaking from notes and using Powerpoint, use "Presenter Mode" so your notes show up as you present.
• Zen - don't let glitches throw you. No one to introduce you? Do it yourself. Slidedeck/video/computer meltdown? Do the prezi without your visuals.. If you have practiced, you will hit your timing and leave time for questions without rushing. Always be gracious and let your audience know that you've got this even when things aren't going quite right. Be a pro!.

For more presentation tips specifically aimed at conference sessions, stop by this Wisconsin Library Association Youth Services Section blog post. 

And share your tips and thoughts on doing prezis in the comments. I'd love to see lots more colleagues doing presentations. The more people presenting and sharing out in the field, the better for all of us. I look forward to learning from YOU!

What Makes a Great Youth Librarian?

After talking to children's librarian peers, directors, library educators and library users, I've got some ideas to share on what makes a great children's librarian.

Join me Wednesday, January 23 1-2:00 pm CST for a webinar session at the online Wild Wisconsin Winter Web Conference sponsored by Wisco's library systems. Registration is still open for this and all 15 webinars presented by national and state speakers.

Session description:
You know them, you’ve seen them, you may even be one! But what factors contribute to making someone a great children’s librarian? You may be surprised at both the universality of the answer as well as the specialized skills and talents that separate the ho-hum from the wowsers! We’ll look at nature vs. nurture; perception vs. reality; what top children’s librarians say are the “must-haves” and the “definitely-don’t-needs; ” and reflect on getting to greatness. Learn how you can step up your game at any time or place in your career (or, if you are a director, coach your staff) to achieve amazingness in youth work.​

For Director's Ears Only:10 Secret Tips to Support Youth Services

The webinar is on the books. If you'd like to see what youth librarians identified as the most important tips that directors need to be amazing supporters of youth services and youth services staff, please click here to view the University of Wisconsin- Madison iSchool CE webinar.

For Director's Ears Only - Supporting Youth Services Webinar

For many years, in hallway conversations, across meals and anywhere youth services staff gather, we have shared tales and instances in which our library co-workers have been less than...shall we say...supportive?

We all know the stories. Sometimes it is treating youth staffers as if we are children; sometimes a cluelessness about how programming is more than 30 minutes of face-to-face time (Oh the planning! Oh the prep! Oh the cleanup! Oh the energy of presenting! Oh the humanity!); sometimes the sheer inequality of disparate pay and task expectations.

It seems to me we need to get out the echo chamber of talking among ourselves. We know what we do, the value of our services and expertise and the need for equity with our peers in adult services.

Now we need to step up to leadership and advocacy by bringing the conversation to our directors, managers and administration. We need to help them understand what we know.

In that spirit, I will be presenting a free webinar for directors on Tuesday February 27 at noon CST through UW-Madison iSchool. Thanks to the generosity of peers in Wisconsin who shared their stories and Storytime Undergrounders from throughout the country who shared their thoughts, directors will have some great food for thought. I hope you encourage folks in your administration to spend an hour getting more in-depth on how everyone in the library can support youth services.

On My Honor: Creating an Ethical Work Environment

I was honored to present at the 5th annual Wild Wisconsin Winter Web Conference - 2 days of amazing free, hour-long webinars on a great variety of library stuff.  My prezi was on exploring issues involved in being ethical and creating an ethical work environment. While it was on the management/leadership track, it has alot to say to all library staff.

Thanks a million to Jamie Matczak, founder and coordinator of this CE day sponsored by all 17 WI library systems and to Jean Anderson and Leah Langby who ably moderated along with a host of library system folks who assisted in organizing the days. You can find all the archived prezis on the website. They are ALL amazing!


2017-01-26 13.01 WWWC17 On My Honor Creating an Ethical Work Environment from Nicolet Libraries on Vimeo.

Resource List

American Library Association. Code of Ethics.  http://www.ala.org/advocacy/proethics/codeofethics/codeethics

American Library Association. Conflicts of Interest. http://www.ala.org/advocacy/advocacy/proethics/explanatory/conflicts-of-interest

Private Lives. Julie Jurgens. Hi Miss Julie blog. December 30, 2015. https://himissjulie.com/2015/12/30/private-lives/

The Things You Might Be Doing That Will Force Your IT Guy to Start Spying on You. Jake Swearingen. August 26, 2016. New York Magazine http://nymag.com/selectall/2016/08/how-to-be-so-dumb-that-the-it-guy-is-forced-to-spy-on-you.html

Martin Luther King: A True Servant Leader. James Perry. Huffington Post March 20, 2010. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-perry/martin-luther-king-jr-a-t_b_427417.html

Library Ethics in the 21^st Century. Sarah Houghton. Librarian in Black blog. November 18, 2015

http://librarianinblack.net/librarianinblack/ethics/

Where Do We Learn?

Of course everywhere.

On social media, through blogs and in social media groups.

Through mentor-protege relationships - whether informal or set up through ALSC or a state association.

Image Pixabay

Through our libraries - in fact this post is inspired by Katie Salo's library asking staff to teach each other about their areas of expertise. Wow, libraries of the world, do this thing! Wouldn't it be great if every library cared to make sure all staff knows what all staff work is about?!?!

Through attendance at state and national conferences - both inside and outside the library world.

Through webinars and online classes like our state's continuing series of webinars with panels of practitioners at libraries large and small; formal CE credit courses through SLIS schools and our statewide Wild Wisconsin Winter Web conference with 10 national speakers.

Through attendance at workshops outside our usual territory - and often relatively nearby. In the past month, four of our YS team have attended three different seminal, breakthrough, slaying-sacred-cow seminars on shaking up summer reading programs around the state. While we already push the envelope in this area, we are inspired by other's stories, experiences and support. And we drove to learn more!

Through reasoned discourse like that going on here and here.

Through conversations with colleagues in the library, patrons and kids.

All our learning, all our sharing (we each have the power to reflect on and teach each other) pushes our practice and grows our understanding. No matter where we learn, we can't help but get better.

Our opportunities are everywhere. Carpe perceptum!!

Sharing What We Know

I've been thinking alot about teaching and learning over the past few years. I've been lucky in both this job and my last one to work with former teachers who bring an always more rigorous and interesting perspective to work with kids. And I've been lucky to have supportive management and mentors who have encouraged me to teach and share.

I felt encouraged to blog, to develop and present lots of workshops, presentations and webinars. Recently I took a big step and started teaching as well - first as an adjunct and then as a CE instructor.  I find the teaching I am doing now to be deep and challenging in a whole new way. It makes me question everything I do in every way and hold a lens up to my work as a youth librarian.

But, this teaching isn't unique to me. We are all teachers. I believe this in a deep-bone way.

With the kids and families we work with, we are constantly teaching and sharing - tips on great books, series and characters; literacy tips; ideas on how to find favorite books or discover a different kind of reading.

We do the same with our colleagues we work with every day - whether within our youth area or in our library - teaching a new approach, or a new blog or a thing that helps us work better.

We teach our managers. We teach our board. We teach our funders. We teach our colleagues in other youth-serving organizations.

We teach on Twitter and in blog posts. We teach on listservs (ok, well, some just rant there) and Facebook groups and Google circles. We teach in articles and books we write. We teach through webinars and workshops and at conferences near and far.

I love to see how much youth librarians are generously sharing with each other.  Because as much as we teach, we learn.

We each have a unique approach that we bring to our sharing and teaching.  That is the most fun. I love the learning and the special ways each person approaches their subject. And I get excited when I discover another colleague sharing their knowledge or attitude or perspective. It keeps us wealthy in knowledge and pushes youth librarianship ahead.

So if you are hesitant about starting that blog or speaking up in a Twitter chat or submitting a speaking proposal for a conference/webinar/workshop, let me encourage you. Just do it. We're waiting to hear YOUR voice and learn all you have to share!

Graphic courtesy of Pixabay

Going Wild in Wisconsin

Today I joined friend and colleague Amy Koester in presenting a webinar exploring Unprogramming during Wisconsin's two day state-wide CE extravaganza, the Wild Wisconsin Winter Web conference. Organizer Jamie Matczak brought in speakers from around the country (well, and from Belgium!) to explore cutting edge issues and ideas.

Amy and I have been spending alot of time over the last year or two loosening up and streamlining our program planning with school-agers (both in elementary and middle school). By incorporating unprogramming concepts (celebrating books, giving kids agency to explore through discussion and hands-on discovery), we have been able to decrease excessive program preparation and planning.

Here is the simple recipe we use to guide our efforts:

I can't praise this approach highly enough. For me, it has been freeing. I look forward to presenting programs because I am comfortable in the content and the kids' engagement. Because of our increasingly networked work world, I can easily find interesting information on books, authors and subjects. Creating fun activities is as close as a blog, Pinterest pin or publisher's site.

Kids love the approach. We give them the power to explore and they respond happily. I love the chatting and conversations, problem solving and exploration that results from their participation. It enriches the program far more than having me as a talking head.

As a manager, I can see the savings - in time, because preparation is less intense and time consuming; in staff, since fewer staff need to be involved in a program; in money, because many supplies and materials can be re-purposed and in stress, because the programs invite kids to provide the vehicle for their own discovery.

For people attending the webinar, here are links to specific programs I discussed: Space, Dr. Who, Library Camp-out.  Please stop by Amy's blog, The Show Me Librarian, for additional links and information from today's webinar!

From a Conversation Starter at ALA (a tag team seven- post series at our blogs starts at this post to continued dialogue at this webinar, unprogramming is always a great chat!

1000 Books Webinar - Join Me!

Want to learn more about the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten movement that is growing here, there and everywhere?

I will be presenting a webinar on this cool literacy initiative - it's origins, examples of programs from around Wisconsin, how to create and budget for a program like this and plenty of time for input from webinar participants  - whether bragging up your efforts or asking questions about how it all works in case you are thinking of starting this initiative at your library.

Details:

Tuesday, May 14   

9:00 -10:00 am CST

Sponsored by South Central Library System (WI) CE gurus

Hope to see some of you there! And if you can't make it, I'll post the archived link when it goes up!

 

Here is the archived link to the webinar. (you may need to click the link again after the first time to finish the load).

 

 

Get a Fresh Start - Unprogramming Webinar

I'm doing a webinar along with three of my favorite BFF-brarians on Wednesday March 6, sponsored by our state library agency. My part is on unprogramming - freeing yourself to play with content, literacy and kids as leaders in programs. What's about the rest? Read on:

Your youth services might be a well-oiled machine of systematic displays and story times, but how often do you look at WHY you do what you do? Sometimes you need to reinvent the wheel and break the mold. Hear from three youth services experts in the state on ways think of yourself as an educator (versus entertainer), literacy enthusiast (versus craft expert), and life changer (versus summer library soldier).

Mark your March calendar for:

Fresh Practices for Youth Services Librarians

3:00-4:00pm CST Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Hosts: Tessa Michaelson Schmidt, DPI Library Consultant; Shawn Brommer, South Central Library System Youth Services and Outreach Coordinator; Sharon Grover, Hedberg Public Library (Janesville) Head of Youth Services; Marge Loch-Wouters, La Crosse Public Library Head of Youth Services

No need to register—just click the link on the scheduled meeting day and time. Sign in with your first name or library/school name. Webinars will be recorded and archived for later viewing. 

Here are some links referenced on the webinar to leave you an easy trail (I've scribbled links at webinars - all incorrectly so I want to give attendees a break):

Barbara Scott's Children's Programming blog - not too active recently except for Lego programs, but go back and find detailed plans for book parties. She is the inspiration for the way our programs have become unprogrammed!

Pubyac is the mother of all youth listservs. While stumpers can dominate, the programs shared are dynamite.

teachingbooks.net is rich with content focusing on youth book creators: trailers, author interviews, discussion questions and more.

S. Bryce Kozla- yes, Sara works with me. Her blog is truly a trip into a young librarian's journey to awesome - from programs described to the ways of thinking why she does what she does. In this post she explains how to stay au courant with kids' passions and obsessions.

Pinterest. It's how I program now; I can say nothing more.

Hope you join us for an interactive good time!

P. S. The webinar is over. It was fun!  And this is where to find the archive under "Professional Development"


Image: 'Eggs-tra Special for You, Happy Easter!'  http://www.flickr.com/photos/66606673@N00/450373034 Found on flickrcc.net