Moonee Valley Training Wiki

http://mvls.pbwiki.com

Our Library Service

5 branches in Melbourne’s Inner-West

51 permanent and 20 casual staff

55,500 members

‘Gulliver Core’ + 20 subscriptions to

databases, eBooks, tutorials.

Top 10% for public usage of databases

Current Reference Training

Induction Training (all staff)Quarterly “Forums” on various topicsOccasional database vendor training

– for Librarians/Library techs.Problems:

Fitting in training around rosters. Informing all staff about new or updated

databases. Keeping up with changing technology.

Library 2.0 Training

“23 things” program: a State-wide program to introduce ‘Web 2.0” concepts to public library staff in 2007/08. Inspired by Helene Blowers (Charlotte-

Mecklenburg Library, USA) Managed locally by Yarra Plenty Library (

http://www.yprl.vic.gov.au/Learning_2.0/)Approx 30 MVLS staff completed

course.

Why Invest in Library 2.0? Libraries can:

revitalize their web presence keep up with user needs and changing user

groups become more familiar and confident with

emerging technologies

Staff and users can participate in “next generation library services” with social networking and web innovations.

http://mooneevalleylibrary.blogspot.com

Why Wiki?

Accessible from anywhere

No registrations, no passwords

Easy – for us, for staff

Free!

How we set it up

No pilots!No costings!6-8 weeks in preparationWiki still being completed when staff

started the programme.2-3 hours per week preparing

questions.30-45 mins working on the Wiki.

The Basic Outline

10 week course of databases to review

Reviewing 3 - 4 databases per week.  30 minutes of work, per week. October 13th - January 30th  Alone or in pairsHelp and support as neededNor compulsory but “expected”All levels of staff involved, Library

Officers to the Library Manager, full/part/casuals.

Developing the Program

Each week was loosely themed Back in Time: genealogy (Ancestry), archived

newspapers (Times Digital Archive), Picture Australia & Picture Victoria

Back to School: subject DBs aimed at students (Science Resource Center, Opposing Viewpoints), Encyclopaedia Britannica, web-chat tutoring (Your Tutor)

Who Are You?: biographies (Biography Resource Center, Australian Dictionary of Biography Online)

Developing the program (2)

Included Library Link Victoria & Libraries Australia

Included reference and readers advisory resources

Included paid and free resources e.g. Victorian government’s Better

Health Channel websiteDescription of each D’Base & 1-2

questions for each

Spreading the Word

Visiting branch team meetings

A4 Handout

Email reminders - at the start & periodically

Monthly staff bulletin

Initial Reactions

“Cautious optimism”

Reservations centred around: Idea of ‘homework’ Perception of having ‘spare time’ ‘I’m too busy’

Rostered time off the circulation desk alleviated a lot of this initial tension.

Tracking Progress

Questions emailed/hard copy

Excel spreadsheet maintained by the ref staff

Gentle reminders/encouragement to anyone falling behind

Helped the ref staff to pinpoint particular issues with databases/our questions

Issues that arose

Importance of really clear wording

Making sure questions were not variable or time-dependent (where possible)

Problems with concurrent sessions (e.g. Safari : 50 e-books computer training manuals)

Staff really appreciated feedback; and being able to work in pairs.

Results

76% completion rate 32 out of 42 staff completed all 10

weeks. Most others completed at least 7

weeks

Recognition from Council

No measurable increase in usage stats yet.

Benefits to Library staff

Increased familiarity with the online collection “I didn’t know we had that”

Improved understanding of the depth and coverage of resources

Improved confidence in demonstrating the databases

Happier to “market” to patrons

Benefits to Reference Staff

Getting to know/ more contact with staff from distant branches.

Identifying areas of need for further training

Confidence in using web-based training

Great resource for training new staff

Looking at the databases in greater depth

Lessons Learnt

Library 2.0 laid the groundwork

Self paced participative training works well (for our staff)

Library Officers appreciated the opportunity for training (casuals doing the course in their own time!)

Technical Services staff appreciated being ‘included’

Lessons Learnt

Too brief Often only looking 1 or 2 features Missed as much as we exposed.

Senior staff

All staff can “squeeze in”30 mins a week for training! esp. If they’re keen and well supported.

People love prizes!

Questions?