The Training Imperative for the Virtual Library: Challenges and Opportunities in the Skill Development of Librarians

Eeva K. Munoz & Ian B. Whyte

University of Western Ontario

London, Ontario, Canada

Overview Environment Library service redesign Librarians’ changing role Strategies for professional

development Challenges Conclusion

Environment Library:

Medicine & Dentistry, Engineering, Health Sciences, Science

Users: 13,000 users Distributed teaching and research

Collections electronic only policy

Library service redesign

User centered service services at the point of need

Single service desk as a concept change in user behaviour library as a place of study fewer reference questions

analysis of questions at desks

Proposed service model

In-library service: single service desk staffed by library assistants service guidelines/ referral training program

Virtual library service: subject based liaison librarians:

collections management, teaching support, web development

Crowley 2001(Tacit knowledge, tacit ignorance, and the future of academic librarianship.

College&Research Libraries, 62, 565): “The threat of being seen as peripheral, invisible…should be a strong incentive to ensure that the librarian, in any academic environment, is seen as central, visible and consequential” ….“Moving the librarian from the reference desk to brick and and electronic classrooms, combined with context-relevant alliance with researchers grounded in shared credentials and interests, may well be the answer to the academic version of the question, If your customers know as much as you do, why do they need you?”

Librarians’ changing role: an educator Teaching, outreach, liaison

Skills development: technology educational design teaching techniques “soft” skills: communication,

marketing

Strategies for professional development Workshops Team based skills development Performance management Individual skills building

Workshops ACRL information literacy

standards and simple instructional design: what the student will be able to do what the student needs to know what activity facilitates learning how the student demonstrates

learning evaluation criteria

Teaching for librarians design a good lecture instructional objectives active learning group discussion microteaching: feedback from the

group and facilitator regarding presentation techniques, logical presentation, use of teaching aids etc.

Team-based skill development Avoid isolation, rely on peer

development Share practices, strategies Share technical knowledge Effective when group dynamics are

optimal

Performance management Outcomes based job descriptions Goal setting - linked to information

literacy outcomes Objectives include incremental skill

building Supervisor’s role as a coach and

leader

Individual skill building

Tied to performance management Encourage to seek outside

development opportunities Effective in building communication

skills, technical skills

Challenges

Realization of the implications of the changing profession challenges the manager effective facilitation, leadership

skills Effective change management

Effective leadership practices (Kouzes and Posner, 2002)

Challenge the process Inspire shared vision Enable others to act Model the way Encourage the heart

group meetings task groups involved in identifying

solutions staff involvement in planning communication celebration

Conclusions

We have moved forward: single service desk, innovative programs

We are not there yet: challenging perceptions of reality still pervade

Manager’s role as coach and leader is crucial

The key is to maintain momentum with effective teamwork and outcomes based performance management