Archive for July, 2008
Back by popular demand
Jul 29th
Lori Reed’s June Learning Webinar presentation was so well-received that WebJunction asked her back for a repeat performance.
Cultivating a Culture of Learning in the Library
When: Tuesday, August 5, 2008, 1:00 PM Central Time
How much time does your library spend on “training?” Statistics show that most learning takes place on the job or with a coworker, yet, as trainers, we spend an inordinate amount of time preparing for and delivering classroom training. In this webinar you will learn why you need to get your staff out of the classroom and instead focus on creating a culture of learning in your library.
Lori will explore:
- The differences between training and learning
- The benefits to libraries for creating a culture of learning
- The key elements of a learning organization
- Tips for creating a culture of learning in any size library
Please register for this webinar here: http://evanced.info/webjunction/evanced/eventsignup.asp?ID=1502
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Loading ...Mesmerized by Thiagi
Jul 23rd
If you are a regular reader of the CLENExchange, you may remember the book review of Card Games by Thiagi, written by then CLENE President, Pat Taviss for the September 2007 issue. Pat described Sivasailam “Thiagi” Thiagarajan as “an international game master with a reputation for creating engaging games that enhance and support learning.” As the CLENExchange editor, I added an editor’s note to her review about my memories both of seeing Thiagi at an American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) conference in 1988 and attending his 2-day workshop in 1990.
As I frequently tell trainers I meet about the impact Thiagi’s training made on me, I was delighted to receive an email today with a link to a wonderful YouTube video titled Rapid Instructional Design with Thiagi. The April 2008 program was sponsored by the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) Training Forum. The email came from Gail Griffith, Deputy Director of the Carroll County (MD) Public Library, responsible for public services and staff development and a CLENE member. I wrote about connecting with Gail as a part of my research for a December 2005 CLENExchange article on Elliot Masie’s Learning 2005 global conference; there is also a profile of Gail in that issue.
Back to the video …the description reads, “Learn how Thiagi and his team undertake complex instructional design projects without the use of time-consuming, low value added traditional ISD models. Thiagi has created, tested and successfully applied his own model that produces rapid prototypes tomorrow.” I urge you not to miss this opportunity to learn and be mesmerized by a master. For more information, tips and tricks from Thiagi, visit his website too.
Come play with Thiagi
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Video intro to the new Webjunction
Jul 23rd
The new WebJunction is coming… and it looks hot! Check out this sneak preview guided tour led by Michael Porter and Dale Musselman. It’s very social networky, and I mean that in the best sense. Librarians familiar with Facebook will probably feel right at home.
If player isn’t working, go directly to: http://blip.tv/play/AwGN61M
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Good CLENE Conversation
Jul 23rd
Once again, CLENE events at ALA were sizzling. The pre-conference workshops on Friday were filled to capacity and the Training Showcase on Sunday afternoon was the place to be. In between sipping lemonade and munching pretzels, I talked myself hoarse in two hours of conversation with the steady flow of library trainers and supervisors. What a dynamic subset of the library world—so full of ideas and energy.
Find slide presentations and handouts from all events In the CLENE section of the ALA Conference Materials Archive.
- Competencies For Your Staff: From Implementation to Integration (morning pre-conference)
- Implementing A Staff Development Plan (afternoon pre-conference)
- CLENE Training Showcase
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...You think professional development is tough?
Jul 16th
My ALA experience was so packed with meetings this year that I only got to one session— Professional Development Around the World. This one was a high priority for me, combining my deep interest in how libraries operate around the world and my interest in lifelong learning for library staff.
Through the admirable efforts of organizations like Read Global, Lubuto, and others, developing countries are tasting the fruits of what a library can do for their communities. But providing the buildings and the materials is only the first step toward assuring enduring, quality service.
I would ask any library worker who frets about continuing education in our system to stop and think about the enormity of having to start from absolute scratch. The Read Global program in Nepal offers 21-day seminars for library staff that begin with a module on “what is a library?” before moving on to the more technical subjects of cataloging, book repair, or reference. The program also includes training for the villagers on how to use a library and for community leaders on how to steward the library. Oh, the things we take for granted.
A group of this year’s Emerging Leaders undertook to provide access to free, online professional development opportunities through its IRRT Free Links project. Using a wiki in combination with del.icio.us feeds, the group aggregated an impressive array of links to free online technology resources that “will help international librarians stay current with library information and trends in the United States and elsewhere.” Since most of the resources are in English, this list is just as useful for training needs here in North America. I only wonder if the group will ever open up the wiki permissions to allow others to add resources.
Another perspective from the opposite side of the globe resonated more with the training challenges we face here. Dr. Gillian Hallam, from very developed, even cutting-edge Australia, posed the provocative question, “Professional development: whose responsibility is it?” The answer is that responsibility is shared: managers, trainers, and professional associations all play a role, but it is the individual who has the “obligation to yourself to keep up-to-date, develop new skills, knowledge and confidence to ensure you have a successful and rewarding career.” The Australian Library and Information Association has implemented a 3-year professional development scheme with an accompanying career development kit to facilitate learning. So far, the voluntary participation is running at about 8%. Makes me wonder what the motivation/participation ratio would look like between library staff in developing versus developed countries.
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