Development of Staff Technology Skills

Arkansas Library Association ConferenceOctober 26, 2009

Carol Coffey

Learning vs. Training

1. Active vs. Passive2. Learner-Centered vs. Trainer-Centered3. Self-Directed vs. Trainer-Led4. Anywhere vs. “Be There!”5. Just-in-time vs. “Someday you’ll need this.”

Develop a Culture of Learning

Let staff see you learning new things.

Give them time to experiment.

Talk to them about what they’re learning.

Let them try new things, even if the new things don’t always work.

“Creating a Culture of Learning at Your Library.” ALA Annual Conference, July 2009.

Components of Successful Technology Training Programs

Just-in-time : new technology, new software, new services

Competencies: library-specific skills expected of all staff members

Just-in-Time

Right before you release the new service

Staff will be familiar with it as patrons are learning

A great way to find the problems that you missed

CompetenciesSpecific skills and knowledgeQuantifiable“the core tasks necessary for a particular job.”

See Houghton-Jan, Sarah. Technology Competencies and Training for Libraries. Library Technology Reports 43, no 2 (March/April 2007).

http://www.webjunction.org/competencies

Tech Support IS ReferenceIt’s not the patron’s responsibility to know what kinds of

questions they can ask.We have the computers, therefore we must know how to

use themPatrons have always asked us for help – now the kind of

help they need is different.

“Thingamabobs and Doodads: Why Tech Support IS Reference.” ALA Annual Conference, July 2009.

Free StuffTraining Sessions offered by Database VendorsFree webinars (Webjunction.org does some but most of

their courses are NOT free)Webjunction.org does provide documents such as

tutorials, lesson plans, etc.Learning 2.0/23 Things Programs – Google it!

YOUR STAFF!

A Petting Zoo? At the Library?!?

Technology Petting Zoo: a place to touch the cool gadgets without pressure from sales people

Also a place to get advice from the owners of the gadgetsDoes not require the library to buy all the gadgets – Borrow them from your staff! Ask the owners of the toys to help with advice and

instruction.

CALS Staff Technology Petting Zoo, 2008

CALS Staff Petting Zoo, continued.

CALS Patron Technology Petting Zoo

Got some money to spend on staff training? Buy your own toys!See David Lee King’s post “Topeka’s Techie Toybox” at http://www.davidleeking.com/2007/10/23/topekas-techie-toybox/Also see Princeton Public Library’s Gadget Garage at http://www.princeton.lib.nj.us/research/techcenter/gadgetgarage.htmlAnd Santa Cruz Public Library’s Technology Petting Zoo at http://www.veganlibrarian.com/technologypettingzoo.html

What’s Next for CALS?CALS Application Petting Zoo (for staff AND

patrons)1. Facebook2. CALS Downloadable Library (OverDrive)3. Twitter4. Google Docs

http://www.slideshare.net/paroo1

Presentation SlidesResources List (PDF)ALA Presentations (in my Favorites list)

Email me: ccoffey@cals.org