The document discusses how libraries can train staff to code in order to save money, deliver better services, and build the types of services they want. It provides examples of libraries that have used code to rescue expensive projects, gather metrics data faster, and increase cataloging productivity. The document recommends that libraries provide coding projects, mentors, learning options like online courses, and support in the form of money, time, and collaboration to help staff learn to code.

1. Building the Future by
Building Your Staff
Andromeda Yelton
Wisconsin Trustee Week
Nicolet Federated Library System
21 August 2014

2. Staff who code can...
•save you money
•deliver better service
•build the kinds of services they want to deliver

3. ...there’s a catch

4. where I’m coming from

5. Examples

6. “Do you have
any Dora
books?”

8. “The code rescued a rather expensive
and unpopular project.”
Matt Weaver
Westlake Porter Public Library

9. Data dashboard

10. “It enabled us to gather metrics data in
3 seconds where it used to take about
an hour and a half.”
John Blyberg
Darien Public Library

11. Open source software (and hardware!)

12. Staff workflow

13. “...as my department’s then-only
regular user of OML scripts, I had
several times the cataloging
productivity of any other cataloger in
that department, even while spending a
smaller percentage of my time on
cataloging.”
Carrie Preston
Ohio University Libraries

14. Before code:
50-100 minutes per week
After code:
2 minutes per week
Time saved:
1-2 person-weeks per year

15. What learners need
•projects
•mentors

16. Learning options
•MOOCs
•O’Reilly books (Safari subscription)?
•bootcamps?
•courses
•local user groups

17. Learning support
•money (some)
•time (lots)
•collaboration (plenty)

20. Questions?

21. Photo credits
Dusty and Frisbee
Photo by S. Carter (Flickr user australianshepherds) - https://
secure.flickr.com/photos/australianshepherds/5491660060 - CC BY-SA
Cooper's Rock
Photo by Noelle (Flickr user pause.reflect)- https://secure.flickr.com/
photos/83476006@N07/7756351232 - CC BY
Kid with library ipad
Photo by Gretchen Caserotti (Flickr user hams-caserotti)- https://
secure.flickr.com/photos/hams-caserotti/6181613202 - CC BY
Digital signage
Photo by TS Eriksson - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/
File:Digital_Signage.jpg - CC BY

22. Photo credits
Data dashboard
Photo by John Blyberg (Flickr user jblyberg) - https://secure.flickr.com/
photos/jblyberg/6334753057 - CC BY
Open
Photo by opensourceway.com (Flickr user opensourceway)- https://
secure.flickr.com/photos/opensourceway/5009661706 - CC BY-SA
Library catalog
Photo by Andrés Monroy-Hernández (Flickr user amonroy)- https://
secure.flickr.com/photos/amonroy/6955679718/ - CC BY-SA
Clock
Photo by Walt Stoneburner (Flickr user waltstoneburner) - http://flic.kr/p/
apgpCT - CC BY

23. Photo credits
Robot!
Photo by legoalbert – http://flic.kr/p/evHiGW – CC BY
Library service
Photo by college.library (Flickr user collegelibrary)- https://
secure.flickr.com/photos/collegelibrary/4090872696 - CC BY
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