Continuing Education Guidelines

NOTE: Revision have been made to the Continuing Education Guidelines. We suggest you look over this page for the changes that were made effective April 2006.

The purpose of the SEMLS Contining Education Program is to provide development opportunities for our member libraries and their staff members.

• Pre-registration is required for all SEMLS programs. We recommend libraries register online at http://www.semls.org. If staff members wish to attend a program for which they have not registered, they must call the SEMLS office to confirm that the program is being held and that there is available space.
  
• The continuing education calendar is posted on the SEMLS Web site, http://www.semls.org. Participants may register by mail, fax, delivery, or on the SEMLS Web site. Advance registration will not be accepted over the telephone.
• Registration is on a first come, first served basis. If the workshop is oversubscribed, attendance will be limited to two people from each library. Confirmations will be sent to those whose registrations are accepted for each workshop, and staff will be notified when their registration requests cannot be accommodated. If a workshop is oversubscribed enough to support another session, every attempt will be made to offer that workshop again as soon as possible.
• Priority for SEMLS Continuing Education programs and workshops is given to the staff of SEMLS member libraries and member policy makers, such as library trustees for the administrative workshops. Second preference is given to staff of member libraries from other regions, regional staff, MBLC staff and automated networks’ staff.
• If space is available, SEMLS may open its workshops to others. Workshop participants who are not affiliated with member libraries, other regional library systems, automated networks and/or the MA Board of Library Commissioners shall be charged a fee to attend SEMLS workshops. The fee shall equal the value of service cost of half and full-day workshops and will be posted annually after the value of service figures are updated. For fiscal year 2007, SEMLS will charge $150.00 per day for workshops 4 hours or less. For workshops over 4 hours, SEMLS will charge $250.00 per day.
• An individual should notify the SEMLS office as soon as possible if he or she finds that they cannot attend a workshop for which they have registered. If an individual consistently does not attend workshops and does not provide SEMLS with any notification, this individual’s registration will be given a low priority for future workshops in the coming year.
• We ask that anyone requiring Americans with Disabilities Act accommodations register his/her needs with SEMLS at least 14 days before the date of the workshop and complete a special accommodations form one week before the workshop.
• Professional Development Point Certificates of Attendance to be used toward teacher certification by the Massachusetts Department of Education are available. PDP strings (nine learning hours plus a one hour demonstration of learning) are also designated in this catalog. All certificates must be requested at the time of registration. Attendees must keep track of their own certification materials.
• Coffee is provided during sign-in a half hour before SEMLS workshops begin.