The document proposes an online continuing education course called "The Melting Pot" for public librarians and paraprofessionals. The course would teach how to serve an increasingly diverse patron population through collection development, programming, and promotion. It would contain 5 topics including demographics, diversity, resources, promotion, and collaboration. The presenter has 17 years of experience in these areas and believes Ed2go is well-positioned to publish the course due to its experience providing library continuing education. An outline is provided detailing the course goals, timeline, challenges and benefits.

1. Presented by: Robin Beavers
To: Ed2go Online Learning Network
July 31, 2011
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2. This presentation is for an interactive online training course
called The Melting Pot; Practical Collection Development,
Programming and Promotion for Diverse Populations.
This course instructs public librarians and paraprofessionals
on how to build upon existing knowledge to serve an ever
diversifying population .
Ed2go has a long history of collaborating with libraries to
provide excellent and relevant continuing education
opportunities. I trust you will consider The Melting Pot an
asset to the impressive list of Ed2go’s offerings.
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3. The Melting Pot is an interactive online training course designed
to teach public librarians and paraprofessionals how to
purchase, program and promote library services to serve an ever
diversifying population .
The Melting Pot consists of five main topics:
Demographics –use of Census numbers to determine community
makeup.
Diversity- consideration of populations beyond the parameters of
race and gender (Whitelaw, 2010).
Resources- finding and sharing existing and emerging online
resources, and the discovery and use of community-based agencies
and institutions to help serve constituents.
Promotion-Using the diverse media outlets within a given
community to promote library materials and services.
Collaboration- emphasizing the active use of fellow colleague’s
experience as a tool to better serve diverse communities.
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4. My colleague and I have nearly 25 years of
experience in collection development,
programming and promotion for diverse
populations.
Robin Beavers, MLS
LaVonne Starks, MLS
Adult Services Multimedia
Reference Librarian, 17 years
•Collection development
(print, film, software & audio)
•Instruction
•Public Relations/Promotion
•Programming
Adult Services Outreach &
Programming Librarian, 12 years
•Programming
•Community Outreach
•Public Relations/Promotion
•Instruction
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5. To collaborate with an established educational company
with the resources to reach library systems that serve
public librarians and paraprofessionals .
To create a course that will provide relevant continuing
education for professional and paraprofessional staff in
public libraries.
To create a course that will provide practical instruction
on serving diverse populations for librarians and
paraprofessionals working in public libraries.
To create a course that develops awareness of various
groups of patrons seeking to be served.
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6. Ed2Go
Professional librarians
Library systems
This division of
or paraprofessionals
Library Systems
Cengage Learning has a
working in public
throughout the United
rich history of
libraries
States have the same
providing organizations
such as library systems
with current, relevant
continuing education
opportunities.
Those tasked with
purchasing materials,
creating programs and
promoting library services to
need to educate staff
with who must serve a
diversifying
patronage.
diverse populations.
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7. Administrators in
Residents who
public libraries
support and
Library management can use
patronize the public
libraries
Melting Pot as a way to recognize
the need to create inclusive
The community relies on
policies that promote the
trained staff to meet their
procurement of dynamically
diverse interests and
diverse library materials and
services.
needs.
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8. My colleague and I have compiled of resources,
contacts, vendors, institutions, agencies and
ideas that have proven useful and beneficial for
us and others we have assisted.
Using this information I have created a proposal
and a draft of a prototype course for the
Melting Pot.
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9. The Melting Pot is an idea with a prototype course
outline that needs the resources that Ed2go has in its
arsenal to reach its full potential. To become a full
online training tool it requires:
Subject Matter Experts
Diversity experts- to ensure that the Melting Pot
encompasses all facets of diversity.
Public Relations experts- to ensure that effective and
proven principles and practices are addressed in regards
to promotion and media.
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10. Online curriculum experts- to enhance and ensure that the
Melting Pot is pedagologically sound and designed for
learners to achieve desired outcomes.
Technical experts- those who can assure online
asynchronous delivery, use of multimedia materials and
learner access.
Evaluators- access to consultants employed by Ed2go that
can help in the further development of the course as well
as provide feedback and recommendations.
Test subjects- to analyze and assess the Melting Pot course
and the to provide feedback .
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11. According to Ed2go the average timeline for completing
an online course from prototype to launch is 3 to 6
months. Using the 6 month time frame I expect the
following:
September 2011
Initial prototype presented to
Ed2go
December 2011
Feedback revision/testing
October 2011
Feedback and Revision
January 2012
Present final revisions and
testing
November 2011
Feedback and Revision
February/March 2012
Ready for launch
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12. Challenge 1
Library systems are in the midst of dealing with financial issues and
money is tight.
However, continuing education is considered a vital component of
any library system and must be given priority ,Ed2go already has a
credible reputation in the library world.
Challenge 2
Ed2go has a strong interest in developing more technically oriented
course offerings.
There is no course like The Melting Pot and Ed2go has an
opportunity to be current, relevant an more importantly answer a
very urgent need to educate librarians and paraprofessionals in in
an effort to do due diligence in serving a diverse group of patrons.
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13. 


The Melting Pot is an opportunity for Ed2go to
offer a continuing education course for libraries ,one of
your most consistent and valuable partners.
Currently there are no other continuing education
courses for library staff that offer practical solutions to
everyday activities.
Ed2go classes have always been an affordable means of
education for library systems as well as individuals
seeking to enhance career skills.
The Melting Pot can address all of these needs.
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14. The Melting Pot seeks to become part of the continuing
education opportunities that are an integral part of the Ed2go
Learning Network.
Collaboration with Ed2go will provide access to countless
librarians who seek to do due diligence in serving their
communities to the fullest.
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15. Ed2go Online Course - Online Adult & Continuing Education
Provider. Cengage Learning. Web. <http://www.ed2go.com/>.
"Teach With Us - Ed2go Online Course - Online Adult & Continuing
Education Provider." Ed2go Online Course - Online Adult & Continuing
Education Provider. Cengage Learning. Web.
<http://www.ed2go.com/TeachWithUs.aspx?tab=Ed2goNetwork>.
WebJunction - Populations Served. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.webjunction.org/populations-served
Whitelaw, K. (2010, January 13). Defining Diversity: Beyond Race
And Gender : NPR. NPR : National Public Radio : News & Analysis,
World, US, Music & Arts : NPR. Retrieved from
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122327104
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