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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">From Pennsylvania’s professional development advisor
<a href="mailto:julmoore@pa.gov">Julie Moore</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">DISCLAIMER: I’ve only been working with it for 2.5 months, so I still have a lot to learn. I'm happy to talk to them directly if they're interested or do a walkthrough
of our Staff Academy. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Pros: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">-It's easy to navigate in the back end, uncomplicated -- you can get tutorials built and put out quickly<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">-The Niche Academy marketplace has a TON of content in it and it's easy to add/purchase new material<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">-It's well-known in the library field; many consultant/speakers that frequent the library circuit are able to create content that's compatible<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">-Does have a lot of "options" for how to structure tutorials -- adding in additional resources/components like polls/quizzes/discussion boards<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">-The tutorials that Niche Academy creates and sends to their subscribers are generally pretty good <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">-I think it was built specifically for libraries<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Cons:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">-UX is not great; I think the interface is too cluttered, the tutorials are a little clunky to navigate. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">-I think it would benefit from a smarter search feature <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">-Pathway feature is weak; it allows you to link tutorials, but doesn't offer the instructional design qualities needed to build full courses <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">-If you need to track learning for your entire field, I would suggest digging into Niche's learning monitoring features. We don't use it except for reporting purposes,
but I have heard that it isn't as robust as some other platforms, like Moodle. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span class="contentpasted0"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black;background:white">-Discussion board feature is a little outdated -- doesn't give participants the ability to reply directly to a comment, react,
etc. It's just a little behind the times as far as a chat capabilities go. </span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Peace,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Hadiyah (</span><a href="https://www.mypronouns.org/what-and-why"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">she/her</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">)
<span style="color:black">| LSTA Coordinator</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">(pronounced: huh-D-ya)
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">717.787.9253 <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:hcleveland@pa.gov"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">hcleveland@pa.gov</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:navy"> |
</span><a href="http://www.statelibrary.pa.gov/LSTA"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">www.statelibrary.pa.gov/LSTA</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue">
</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">| </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdUIzbeSV9A"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">VIDEO: #PAHasYourBack</span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://pa-gov.libguides.com/c.php?g=1269860&p=9313644"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Check out our 5-Year Plan</span></i></b></a><b><i><span style="color:blue"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue"><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">My working hours may not be your working hours. Please do not feel obligated to reply outside of your normal work schedule.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:navy"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Currently reading
</span></i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14451357-racecraft?ref=nav_sb_noss_l_9"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Racecraft: The Soul of Inequality in American Life by Karen E. Fields, Barbara J. Fields</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;text-decoration:none">
</span></i></a><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">with the PA Commonwealth Anti-Racism Book Club</span></i><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1E1915"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:navy"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:20.0pt;font-family:Webdings;color:green">P</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:navy">
</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:green">please consider the environment before printing this email</span></i></b><span style="color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:6.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060">Confidentiality Notice:</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size:6.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060"> This electronic communication is privileged
and confidential and is intended only for the party to whom it is addressed. If received in error, please return to sender.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:6.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:6.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060">Please Note:</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size:6.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060"> If this email contains a PDF, then the attached PDF
file must be produced exactly as provided; no alterations may be made to format or content. If changes are required for any reason, a new file must be provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Office of Commonwealth Libraries. Any alterations to
the pdf file made by the recipient without the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Office of Commonwealth Libraries’ consent will render the pdf file and its contents null and void.</span></i><i><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002060"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> lstac <lstac-bounces@omls.oregon.gov> <b>On Behalf Of
</b>Mary Rayme -MSL- via lstac<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, April 20, 2023 4:06 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Hemmelman, Brenda <Brenda.Hemmelman@state.sd.us><br>
<b>Cc:</b> lstac@omls.oregon.gov<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [External] Re: [lstac] Niche Academy<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><b><i>ATTENTION: </i></b><i>This email message is from an external sender. Do not open links or attachments from unknown senders. To report suspicious email, use the
</i><a href="https://www.oa.pa.gov/Documents/Cofense-Report-Phishing-User-Guide.pdf"><i>Report Phishing button in Outlook.
</i></a><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">We use Niche in Maryland and really like it. We did explore different ways (YouTube? Should it all be on our website?) for us to share content and settled purposefully on Niche having the best User Experience (UX). We still need to brand
our Niche site though. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Kind regards,<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Mary<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">On Wed, Apr 19, 2023 at 11:27 AM Hemmelman, Brenda via lstac <<a href="mailto:lstac@omls.oregon.gov">lstac@omls.oregon.gov</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Hello!
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">SD State Library is considering getting a quote from Niche. Do you have Niche? How do you like it? If you are in the upper Midwest area, is there a rep for our neck of the world?
You can reply to me direct at <a href="mailto:Brenda.Hemmelman@state.sd.us" target="_blank">
Brenda.Hemmelman@state.sd.us</a> if you wish. Thanks! <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;color:#990000;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Brenda Hemmelman</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
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<span style="color:black">Access & Development Services Manager<br>
</span><span style="font-size:5.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"> </span><span style="color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><br>
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE LIBRARY<br>
605.773.5075</span><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#FFC000;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"> </span></b><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#C00000;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">|</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:gray;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"> </span><span style="color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">800
Governors Dr</span><span style="color:#201F1E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">, </span><span style="color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Pierre, SD 57501</span><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#FFC000;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"> </span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="gmailsignatureprefix">-- </span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p style="margin-bottom:0in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#222222"> </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#888888"><img border="0" width="88" height="96" style="width:.9166in;height:1.0in" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image002.png@01D9744B.6CB83100"></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#888888"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Mary Rayme (she/her)<br>
Grants Coordinator<br>
Maryland State Library Agency</span><span style="color:#888888"><br>
</span><span style="color:black">25 S. Charles Street, Suite 1310<br>
Baltimore, MD 21201</span><span style="color:#888888"><br>
</span><a href="mailto:maryp.rayme1@maryland.gov" target="_blank">maryp.rayme1@maryland.gov</a><span style="color:#888888"><br>
</span><span style="color:black">443-515-1666 (cell)</span><span style="color:#888888"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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