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Participatory Professional Development

November 2, 2010 By

In August 2010, I reflected on my own blog how the Media 21 learning initiative has not only impacted student learning but has also sparked additional collaborative partnerships with faculty members that emphasize information, digital, and new media literacies while providing students the opportunity to think critically and create content to reflect their key insights and learning.   I’ve been brainstorming with teachers to help them find new ways of redesigning projects, learning activities, and assessment tools to emphasize inquiry, collaborative knowledge building, critical thought, and alternate ways of representing knowledge; consequently, I’ve had teachers in multiple content areas exploring how technology tools for learning like blogs, wikis, and multimedia web 2.0 applications can support these kinds of learning experiences.  Not only have I created research pathfinders and provided technical assistance to support these projects, but I’ve been providing hands on instruction to teachers and students in learning how to utilize these tools.   Even more exciting, teachers have gained confidence not only in the tools I’ve shown them, but they are exploring other resources for learning on their own and sharing how they are integrating those applications with me as well as fellow department faculty.

A few weeks ago, my principal, Dr. Bob Eddy, asked me to develop an hour-long workshop for our November 2 professional development day.  I decided to focus on blogs and wikis for the workshop since those have been the most popular platforms this fall; in addition, I decided it would be more powerful for the faculty to hear from their fellow teachers, my new experts in residence, than just me.

About a quarter of our faculty arrived at 10AM (some had other commitments to additional meetings today), including my principal, Dr. Bob Eddy!  I kicked off the workshop with a fifteen minute conversation about the principles of learning and today’s information landscape that are shaping today’s classrooms; rather than reinventing the wheel, I used Kim Cofino’s fantastic 21st Century Classroom slidedeck to facilitate that conversation with faculty this morning.

http://blogsandwikispd2010.wikispaces.com/

Blogs and Wikis for Engaged Learning – home via kwout

My focus was on how learning goals and benchmarks drive the instructional design in the collaboration process; rather than focusing on the “shiny” of technonlogy, I emphasized that curriculum and standards for learning drive technology integration.  The other focal point of my talk emphasized how traditional and emerging literacies speak to each other under the larger umbrella of transliteracy and how integrating these literacies into all content areas is a shared responsibility we all must take on to close the participation gap.

For the next forty-five minutes, the spotlight was on my five teachers who agreed to help lead the workshop as they shared their collaborative learning projects facilitated by the library, the positive outcomes, and the challenges they encountered.   Each teacher was passionate, honest, and eloquent as he/she shared the impact on student learning, tips for replicating or adapting their projects, ideas for future collaborative learning experiences supported by the library, and how they worked with me to implement new strategies for teaching and learning.  The workshop generated discussion and questions that led our session to last about an additional twenty minutes beyond the planned hour, but not a single attendee left early!

Learners as Participants and Leaders

These teachers articulating and sharing their processes is the ultimate hallmark of learning as they are now budding experts who can support other teachers who want to design innovative learning experiences for students that meld together project based learning, inquiry, collective knowledge building, and multiple literacies.  I have no doubt that the teacher perspective they brought to the table today was the most powerful testimonial I could provide other faculty members; in addition, I included student videos sharing their perspectives on our presentation wiki (today was a student holiday and they were not on campus to participate).   It was truly a pleasure to solicit the participation of my teachers and to share ownership of the workshop with these faculty members as their instructional leadership will help us, the library,  scale out these conversations for learning.  As the workshop ended, several teachers met with me to schedule planning time this week to get started on new projects to integrate the learning principles and tools we explored in today’s session!

In conclusion, I encourage you as trainers and instructional librarians to consider how you can invite participation from your learners and enlist their assistance in leading instruction as they gain skill, knowledge, insights, and confidence that can inspire others in the classes or workshops you lead.  What better demonstration of application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation can you ask for when those you have taught can help you create new conversations for learning with others?

Buffy Hamilton

Filed Under: Professional Development Tagged With: , , ,

Staff Development on a Budget

November 2, 2010 By

Here in Georgia Public Librarians are required to have and renew our license each year and this requires we submit a number of continuing education credits. For my post on staff development I thought I’d share some of the free, no travel required, ways we get our continuing education credits.

WebJunction - Every month WebJunction hosts free online webinars on a wide variety of topics from Dealing with Difficult Patrons to Digital Preservation. Sessions are taught by WebJuction staff or other library community members including our own Maurice Coleman. You can see upcoming webinars on the events calendar or subscribe to the RSS feed. An added bonus all sessions are archived for free (no password needed!) with a recording of the sessions and all relevant links for review later or in case you missed one.

InfoPeople – Another great resource for regular online webinars. InfoPeople provide free online webinars on a variet of topics.  You can register for upcoming events and browse their archives without a password. The archives are a treasure trove of resources and all their handouts are Creative Commons licensed.

ADA Online – A great resources for information related to libraries and the American’s with Disabilities Act.  ADA Online offers the Accessible Technology On-line Webinar series for free.

SirsiDynix Institute – Sirsi occasionally offers free online presentations with an online archive of past presentations for easy access.

OCLC & Library Journal Symposiums – sometimes there is a fee associated with these sometimes they are free.  The next one The Ethics of Innovation: Navigating Privacy, Policy and Service Issues is free.

Your Local State Library Organization – in my case GPLS and GLA team up once a month to offer free online Webinars, chances your state organization does too.  Remember many webinars don’t restrict attendees so you might be able to sign up for webinars offered by other states.

I KNOW I missed something, where do you get your professional development?

Bobbi Newman

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In Praise of the Free Webinar

September 16, 2010 By

Though sometimes derided, many of us have been involved, one way or another, in a webinar.  Or, more correctly,  a WEBinar™. The term is a neologism of web + seminar, they are a live online educational presentation during which attendees can submit questions and comments, as opposed to a “webcast” which doesn’t offer chat or polls. Sessions are usually archived and registrants may view a recording of the event at another time.  Whether we are presenting, producing or attending this professional, educational environment has given rise to a powerful collaborative, knowledge-sharing resource.

As someone in charge of pushing learning opportunities to library staff, half of which are in one building and the other in 11 all over the county, I’ve almost always got a huge variety of quality topics to offer. With all my other duties, I manage to write about one new class a month. In these budgetary times, what a slim professional development calendar that would be without all these free webinars!

I’ve created a Google Reader Bundle that helps me keep up with the offerings from individual providers that have RSS feeds. I also subscribe to Brad Ward’s Library Webinars blog and Stephanie Zimmerman’s Library-Related Training Opportunities Google Calendar for the ones that don’t catch in my feed reader.  I register, and add them to the Intranet calendar, complete with signups and reminders for staff to attend. I show them in my conference room / office, but also remind them that they may be viewable remotely or in an archive.

With each major update to the training calender I’ll blog the listings and send a mass email to staff. Whether they come into my office or view remotely, they’ve now got access to some of the brightest minds and the latest trends in Librarianship and beyond. I’m often asked to replay sessions when a topic becomes locally important, that’s Just-in-Time learning…when training is needed the most.

I’ve pasted below the upcoming webinars I’ll be showing in my office or encouraging staff to view at their offices or branches. Huge thanks to the sponsors, producers and presenters for providing topical and relevant content for library staff every where!

9/21/10 The Scoop on Series Nonfiction: What’s New for Fall 1:00pm – 2:00pm CST Booklist Webinar: Series nonfiction publishers are offering more titles than ever this fall, and as they continue to expand into digital formats and approach the curriculum in new ways, it’s more challenging than ever to keep up. In this hourlong webinar moderated by Booklist Books for Youth associate editor Dan Kraus, we’ll hear from five of the top publishers in this booming field: Heinemann-Raintree; Gale/Cengage Learning; Weigl Publishers, Inc.; Black Rabbit Books; and Lerner Publishing Group. Besides presenting their biggest fall titles and initiatives, they’ll also give attendees up-to-date information on the latest trends.

9/21/10 Scholarly Research and Source Validation in the Age of Google 2:00pm – 3:00pm CST Library Journal Webcast: Librarians, scholars, and publishers alike are asking questions about how to manage the increasing amount of unverified content (both good and bad) that is now easily available through our computers. We are all drowning in it. The situation poses a particularly challenging problem in the educational arena, where students and scholars need reliable sources of information. Whether today’s researchers are doing initial research for a book, working on a doctoral dissertation, or an undergraduate term paper, it’s harder and harder to know what sources to consult. Register now to hear our esteemed panel, moderated by Library Journal’s Cheryl LaGuardia discuss this crisis of validation in the Google age, and the new roles that Libraries, Publishers and Scholars play in the culture of information overload.

9/22/10 Strategies for Implementing and Optimizing Self-Service: Librarians Share Their Success 1:00pm – 2:00pm CST Library Journal Webinar: Join representatives from three leading libraries who have cost-effectively and successfully implemented self-service in this information-rich roundtable webinar. In today’s tough economy, many libraries rely on self-service to offset significant increases in circulation, severe budget cuts, and staff reductions. Are you prepared to effectively implement self-service in your library? Are you confident that you are realizing maximum value from your self-service investment?

9/22/10 Shine a Light on your Digital Collections 1:00pm – 2:00pm CST OCLC Webinar: Learn how you can spotlight your digital collections and make them visible to users across the web. Join Michael Scott, Maryland Digital Cultural Heritage Coordinator, for a live webinar as she discusses how she uses everything from social media to WorldCat.org to highlight the availability of their online collections. Also hear from Suzanne Butte, OCLC Digital Services Consultant, on the wide variety of ways that other libraries, museums, archives and historical societies promote their digital collections.

9/23/10 The Manager’s Tool Kit, Part One: Listening and Feedback 11:00am – 12:00pm CST Ken Blanchard Companies Webinar: Proactive listening and the ability to deliver feedback effectively are two of the most important skills managers can develop for building trust and creating a supportive environment for direct reports. Yet in both cases, managers often overestimate their ability to listen attentively and deliver feedback objectively. In this webinar, Blanchard Senior Consulting Partner and author Dr. Vicki Halsey will show managers how to improve their skills in both areas in a way that leaves direct reports feeling heard and that helps them to focus on improving performance.

9/23/10 SLJ Nonfiction Book Buzz 2010 12:00pm – 1:00pm, CST A School Library Journal Webinar: Our panel of nonfiction publishers will tell you how they strive to produce the most accurate and well-research core-related materials for grades K-12 while also keeping these titles attractive, easy to use, and accessible to a range of reading levels. We’ll hear about series in science, social studies, biography, art, math, health, and more, most correlated to each state’s standards. Tune in for the buzz on new and forthcoming series nonfiction and get those gaps in your collection filled.

9/28/10 Defending the Right to Read: Celebrating Banned Books Week with Judy Blume 1:00pm – 2:00pm CST Booklist Online Webinar: Librarians and teachers face more challenges than ever when it comes to defending children’s right to read. In celebration of Banned Books Week, this webinar features a stellar panel of experts, including renowned author and longtime advocate of intellectual freedom Judy Blume, who will discuss book rating systems, the impact of the Internet on challenges, the effect of censorship on children’s publishing, and how to best prepare for book challenges. Additional speakers include Beverly Horowitz, Vice President and Publisher of Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers; Pat Scales, former school librarian and a member of the National Coalition against Censorship Council of Advisors; Kristin Pekoll, a young-adult librarian at the West Bend (WI) Community Memorial Library; and Nanette Perez, program officer at ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom.

10/06/10 Gadget Checklist 2010: For library staff, users and our future 1:00pm -2:00pm CST WebJunction Webinar. Description: Do you need a gadgets orientation covering types, brands, features, functionality and answers to why gadgets are so popular with your patrons? Join us for this webinar with Michael Porter when he presents a checklist-filled session also covering how users are consuming and accessing content on gadgets and how libraries are purchasing and lending gadgets to host this content. It’s time for you to complete your checklist and to explore the implications gadgets have on the future of library services.

10/19 /10 Dealing with the Difficult Patrons 1:00pm -2:00pm CST WebJunction Webinar: Library staff can handle difficult patrons, resolve issues or problems quickly and efficiently and retain customer loyalty throughout. Join presenters Paul Signorelli, writer, trainer, and consultant with a strong focus on workplace learning and performance, and Maurice Coleman, Technical Trainer at Harford County Public Library, for this one hour webinar providing expert resources for working with a patron using common sense practices and techniques for bringing that customer back into the fold.

Comment to let me know if I missed any upcoming events. I’d also love to hear how you use invaluable webinars like these in your own training programs!

Marianne Lenox

As the Staff Training & Volunteer Coordinator for the Huntsville - Madison County Public Library in Alabama, Marianne is responsible for planning, directing, maintaining and implementing a comprehensive staff training and volunteer program for her library. She consistently strives to provide learning opportunities, professional information and technical training to ensure both better library service and the professional development of the Library’s staff and volunteers.

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9 Reflections on Co-presenting

April 27, 2010 By

I recently had the pleasure of co-presenting a full day preconference with my wife Suzanne. (The workshop, entitled, “What’s Your Style? 9 Paths to Personal and Professional Development” was based on the Enneagram personality System)  I’ve co-presented with others many times over the past 15 years and strongly believe that, for a number of reasons, co-presenting can be very beneficial and raise the overall quality of the workshop and the experience of the participants.

For starters, if you are co-developing a workshop as well as co-presenting it (which is common), the quality and organization of the material greatly benefits from a joint perspective. With two brains reviewing the content, errors are reduced and points are clarified.  Likewise, the logical sequencing of the content will also be improved.  We all know (probably from some amount of bitter experience) that what is crystal clear and logical to us as presenters, is not always so clear to those we present to.  The benefits of co-developing a workshop are magnified when presenters have different styles, and if you have a choice I encourage you to find someone most unlike yourself to present with.  Be warned that presenting with someone very different can create friction.  But you can choose to reframe that friction by reminding yourself often that the differences which cause friction are the same differences which will improve the quality of your presentation.

Based on my very recent experience in co-preparing and co-presenting with someone who had a VERY different style than me, here are nine reflections on co-preparing and co-presenting a full day workshop.

On Preparing

  1. Play to your strengths: Inevitably, you and your co-presenter will have different strengths. If you don’t know each other well and/or haven’t presented together before, spend some time discussing what each of you does best, and then make an initial plan to divide the duties and tasks based on your strengths.

  2. Set benchmarks.  Assess progress. Reset benchmarks. Working with someone else will generally take more time than working alone.  Also, it’s not uncommon for two people to have very different senses about when certain things need to be done.  For example, I can be cool as a cucumber even when I haven’t finished writing a talk a day before it’s going to be given.  My wife is stressed when she doesn’t have a talk written and practiced two weeks prior.  Setting benchmarks for progress and frequently checking in on progress is a useful way to keep everyone’s stress level down, while moving forward on deliverables at an even pace.

  3. Work separately and together. Schedule Business Meetings. I found great value in coming together with my co-presenter to set goals and deliverables, moving apart to work separately, and then coming back together to review, refine, and integrate each other’s work.  Setting regular business meetings, on a calendar, with an agenda of what you would like to accomplish, goes a long way towards creating a high quality, well-sequenced presentation in a way that is manageable, and not overwhelming.

  4. Have a Full Dress Rehearsal. No matter how good your lesson plan is, you WILL find problems and areas for improvement during a full dress rehearsal.  Better to find them during rehearsal then during the actual presentation.  ‘Nuff said.

  5. Mind your version control and coordinate backups. My wife and I used a shared dropbox folder to share all materials.  She could see and revise what I was working on and vice-versa.  On the off-chance that dropbox disappeared overnight, I also had our home computer backing up to an external hard-drive.   When all documents and powerpoints were finalized, I put one complete set of everything on three laptops (two were mine, one was my wife’s) and also put a complete set on two flash drives, one for me and one for her.  When we made the inevitable last minute changes, I made sure to update in dropbox and refresh all backup copies accordingly.  Being the least detail-oriented person in the world, I’m also the one to overcompensate the most when necessary!

On Presenting

  1. Set Ground rules with each other. It is possible that you and your co-presenter have different ideas about what is appropriate behavior when one is presenting and the other isn’t.  One of the biggest areas of possible conflict involves whether or not it is ok to interject, correct, or otherwise interrupt your partner while they are presenting.  One of the great values of co-presenting is that your partner is well-positioned to read the facial expressions and body language of participants and is likely to be more cued in to times when participants are confused, and in need of clarification.  For that reason, I encourage everyone that co-presents to open themselves to the interjections of their presenting partners, and allow for a free back-and-forth regardless of who has the floor.  Additionally it is good for each presenter to….

  2. Have complete copies and understanding of each other’s script and materials. Having complete copies of each other’s scripts (and/or outlines, and/or key points) can greatly increase the quality of the presentation for two reasons:  1) It ensures that no highly relevant points are forgotten or glossed over (if they are, your co-presenter can either alert you or interject.) and 2) It frees each presenter up from having to memorize or read excessively directly from notes.  It frees us up to make more eye contact, speak more naturally and conversationally, and connect more deeply with the audience, because we know we have a safety net of sorts; our co-presenter won’t let anything important get missed.

  3. Leave specific timing off of the participant agenda and modify timing/content on the fly. I suppose this could go under “Preparing” too…  I highly recommend having a few versions of how the actual presentation can play out–a few different agendas that you share with your co-presenter but not with participants.  Additionally, it is good to have additional modules (activities) and content that you don’t necessarily plan to use, but could slot in depending on timing (if you’re running short) or the interest of the participants.  When my wife and I recently co-presented, we noted on our private agenda where certain portions could be expanded or moved, and where other modules that we had “in the can” could be inserted.  Throughout the day we adjusted our presentation.  The participant agenda was worded broadly, and only noted beginning, ending, and lunch times, which allowed us to keep to their agenda while making significant adjustments to ours along the way.

  4. Restrain yourselves from talking too much.  My growth as a presenter over the past few years has been to present less, and facilitate more.  When I present, especially when I present on a topic that I’m passionate and knowledgeable about, I want to cram 20 hours of material into 8 hours of workshop.   A few years ago Dr. Marie Radford shared some invaluable feedback with me after I guest lectured for her.  In a nutshell, she said, “Less is more.”  She advised me to cut, cut, cut the material, and spend more time talking with the students and less time talking at them.  She suggested I give them the concepts and then invite them to reflect and discuss, and in that way the learning would be grounded in their own experience.   So I pass along Marie’s helpful advice, as it becomes doubly tempting with two presenters to, well, present!  Be extra mindful to structure your presentation in such a way as to present the key concepts, and then allow the participants to speak, question, reflect, challenge, and discuss — even if that means you don’t cover everything.  (That’s what handouts are for!  And websites.)

I firmly believe that a co-presented workshop — especially a full-day workshop — has the potential to be better organized, more complete and nuanced, and more engaging than a workshop presented solo.  Yes, it’s likely going to be more work for you (if you’re counting the hours and minutes of prep time), but it is also an opportunity for you to learn from someone with a different style, a different knowledge base, and a different viewpoint.  Ultimately, preparing and presenting a workshop with another person can be an engaging and rewarding experience for all involved, and I encourage everyone to give it a try!

Peter Bromberg

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Call for Participants, Donors, Sponsors for the 7th Annual Training Showcase

April 21, 2010 By

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/

Lori Reed

Lori Reed, Managing Editor of ALA Learning, has more than 15 years experience in training and is the Learning & Development Coordinator for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library where she oversees the learning & development of a diverse group of staff at twenty libraries. Lori’s passions are performance consulting, learning strategies, and e-learning. Lori is coauthor, with Paul Signorelli, of Workplace Learning and Leadership: A Handbook for Library and Nonprofit Trainers. Lori also blogs at LoriReed.com and can be reached at lori[at]lorireed.com.

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ALA Annual Staff Development Discussion

April 3, 2010 By

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

Lori Reed

Lori Reed, Managing Editor of ALA Learning, has more than 15 years experience in training and is the Learning & Development Coordinator for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library where she oversees the learning & development of a diverse group of staff at twenty libraries. Lori’s passions are performance consulting, learning strategies, and e-learning. Lori is coauthor, with Paul Signorelli, of Workplace Learning and Leadership: A Handbook for Library and Nonprofit Trainers. Lori also blogs at LoriReed.com and can be reached at lori[at]lorireed.com.

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ALA Annual: Training Showcase Best Practices in Training, Staff Development and Library Continuing Education

April 3, 2010 By

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

Lori Reed

Lori Reed, Managing Editor of ALA Learning, has more than 15 years experience in training and is the Learning & Development Coordinator for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library where she oversees the learning & development of a diverse group of staff at twenty libraries. Lori’s passions are performance consulting, learning strategies, and e-learning. Lori is coauthor, with Paul Signorelli, of Workplace Learning and Leadership: A Handbook for Library and Nonprofit Trainers. Lori also blogs at LoriReed.com and can be reached at lori[at]lorireed.com.

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ALA Annual: Building With Competencies

April 3, 2010 By

Building With Competencies
ALA LEARNRT
Track: Human Resources and Staff Development

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.

Saturday, June 26, 2010 1:30-3:30pm

Lori Reed

Lori Reed, Managing Editor of ALA Learning, has more than 15 years experience in training and is the Learning & Development Coordinator for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library where she oversees the learning & development of a diverse group of staff at twenty libraries. Lori’s passions are performance consulting, learning strategies, and e-learning. Lori is coauthor, with Paul Signorelli, of Workplace Learning and Leadership: A Handbook for Library and Nonprofit Trainers. Lori also blogs at LoriReed.com and can be reached at lori[at]lorireed.com.

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10 Tips for Training in Tough Times

March 2, 2010 By



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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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!
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.

Lori Reed

Lori Reed, Managing Editor of ALA Learning, has more than 15 years experience in training and is the Learning & Development Coordinator for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library where she oversees the learning & development of a diverse group of staff at twenty libraries. Lori’s passions are performance consulting, learning strategies, and e-learning. Lori is coauthor, with Paul Signorelli, of Workplace Learning and Leadership: A Handbook for Library and Nonprofit Trainers. Lori also blogs at LoriReed.com and can be reached at lori[at]lorireed.com.

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You think professional development is tough?

July 16, 2008 By

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.

Betha Gutsche

Betha Gutsche has been a virtual librarian ever since receiving her MLIS from the University of Washington Information School. Immersed in the online community of WebJunction, she has cultivated community connections through forums, live online events, and writing stories about the library community. She has delved into e-learning design, curriculum development, needs assessment, and all things connected to social learning in the online world. Betha is the editor-in-chief of the Competency Index for the Library Field. She is now the manager of Project Compass, a program working with public libraries to augment their service to communities impacted by tough times. Underneath it all, Betha is an artist and loves to raise awareness of visual literacy and introduce people to the power of image.

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