Austin Stroud is an instructional librarian at the Monroe County Public Library in Bloomington, Indiana. His typical duties include designing and developing classes for both library staff and the general public, maintaining class offerings, committee work, and filling in at service desks as needed. He discusses how he assesses training needs, develops classes, and networks to stay current in his skills. Stroud provides advice for gaining experience and skills to work as an instructional librarian.

1. Life as an Instructional Librarian
Presented by Austin Stroud

2. Introduction
Name:
Austin Stroud
Work Background:
•Instructional Designer at the Monroe County Public Library here in
Bloomington
•Adjunct Faculty at Ivy Tech Community College
Education Background:
•Undergraduate – Bachelor of Science in Labor Studies
(Indiana University)
•Graduate – Master of Science in Education in Instructional Systems
Technology (Indiana University)
•Graduate – Master of Library Science (IUPUI)

3. Typical Duties
• Designing/Developing classes to be taught to both the general
public and the library staff
• Maintaining/Updating class offerings to ensure they stay current
• Submitting staff trainings for LEU or TLEU credit through the
Indiana State Library (librarian certification required for certain
positions)
• One-on-one trainings with patrons as needed on specific topics of
interest
• Committee meetings throughout the library (staff development,
marketing, social media, working with patrons with disabilities, etc.)
• Attending webinars and area conferences to stay current in my
skills
• Filling in at the reference desk or at the circulation desk, even
shelving books, as needed

4. Some days are busier than others!

5. Developing Classes
Now that you know a bit more about me, let’s talk about the meat of
an instructional librarian’s job: training

6. Needs Assessment
• Survey staff and patrons to identify specific needs
• Some class topics are a given for having an interest, such as
Microsoft Word – basic computer classes are always needed
• Some things to consider when building a class/training:
– How long should the training be?
– What time of day and day of week should the training be offered?
– Where should the training be held (think of equipment needs)?
– Who is the target audience for the training (what skills are necessary)?
– What instructional methods should be used (video, lecture, books, PowerPoint,
handouts, etc.)?
– Should the training be online only, face-to-face, or both?
– Should the topic be broken up into multiple sessions?
• These questions and more can ALL be answered through
surveying the staff and patrons you are serving
• Different branches have different training needs – survey each
separately

7. Current Class Offerings
• Microsoft Word 2010 for Beginners
• Microsoft Excel 2010 Basics
• Budgeting with Microsoft Excel 2010
• Typing Basics (three week course)
• Introduction to Web Design
• Facebook 101
• Introduction to Twitter
• Online Job Searching
• Open Source Software Alternatives
• Presenting with Microsoft PowerPoint 2010
• Email Basics (Gmail)
• Internet Basics
• Computer Basics
• Technology Question and Answer (Open Lab – Ask Anything)

8. Don’t be afraid to fail!
• Some classes you try, will not work
• If registration is low, there probably is not much need for that class
• Be open to trying new things and experimenting to find what works
best in instructing a given topic
• Use a variety of instructional methods, as not everyone learns the
same way
• Be mindful of staff and patrons with disabilities – create classes
that anyone could take
• If you show it in the class, have it in a handout for the staff or
patrons to take with them (or a link to a resource at the very least)
• Have a backup plan in case the technology fails – don’t put all of
your eggs in one basket

9. Job Market
With an understanding about what goes into building classes for the
staff and general public, how can you land a job in the field?

10. Get Experience and Knowledge
To land an instructional librarian role, you need experience and
knowledge.
– Volunteer – If you have an interest, I would love to have your
help (as would any public library)
– Become well-rounded in your technology skills – No one
can know everything, but try getting experience with a variety of
computer software
– Network with others in the field – Face-to-face networking by
attending area library conferences or online networking in
librarian-related groups or list-servs

11. Volunteer Opportunities
• Volunteer opportunities at the Monroe County Public Library:
http://mcpl.info/geninfo/volunteer-openings
• The folders I have handed out have a volunteer application and all
of the paperwork we give new volunteers
• Take S605 for credit for completing an internship
• Check with SLIS for more volunteer opportunities

12. Technology Skills
• Free technology classes at the Monroe County Public Library:
http://mcpl.info/page/technology-calendar
• Free software downloads for Indiana University students/staff:
http://iuware.iu.edu/
• Free, self-paced training on computer programming/web design:
http://www.codecademy.com
• Free IT-training for Indiana University students/staff:
http://ittraining.iu.edu/
• If you still have time, take some information science IT-oriented
courses through SLIS

13. Networking
• Indiana Library Federation: http://www.ilfonline.org/
– $40/year membership for full-time students
– 2013 ILF Conference October 21-23 Indiana Convention Center (Indianapolis)
• Indiana Online Users Group: http://www.iolug.org/
– $10/year membership for students
– Conferences in the fall and spring – Spring 2013 conference is May 3rd at
Indiana Wesleyan University North in Indianapolis
• American Library Association: http://www.ala.org
– $33/year membership for students
– Annual Conference is in Chicago this summer June 27-July 2
• Indiana Librarian List-servs: http://www.in.gov/library/listservs.htm
– Free

14. Networking
• ALA Think Tank:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ALAthinkTANK/
• LibraryAware Lab: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lalab/
• LinkedIn Groups:
– American Library Association
– Bloomington Technology Partnership
– WebJunction
– Training&Development

15. General Job Tips
• The more flexible you are on where you live, the easier it will be to
find a position
• There are more instructional librarian opportunities in academic
libraries than in public libraries – you wear several hats in many
public libraries
• Be persistent and continue to build your resume and skills if you
are not hired at your dream library – I worked in three other public
libraries and for two colleges before I built the resume needed to
come back “home” to Bloomington
• Build an online portfolio showcasing your work and skills – sell
yourself

16. Helpful Job Websites
• WebJunction’s Jobs in Indiana Libraries:
http://www.webjunction.org/partners/indiana/jobs-in-indiana-libraries.html
• I Need a Library Job: http://inalj.com/
• Ivy Tech Community College: https://jobs.ivytech.edu/
• Indiana University Libraries:
http://www.libraries.iub.edu/index.php?pageId=1412

17. The Future
• The future is bright for instructional technology in libraries. Digital
literacy is a major issue for any public library, and librarians on
staff need to be trained and stay current in their skills to bridge this
literacy gap.
• You will see more of a need for online training in public libraries.
Not many public libraries are doing this just yet.
• You will see more one-on-one instructional sessions offered, such
as the very popular one-on-one technology help sessions offered
at the Monroe County Public Library.
• Free training and support is critical, and libraries are one of the few
sources of this in the community.

18. Contact Me
Austin Stroud
303 East Kirkwood Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47408
Phone: (812)349-3050 ext. 1666
Email: astroud@mcpl.info
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/austintstroud
Twitter: https://twitter.com/austroud
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/austinstroud/