WELCOME TO THE STAFF DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING OFFICE HOMEPAGE.

This learning page is a great place to find information about training, learning portfolios, and get helpful tips on customer service, managing employees, or other library issues. We'll also be posting post-conference reflections and ideas discovered by staff members at programs they attended.

Subscribe to the blog to get updates when ideas are posted.

Friday, June 19, 2020

Access and Equity resources on WebJunction.org

Our access to WebJunction includes their list of resources for libraries that are looking for ways to "stand in solidarity, to take action, and to ensure library services and programs are equitable and safe for all."  

WebJunction has their page sorted by the following categories.  Some items are articles, some are webinars, and some are links to other pages.  There is a wide variety of information for library staff.

Take a look, there is a lot of great information.

On WebJunction

Statements and Resources from Libraries

Online Resources

For Supporting Youth

Creating Diverse Collections

Articles

Booklists and Books

Multimedia

On Accessibility


Friday, May 29, 2020

Return to Work Safety Videos and Quiz

In preparation for returning to the library we are asking all staff to view a series of videos that will help keep you and everyone else safe while at work.  

View the videos below, and then complete the quiz and send it to your supervisor to show that you completed this requirement.  If you have any questions, please speak with your manager or supervisor.

Wearing a cloth mask properly  (1 min 42 sec)  


Hand washing ( 1 min 26 sec) 


Glove removal (1 min 12 sec)




Preventing Coronavirus at work  (2 min 28 sec) 



Clean your workspace (1 min 16 sec)


Quiz:  to access the quiz, click on the link below.  Once you are in Google Drive, Select File, then Download, and Microsoft Word. 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uyOv9tEKyil5Hcd6GcoI2yfyKz87D6WBZ6mubJiapXI/edit?usp=sharing



Monday, May 11, 2020

Wash Your Hands poster generator - choose your favorite song

I just found a great thing on the internet --  a poster generator for hand-washing timing.  You can put in any song and it prints out a poster showing how much you need to sing to hit the 20 second mark.

I tried  "Love Shack" B-52s , "No Woman No Cry" Bob Marley, "Put a Ring on It" Beyonce and  even the Baby Shark song, and all were perfect.  Try your own favorite song, or maybe print out a few for your family.


Lisa

Working from home difficulties


I'm having some trouble working from home. 

Thursday, April 16, 2020

Registration for webinars and programs that have fees - what to do while we are out of the office

We've been sending out training opportunities for staff, and some of you have questions about those that charge a fee.  We will continue to pay these fees for staff, and the process to request funding is similar to the usual process. 


1. The staff member identifies a program they wish to attend.  There is a fee involved.

2.  The staff member creates a 354 request with a goals statement (and any registration information needed) and sends these by email to their supervisor.

3.  If the supervisor approves, they forward the email (with the form and statement) to their division chief with a statement like "I approve this."  If not approved, supervisor notifies staff member.

4.  If the division chief approves the request, they forward the email and attachments to SD&T, also stating "I approve this," or similar.  If not approved, chief notifies supervisor.

5.  SD&T will register the staff member for the program and pay the fee.  Staff member will get confirmation of registration from SD&T.

6.  When the program is complete, the staff member forwards confirmation of completion to SD&T.

Once we return to the library, the forms will be printed and appropriate signatures will be required.
No requests without the appropriate paper/email trail can be considered, so please follow the directions carefully.  

If you have any questions, please let us know.


Tuesday, March 31, 2020

NicheAcademy webinars

Looking for ways to develop your skills while working from home?  There are a lot of interesting recorded webinars on NicheAcademy that can be accessed from their website without having to create an account.  

These range from Diversity/Inclusive topics like "Cultivating Strong Girls" and "Serving Individuals with Autism,"  to general library topics like "Practicing Intellectual Freedom," and even some topics for managers like "Best Practices for Developing Employees' Soft Skills."

Not everything is CEU worthy, so be sure you are selecting topics that are appropriate to your work at the library, and that you are accessing webinars and not just informative articles.  Remember, the webinar has to be at least 60 minutes long to count for credit.

These are recorded webinars, so you'll need to include a review/discussion of the program with your CEU form when you submit it.  I'll attach the information about recorded webinars, which can also be found on the blog.


Monday, March 23, 2020

Library 2.0 Mini-conference March 26, 2020

It's easy and free to join Library 2.0 but plan ahead because it can take a day or two for membership approval.


We are expanding our planned Library 2.0 special broadcast webinar for librarians to a special mini-conference, being held in conjunction with PCI Webinars and Andrew Sanderbeck. Please note the new expanded times.
DATE & TIMES: Thursday, March 26th, 2020 | 1:00 - 6:30 pm US-Eastern Time (4 one-hour sessions with 1/2-hour breaks)
COST: Free
REGISTRATION: To register for the mini-conference, please join Library 2.0. Those who are already members of Library 2.0 do not need to do anything.
ATTENDING: The schedule with the live session links will be sent to all members of Library 2.0.
PLATFORM: The mini-conference platform is Zoom. To make sure your computer or mobile is configured for Zoom, please visit zoom.us/test.
SESSIONS:
1. SELF-CARE DURING A CRISIS: BREATHE, THINK, AND GROW
1:00 PM US-Eastern Daylight Time
Click here to see in your own time zone

As libraries deal with the global crisis of 2020, staff have many difficult choices to handle every day. From deciding whether to stay open to managing the constant flow of information, the work can be all-consuming. In this webinar, we will talk about how to take time out of your day to focus on yourself and to nourish your own growth.

Participants will:
  • Learn methods and exercises for staying in the moment and remaining mindful while dealing with stress and uncertainty
  • Spend time discussing their challenges and how they are working to handle them, while planning mindfully for the future
  • Focus on healthy self-care activities
Cari Dubiel
Adult Learning and Information Services Manager at Twinsburg Public Library

Cari is the Adult Learning and Information Services Manager at Twinsburg Public Library. She is also a writer, teacher, and podcaster. She is a former Library Liaison to Sisters in Crime, an organization of 3600 crime writers and readers nationwide.

2. WHY AND HOW TO PROMOTE YOUR ONLINE SERVICES DURING THE QUARANTINE
2:30 PM US-Eastern Daylight Time
Click here to see in your own time zone


We are certainly "living in interesting times" ... and working in them too. Even if your building is closed, your library is still offering services—but are you telling people that?

While it's tempting to look at these pandemic-related closures as much-needed downtime, librarians don't have that luxury. People still need you. In fact, people who haven't used libraries in years need your boredom-breaking services and your long-trusted guidance, too. So it's vital to keep marketing your libraries now, for three reasons: 1) telling people what's available online and how to get it; 2) being the trusted source of info that people expect; and 3) proving your value to retain funding after the crisis.

In this webinar, specially created to help your library be as useful as possible during the current Coronavirus pandemic, library marketing maven Kathy Dempsey will share her best advice on these topics:
  • Working at home (Dempsey has worked at home for 10 years)
  • Turning today's chaos into a Crisis Communications Plan in the near future
  • Exactly what services and products to promote (some might surprise you)
  • How to get the word out, beyond your own social media followers
  • How to approach messaging in trying times
  • Why today's promotion will help secure next year's library funding
  • Why to scratch out mini marketing plans to make your work effective
  • Resources for self-care and for social sharing
In a time where everyone is inundated with information, the world still needs their librarians and librarians. The "new normal" will likely have super-tight budgets, so proving how essential you are during this crisis may well determine whether your organization survives the virus.
Kathy Dempsey
Libraries Are Essential

Kathy Dempsey wrote the popular how-to tome The Accidental Library Marketer and founded her own marketing consultancy, Libraries Are Essential. Her work is dedicated to helping librarians and information professionals promote their value and expertise in order to gain respect and funding. Kathy has been the Editor of Marketing Library Services newsletter for 25 years, and was formerly Editor-in-Chief of Computers in Librariesmagazine. She also blogs at The 'M' Word. She's a member of the New Jersey Library Association, and Founder of the Library Marketing and Communications Conference, which she chaired in 2015, 2016, and 2017. This writer, editor, and marketing maven has been giving presentations across the U.S. and Canada for 20+ years, always sprinkling them with humor to make marketing concepts more interesting and accessible. She continues to fight the stereotypes that librarians are boring and that "marketing" is a dirty word.

3. SERVING PATRONS IN A CRISIS
4:00 PM US-Eastern Daylight Time
Click here to see in your own time zone

Helping people make decisions based on facts and evidence is what libraries of all types do everyday. With libraries closing to the public and reducing services because of COVID-19, how can we continue to provide the facts in this fast-paced changing environment? And how can libraries provide the services that their communities will need to remain vital to the health and welfare of their communities?

This interactive and informative webinar will help attendees find the latest resources and information available to help them serve their patrons and communities, as well as looking into how libraries are responding to community needs of today and will focus on the work ahead as we shape the future of library services after the pandemic passes.
Andrew Sanderbeck
PCI Webinars

Andrew has been developing and conducting training programs for libraries and library organizations for more than fifteen years. He has presented Web-based, On-line, and Face-to-Face sessions on Management and Leadership, Customer Service and Communication Skills in the U.S. and numerous countries around the world. He is a board member of the Haywood County Public Library and a monthly donor to EveryLibrary, advocating for libraries everywhere that support is needed.
Kathy Zappitello
Executive Director of the Conneaut Public Library in Conneaut, Ohio

Kathy has worked for fifteen years in Ohio libraries and is currently the Executive Director of the Conneaut Public Library in Conneaut, Ohio. Kathy serves on the National Board of Directors for the Association for Rural and Small Libraries and is co-chair of the Partnership committee. Locally, she produces educational content for one of Ohio's cable access channels that provides programming to households in Ohio and Western Pennsylvania.

4. PREPARING YOUR DIGITAL BRANCH FOR INCREASED USE
5:30 PM US-Eastern Daylight Time
Click here to see in your own time zone

As libraries engage in social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are placing new emphasis on our online services. Is your organization ready?

In this interactive and Informative program, we will discuss how to prepare your digital branch for an influx of users, and examine best practices for virtual reference and digital collections as you work to meet your community's needs.
Nick Tanzi
Assistant Director of the South Huntington Public Library

Nick Tanzi has been incorporating emerging technologies into the library as a children’s librarian, the founding member of a digital services department, and most recently, as the Assistant Director of the South Huntington Public Library. During this time, he has spoken in the U.S. and abroad on topics ranging from social media marketing to 3D printing. He is the author of Making the Most of Digital Collections through Training and Outreach (2016), and Best Technologies for Public Libraries (2020). He writes “The Wired Library” column for Public Libraries Magazine. Tanzi was named a 2017 Dewey Fellow by the New York Library Association, and currently serves as President of its Making and STEAM Round Table.