Stephanie Zimmerman
Stephanie Zimmerman is the Training Coordinator for the Library System of Lancaster County (Pennsylvania), a federated system with 14 member libraries, three branches and a bookmobile, which serves 490,562 residents. She designs and implements technology and development training and consulting to the member libraries. This includes training on Innovative’s Millennium Integrated Library System, Microsoft Office Applications, emerging technologies (i.e. social media) and various other areas. Her goal is to remove the fear of technology and help others to realize the amazing possibilities it provides. Teaching others to do things for themselves and see their excitement when they break through their barriers is her greatest reward. For more information see her author page. Stephanie can be reached at szimmerman[at]lancasterlibraries.org and can be found on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
Homepage: http://lslctraining.blogspot.com
Jabber/GTalk: Slzimm1
AIM: Slzimm1
Posts by Stephanie Zimmerman
T is for Training 41 Happens Tomorrow
Mar 11th
Tomorrow marks the 41st episode taping of the Library Training Podcast, T is for Training which is sponsored by the ALA Learning blog.
Detailed notes about the podcast are visible here: Gearing Up for Tomorrow’s T is for Training
You can listen to past episodes of the podcast by clicking on the widget on the top right side of this page.
Thanks for listening!
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Loading ...Stephanie Zimmerman’s Turn…
Jan 21st
I will use the ORIGINAL 27 questions proposed for the T is for Training gang. Here goes (answers in bold)…
1) Your One Sentence Bio
A surrendering to something greater than myself mother and wife who likes to sing and is a training coordinator for a public library system.
2) Do you blog? If yes, how did you come up with your blog name?
Yes. I always warn the library-types I train that I am NOT a creative-type; I’m more of a math/science-type, and I don’t come up with very original stuff; hence, the name of this blog…
3) What is your professional background?
I have a BA in Social Work with a minor in Spanish and I almost finished a tech degree in Computer Information Systems. See question 21 for more details.
4) What training do you do? staff? patrons? types of classes?
Strictly staff/volunteers. Millennium ILS, Microsoft Office, Social Media, and anything else staff/volunteers need to use a computer for in our libraries.
5) What training do you think is most important to libraries right now
How to do advocacy well – something I know nothing about but can see is desperately needed.
6) Where do you get your training?
I LOVE webinars, especially the free variety as that works well with my current budget.
7) How do you keep up?
If only I could! I do my best through RSS (just made the switch from Bloglines to Google Reader last week and LOVE it), tweets, Facebook, Friendfeed, podcasts, video, flickr, etc.
(that’s supposed to be an 8, but the coding keeps putting a cool face with shades here, whatever!) What do you think are the biggest challenges libraries are facing right now?
Funding, funding, oh, and funding!
9) What are biggest challenges for trainers?
For underfunded and understaffed libraries to see the value of time/cost needed for training.
10) What exciting things are you doing training wise?
Currently working on being able to offer some e-learning Microsoft tutorials through CustomGuide.
11) What do you wish were you doing?
Wish I were home with my 2 beautiful girls. For a more work-related answer, I wish I could be training the public; the patrons, on all things technology with a focus on social media.
12) What would you do with a badger?
Stand at least twenty feet away from it. Wait, make that thirty feet.
13) What’s your favorite food?
Teff, an amazing Ethiopian grain. I gave up all forms of sugar, wheat and flour over 9 years ago and have discovered so many amazing foods.
14) If you were stranded on an island, what one thing would you want to have with you?
My family.
15) Do you know what happens when a grasshopper kicks all the seeds out of a pickle?
It’s left with a seedless pickle.
16) Post it notes or the back of your hand?
Post it notes – everywhere…
17) Windows or Mac?
Windows, but wish I weren’t.
18) Talk about one training moment you’d like to forget?
I had a training while working in private industry where we were shoved in a room big enough to hold a small round table and I had to train the president, vp and 2 other high ranking people (usually the hardest types to train as they usually have other people do everything for them) for 2 straight days; agony!
19) What’s your take on handshakes?
They are a necessary evil.
20) Global warming: yes or no
I’m afraid the answer is… yes.
21) How did you get into this line of work?
Feel free to read the twisted tale here.
22) What is the best part of your job?
Watching someones eyes grow big and hear them let out an “oooh” or an “ahhh” when they learn how to do something really cool or something that will save them TONS of time on a computer.
23) Why should someone else follow in your shoes?
I have to agree with Peter here and suggest people find their own pair of shoes.
24) Sushi or hamburger?
Neither thank you. Refer to question 13.
25) LSW or ALA?
LSW, it’s hip, it’s what I can afford, and it allows me to wear a cape when I’m in the mood.
26) What one person in the world do you want to have lunch with and why?
Mary, the mother of God, to ask her how she survived motherhood and how to cultivate unconditional love and acceptance.
27) What cell phone do you have and why?
A Motorola E815 I got over 5 years ago because it still works, I only use it for telephone calls, and I’m too broke to afford a data plan.
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...TEDx for Libraries: Dynamic programming for FREE!
Jan 13th
Here’s another great webinar from Infopeople:
Date and time: Thursday, January 21, 2010, 12 pm – 1:00 pm Pacific Standard Time
This webinar will last approximately one hour. There is no charge for this webinar. Pre-registration is not required.
For more information and to participate in the January 21 webinar, go here.
Times are tough. Your programming budget (if you still have one) has probably been slashed. Yet customers are relying on the library more than ever for free, quality programs that entertain, challenge and educate them. What’s a busy librarian to do?
TEDx events give libraries a great way to provide top-notch programming to their communities, for free! Using free content from A-list TED conference speakers and a proven program model, you can tailor an event to your community’s needs, whether you’re planning for 15 or 100 people.
By the end of this webinar, attendees will:
-Understand what a TEDx event is
-Be familiar with the application process and basic requirements for hosting a TEDx event
-Know where to go to get started planning a TEDx event
Join presenter Genesis Hansen as she introduces a fantastic programming resource for time- and cash-strapped libraries.
Speaker: Genesis Hansen. Genesis got her MLIS from San Jose State in 2003, and since 2004 has worked at the Newport Beach Public Library. She has been a Reference Librarian, Young Adult Librarian, Web Services Librarian and is currently the Reference and Web Services Coordinator. Genesis is interested in providing customers with the best experience at every point of contact with the library, including designing the website for better usability, improving wayfinding in brick and mortar locations, enhancing collections and developing creative and dynamic programs.
If you are unable to attend the live event, you can access the archived version the day following the webinar. Check the archive listing here.
Webinar: TEDx for Libraries: Dynamic programming for FREE!
Date: Thursday, January 21, 2010
Time: 12pm – 1:00pm Pacific Standard Time
Speaker: Genesis Hansen
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Feral Learning
Dec 29th
The original title of this post was going to be “Using FREE Online Resources for Continuing Education”. However, I was reading my Training Doctor Newsletter for November 2009 (yes, I’m a little behind and you should subscribe too) and came across a term that is new to me, feral learning. The newsletter states:
The term “feral learning” was coined in the 1990s by Ted Nunan, perhaps, or by Dr. Roy Lundin. It is in reference to employees taking control of their own training needs and education by utilizing resources they find themselves (such as Google).
Beautiful description of how I go about meeting my training needs with a very small budget. In these trying times, I currently have no CE budget, so I’m grateful that I have developed the skill of furthering my knowledge through online connections.
The newsletter suggests a wonderful blog post to check out by ZOE Training & Consulting. Please read through it for some excellent information. I love the 3 1/2 tips they state at the end of the post. Here are the beginnings of those tips as a teaser to send you over to the whole post…
- Help your employees become better learners.
- Help your employees become better teachers and mentors.
- Identify which critical areas are suitable for “PULL” learning
- (actually 3.5) Offer that content in multi-media formats.
I first heard another term for this, personal learning environment/experience (PLE), from fellow ALA Learning Blog author, Marianne Lenox, during her WebJunction Webinar titled “Start You Up! The Personal Learning Experience”. She presented this on 12/7/07. Be sure to check out the archive of it. Here’s a description of the webinar:
The new term “Personal Learning Environment” refers to a concept of highly individualized, non-structured e-learning built by the user to meet his or her own needs. Also known as a “PLE,” it can be a mix of educational computer software or applications, Internet pages, Web 2.0 tools and creativity. During this webinar, we will look at the most popular start pages like iGoogle, Netvibes and Pageflakes, and show you how to create your own private, educational website about almost any topic you choose!
I started following Marianne’s blog after the webinar. I began emailing her here and there. Then she was added to my IM list (Instant Messaging). Next thing you know we’re on a podcast together and the rest is history. You see, Marianne became part of my own PLE!! This is how it works!
Over the years I have found many avenues to bring me a constant stream of learning possibilities. By subscribing to blogs and online newsletters, joining lists and communities, and listening to podcasts, I have to pick and choose what I have time for. I mentioned in my previous post some top blogs I follow (and of course the blogs of the authors right here and the usual suspects found on the left side of this page) and lists that I am a member of. I love these newsletters:
- TechSoup By the Cup
- American Libraries Direct
- DIOSA Communications
- Idealware
- Training Doctor
- Philanthropy Today.
I love the OPAL and LearningTimes communities too.
For podcasts/vodcasts there is a wide variety (note my main training focus is tech training):
- T is for Training
- Adventures in Library Instruction
- Educause
- GeekBrief
- Get It Done Guy’s Quick and Dirty Tips to Work Less and Do More
- Howard Rheingold’s Vlog
- IT Conversations
- JohnHaydon
- LearningTimes Green Room
- Librarian Live
- LISNews Netcast Network
- Longshots
- Presentation Slide Makeovers
- The Public Speaker’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Improving Your Communication Skills
- Rocketboom
- SirsiDynix Institute
- Talking With Talis
- Tekzilla
- This Week in Tech
What makes up your PLE? Please comment and share the blogs, communities, newletters, podcasts, etc. that you would recommend.
My manager has made it a requirement within our department to attend one webinar or listen to one podcast per month and share what we learned on a page of our intranet. This is a great way to foster feral learning!
In an effort to move from push learning to pull learning with the staff and volunteers I train, I created a Google Calendar chuck full of possibilities. I created a page on our Intranet that shows them the calendar and gives them links to many resources. I would like to share that information with you here:
Link to the calendar: Library-Related Training Opportunities – This calendar shows regional, national and worldwide trainings and conferences as well as online webinars to help you in your profession. Click on the name of any event for more information. You may also change the view from Agenda (which it displays by default) to Week or Month by using the tabs on the top right of the calendar.
If you really like to travel, here is a huge list of Library Related Conferences around the world.
Here’s the list of resources I have recommended:
ABLE – The free, online Alternative Basic Library Education (ABLE) Program provides basic library knowledge and skills for staff members who have no formal education in library science.
Adobe Luminary eSeries – In this eSeminar series, you will engage with industry luminaries to learn techniques that will give you insight and techniques that you can use everyday.
ALA – American Libraries Assn. This will link you to their calendar of events and trainings.
BCR – BCR (Bibliographical Center for Research) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit headquartered in Aurora, Colorado. They offer a broad range of solutions and Their hands-on, personal attention to each customer enables them to deliver effective and timely solutions that help libraries keep pace with new developments in technology and services. BCR is the nation’s oldest and most established multistate library cooperative. Since 1935, the BCR team has helped libraries learn new skills, reach new customers, increase productivity and save money.
Charity How To – Offers free step-by-step videos for non-profits, including tutorials on online fundraising.
DIOSA – DIOSA | Communications specializes in Web 2.0 Marketing, Web 2.0 Trainings, Webinars, and MySpace Design for nonprofit organizations, and small businesses.
Discovery Education – Offers free webinars and archives.
Education Week – Offers Free webinars and archives.
Elluminate – Elluminate goes beyond web conferencing with best-in-class web, audio, video, and social networking solutions that help you create a 21st century teaching, learning, and collaboration environment. They offer great webinars.
Foundation Center – Offers free webinars on grant seeking, proposal budgeting, boards and fundrasing. They also offer fee based webinars.
Higher Logic – Higher Logic’s mission is to provide the constituents of not-for-profits innovative ways to think together and build trusted communities where interactive communication and information exchange can occur. By offering software products that allow people to contribute, share, and collaborate, Higher Logic delivers solutions to not-for-profits looking to preserve their organizational value and attract a new generation of global members. Check out their online Q3 Learning Series Webinars for 2009.
Idealware – Idealware seminars are designed to give you the tactical advice you need to make software decisions. They include all the candid advice and product comparisons of the reports and articles on which they are based, but offer plenty of extra guidance and insights straight from the author – and each is capped at 22 participants, so you’ll have lots of opportunity to ask questions and get just the information you need.
InSync Training – InSync Training offers a variety of consulting, development and delivery services to support synchronous training initiatives. We combine specialized instructional design, facilitation techniques, and content development to deliver the most effective training for the live online environment.
Library Journal Webcasts – List of Webinars suggested by Library Journal.
Lyrasis – A regional membership organization for libraries and information professionals, Lyrasis works to ensure their success today and tomorrow by providing access to more of the shared knowledge and expertise, innovative products and services, and customized solutions they need. Created in 2009 by the merger of PALINET and SOLINET, two well-established regional library networks, Lyrasis members now include over 4,000 member libraries and cultural heritage institutions across the US and beyond. Lyrasis serves as a critical collective voice in the national arena.
NEFLIN’s Library Webinars Blog: This site has been created by NEFLIN to provide Florida library staff with one location for information about webinars.
Network for Good Learning Center – Nonprofit 911 is a free training series on nonprofit marketing and online fundraising, supported by Network for Good and guest speakers.
New Horizons – Since 1998, New Horizons of Harrisburg has been delivering expert-led computer training to local Pennsylvania businesses and individuals. Through an integrated learning approach that ensures that new knowledge can be applied to real life situations, New Horizons Harrisburg delivers a full range of technology and business skills training from basic application and desktop productivity tools to complex and integrated business systems.
Nonprofit Resource Network – The Nonprofit Resource Network enhances the effectiveness of nonprofit organizations, providing professional development, networking opportunities and access to critical information resources.
NTEN – NTEN aspires to a world where all nonprofit organizations skillfully and confidently use technology to meet community needs and fulfill their missions.
OCLC Training Portal – The Training Portal is your gateway to making the most of your OCLC products and services. This site provides you with access to in-person and Web-based instruction from OCLC and OCLC-certified Training Partners.
OPAL – OPAL is an international collaborative effort by libraries and other organizations of all types to provide web-based programs and training for library users and library staff members.
O’Reilly Webcasts - Meet experts online.
PANO – Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations – PANO is the statewide membership organization serving and advancing the charitable nonprofit sector through leadership, advocacy, education and services in order to improve the quality of life in Pennsylvania.
PBS Teachers – Free media and education technology webinars.
SABLE – The free, online Supplemental Alternative Basic Library Education (SABLE) program provides additional resources in library knowledge and skills for staff members who have no formal education in library science. This program is a supplement to the ABLE courses; however, they are not tied to the completion of the ABLE courses.
SirsiDynix Institute – Providing you FREE access to industry-leading speakers and events, our mission is to support librarianship and advance the work of librarians around the world. Attend online as the SirsiDynix Institute presents compelling speakers selected from among leaders in librarianship and information technology. In each biweekly Web conference, presenters will share their expertise and enhance your understanding of current topics important to librarians.
Techsoup – TechSoup is a trusted technology resource that offers a variety of information and services for the benefit of the nonprofit sector. TechSoup provides instructional articles and worksheets for nonprofit staff members who utilize information technologies, as well as technology planning information for executives and other decision makers. Our introductory articles and message board support are aimed at those who do not have much experience using technology, but we also provide more advanced information.
The TLT Group – The TLT Group is a not-for-profit that helps college and university educators take advantage of changing technology so they can improve teaching and learning.
Thinkfinity – The goal of Verizon Thinkfinity’s professional development is to help educators, parents and afterschool practitioners engage students and enhance learning using our online resources. Check out their free training courses and register for the one that best meets your needs.
WebJunction – WebJunction bridges the barriers to learning by providing open, affordable, online learning communities like the one you are visiting right now. Our members take courses, attend events, share knowledge, and network with others – all in an environment that fosters collaboration and mutual support. Our vision is to be the place where the worldwide library profession gathers to build the knowledge, skills and support we need to power vibrant, relevant libraries.
WebEx Presents – Free webinars hosted by industry experts.
Again, please add in comments other resources that contribute to your own PLE and contribute to your own feral learning. Feral really is the perfect word to describe this movement in training. We are escaping the domestication of regimented classroom training and becoming wild in our efforts to learn as rapidly as we can to keep up with the lightning fast speed of change present in technology today. With the economy the way it is today, we HAVE to move in this direction.
I promise, I won’t bite you…
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Beg, Borrow, “Steal” – Don’t Reinvent the Wheel When Creating Training
Oct 26th
I began my journey as the Training Coordinator for the Library System of Lancaster County almost six years ago. Time really does fly when you’re constantly learning. In my previous training jobs, I was given the instructor’s manuals and told to use all of the training materials that were already created. It was easy. I just learned the material myself and then turned around and trained others using the materials. I did help with keeping the material up to date, but I was not involved with the initial creation.
My first day on the job here I was presented with an empty office. There were no electronic copies of documents, no pre-printed manuals, no rotating schedules of classes, no… nothing. I was a little shell shocked to say the least those first few weeks. I was a member of a 5 person (now 6) IT department whose main focus was keeping all of the computers in 17 member libraries running and keeping the network going. My job – to train all of the staff and volunteers in all of the libraries on Millennium, our ILS, MS Office applications, and anything else that involved human interaction with a computer. My boss’ main focus is on the network, the hardware, making sure everything is running. He hired me because of my software training background and had full confidence in me creating a robust training program… out of nothing. He told me to not worry about not having a library background, I would pick that up as I went along. When I asked who was going to tell me what to do the answer was… nobody. You were hired to figure this out.
The long and winding road of this journey has been scary, frustrating, fascinating, rewarding and exponentially amazing. I began my search for help online because that is a place where I have always felt comfortable. It’s a place where I seem to pick up on things quickly. I remember when my first job out of college (I was a Social Security Claims Representative) moved from huge 3 ring binders of manuals against a very long wall to CD-ROMs, it was as if a whole new world opened up before my eyes. It used to take me forever to find the answer to my questions about eligibility laws, and then, all of a sudden, it was all right in front of me on a screen. This made sense to me (though it frustrated the heck out of the long timers in the office)!
I opened up google.com and typed in “training in libraries”. The first site I landed on was WebJunction. Immediately I began to relax as I realized YES – there are other people out there who are trainers in libraries. I am not alone. I spent weeks on that site reading through documents and posts on forums and beginning my learning into this world of library training. What was most amazing was everyone’s willingness to SHARE. I mean, they put their materials right on there for anyone to use as long as they were given credit. I was coming from a private industry marketing software company where everything was hush hush, and we didn’t even share with our clients our treasured secrets. Here, I was able to post a question like “I’m a new trainer in a public library system with no library background, where should I start?” and get really great responses. I was given the name of a great company called Custom Guide that I ended up purchasing a license from to create all of my MS Office trainings.
I also joined the Innovative User Group which is an online group of people who use Innovative Interface’s Millennium ILS. After just a few short months on the job, I was lucky enough to go to their Conference (which was held in Boston that year). I needed to begin doing Circulation training, so I attended any session that related to Circulation and training. I got business cards and looked at sample training manuals. When I got back home I sent everyone I met an email begging them to share their manuals with me. Most everyone did, and from that, I was able to create my first manual. A clearinghouse was created a year or so later where any member of the IUG list could post their materials. I posted everything I had created. To date, I have created 6 very comprehensive manuals related to circulation, reporting, holds and other functions. I have shared these manuals widely with many because if it hadn’t been for the people who shared with me in the beginning, I would have been so miserably lost in the job. With their help, I feel I have done quite well and so I willingly give away what was so generously given to me.
Also, in my first year, blogs were exploding and I learned through a WebJunction contact about RSS. I began following blogs by people like Michael Stephens, Jenny Levine, Sarah Houghton Jan, and Stephen Abram to name a few. No, they weren’t training librarians, but they were passionate about what they did and they referenced a lot of training librarians. I learned through them about Helene Blowers and Learning 2.0. I even decided to start blogging myself even though I didn’t know much. I DID know how to be social online and it was my lifeline because I had no physical person to turn to for help in creating the training program here.
If I read something in a blog that I wanted to try myself, I sent the blogger an email request for information. I was again always amazed at the willingness to share content, outlines, handouts, quick references. I began to realize how lucky I was to stumble into this sharing universe of librarianship. This expanded as I became immersed in social networking. Where some of my friends just did it to stay in touch with friends online, I did it for survival. If coworkers told me they didn’t have time for that frivolous RSS stuff, I could immediately get their attention by explaining the manual they were using in that class came from the help I received through using RSS professionally. I was also using podcasts quite a bit too to hear how people were doing it.
Over time I was also using delicious, Facebook, Twitter, flickr and FriendFeed. By friending and following other library trainers, my requests for help continued to be answered. By watching what the main players were bookmarking, taking photos of, or sharing on the Web, I was able to learn about new tools and use them in my job. I wanted others to realize how revolutionary all of this was. I would hear of someone creating a “How to create an e-mail account” handout for a training from scratch and cringe. When I would direct them to WebJunction they would be amazed at all of the resources available. I was asked by Commonwealth Libraries here in PA to do workshops to help others realize the potential of Web2.0 in libraries.
The last two years I have come to rely heavily on my library trainers network. I’ve become a proud participator in the T is for Training podcast. I am a member of some key lists that will help any library trainer like clenert@ala.org, innopac@innovativeusers.org (for Millennium users), librarylearning@googlegroups.com and tisfortraining@googlegroups.com. A few months back I needed help getting materials together for Outlook Web Access training. I put out a plea on Twitter and within moments had three different manuals sent my way.
So what is the key message I want to get across in sharing this journey with you? NO MATTER WHAT – DO NOT create a training from scratch. Really! Before you sit down to create that next manual, quick reference, user’s guide, STOP. Throw your question out to your online social network for help and you will be amazed at all of the information that will come your way. These are, after all, information professionals. I have found over the years that I fit in quite nicely with library types as I’ve always been one who loves information. Oh, you don’t have an online social network of people to help you? Well then, you better start building one!
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