CIL2008: Technology Training for Library Staff

Sarah Houghton-Jan, San Jose Public Library
Maurice Coleman and Annette Gaskins, Harford County (MD) Public Library

Houghton-Jan presented five steps to success in staff technology training:

• Planning and brainstorming - what do staff need to know to do with technology to do their jobs well - use list of competencies to create a training program - work with staff to do the brainstorming
  
• Creation - work with task force to create list of competencies but don't call them "competencies" - keep it core and task-based
  
• Assessment - of what staff know - better to use self-assessments than tests since people have negative reactions to tests - add "maybe" as an option (that you interpret as "no"C even though you don't call it that)
  
• Training - based on revealed needs - offer training in variety of formats - offer a small prize as an incentive - use real world examples
  
• Reassessment - on regular basis - rewards for success, consequences for failure
  

Coleman and Gaskins talked about technology training they did in their county library system. They held a Technology Fair / Petting Zoo. The challenge was to train all public service staff and most support staff in the entire system without interrupting public service. They used the tools they were going to include in the fair (e.g., wiki and blog) to promote the Fair. They did a one-hour lecture followed by a two-hour lab. Six persons at each of six stations for twenty minute sessions. They partnered with Best Buy to provide flat-screen displays, set up help, etc. Since doing this, they have seen evidence of staff using the new technology tools in their work and customer service.