Are you reading for the PPLD Adult Reading Program? Would you like to meet with others to discuss a business book that can have a lasting effect on you and your business?
Join us in a discussion of Leadership and Self-Deception by The Arbinger Institute on Tuesday, March 31 from 6 PM to 8 PM at the Penrose Library. There will be an interactive discussion followed by breakout sessions to discuss what you learned and how those lessons may be applied to your business.
To get your copy to read or listen to on CD call Terry Zarsky at 531-6333 extension 2308.
I’m on LinkedIn: Now What? By Jason Alba, Happy About, 2008
Do you have a LinkedIn account and now you’re wondering how to use it? I’m on LinkedIn: Now What takes you through the basics of LinkedIn and how to get started using it to the ways you can make it work for you.
Under getting started you will learn what LinkedIn is, how to create or update your profile, managing your account and settings and how to connect with others. Did you know that if you ask three people to connect to you and they all say no you could lose your account? Be specific about who you ask to link to and if you’re going to send a request to someone who doesn’t know you well you might consider sending an e-mail to them telling them why you want to be linked to them. If you are the one receiving invites from people you don’t want to link with because you’re not comfortable being linked or you are not sure who this person is who’s asking you can let the request lapse without a response so you don’t jeopardize their account by saying no.
Making it work for you covers searching, understanding degrees of separation, recommendations, jobs and hiring, services and LinkedIn groups and answers.
Using this section of the book you can see how you and others can use this site to check out potential employers or employees, how you can block certain people from your information (you may not want your current boss to know you are job hunting) and how to establish yourself as a resource for others or use others to find answers to questions you have.
The last section deals with personal branding, shady practices, netiquette and complementary tools and resources. After reading this I realized a number of ways I could better utilize the tools within LinkedIn. Now I just have to implement them.
Whether you are new to computers and are interested in learning the basics, or just curious about what is new in computers or library resources, PPLD offers a variety of computer classes every month at many of the PPLD branches that are all free.
In January there are a number of classes that are being held at the Penrose Library downtown that may be of interest to the business community.
If you are interested in learning what library resources are available to help you in your financial investments, then check out the Investment Tools at Your Library class (Tuesday, January 6 at 8:30 AM or Saturday, January 17 at 8:30 AM).
Perhaps you have decided that 2009 is the year that you will go into business for yourself, and you are interested in how the library can help you learn about demographics in your target area, competition, writing a business plan and finding other funding sources. The Minding Your Business class will be held Saturday, January 10 at 8:30 AM and Thursday, January 22 at 8:30 AM.
Maybe you don’t want to start your own business, but you are interested in making some extra money by cleaning out your attic. The Selling on eBay class Saturday, January 24 at 8:30 AM can help you learn the basics to start making some extra cash.
Again, all of these computer classes are free, and being held at the Penrose Library at 20 N. Cascade. To sign up, or for questions about other computer class offerings of PPLD call the Reference Desk at 389-8968.
