Learning Express, an online resource accessed through AskRI.org, is a one-stop shop for practice tests, exercises, skill-building courses, eBooks, and other information to enhance school, work or life proficiencies. While Learning Express offers practice tests for myriad educational exams for students from elementary school through graduate school, such as the PSAT, SAT, ACT, TOEFL, GMAT, LCAT, MCAT, PCAT, GRE, GED and other standardized tests, it also offers services for adults looking to increase their job, career and educational skills. The Learning Express Library provides online access to eBooks, eCourses and eTests for workforce training, professional licensing exams, and adult education.  

In the Jobs & Careers section, there are practice tests for a number of occupations, including electrical, plumbing, cosmetology and more. For example, someone interested in a career at T. F. Green or another airport can find Air Traffic Controller information, which includes preparation books and tests. There are Culinary Arts practice test and books on guidance in the culinary career path for those applying to Johnson & Wales University's Culinary Arts program. Other jobs and career tests include those for Commercial Drivers License, Emergency Medical Services, Nursing, Firefighters, Law Enforcement, as well as the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery for those interested in joining the military.  

Many of the Jobs & Careers selections available also offer Career Guidance eBooks designed to provide detailed information about the job category as well as strategies for standing out during the application process. Some career guidance eBooks include information about specific areas of the career such as becoming a border patrol officer; learning about terrorists, weapons, narcotics, smuggled goods and other areas that is beneficial to understanding the job before committing to a career as a member of a police department.

Educational tests and courses are not only for students. Skill building eCourses, eBooks and online practices tests are also available for the adult patron population. This includes tests on subjects such as Math, Reasoning and Science as well as eTest, eCourses, and eBooks designed to help adults improve their Writing and Grammar, Personal Finance and Public Speaking skills. There are even eBooks available to help prepare patrons for taking different standardized tests.

In addition to practice tests and other tools to help patrons improve job skills, Learning Express also offers instruction for Job Search & Workplace Skills that allow adult patrons to access courses and guides for writing, grammar and spelling in a business environment, resume and cover letter writing and tips and tricks for a successful interview.

For additional information and assistance with workforce development alternatives available from AskRI.org, go to the Career Center @ Homework Help from AskRI.org for resume and cover letter templates, job searching, and interviewing guidelines or visit AtoZdatabases which now offers patrons a search option to find jobs online, powered by indeed.com.

Do you sometimes feel a little lost and confused about all of the possibilities for libraries and patron interaction when it comes to Web 2.0 tools? Well, Nicholas Tomaiuolo has produced a book that will help you get caught up on some of the trends. You don't need to be a power user to understand his presentation on each topic. He uses plain and simple language for the average reader.   

Each chapter is dedicated to a specific web tool or type of tool. Starting with the Gutenberg Project, the massive online collection of classic materials that have passed into the public domain, through spaces like Facebook, Flickr, citizen journalism, self-publishing, and allowing patrons to provide reviews on library catelogs, Tomaiuolo has created a basic guide for libraries and librarians as to how to make the Web work to increase patron interaction and help our users create and share content through the library.

One of the nice things about the presentation of each tool is that Tomaiuolo presents them with the eyes of a newcomer. He provides a brief introduction of the history and evolution of the tool, often interviewing something who played a major role in the development of the tool or a librarian who would be considered a power user, before presenting the pros and cons of library uses of the tool.   Examples of specific libraries and how they each use the tool are also presented, giving the reader a chance to see how beneficial use of such tools can be.

Tomaiuolo's presentation does not rely solely on research from the professional literature and the interviews he completed. For each tool, he registered an account and worked with the tool itself to see how easy (or not) he found the experience. His insight into the use of Project Gutenberg and Wikipedia are perfect examples of such.

Considering the topic, it will probably not surprise you to learn that this book is more than just a book. There is a parallel website that provides direct access to the websites and tools discussed throughout the book. And according to the book, Tomaiuolo is planning to maintain and update the site with new resources as they develop as well as dropping others as they fall out of fashion. Visiting the site is also a great way to get a sneak peek into the book and its content.

Tomaiuolo teaches online research skills courses for both Central Connecticut State University and the University of Maryland University College. He also writes for Searcher Magazine.   His first book, The Web Library, was published in 2004.

Salve Regina University is hosting the 2013 conference June 3-4

A key benefit the Rhode Island Library Association offers is the annual conference. This two-day event requires most of the year to plan and the hard work of a dozen or more committee members. Their goal every year is to provide a mix of practical, implement-it-tomorrow programs and thought-provoking, philosophical debates. They also strive both to bring in national figures and to showcase outstanding local talent.

It's all a tall order when one considers their modest budget and the relatively small size of Rhode Island's library community. Fortunately, they have a seasoned committee chair in Karen McGrath, Auburn Branch Librarian, Cranston Public Library. Karen keeps the committee members on task, coordinates logistics, wrangles volunteers and speakers, and bakes cookies for every meeting. (We're not talking Toll House from a log, either, we're talking the kind of selection that inspires ballets).

Her co-chair this year is Dawn Emsellem, Outreach and Instructional Librarian, Salve Regina University. Not only has Dawn embraced the challenge of conference registrations, she will be the liaison with Salve, the location of the 2013 conference. Bryant University has been a wonderful host for the past few years, but planned construction there necessitated a move. As more than a few conference evaluations have advocated for a rotation back to the East Bay, the committee was delighted that Salve was eager to accommodate RILA.

Securing a location, of course, is only part of the challenge of putting together the conference. Over the next couple months the committee will seek out possible programs and presenters. Last year RILA inaugurated an online process for submitting proposals with great success. In addition, the committee welcomes recommendations from the RILA membership.

The committee also must secure sponsors for the conference. Vendor contributions help keep registration fees affordable. One goal the committee has this year is to make the vendor experience more meaningful to them and to attendees. Many libraries already have the products our vendors offer and most attendees are not there to purchase anyway. The message the committee wants to get out is that conference is a great opportunity to offer feedback and learn more.

Once presenters and vendors are lined up, the programs are scheduled and the brochure produced. Registration must go live online, coordinated with Membership. Travel and accommodations are arranged for out-of-state presenters. The committee and RILA executive board promote the conference through the RILA Bulletin and email blasts. Right before the conference, the only contentious meeting is held--the one in which the menu is decided.

Happily, the conference committee is otherwise very collegial. Any RILA member in good standing can join and the committee has been blessed with a healthy mix of public, academic, and special librarians at all stages in their careers. Committee members value the "cross-pollination" that comes from working across disciplines. Plus, there's the satisfaction of bringing off a major event. Cathy Poirier, Reference Librarian, CCRI, sums it up nicely: "It's the best committee I'm on and the most productive. And there are cookies."

Rhode Island librarians, library staff, and library supporters turned out in droves to honor Senator Jack Reed for his receiving the Crystal Apple Award from the American Association of School Librarians and the American Library Association's Honorary Membership. Also in attendance were ALA President Maureen Sullivan; ALA President-elect Barbara Stripling; AASL President Susan Ballard; and about 130 Rhode Island library staff and supporters from all different types of libraries from all over the state.

The Fleet Library at Rhode Island School of Design Photo Credit: Michael Salermo

Photo Credit: Michael Salermo

RILA President Eileen Dyer gives her remarks. Photo Credit: Michael Salermo