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Staff Training

Staff Training, Webinar
Webinar: Creating A Virtual Orientation for New Staff
August 26th, 2010 | Permalink | Comment?

We’re heading into a second week of double-header online WebJunction events and hope to see you there! This week’s Digitization and Preservation Symposium was attended by more than 500 people (!) and included the usual buzz of resource and idea sharing throughout. Be sure to review the archive and the questions and links gleaned from chat.

If you missed the first two sessions in the Libraries and Economic Development Series, you can still register for Tuesday’s final session, Going to Your Customer – Outreach and Strategic Partnerships, to learn how to boost your community’s economic development.

And if you’re involved in training of any sort, the second webinar next week is not to be missed. We have Emerging Leader Group N to thank for recruiting the Baltimore County Public Library Virtual Orientation Project for this webinar.

On Wednesday September 1, 2:00 Eastern, in collaboration with ALA Learning Roundtable we’re pleased to host Creating A Virtual Orientation for New Staff. Orienting new staff quickly to your organization is very important. A virtual orientation could be the key to a timely, comprehensive, standardized introduction to your library system. Discover advantages to implementing a virtual orientation for your workplace. Presenters Jean Mantegna, Sandy Lombardo, and Melissa Hepler have also shared their expertise in a recently published case study. Come join us on Wednesday if you want to hear how they planned, tested and implemented this exciting training project!

Register and preview resources »
Conferences, Online Learning, Staff Training
Practical Approaches for Online Learning — IFLA Presentation
August 13th, 2010 | Permalink | Comment?

First slide of today's IFLA presentation

Many thanks to everyone who attended the WebJunction presentation today at IFLA. This presentation was part of a joint session of the Knowledge Management, Continuing Professional Development and Workplace Learning, and Information Technology sections.

Visit the IFLA site to read all of the papers that were presented in Session 107 — it was wonderful to be part of a session that included examples of knowledge management and staff training projects from around the world.
Library Management, Online Learning, Staff Training
Practical Approaches for Adding Online Learning to Your Training Program
August 9th, 2010 | Permalink | Comment?
A few years ago, I had the privilege of contributing to Trends in E-Learning for Library Staff, a snapshot of how library staff in the U.S. viewed, and used, e-learning in 2005.

This spring and summer, Jennifer Peterson and I interviewed libraries to develop a new snapshot of how U.S. library organizations are utilizing online training tools in their staff development initiatives. Our resulting report is less about how online learning is viewed … in fact, we started with the assumption that online learning is an accepted, even expected, component of training programs today. From there, we examined why online learning was incorporated into the training program, which tools were used, how learner collaboration and ownership were encouraged, what successes were realized, and asked the program coordinators/trainers to offer any advice for other library organizations pursuing similar programs.

The paper we wrote was accepted for inclusion in this year’s IFLA program, and I’ll be presenting our findings this coming Friday, after immersing myself in the international library community for a few days.

I’ve also posted the paper, with practical approaches for adding online learning to your training program, and case studies about the training programs profiled on WebJunction, in our Training Program Management section.

Read the entire paper, or check out the case studies for each of the training programs profiled:
And on a related note, be sure to join us on September 1 for a free webinar with the folks from Baltimore County Public Library on Creating A Virtual Orientation for New Staff.
Online Collaboration, Online Learning, Open Source, Staff Training
A Trifecta for Learning and Collaboration
June 7th, 2010 | Permalink | 1 Comment

You have to look at bit behind the scene to appreciate the triple winning lineup of this Thursday’s webinar Building An Online Learning Community In Your State. It is a production of the dynamic Group N of ALA Emerging Leaders in collaboration with the ALA Learning Round Table and WebJunction.

Sponsored by LearnRT, the Emerging Leader Group N is summiting the learning curve of planning and producing a series of webinars of interest to the training community. Since January, they have surveyed the field for topics of interest, identified a few key topics, selected presenters, received production and technical training on webEx, and are ready to roll it out to you—the library learning audience. Show your support for the efforts of Angela, Jennifer, Natalie and Sonnet by attending this Thursday.

Or just come to find out how the combined creative forces of Maurice Coleman and Nini Beegan created a collaborative, online space where Maryland library staff can participate and contribute ideas, information, and content.

It’s not too late to register at:
http://evanced.info/webjunction/evanced/eventsignup.asp?ID=1651
PLA 2010, Staff Training
PLA Recap: Staff Day Success
April 12th, 2010 | Permalink | Comment?
Are you involved with planning and implementing an all-staff event at your library? We heard it from the experts at PLA: a successful staff day is hard work, but it can facilitate learning and bring recognition to all in your organization. Pat Carterette hosted the panel of staff development veterans including Mary Ross, Stacy Schrank, and Nancy Schutz. These folks have planned and implemented numerous all-staff events in public libraries of all sizes and they shared their tips, tricks and strategies for a successful day.

I encourage you to review the session slides and handout now available on the PLA site, but here are some of the gems I jotted down. The presenters touched on all these aspects of a successful staff day:

Planning Process
1. Be clear with management about your intentions and about their buy-in for the event. Use your evaluations from previous staff day as ROI. Emphasize the importance of staff day as a way to build productivity and staff morale in the work place. This is an investment in your employees. For example, 72% of the library’s budget is spent on staff, so shouldn’t you be investing in the retention and development of this resource?
2. Location, location, location: make sure your venue has room for breakout sessions, catering is in place, you can hang things on the wall, there’s adequate parking, and lots of women’s restrooms. Don’t assume anything.
3. Provide clear guidelines for staff: will student staff attend, is it required, how will the day be recorded on timesheets…work with your HR department early on to have these guidelines in place. It’s not possible to “over communicate” the plans with staff. You can avoid the “I never heard about that” sentiment. Put yourself in the shoes of a new staff member, avoid jargon, and even if you try to go “paperless” be sure to have a print version of the program available the day of. Be sure to communicate about the menu and the room temperature eg. bring a sweater.
4. Picking the day: what about book drops, deliveries, will closure impact pubic service?
5. To your staff, don’t refer to staff day as a “training day“…it’s really “staff development”. But your patrons might feel better if your “closed” signs refer to “training” or “staff education day”.
Theme/Branding/Communication
1. Set the theme to align with the current goals of your organization, or in conjunction with a library milestone.
2. Use the theme in everything! The branding, the communication, the awards, the session titles, the menu, the decorations, the t-shirts, name tags…
Program Ideas and Resources
1. Get staff involved early on to help plan program and develop presentations, especially if they’re staff day “resisters”.
2. Put the “staff” in staff day. Tap staff expertise for peer presented sessions.
3. Consider a panel of “emerging leaders”. SPL hosted a panel of former “student assistants” who have now become assistant managers in the organization.
4. One of my favorites was the “So you want to get your MLIS?” session.
5. Bring other community members in to present. Consider a panel of community partners. How about folks from other local workforce development agencies to share how they’re supporting patrons? What a great opportunity to build local understanding and collaboration.
“Day of” Considerations
1. Plan for all contingencies.
2. From catering to ill presenters, there’s plenty that can go wrong and you need to be sure you’re not the only person who can fix it!
3. Delegate anything that can be delegated.
Leaving a Legacy
1. Make sure the resources shared are available to staff afterwards.
2. Evaluate the day and make changes next time based on the feedback.
3. Share pictures!
4. If you gave out T-shirts, encourage staff to wear them on “casual day”…retain the team spirit!
Staff Development Day Survey: Emerging Leader Project

The presentation and handouts reference an exciting project being taken on by a group of Learning RT- sponsored Emerging Leaders. The group is in the process of creating a staff development day handbook. If you are involved at any level with planning staff development day events and have recommendations or materials that others may find helpful or if you have attended a staff development day and have insights, they would like your help! You can find the survey here http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/StaffDaySuccess (All respondents will have a chance to win a $25 gift card from Amazon!)

Epilogue

At the beginning of the presentation the audience was asked a few questions about the size of their staff and the budget available for a staff day. I was struck by the large number of folks who come from smaller or medium-sized libraries who have little or no budget to plan their staff days. In these tough times, I think we need to include a number of contingency plans or cost efficient ways to build organizational morale and learning. I’d love to hear from libraries who insert learning and staff development into every day or from those who are using presentation archives or online meetings to bring staff together. There are examples popping up all over the place! I’ll mention the WebJunction Online Conferencing group here as a place to explore innovative approaches to online “staff days”. And for ideas on integrating learning into “every day”, be sure to check out the presentation and handouts from another PLA session, Power Up Your Learning Organization.
Advocacy, Conferences, Library Services, Staff Training
Announcement to Participate in Legal Resources Training Conference
December 1st, 2009 | Permalink | Comment?

With funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to the National Center for State Courts, the Center-hosted Self-Represented Litigation Network, in cooperation with the Legal Services Corporation, is presenting:
A Training on Public Libraries and Access to Justice
January 11-12, 2010, Austin, Texas

Information on Application Process
With funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to the National Center for State Courts, the Center-hosted Self-Represented Litigation Network, in cooperation with the Legal Services Corporation, is presenting a two-day conference that addresses how public libraries can improve access to online legal information at libraries. The conference will be a unique opportunity for participants to meet with public librarians and with legal and court experts to discuss strategies for integrating access to legal information into their programs, including how to locate the best content and tools, how to talk about the content with library patrons, how to work with content partners to make sure that needed content is developed, how to share what they have learned statewide, and how to use successful programs to advocate for the importance of public libraries as gateways to government institutions.

The conference organizers plan to select between 10 and 15 teams of two to three people from across the country to attend the conference. These teams will learn about a broad range of currently available print and online, customer-friendly legal tools developed by courts, bar associations, law libraries, and legal aid programs that support people without access to legal aid or counsel. The participants will learn how to access this information, facilitate sharing among libraries and legal agencies and participate in the enhancement and customization of these tools.

Preference will generally be given to teams that include a person who plays a statewide library staff educational or organizational role; a local librarian with a strong interest in expanding the use of public libraries for access to justice; and one of the following: a legal aid staff member; or a court online information expert or member of a self help center currently not using online tools to provide services. Applicant teams are encouraged to put together a group that will be the most effective in their area of service to spread the word in their states. The decision of the selection group will be final.

Conference participants will receive travel and hotel costs (subject to certain caps described in the application). Participants will also be eligible to apply for post-conference funding to implement some of the tools learned at the conference. Such grants, which will range from $750 to $1,000, might be used for travel to conferences at which training would be shared, development of marketing materials, and so on.

For additional immediate information, contact Richard Zorza, richard@zorza.net.

Application materials can be found on:
SelfHelpSupport: http://www.selfhelpsupport.org/libraries
WebJunction: http://www.webjunction.org/legal-information/-/articles/content/86970844
Online Collaboration, Online Learning, Staff Training, Sustainability
Don’t cut out Learning in hard times: 16 minutes with George and Joan
November 9th, 2009 | Permalink | Comment?
Thanks to Lori Reed for pointing out this excellent podcast from Joan Frye Williams and George Needham from their Thinking Out Loud series. I just listened to it for the second time and took some notes:
- What is the social contract…our obligation to keep our skills current.
- Training budgets are seen as an easy mark in cuts to save money (they keep staff, but cut training)
- What does it cost to keep skills current?
- Investment necessary if we’re going to keep up-to-date.
- How can you stay vital and active in your community? If the resources you work with are getting trimmed back, you may need more in your bag of tricks.
- Who’s responsibility is “learning”? The individual’s? The organization’s?
- Your organization may help you keep your skills up to date, but you need to take the responsibility to act upon the knowledge you’ve acquired and apply them to the goals of the organization.
- How can we move toward a state where learning is something we all agreed to do? …to see learning as an opportunity to help each other be more successful, instead of staying in our own little silos.
- Ask yourself: What can I learn or contribute to help others learn to do their job?
- And be willing to go to others with your suggestions AND for them to not take it as a criticism of their work or inability to do the work. Acronym to remember: Q-TIP (quit taking it personally)
- Learn how to transpose what you’re learning in other spaces to your work in the library (eg. customer service you receive when shopping)
- One of the ways to tell if you’re doing a library job right is if you’re learning something.
- Learning has intrinsic awards.
- Learning is not penance.
- Management: your support for learning helps your staff feel engaged.
Bravo, George and Joan!
Library 2.0, Staff Training, Sustainability, Tech, Web 2.0, WebJunction Staff
Library 101 Project debuts
October 30th, 2009 | Permalink | Comment?

Our fellow staffer Michael Porter (aka Libraryman) has been spending his off hours working slavishly with David Lee King on a project they call Library 101. We know Michael as an unrepentent cheerleader of libraries and librarians who can convince anyone to get up and dance and sing for the cause (and have fun while doing it!). Well, their project debuted just a few days ago, with quite a splash. The project website includes a collection of more than 20 essays from thought leaders in the field, an extensive list of resources (101, actually) on “need to know” technology, and last but not least, a 7-minute song and video featuring Michael, David, and a huge cast of characters from libraries around the globe. Around the office, we all have the chorus “101 our parts make a sum that will be the key to what is to come. 101’s how we get the job done! Evolve and make your Library 101!” totally stuck in our heads.

Michael and David are hoping that you will help build the project by adding your comments to the essays, to answer the question, What do you think librarians need to know to succeed?
Online Learning, Staff Training, groups
Twelve-year Study Confirms Online Learning Works
September 2nd, 2009 | Permalink | Comment?

It’s one thing to experience the effectiveness of learning online with others, but quite another to have a Department of Education study confirm that experience. What foresight (bless ‘em) to start the study back in 1996 and what an exciting time to benefit from the research! As the New York Times post quotes:

“We are at an inflection point in online education,” said Philip R. Regier, the dean of Arizona State University’s Online and Extended Campus program.

The Department of Education’s meta-analysis of studies (see full report) between 1996 and 2008 compare online with in-person learning looking at the tested performance of students. The studies showed that “blended” instruction (combining elements of online and face-to-face instruction) was better than both face to face instruction or instruction conducted wholly online, but additionally that instruction conducted wholly on line was more effective than face to face instruction only.

As a parent of elementary school-aged kids, I’m of course hopeful that this research will impact some of the decisions made by funders and policy makers, especially in light of all the work going into broadband and technology stimulus work. And too, I hope that we can do a better job training our teachers, parents and of course librarians to support the learning needs and methods of all.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention how proud I am to see the study confirms some of the findings in research published way back in March 2007 by my WebJunction colleagues in the Blended Learning Guide. And also worthy of WJ gold stars is the forward thinking revealed in the resources posted in the new Group: Social Learning for Staff Development. Here’s to the days ahead, beyond the “inflection point” of online learning!
Online Learning, Staff Training
… Now with Instructor-Led Courses!
August 18th, 2009 | Permalink | Comment?

We all know that self-paced, anytime, anyplace learning has many advantages, and because they are the best cost effective way to get the most learning to the most people, those courses will always make up the bulk of WebJunction’s course catalog. But we also know that self-paced courses are not the only way to learn, and many of us really miss the social interaction of an instructor and classmates. So we are trying out some new, instructor-led, live-online courses that we hope you will really like.

We are pleased to announce we have just added five such new courses to our catalog. These courses are exclusively offered for WebJunction members by Amigos Library Services – the largest library consortia in the southwest, and one of the top providers of quality continuing education for library staff in the country. They are all on library-specific topics, and our initial focus this fall is on Technical Services.

The first classes start just after labor day, so now is a good time to take a look and sign up. You can see all the course listings together, read the full descriptions and enroll in the Amigos category of our Course Catalog. But as always – if you are a member of any of our State or Provincial Partners, make sure you go to the catalog on that Partner’s site instead to take advantage of some steep discounts.

Here are titles, dates and short descriptions of the courses. You can find more info in the catalog.

MARC 101 – September 8 & 9
A beginner level introduction to MARC format; this course is intended for participants who are new to MARC. Topics covered include a brief history of MARC, organization and structure of a MARC record, definition of common MARC terminology, MARC formats and use of OCLC’s Bibliographic Formats and Standards for help with understanding MARC code.

Tools for the Reference Desk – September 17 & 24
Do you want to learn how to implement Web technologies in your reference desk? This course explores a variety of online tools, from blogs, wikis, to free chat software and web-based platforms from which you can engage your users at the reference desk. Come learn how to utilize several free online tools in your reference activities.

Tech Topics: Library 2.0 – September 28
For some, Library 2.0 is new and uncharted territory. For others, it’s the same thing we’ve been doing for years. Find out where the term originated, what it actually means, and how it intertwines with Web 2.0. You’ll see live demonstrations of Library 2.0-type implementations, discuss its ramifications for your library and the profession.

FRBR – What it is and how it can help you prepare for RDA - October 13 & 15
FRBR (Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records) was created in 1998 and is the basis for the new RDA (Resource Description and Access). RDA is slated to replace AACR2 and be released in early 2010. Come and explore the new vocabulary and the bones of FRBR. By identifying FRBR, you are ready to recognize RDA when it is completed. Lively discussion is encouraged.

Basic Digitization: Everyday Imaging – November 11 & 12
This online workshop provides a solid introduction to library staff who want to start using digital imaging technology for ILL, web pages and other basic applications.
ALA2009, Online Collaboration, Online Learning, Staff Training, groups
Tweeting the way to staff learning
July 14th, 2009 | Permalink | 1 Comment

Michael Porter and I gave a presentation on Social Learning for Staff Development where we explored the concepts of serendipitous, targeted serendipity and designed learning using social networking tools.

Humans are social animals and are most engaged in learning when there is social interaction. So how could we present on a topic like this without expanding the presentation environment to allow for social learning about social learning? Even though we had the constraints of a linear lecture-type setup, we asked the participants to break up into groups, take up pen and post-it and start brainstorming challenges and ideas about how they could integrate social networking tools into their staff development programs.

I had intended to bring the groups back together to share what they had each come up with, but the room was so abuzz with social learning energy that I didn’t want to interrupt. So, I started a group on WebJunction to keep the ideas flowing. The notes from the ALA brainstorm are incorporated there as a launch pad for carrying on the conversation.
Staff Training, WebJunction Staff, Webinar
Talentpalooza 2009
July 9th, 2009 | Permalink | Comment?

Next week, Kathryn Perkins, WebJunction’s director of Partner Services, will be presenting at Talentpalooza 2009, a live online webinar series that is held annually to discuss the latest trends in talent management.

Take a look at the lineup for this free July 15 event on the Talentpalooza website, and register if you are interested in attending any presentations.

You can read about what the guest speakers will be presenting on the site’s blog. Here is what Kathryn wrote:

Leveraging Customer Communities to Meet Top Talent Challenges

Are you fully engaging the social learning aspect of your customer communities as a critical talent management resource to build high-potential staff, improve productivity, and enhance recruiting and learning efforts more efficiently and at a lower cost?

At WebJunction, we provide online learning community services to a wide variety of library organizations. Our customers (whom we call our partners) range from state libraries that develop custom learning communities, to library organizations that use our competency index and online courses for staff training. As a central hub of the community’s activity, we see talent and learning trends in our industry and the important role communities play in communication, networking, referrals and skill development.

With a number of states’ legislature budgets delayed or sharply decreased, along with record numbers of people flocking to the libraries, library staff are reaching out to their colleagues across the library field to assist in mentoring and collaborating on talent management initiatives. Online social networks are fostering connections, helping staff share information quickly and effectively across geographically diverse libraries and helping to establish broad recruiting circles.

Why are recruiting circles so important at a time of diminishing budgets and staff reductions? Libraries have faced significant retirements this year and expect this to continue into 2014. Filling these roles with experienced staff has become difficult, especially in states that have been hit particularly hard by the decrease in housing values. The lack of mobility within these states has pushed libraries to recruit from outside of their traditional geographic regions. The use of customer communities provides a cost-effective means of reaching out as well as serving as a positive asset to attract young prospective recruits.

Libraries are also reporting training positions being reduced or training staff taking on additional organizational responsibilities. In response, communities are helping by aggregating content and resources so that individual libraries can make the best use of limited time and not “reinvent the wheel.” Another promising activity that we see developing is cohort learning on rapid elearning development tools. Guru groups are forming around building expertise with the tools by sharing members’ best practices and enlightened failures.

I would like to hear if you are seeing some of the same talent and training trends. How is your organization leveraging your customer communities?
Library Management, Library Services, News, Online Learning, Staff Training, Tech
Library competency seedlings are sprouting
June 22nd, 2009 | Permalink | Comment?
I feel like I’ve spent much of the winter and spring planting competency seeds and I’m finally seeing the seedlings push up the soil and greet the light of day. So here’s what’s growing in the WebJunction competency garden …

♣ The Competency Index

Competency Index for the Library Field is a compilation of competency statements that address a broad spectrum of library practice and service. We aggregated and de-duped twelve leading competency sets from the field and then subjected them to a vigorous review by subject matter expert practitioners. We invite you to download the resulting publication and remix and reinvent it in whatever way best serves your library’s size, structure, and personnel development needs.

♣ Competency-course-content connections

We have integrated a fourth set of competencies from the Index with the WebJunction catalog—The Personal/Interpersonal competencies. Also referred to as soft skills, foundational or behavioral competencies, they apply to most job roles and form the underpinning of effective and stellar practice and service. Start on the Competencies tab of the WebJunction Courses page and discover connections to courses and resources aligned with specific skills and knowledge statements. You can also explore learning opportunities related to library management, core technology, and systems & IT.

♣ Competency evaluations

The results are in from the two competency evaluations WebJunction conducted in March and April. We asked respondents from across the field to evaluate themselves on a selection of skills and knowledge statements for library management and technology. Read the summaries and look for the detailed results in the PDF attached to each summary.
- Library Management Competency Evaluation Results
- Technology Competency Evaluation Results
Library Management, Online Learning, Staff Training
How do organizations partner with WebJunction?
June 1st, 2009 | Permalink | Comment?

At WebJunction we talk a lot about partnerships because we truly believe in them as a way to leverage limited resources for the library community. And while we make a lot of individual partnerships with our members, we also partner with organizations. On the first Wednesday of every month, WebJunction hosts a conversation that addresses how we work with library organizations to provide customized, cost-effective resources to keep staff skills up-to-date and libraries relevant to current patron needs. This Wednesday, Michael Shapiro and me, Zola Maddison, will provide an overview of our tools, talk about our service options, and follow up with an open Q&A. We’ll also reflect on how our current partners are successfully employing WebJunction tools to save time and money while meeting the needs of their library staff. If you’re thinking about staff training and want to learn more about partnering with WebJunction, register for one of the upcoming WebJunction for Organizations sessions, online or at ALA. We hope to see you there!
Library Management, Staff Training, Webinar
Mileposts on the learning road
May 19th, 2009 | Permalink | 2 Comments

One week from today is the day you return to work after the 3-day Memorial Day weekend AND it’s the day of our Libraries as Learning Organizations webinar. Mark your calendars and set your reminders because this is going to be a lively discussion about reframing the approach to library staff training and learning.

Our panelists, representing libraries at different mileposts on the road to becoming learning organizations, will share challenges, strategies, and successes from their own experience.

Read more about the event and register here:
http://evanced.info/webjunction/evanced/eventsignup.asp?ID=1592

See you online next Tuesday!