What Staff Training Program? Minimum Investment, Maximum Impact Staff Education Strategies Providing staff with the training and support they need to excel is one of the hardest challenges faced by library managers, especially when time is precious and funds are low. At this session, participants will join in lively discussion and get practical advice for building effective staff training and development programs with limited resources. Presentation for the Alaska Library Association Conference 2014 #akla

1. What Staff Training Program?
Minimum Investment, Maximum Impact Staff
Education Strategies
Emily Clasper
Suffolk Cooperative Library System
Alaska Library Association Conference, 2014
#akla

2. Library Staff Training Programs
Training and continuing
education opportunities often
offered to library staff:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Photo Credit: E. Clasper Suffolk Cooperative Library System
Workshops
Demos
Webinars
Task-specific training
Speakers
Development programs

3. Strategic Training Plan
Building a sustainable staff
training program based on
the long-term strategic goals
of the organization provides
an opportunity to focus staff
learning on furthering the
library’s mission.
Text: Mission Statement of the New York Public Library. http://www.nypl.org/help/about-nypl/mission

4. Strategic Planning Cycle
Goals
• Goals
• Desired Outcomes
Assessment
Desired
Outcomes
Results
Strategy
• Strategy
• Action
• Results
• Assessment
Action

5. Training Cycle
• Identify Needs
• Define Specific
Evaluate
Needs
Objectives
• Build Learning Program
• Help Learners through
Achieve
Objectives
Program
• Achieve Results
• Evaluate
Photo Credit:
Help
Build

6. Strategic Staff Training Programs
Staff training programs as tools
for reaching the goals set forth in
the organization's strategic plan
and to serve the overall mission.
Using the results of staff training
programs to inform the ongoing
strategic planning cycle.

7. Strategic Training Plan Benefits
Incorporating staff development planning into
the library’s strategic planning process
Keeps training initiatives on track with larger
organizational objectives
Provides consistency and efficiency for
reaching learning goals
Gives a basis for measuring and assessing
outcomes
Helps communicate long-term goals to staff
Generates more consistent staff enthusiasm
and engagement
Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/krossbow/3279873902

8. Where to Begin?
Photo Credit:http://auraserea.ro/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/mission-vision-values-e1357948779221.jpg

9. The Library’s Mission
The mission of the X Public Library is
to provide quality materials and
services that fulfill educational,
informational, cultural, and
recreational needs of the entire
community in an atmosphere that is
welcoming, respectful, and
businesslike.
The University Libraries inspire
learning and discovery through
information resources,
collaboration, and expertise
Photo Credit:
The Library and Information Access
supports the information, curricular and
research needs of the university's
diverse community through the widest
possible range of resources. We are
committed to information literacy,
lifelong learning, and creative endeavors
in a welcoming environment.
Library X enhances the quality of life in
our diverse community by providing the
resources and services for lifelong
learning and enjoyment, the space and
opportunities to gather and connect,
and by fostering a love of reading.

10. The Library’s Goals
•
•
•
•
•
•
Provide a balanced, multi-format collection
Collaborate with libraries and other organizations
Improve access to the collections
Provide a comfortable setting for patron use
Serve as a center for local history
Help patrons develop skills for career and vocational
advancement
What Else?
Photo Credit:

11. What Skills Do We Need?
On the back of each card, write a few staff
skills necessary to achieving the goal.
http://www.webjunction.org/explore-topics/competencies.html

12. Learning Objectives
http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/36/06/ad/3606add2b7bb66b64ef554ff1003283e.jpg

13. Training Tools
Considerations:
 Cost
 Logistics
 Challenges/Rewards
 Staff Motivation
 Outcomes
 Evaluation
 Sustainability

14. The Usual Suspects
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Classroom Courses
Meetings
Speakers
Demos
Workshops
Webinars
Task Training
Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/47823583@N03/8522077880

16. Outside of the Box
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Discussion Groups
Online Learning Programs
Peer Partnerships
Mentoring Programs
Community Partnerships
Group Projects/Games
Flipped Learning Models
Blended Approaches
Photo Credit:http://static.flickr.com/3359/3523627575_b704d966d3.jpg

17. Get Together

18. Get Talking

19. Get Feedback

20. Get Online

21. Get Online

22. Get Out
Nikola Tesla’s Wardenclyffe Laboratory
http://www.teslasciencecenter.org/

23. Get Connected
Photo Credit:

24. Get Your Hands Dirty

25. Get Your Hands Dirty

26. Get Flipped
Photo Credit: http://www.coolinfographics.com/storage/post-images/Flipped%20Classroom%20Infographic.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1315882004793

27. Get Flipped
Photo Credit: http://www.coolinfographics.com/storage/post-images/Flipped%20Classroom%20Infographic.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1315882004793

28. Get Flipped
Flipped Learning Program for Staff
•Self Paced
•Technology Driven
•Ongoing Learning
•Collaborative
•Teacher and Peer Coaching
•Lesson on your time
•Activity during class
Starter Resources:
http://flippedlearning.org
http://flippedclassroom.org/
http://www.flippedlearningjournal.org

29. Get Blended
Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/59217476@N00/7704609288

30. Matching Up Methods
Choose a necessary skill
from the ones you listed
on the back of your card
earlier.
Choose two colored
cards with raining
methods listed on them.
Name some pros and cons for using these
methods to teach these skills. How might you
make this combination work?

31. The Commitment
Making a commitment to staff development
means management support of employees
as learners.
How do we
make this
support a
reality?
Photo Credit: http://static.flickr.com/7351/9907581715_7276d45574.jpg

32. Best Practices
• Get to know your organization’s mission, vision, and
strategic objectives
• Base training and development topics and desired
outcomes on strategies for reaching organizational goals.
• Coordinate efforts within the larger strategic framework
and planning structure.
• Adapt to feedback and changes in direction.
• Take opportunities to allow findings from these activities
inform the strategic planning process in the future.
• Make sure staff have the time and resources to fully
engage.
Photo Credit: http://static.flickr.com/7351/9907581715_7276d45574.jpg

33. Emily Clasper
emily@eclasper.com
@eclasper
http://slidesha.re/1iXpGW6
Alaska Library Association Conference, 2014
#akla
Photo Credit: Thomas Hawk http://www.flickr.com/photos/51035555243@N01/3191454610/