Technology Training Tune-Up

Computer and Technology Skills for All Library Staff

Technology Training Core Competencies Creating a Training Program Keeping Up

TECHNOLOGY TRAINING

Technology Training

Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?

What is technology training?

Exposure to unfamiliar technologiesBuilding technology skillsIncrease staff comfort levelIncrease staff rapport

What do they need to know?

Current equipmentNew equipmentCurrent softwareCore competenciesNew technology

Who needs training?

All library staff Reference Children’s & Young Adult Circulation Technical Services Paraprofessionals Part-time employees Management

Who’s going to train them?

Existing staffOutside agencyConferencesE-learning

Why should we train staff?

Improves customer serviceImproves staff relationsImproves staff skills and comfort levelIncreases staff exposure to new technologyProvides staff with new toolsIncreases staff loyalty

When do they get training?

On work time!

Where?

In the libraryOff-siteConferences

How?

OngoingSelf-pacedFormalOne teacherCompulsoryOnlinePaidLocal

ScheduledGuidedInformalMany teachersPrizes/incentivesIn-personFreeNational/regional

How?

Library 2.0 / 23 Things5 Weeks to a Social Library“Friday socials”/brown bag lunchesTechnology “petting zoo”Online learning

Library 2.0/23 Things

Created by Helene Blowers at the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenberg County

Based on Stephen Abram's article about 43 Things

Covers blogs, wikis, photo sharing, RSS, podcasts and other web 2.0 things

Free! Requires web-savvy coordinator

5 Weeks to a Social Library

Created by Meredith Farkas and a team of librarians around the country

5 week course available online Covers blog, wikis, Second Life, photo

sharing, social bookmarking, and using 2.0 in your library

Free!

Friday Socials or Brown Bag Lunches

Staff teaching staff Free! Can cover a variety of topics specific to your

library Requires tech or web-savvy staff

Technology Petting Zoo

Hands-on time with gadgets Cameras, MP3 players, game consoles Could include software Provides exposure to things you may

otherwise never play with Best Buy

Online Learning

Webinars from variety of sources Asynchronous classes Synchronous classes

CORE COMPETENCIES

Core Competencies

“The skills, knowledge, abilities, and attributes that employees across an organization are expected to have to contribute successfully within a particular organizational context.”

(SPEC, p7)

Benefits of Core Competencies

Provides consistent and well-articulated performance expectations

Improves customer serviceCreates a culture of learningProvides a basis for skills assessment and

goals for training programHelps free up IT staff for other projects

Creating Core Competencies

Ask for staff input! USE IT!Keep everyone informed through the processLet staff know that they don’t have to know

all the competencies now.Set up rewards and consequences

(assessment)Get ideas from other organizationsWork with IT to find out what gets asked a lotInclude ongoing education

Creating Competencies, cont’d

Structure By staff position By competency

Categories Broad Moderate Specific

Formatting– Grid– Short outline Narrative paragraphs

CREATING A TRAINING PROGRAM

Core Components of a Training Program

Six Components to Consider when Developing a Training Program

Setting Goals

What’s the point of training?Can be based on library’s mission or

vision statementProvide a framework for evaluationRewards

Establishing Competencies

Help point out areas where training is necessary

Assessing Needs and Skills

SurveysChecklist InterviewsInformal assessmentsPerformance reviews

Developing Curriculum

Consider skills and needs of staffConsider updatesDecide on formatBorrow from existing resources

Delivering Training

Keep classes under two hoursDeliver classes sequentiallyAsk for questionsAdvertise to staffProvide a handout or folder for notes

Evaluating Training

SurveysInformal interviewFeedback formsPerformance reviews

KEEPING UP

Keeping Up

Conference topicsWorkshop topics (Solinet, etc)“Ear to the ground”RSS feeds (Google Reader, Bloglines)

Disclaimer:

How you choose to keep up with new and emerging things is your

personal preference. What works for me may not work for

you.

My Latest Technologies

• Twitter

• Meebo

• FacebookGadget Blogs

– PopGadget

– Cool Tools

– BoingBoing

Resources used in this presentation can be found at: http://del.icio.us/library_chic/TLA2008

A copy of this presentation will be available at: http://library-chic.blogspot.com

Formatting: Grids

Skill Applies to Job Meets Comments

Open browser X X

Show/hide toolbars

Know library URL

X X

Create bookmarks

X Can’t find on toolbar

Skill Basic Advanced

Internet browser X X

Printer Troubleshooting

X X

Catalog Searching

X

File Organization X

Technology Competencies: A Path to Trainingback

Formatting: OutlineLibrary Resources

Be familiar with and able to locate the library’s technology-related policies and procedures

Be familiar with the library’s intranet, if applicable

Be familiar with the library’s e-resourcesKnow the webpage address for your libraryKnow what resources can be found on your library

homepageKnow the webpage address for the library catalogKnow how to search by author, title, keyword and

subject in the catalog

Technology Core Competencies for California Library Workersback