TEL Trainer of the Month

June TEL Trainer of the Month: Nancy Renfro
by Jennifer Wooters

Nancy Renfro

Congratulations to Nancy Renfro, TEL’s trainer of the month! Nancy is the Director of the Watagua Regional Library in Johnson City, TN. She has done many TEL workshops for civic groups, including Kiwanis Clubs, Rotary Clubs, and Bar Associations. She is absolutely stellar at outreach! Nancy says, “I am a TEL trainer because I feel TEL is one of the most important resources available to all citizens of the state of Tennessee, and I want to make sure as many people as possible are aware of it and know how to use it.  It goes back to my days as a Bibliographic Instruction Librarian at a small liberal arts college.  I've just taken that experience and projected it out to public libraries, community agencies, and civic groups.”

When asked about her favorite TEL feature, she says, “That's such a hard question; there are so many amazing features to TEL, and it changes and grows and develops. I love the geolocation software that simplifies access--no more remembering the password!  I love the new Google-like search product.  It's so much easier to navigate than the old one.  I also love the "ReadSpeaker", especially for the children's products.  The ability to have the article read to you while you follow along in print is so powerful.  When I demonstrate it, people's eyes just light up.  Then I love to hear them come up with applications for it that I hadn't even considered--and that ensures that they are excited about it, and will use it--or at least explore it further and tell others about it.

Nancy continues, “I love demonstrating TEL at community events...  I love meeting these community leaders in an environment where they're not being asked for money, and sharing these powerful tools.  I try to make it relate to them not just for business, but as a parent who is busy and their child comes to them the night before a project is due--the library is closed, so what do they do?  Relating the fact that it is a resource available to them when they need it is so powerful.  I've also loved being able to share the testing capabilities of LearningExpress Library as well.”

Thank you for your enthusiastic support of TEL, Nancy! We appreciate all you do for us and for the people of Tennessee.

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