Posts tagged library
Learning Round Table Programs, Events, Battledecks at ALA Annual
Jun 9th
The Learning Round Table has something for everyone at the ALA Annual Conference this year. The following is a list of programs, meetings, and events.
Also note the icons next to each event. These icons have links that will download the program as an appointment to your calendar. If the icon does not work, try right clicking and saving the .ics file before opening it. We also have a flyer that you can print and bring with you (click the image below to download).
Friday, June 25
Beyond Face to Face: New Methods for Staff Training
8:30am-12pm ![]()
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Renaissance Hotel Congressional Hall C
Limited time and busted budgets make it increasingly difficult for library staff to leave their buildings to attend training events. Maverick library trainer Jay Turner along with T is for Training host Maurice Coleman and instructional designer Mary Beth Faccioli will demonstrate how to engage learners with effective and innovative uses of e-learning. Walk away from this pre-conference knowing how to: Identify free and cost-effective resources for presenting e-learning; Apply best practices in instructional design to e-learning; Recognize technical constraints in publishing e-content. Tickets Onsite: $150. Event Code: LEA1.
Saturday, June 26
Open Board Meeting I ![]()
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8am-12pm
WCC-159 A/B
Our Board meetings are open to anyone interested in the activities, mission and work of the Learning Round Table. We discuss both old and new business, review goals, strategize and plan for the future, plot out committee work and have fun, too. Join us for all or part of our two meetings. We’d love to meet you!
Building with Competencies ![]()
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1:30-3:30pm
Grand Hyatt Constitution A
Once you’ve determined the competencies needed by your staff, what next? Competencies are building blocks—there are a variety of constructions to be built with them for guiding staff training, recruitment, and other personnel strategies. Join us as we explore strategies and case studies of competency based staff development efforts. Presented by Betha Gutsche and Sandra Smith.
Sunday, June 27
Library Trainers as Leaders ![]()
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10:30 am-12pm
WCC-201
Library staff development programs are in a state of flux. It is no longer enough for administrators to tell staff what training to offer. Workplace learning and performance professionals need to be part of the strategic planning of the organization. This interactive session will include audience participation and sharing of best practices as to how library trainers can step up their leadership skills and get a place at the library strategic planning table. Facilitated by Paul Signorelli with panelists Maurice Coleman, Sandra Smith and Louise Whitaker.
Training Showcase: Best Practices in Training, Staff Development & Library Continuing Education ![]()
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1:30-3:30pm
WCC-Ballroom
The training showcase is a poster session type of program celebrating innovative continuing education, staff development, and training initiatives in all types of libraries and library organizations. Participants present best practices from their organization or institution.
Membership Pavilion Learning Round Table Lightning Talk ![]()
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3:30-3:45pm
Exhibit Hall
Monday, June 28
Open Board Meeting II ![]()
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10:30 am-12pm
WCC-156
Our Board meetings are open to anyone interested in the activities, mission and work of the Learning Round Table. We discuss both old and new business, review goals, strategize and plan for the future, plot out committee work and have fun, too. Join us for all or part of our two meetings. We’d love to meet you!
Staff Development Discussion ![]()
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1:30-3:30pm
WCC-143A
This discussion is a great energizer for those new to staff development as well as for those who’ve been doing it for years. Come early and stay for the raffle at the end of the program.
Battledecks: The ALA Rumble Royale ![]()
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5:30-7pm
WCC-103A
Battledecks represent the ultimate challenge for public speakers as they are challenged to give a coherent presentation based on hand-selected, seemingly unrelated slides that they see for the very first time live on stage. This competition, often referred to as “PowerPoint Karaoke,” will see our brave and willing participants compete for the glory of being crowned ALA’s reigning Battledecks champion. The participants will face judgment from a panel of four judges, with the winner to be determined based on a variety of criteria and general overall awesomeness. Hilarity, along with some learning, is guaranteed for all!
Defenders of a title:
Michael Porter(Battledecks champion from Internet Librarian 2009)
Andromeda Yelton (Battledecks co-champion from ALA MW 2010)
JP Procaro (Battledecks Champ from Pres4Lib)
Bobbi Newman (Battledecks co-champion from ALA MW 2010)
Contenders for the title:
Jason Griffey
Buffy Hamilton
Lisa Carlucci Thomas
John Chrastka
George Needham
Judges:
Peter Bromberg
Julie Strange
Maurice Coleman
David Lee King
Jenny Levine
Emcee: Janie Hermann
Timekeeper/Vanna White: Patrick Sweeney
Slidemakers: Alice Yucht, Patrick Sweeney, Janie Hermann, Jaime Corris Hammond, Andy Woodworth and anyone else who volunteers.
Event and Prizes sponsored by American Libraries and The Learning Round Table.
Call for Participants, Donors, Sponsors for the 7th Annual Training Showcase
Apr 21st
The Learning Round Table is accepting applications from now through May 15th for the Training Showcase which will take place on Sunday, June 27, 2010 from 1:30-3:30 pm at the ALA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.
The Training Showcase planning committee is on the lookout for libraries, library organizations, presenters, speakers and vendors to participate – anyone who has a great training or staff development program they’d like to share. The Learning Round Table is all about sharing ideas (and stealing/borrowing ideas) and the Training Showcase is the perfect venue. The Showcase normally attracts between 200-300 attendees – all of whom are interested in training and staff development. The number of participants (presenters) varies from 20-30. It’s a fast-paced, fun event with refreshments and door prizes. Each participant has a 6′ draped table on which to put a portable table-top display unit, handouts or other related materials.
The training showcase is a poster-type session giving participants, exhibitors and sponsors a chance to showcase best practices in library training, learning, and continuing education. Participating affords you the opportunity to share information about your program as well as learn about the best practices of other libraries and organizations.
For more information visit the Training Showcase page on ALA Learning: http://alalearning.org/about/conferences/ala-annual/training-showcase/
ALA Annual Staff Development Discussion
Apr 3rd
Staff Development Discussion
ALA LEARNRT
This discussion is a great energizer for those new to staff development as well as for those who’ve been doing it for years. Come early and stay for the raffle
at the end of the program.
Monday, June 28, 2010 1:30-3:30pm
ALA Annual: Training Showcase Best Practices in Training, Staff Development and Library Continuing Education
Apr 3rd
Training Showcase: Best Practices in Training, Staff Development and Library Continuing Education
ALA LEARNRT
The training showcase is a poster session type of program celebrating innovative continuing education, staff development, and training initiatives in all types of libraries and library organizations. Invited participants present “best practices” from their organization or institution.
Sunday, June 27, 2010 1:30-3:30pm
10 Tips for Training in Tough Times
Mar 2nd
Libraries across the country are being impacted by the economy. Staff are being laid off. Doors are being locked as libraries close or reduce hours. As we face this new reality, how does this impact our roles as trainers/teachers/learners? What can we do to not only support our organizations but secure training’s place within our organizations? Here are ten ideas for you to consider.
- Alignment. Align training with strategic priorities. If ever there was a time to tighten the training belt it is now. Do you know what your library’s strategic priorities are? If not, ask. Make sure that all of your training supports those outcomes and priorities for your library.
- Attitude. Set a good example. Employees often look at trainers as role models for the organization. Doom and gloom do not do anyone a bit of good. Lead by example. Look for the silver lining that exists and embrace this time as an opportunity for growth and change. Be flexible and willing to do things that may fall outside of your normal realm.
- Network and Collaboration. Look for ways to collaborate with other trainers. There are trainers across the country who are ready and willing to share and trade training materials. If you need a handout on the fly try posting to an email list. Or you might decide to create a more formal training exchange with a sister library.
- Webinars. ALA Learning will soon be announcing a new resource for sharing training and learning opportunities. Many of these events are free. Better yet many are online and require no travel. Publicize these events to your staff.
- Outcomes. Think in terms of outcomes rather than trainings. What outcome or result are you looking for? What problem are you trying to address? Once you’ve determined your outcome then you can determine if training is the best way to reach that outcome (in many cases it’s not). Don’t invest time and resources in training that’s not needed.
- Free. Look for free authoring tools. Do a search for “free elearning tools” and you will find lots of great articles. Like this one and this one from our own Jay Turner. With her budget cut to nearly 70% Sue-Minton Colvin, training and development coordinator for Lexington Public Library turned to e-learning. Not already having an established platform, Colvin created an entire training intranet using Shutterfly. Yes, you read that right, Shutterfly. I never even realized you could create a Web site using Shutterfly! Talk about using your resources!
- Social Learning. On her Web site Ageless Learner, Marcia Conner says that, “Informal learning accounts for more than 75% of learning that takes place in organizations today.” Embrace the power of Web 2.0 tools such as blogs, wikis, Facebook, and Twitter to facilitate informal learning. Host a discussion. Host a chat. The sky is the limit and we are only on the verge of utilizing these tools fully in learning and staff development.
- Visibility. Be visible in your organization. When you work primarily behind the scenes, it’s easy to stay holed up in your office. Get out and talk to staff. Find out what’s going on. Let them know what’s going on with training. Listen with empathy and remember tip #2.
- Better With Less. Instead of focusing on how we are doing more with less, focus on the opportunity to do better with less. As I said in tip #1, this blip in the radar gives us a chance to focus on the basics, rethink our training strategies, and truly show an impact on the organizations we serve. Staff training in the library is very different from public training. We are here primarily to improve the performance of staff within libraries so that they can better serve our customers.
- Don’t stop. No matter how tight the budget is, it’s a huge mistake for any organization to stop training completely. As the economy ebbs and flows it is crucial that libraries and our staff learn to go with that flow. Only through continuous learning can we keep our workforce’s skills up to date and prepare our employees for the changes that will no doubt take place in organizations.
I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas about training in tough times. Please comment on this post to continue the discussion!
Lori Reed, managing editor of ALA Learning, is the learning & development coordinator (and mayor
) for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. She also blogs at http://lorireed.com.




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