I contributed to a session like this in the UK aimed at cataloguers/metadata librarians http://www.cilip.org.uk/cataloguing-and-indexing-group/events/linked-data-what-cataloguers-need-know-cig-event.
All the slide decks used are available at http://www.cilip.org.uk/cataloguing-and-indexing-group/linked-data-what-cataloguers-need-know
Specifically my introduction to SPARQL slides are at http://www.slideshare.net/ostephens/selecting-with-sparql-using-british-national-bibliography-as, and link to various example SPARQL queries that can be run on the BNB SPARQL endpoint (SPARQL examples are all Gists at https://gist.github.com/ostephens)

Not sure about the practicalities of bringing this to staff in the US, although planning is in progress for another event in the UK along the same lines and I'd be happy to put you in touch with the relevant people on the committee to see if there is any possibility of having it webcast if there was interest.

Owen

Owen Stephens
Owen Stephens Consulting
Web: http://www.ostephens.com
Email: [log in to unmask]
Telephone: 0121 288 6936

On 1 May 2014, at 17:23, Hutt, Arwen <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> We're interested in an introduction to SPARQL workshop for a smallish group of staff.  Specifically an introduction for fairly tech comfortable non-programmers (in our case metadata librarians), as well as a refresher for programmers who aren't using it regularly.
> 
> Ideally (depending on cost) we'd like to bring the workshop to our staff, since it'll allow more people to attend, but any recommendations for good introductory workshops or tutorials would be welcome!
> 
> Thanks!
> Arwen
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> Arwen Hutt
> Head, Digital Object Metadata Management Unit
> Metadata Services, Geisel Library
> University of California, San Diego
> ----------------------------------------------------------------