This spring, the Massachusetts Library System (MLS) is hosting its first season of MLS Member Webinars! MLS member library staff will share their knowledge and expertise on a variety of topics in a series of four webinars taking place May 22 – June 10.
In this blog series, we’re spotlighting a couple of MLS Member Webinar presenters by sharing how their backgrounds connect to their chosen topics.
Learn more about transportation from Cara Marcus, Knowledge and Resource Manager for the National Rural Transit Assistance Program (National RTAP), in today’s Q&A blog!
Be sure to also register for Cara’s webinar: How to Find (Almost) Anything About Transportation.
What is your name and position, the name of your library, and the community/communities your library serve(s)?
Cara Marcus: I’m Cara Marcus, Knowledge and Resource Manager for the National Rural Transit Assistance Program (National RTAP), a national program that provides training and technical assistance for rural and tribal transit professionals. We’re headquartered in Woburn, Massachusetts, with staff throughout the country.
What is your webinar about?
C.M.: Finding transportation information is more difficult than you may think. Especially finding legislative information and data about transportation. This webinar will equip librarians with the tools and processes they need to expertly search for and find authoritative and timely information on many transportation topics. And if your library serves community members who are looking for the best transportation options for them, this webinar is for you too.
What is your background to transportation research? Why are you passionate about it?
C.M.: I’ve been with National RTAP for over seven years now and my role advances the organizations that provide transportation throughout the U.S. We all use transportation in some way, and I get to create specialized training for everyone from bus drivers to state program managers, which is extremely important.
By connecting users with the highest quality transportation resources, libraries like mine (and yours!) can play a role in making transportation safer, more efficient, and better.
Why did you decide to host an MLS member webinar?
C.M.: Through my current and past libraries, I’ve been a member of MLS and its predecessor for over 2 decades. MLS does a wonderful job providing training, outreach, resources, and more.
I decided to host an MLS Member Webinar to give back to the organization and its members, as well as provide training on a topic that many librarians probably have many questions about. I also want to introduce several of the free tools that National RTAP provides to a wide range of librarians who can put them to good use.
Do you have any advice to other library workers who may be interested in learning more about transportation information? Do you recommend any resources for further learning?
C.M.: You’re always welcome to attend any of our free National RTAP webinars to learn more about transportation topics. You can also bookmark our Find Anything Toolkit to learn more about many of the resources discussed in this webinar, as well as general tips for transportation research. It will give you ideas for transportation librarians you can contact if you have a pressing question that you are having trouble finding resources for. We are always happy to help!
Blog coordinated by:
- Jane Stimpson, Consultant
- Jack Martin, Communications Manager
