This document discusses developing staff technology skills through learning rather than training. It recommends creating a culture of learning by showing staff your own learning, giving them time to experiment, and discussing what they learn. Successful technology training includes just-in-time training for new technologies and services, and defining core competencies. The document also recommends a "technology petting zoo" where staff can explore new devices without pressure, and continuing the petting zoo concept to include application demonstrations.

1. Development of Staff Technology Skills Arkansas Library Association Conference October 26, 2009 Carol Coffey

2. Learning vs. Training 1. Active vs. Passive 2. Learner-Centered vs. Trainer-Centered 3. Self-Directed vs. Trainer-Led 4. Anywhere vs. “Be There!” 5. Just-in-time vs. “Someday you’ll need this.”

3. Develop a Culture of Learning Let staff see you learning new things. Give them time to experiment. Talk to them about what they’re learning. Let them try new things, even if the new things don’t always work. “Creating a Culture of Learning at Your Library.” ALA Annual Conference, July 2009.

4. Components of Successful Technology Training Programs Just-in-time : new technology, new software, new services Competencies: library-specific skills expected of all staff members

5. Just-in-Time Right before you release the new service Staff will be familiar with it as patrons are learning A great way to find the problems that you missed

6. Competencies Specific skills and knowledge Quantifiable “the core tasks necessary for a particular job.” See Houghton-Jan, Sarah. Technology Competencies and Training for Libraries. Library Technology Reports 43, no 2 (March/April 2007).

7. http://www.webjunction.org/competencies

8. Tech Support IS Reference It’s not the patron’s responsibility to know what kinds of questions they can ask. We have the computers, therefore we must know how to use them Patrons have always asked us for help – now the kind of help they need is different. “Thingamabobs and Doodads: Why Tech Support IS Reference.” ALA Annual Conference, July 2009.

9. Free Stuff Training Sessions offered by Database Vendors Free webinars (Webjunction.org does some but most of their courses are NOT free) Webjunction.org does provide documents such as tutorials, lesson plans, etc. Learning 2.0/23 Things Programs – Google it! YOUR STAFF!

10. A Petting Zoo? At the Library?!? Technology Petting Zoo: a place to touch the cool gadgets without pressure from sales people Also a place to get advice from the owners of the gadgets Does not require the library to buy all the gadgets – Borrow them from your staff! Ask the owners of the toys to help with advice and instruction.

11. CALS Staff Technology Petting Zoo, 2008

12. CALS Staff Petting Zoo, continued.

13. CALS Patron Technology Petting Zoo

14. Got some money to spend on staff training? Buy your own toys! See David Lee King’s post “Topeka’s Techie Toybox” at http://www.davidleeking.com/2007/10/23/topekas-techie-toybox/ Also see Princeton Public Library’s Gadget Garage at http://www.princeton.lib.nj.us/research/techcenter/gadgetgarage.html And Santa Cruz Public Library’s Technology Petting Zoo at http://www.veganlibrarian.com/technologypettingzoo.html

15. What’s Next for CALS? CALS Application Petting Zoo (for staff AND patrons) 1. Facebook 2. CALS Downloadable Library (OverDrive) 3. Twitter 4. Google Docs

16. http://www.slideshare.net/paroo1 Presentation Slides Resources List (PDF) ALA Presentations (in my Favorites list) Email me: ccoffey@cals.org