Library Success: A Best Practices Wiki - User contributions [en]

Staff Training

2008-06-03T21:10:28Z

Kevindixon: /* Blogs/Websites to Watch */

= Success Stories =
* [[Memphis Public Library & Information Center - Word: When a Customer Asks. . .]]
* [[Memphis Public Library & Information Center - ILS Upgrade]]
* [[Cedar Rapids Public Library - Staff training on public databases]]*
* [[The Scoop E-Newsletter for Youth Services, a staff development tool]]
* [http://mplictechtrain.blogspot.com/2006/11/blog-wiki-aggregator-training-for-malc.html Blog, Wiki, Aggregator Training for the Memphis Area Library Council] (link to blog post article).

= Tips for Training Library Staff =

<big>Tips for Floating Librarians 
 
    Many library systems employ floaters- people who
do not work at a specific location, but "float" around from library to
library and fill in for  a short-handed staff.  This
is especially true as more and more workers take advantage of the Family
and Medical Leave Act of 1993
[1].  Listed below are a few tips for current floaters or
would-be floaters interested in some of the challenges of the position: 
 
</big>
<ul>
<li><big> Make
sure your transportation is safe
and reliable.  It may
be possible that some floaters must supply their own transportation
from location to location.  Inquire with your employer if it
is possible to take a company vehicle when on location if the need to
travel arrives, and mark your mileage for possible compensation.</big></li>
<li><big>If
floating a position that has contacts with patrons,
never assume a patron knows
what they want to find, or that you know what they want! [2]
 Ask them questions to dig out the answer.</big></li>
<li><big>Become
very familiar with the procedures of your institution, as these will
act as a guide for you to follow at the various locations you may be
visiting [2].  Also, make personal notes of any idiosyncrasies
from location to location, and try to respect them.  After
all, you're a guest worker!</big></li>
<li><big>Don't
get involved with work politics.  You will have to work with a
wide range of people, and its best not to burn bridges.</big></li>
<li><big>Being
a floater is a continual learning experience [3].  Keep your
mind open and be prepared to learn throughout your time as a floater.</big></li>
<li><big>Become
familiar with the physical locations of where you work (the stacks,
bathrooms, and important building nearby, such as post offices).</big></li>
<li><big>Have
fun!</big></li>
</ul>

Citations: 
[1] "The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993"  U.S. Department
of   Labor.
19 October 2007   http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/statutes/whd/fmla.htm> 
[2] Norman, Amy. Reference Librarian, Tulsa Community
College. Personal interview. 19 October 2007. 
[3] Smith, Jason. MLIS student and reference worker.
Tulsa Community College. Personal interview. 19 October 2007.

= Blogs/Websites to Watch =
*[http://tempo.memphislibrary.org/mediawiki/index.php/Staff_Development Memphis Public Library & Information Center - Staff Development] Lists the trainings we offer for our staff. Some training titles are links to the actual training documents.
*[http://mplictechtrain.blogspot.com Memphis Public Library & Information Center - MPLIC Tech Train (Technical Trainer Blog)]
*[http://tempo.memphislibrary.org/mediawiki/index.php/Technical_Trainer Memphis Public Library & Information Center - MPLIC Tech Train Wikified (Technical Trainer Wiki)]
*[http://www.seedwiki.com/wiki/anewiki1/ Antioch New England Graduate School Library Training Wiki for Front Desk Staff.]
*[http://socialwebliteracy.blogspot.com/ Pierce County Library's Social Web Literacy class blog] blog for popular social networking class offered to all staff

= Specific Blog Posts/Articles to Check Out =

*Lister, Pauline & Hill, Dorothy [http://e-prints.alia.org.au/archive/00000089/ "What's Next?:job enhancement through a shadowing up program"] (2005)
*[http://www.mla.gov.uk/resources/assets//I/ict_full_rep_pdf_6663.pdf MLA (UK) ICT Training Report]: "Competencies & capabilities: new paradigms for workforce development in the 21st Century Library" (2004)
*[http://www.mla.gov.uk/resources/assets//W/wfd_learning_for_change_pdf_6680.pdf MLA (UK) Workforce Development Strategy]: "Learning for change: workforce development strategy (Summary)" (2004)
*[http://tametheweb.com/2007/06/building_a_social_library.html Building a Social Library]
*[http://ricklibrarian.blogspot.com/2006/10/cultivating-tech-savvy-library-staff.html Cultivating Tech-Savvy Library Staff] An Internet Librarian 2006 presentation with links
*[http://ricklibrarian.blogspot.com/2007/11/library-technical-competencies-what-do.html Library Technical Competencies: What Do We Have? What Do We Teach? What Do I Hire?] A small library perspective
*[http://blog.webjunctionworks.org/index.php/category/10-ways/ 10 Ways to make your library great in 2008 using Web 2.0] A post-Webinar Blog on Webjunction.

[[Category:Services to Specific Groups]][[Category:Programming]][[Category:Technology]][[Category:Professional]]

Charging for Printing

2007-10-11T15:53:42Z

Kevindixon:

Print control software helps to reduce unnecessary printing and recover printing costs. When enabled, print-control prompts users to confirm or reject each of their print jobs before queuing it for printing. Print Control displays a dialog showing the number of pages and the cost of the print-job along with a customizable message with payment instructions (such as, "Pay at the front desk"; or "You will need a smart card with sufficient funds in order to release your print job"; or "This charge will be added to your library account").

Some software enables an invoice/receipt can optionally be included as the last page of the print job. Cost recovery can be achieved through the following means:

* Automated Billing: When integrated with your Integrated Library System (ILS) using NCIP, printing charges can be applied directly to the patrons account.
* Print Vending: DiscoverStations can be used in conjunction with virtually all print vending/release stations,
* Secured Printer: The printer may be located at staffed desk or counter where users must pay to retrieve their printouts
* Honor System: Users are told the amount they owe and whom to pay.

=Products and Resources=
* [http://userful.com/products/library-ds DiscoverStation]'s [http://userful.com/products/library-ds-feature-print-control Integrated Print Control Features]
* [http://www.lucidsystems.org/printingworks PrintingWorks] cross platform print accounting solution.
* [http://www.columbia.edu/acis/dev/projects/ninja/ Ninja] an open source print accounting/print release system. The [http://www.columbia.edu/acis/dev/projects/ninja/dl/ninja-current-src.tgz source code for NINJA] is available under GPL. Once you download it, the following might help in [http://www.columbia.edu/acis/dev/projects/ninja/doc/ninja_config.pdf installation] and [http://www.columbia.edu/acis/dev/projects/ninja/doc/ninja_sample_files.tar.gz configuration]. There is also a [https://lists.columbia.edu/mailman/listinfo/ninja-users Mailing list].

[[Category: PC Management]]

Memphis Public Library & Information Center - ILS Upgrade

2007-08-15T15:42:30Z

Kevindixon:

* Upgrading your ILS that you have had since the mid-80's can be a large task indeed.
* This is a super-short and sweet version of our training plan for conversion.
* We had three training tracks: Technical Services, Circulation, and Reference
* Our Technical Services folks took care of their own training.
* Our Circulation Training team took care of the Circulation training.
* And the Staff Development department (which consists of one manager and one technical trainer) took care of the Reference training and provided advisement and assistance to Circulation and Technical Services.
* Our ILS vendor did provide training material, however, since we tend to customize quite a bit, we developed our own materials.
* The head circulation trainer developed a training packet for circulation staff.
* The technical trainer developed content on the newly created wiki. [http://tempo.memphislibrary.org/mediawiki/index.php/WorkFlows Click here to see this wiki]. Having this material on a wiki allowed us to add and adjust content as we learned more about the product. Indeed, much has been added since we "went live".
* The technical trainer also began a "Go Live Series" on the Technical Trainer blog. [http://mplictechtrain.blogspot.com/search/label/Go%20Live%20Series Click here to see this series (keep in mind that the newest posts are first)]. The idea was to give staff small bits of information over the course of several months that led up to training and Go Live.
* We also had another internal-only blog devoted solely to developments of this conversion.
* Finally, it was time to conduct in-person trainings.
* We have a computer lab with 12 computers.
* We offered about 15 training sessions for Circulation (4 hours long) and 15 for Reference (3 hours long).
* Reference staff in small locations that frequently find themselves behind the Circulation desk took both sessions.
* These were offered during the 6 week time prior to Go Live. To offer training earlier than that would probably result in the need to re-train.
* The goal of these trainings was to prepare our staff for the first few days of "Go Live".
* After "Go Live" we offered several "refresher", more in-depth trainings on a voluntary basis.

Memphis Public Library & Information Center - ILS Upgrade

2007-08-15T15:32:40Z

Kevindixon:

Memphis Public Library & Information Center - ILS Upgrade

2007-08-15T15:32:19Z

Kevindixon: New page: * Upgrading your ILS that you have had since the mid-80's can be a large task indeed. * This is a super-short and sweet version of our training plan for conversion. * We had three training...

* Upgrading your ILS that you have had since the mid-80's can be a large task indeed.
* This is a super-short and sweet version of our training plan for conversion.
* We had three training tracks: Technical Services, Circulation, and Reference
* Our Technical Services folks took care of their own training.
* Our Circulation Training team took care of the Circulation training.
* And the Staff Development department (which consists of one manager and one technical trainer) took care of the Reference training and provided advisement and assistance to Circulation and Technical Services.
* Our ILS vendor did provide training material, however, since we tend to customize quite a bit, we developed our own materials.
* The head circulation trainer developed a training packet for circulation staff.
* The technical trainer developed content on the newly created wiki. [http://tempo.memphislibrary.org/mediawiki/index.php/WorkFlows Click here to see this wiki]. Having this material on a wiki allowed us to add and adjust content as we learned more about the product. Indeed, much has been added since we "went live".
* The technical trainer also began a "Go Live Series" on the Technical Trainer blog. [http://mplictechtrain.blogspot.com/search/label/Go%20Live%20Series Click here to see this series (keep in mind that the newest posts are first). The idea was to give staff small bits of information over the course of several months that led up to training and Go Live.
* We also had another internal-only blog devoted solely to developments of this conversion.
* Finally, it was time to conduct in-person trainings.
* We have a computer lab with 12 computers.
* We offered about 15 training sessions for Circulation (4 hours long) and 15 for Reference (3 hours long).
* Reference staff in small locations that frequently find themselves behind the Circulation desk took both sessions.
* These were offered during the 6 week time prior to Go Live. To offer training earlier than that would probably result in the need to re-train.
* The goal of these trainings was to prepare our staff for the first few days of "Go Live".

Staff Training

2007-08-15T15:10:02Z

Kevindixon:

Staff Training

2007-08-15T15:09:22Z

Kevindixon:

= Success Stories =
* [[Memphis Public Library & Information Center - Word: When a Customer Asks. . .]]
* [[Cedar Rapids Public Library - Staff training on public databases]]*
* [[The Scoop E-Newsletter for Youth Services, a staff development tool]]
* [http://mplictechtrain.blogspot.com/2006/11/blog-wiki-aggregator-training-for-malc.html Blog, Wiki, Aggregator Training for the Memphis Area Library Council] (link to blog post article).

= Tips for Training Library Staff =

= Blogs/Websites to Watch =
*[http://www.memphislibrary.org/intranet/StaffDev.html Memphis Public Library & Information Center - Staff Development] Lists the trainings we offer for our staff. Some training titles are links to the actual training documents.
*[http://mplictechtrain.blogspot.com Memphis Public Library & Information Center - MPLIC Tech Train (Technical Trainer Blog)]
*[http://tempo.memphislibrary.org/mediawiki/index.php/Technical_Trainer Memphis Public Library & Information Center - MPLIC Tech Train Wikified (Technical Trainer Wiki)]
*[http://www.seedwiki.com/wiki/anewiki1/ Antioch New England Graduate School Library Training Wiki for Front Desk Staff.]
*[http://socialwebliteracy.blogspot.com/ Pierce County Library's Social Web Literacy class blog] blog for popular social networking class offered to all staff

= Specific Blog Posts/Articles to Check Out =

*Lister, Pauline & Hill, Dorothy [http://e-prints.alia.org.au/archive/00000089/ "What's Next?:job enhancement through a shadowing up program"] (2005)
*[http://www.mla.gov.uk/resources/assets//I/ict_full_rep_pdf_6663.pdf MLA (UK) ICT Training Report]: "Competencies & capabilities: new paradigms for workforce development in the 21st Century Library" (2004)
*[http://www.mla.gov.uk/resources/assets//W/wfd_learning_for_change_pdf_6680.pdf MLA (UK) Workforce Development Strategy]: "Learning for change: workforce development strategy (Summary)" (2004)
*[http://tametheweb.com/2007/06/building_a_social_library.html Building a Social Library]
*[http://ricklibrarian.blogspot.com/2006/10/cultivating-tech-savvy-library-staff.html Cultivating Tech-Savvy Library Staff] An Internet Librarian 2006 presentation with links

[[Category:Services to Specific Groups]][[Category:Programming]][[Category:Technology]][[Category:Professional]]

Staff Training

2006-11-03T15:51:52Z

Kevindixon:

= Success Stories =
* [[Memphis Public Library & Information Center - Word: When a Customer Asks. . .]]
* [[Cedar Rapids Public Library - Staff training on public databases]]*
* [[The Scoop E-Newsletter for Youth Services, a staff development tool]]
* [http://mplictechtrain.blogspot.com/2006/11/blog-wiki-aggregator-training-for-malc.html Blog, Wiki, Aggregator Training for the Memphis Area Library Council] (link to blog post article).

= Tips for Training Library Staff =

= Blogs/Websites to Watch =
*[http://www.memphislibrary.org/intranet/StaffDev.html Memphis Public Library & Information Center - Staff Development] Lists the trainings we offer for our staff. Some training titles are links to the actual training documents.
*[http://mplictechtrain.blogspot.com Memphis Public Library & Information Center - Technical Trainer Blog]
*[http://www.seedwiki.com/wiki/anewiki1/ Antioch New England Graduate School Library Training Wiki for Front Desk Staff.]

= Specific Blog Posts/Articles to Check Out =

*Lister, Pauline & Hill, Dorothy [http://e-prints.alia.org.au/archive/00000089/ "What's Next?:job enhancement through a shadowing up program"] (2005)
*[http://www.mla.gov.uk/documents/ict_full_rep.pdf MLA (UK) ICT Training Report]: "Competencies & capabilities: new paradigms for workforce development in the 21st Century Library" (2004)
*[http://www.mla.gov.uk/documents/wfd_learning_for_change_sum.pdf MLA (UK) Workforce Development Strategy]: "Learning for change: workforce development strategy (Summary)" (2004)
*[http://ricklibrarian.blogspot.com/2006/10/cultivating-tech-savvy-library-staff.html Cultivating Tech-Savvy Library Staff] An Internet Librarian 2006 presentation with links

[[Category:Services to Specific Groups]][[Category:Programming]][[Category:Technology]][[Category:Professional]]

Staff Training

2006-11-01T22:26:23Z

Kevindixon:

= Success Stories =
* [[Memphis Public Library & Information Center - Word: When a Customer Asks. . .]]
* [[Cedar Rapids Public Library - Staff training on public databases]]*
* [[The Scoop E-Newsletter for Youth Services, a staff development tool]]

= Tips for Training Library Staff =

= Blogs/Websites to Watch =
*[http://www.memphislibrary.org/intranet/StaffDev.html Memphis Public Library & Information Center - Staff Development] Lists the trainings we offer for our staff. Some training titles are links to the actual training documents.
*[http://mplictechtrain.blogspot.com Memphis Public Library & Information Center - Technical Trainer Blog]
*[http://www.seedwiki.com/wiki/anewiki1/ Antioch New England Graduate School Library Training Wiki for Front Desk Staff.]

= Specific Blog Posts/Articles to Check Out =

*Lister, Pauline & Hill, Dorothy [http://e-prints.alia.org.au/archive/00000089/ "What's Next?:job enhancement through a shadowing up program"] (2005)
*[http://www.mla.gov.uk/documents/ict_full_rep.pdf MLA (UK) ICT Training Report]: "Competencies & capabilities: new paradigms for workforce development in the 21st Century Library" (2004)
*[http://www.mla.gov.uk/documents/wfd_learning_for_change_sum.pdf MLA (UK) Workforce Development Strategy]: "Learning for change: workforce development strategy (Summary)" (2004)
*[http://ricklibrarian.blogspot.com/2006/10/cultivating-tech-savvy-library-staff.html Cultivating Tech-Savvy Library Staff] An Internet Librarian 2006 presentation with links

[[Category:Services to Specific Groups]][[Category:Programming]][[Category:Technology]][[Category:Professional]]

Meeting Minutes Availability

2006-10-24T20:32:05Z

Kevindixon:

* One area of focus for this project was to find a way to make meeting minutes more available to staff. We have about 20 locations and around 350 staff members. We also have many standing committees as well as specialized task forces, etc. that do a lot of the leg work that eventually impacts all front line staff. If staff read the meeting minutes, they would understand where the decisions were coming from, and they would also be able to provide input before the decisions were implemented.
* Currently, each agency (maybe) receives meeting minutes via inter-office mail. Someone then inserts the minutes into a notebook. It is everyone's responsibility to find that notebook and read the minutes that are available. This is a system with many opportunities to fail.
* The proposed setup would utilize our Exchange Server and our Outlook 2003 and Outlook Web Access. These versions of Outlook have the option of including a [http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010347771033.aspx public folder].
* All meeting minutes would be entered into this folder and would be arranged exactly like your e-mail items.
* If the subject of these items included the name of the committee and the date, then staff could arrange the items by subject in order to find meeting minutes by committee.
* Also, staff could utilize the Find feature in Outlook to search all minutes for specific topics. This is a vital piece as the reality of all staff reading all minutes is unrealistic. However, if staff could search the minutes, this would allow staff to look for minutes that relate to their specific need at that specific time.
* If you did not have the Outlook, Exchange Server setup, you could use a blog to post meeting minutes.

Meeting Minutes Availability

2006-10-24T20:30:34Z

Kevindixon:

* One area of focus for this project was to find a way to make meeting minutes more available to staff. We have about 20 locations and around 350 staff members. We also have many standing committees as well as specialized task forces, etc. that do a lot of the leg work that eventually impacts all front line staff. If staff read the meeting minutes, they would understand where the decisions were coming from, and they would also be able to provide input before the decisions were implemented.
* Currently, each agency (maybe) receives meeting minutes via inter-office mail. Someone then inserts the minutes into a notebook. It is everyone's responsibility to find that notebook and read the minutes that are available. This is a system with many opportunities to fail.
* The proposed setup would utilize our Exchange Server and our Outlook 2003 and Outlook Web Access. These versions of Outlook have the option of including a [http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010347771033.aspx public folder].
* All meeting minutes would be entered into this folder and would be arranged exactly like your e-mail items.
* If the subject of these items included the name of the committee and the date, then staff could arrange the items by subject in order to find meeting minutes by committee.
* Also, staff could utilize the Find feature in Outlook to search all minutes for specific topics. This is a vital piece as the feasibility of all staff reading all minutes is opportunistic at best. However, if staff could search the minutes, this would allow staff to look for minutes that relate to their specific need at that specific time.
* If you did not have the Outlook, Exchange Server setup, you could use a blog to post meeting minutes.

Internal Communication Survey

2006-10-24T20:28:02Z

Kevindixon:

* Still in the works.
* I will include information when this area is finalized.

Tapping the Grapevine

2006-10-24T20:26:53Z

Kevindixon:

* One area of focus was tapping the grapevine.
* Our Internal Communication System was strong. However, our "Informal" Internal Communication System is also very strong.
* Our idea for this came from the article [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3779/is_199801/ai_n8779274 Informal Communication Network: factors influencing grapevine activity] from the Winter 1998 '''Public Personnel Management'''.
* Instead of clamping down on the grapevine, we need to tap it because if people are talking about and questioning a certain topic, then it must be important to them.
* The obvious resource for a staff member that has heard something "at the water cooler" or at the "smoke lounge" is their supervisor or manager. However, these staff members can be heavily involved with the grapevine as well.
* We wanted some way in which questions could move directly from the bottom to the top.
* While our administration has always had an open door policy for anyone with a question, in reality, not many people chose to seek the truth in regards to matters learned on the grapevine.
* Also, as much as we train people when they are hired, many staff are not exactly sure who is responsible for what.
* If we had some way to provide staff with an anonymous avenue to submit questions, then we would hopefully be able to address some of the misinformation that is spread through the grapevine.
* Our proposal involves a web form, that, when filled out, is sent to a designated staff member. This staff member can then forward the question to the person that would best be able to address the question.
* Once an answer has been determined, the person can decide how best to relay the answer to the appropriate parties. Does it require an all staff email? Would it be better to inform the Regional Managers, who would then pass it down from there?
* Once way or another, we have taken a rumor off of the grapevine, and replaced it with verifiable information within the "Formal" Internal Communication System.
* [http://thumbq.com/store/340-scoop_prop.png Click here to see the proposed design].

Tapping the Grapevine

2006-10-24T20:09:18Z

Kevindixon:

http://thumbq.com/store/340-scoop_prop.png

Tapping the Grapevine

2006-10-24T20:09:07Z

Kevindixon:

[http://thumbq.com/store/340-scoop_prop.png]

Tapping the Grapevine

2006-10-24T20:07:00Z

Kevindixon:

Tapping the Grapevine

2006-10-24T20:05:15Z

Kevindixon:

Tapping the Grapevine

2006-10-24T20:05:03Z

Kevindixon:

Meeting Minutes Availability

2006-10-24T19:58:43Z

Kevindixon:

* One area of focus for this project was to find a way to make meeting minutes more available to staff. We have about 20 locations and around 350 staff members. We also have many standing committees as well as specialized task forces, etc. that do a lot of the leg work that eventually impacts all front line staff. If staff read the meeting minutes, they would understand where the decisions were coming from, and they would also be able to provide input before the decisions were implemented.
* Currently, each agency (maybe) receives meeting minutes via inter-office mail. Someone then inserts the minutes into a notebook. It is everyone's responsibility to find that notebook and read the minutes that are available. This is a system with many opportunities to fail.
* The proposed setup would utilize our Exchange Server and our Outlook 2003 and Outlook Web Access. These versions of Outlook have the option of including a [http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA010347771033.aspx public folder].
* All meeting minutes would be entered into this folder and would be arranged exactly like your e-mail items.
* If the subject of these items included the name of the committee and the date, then staff could arrange the items by subject in order to find meeting minutes by committee.
* Also, staff could utilize the Find feature in Outlook to search all minutes for specific topics.
* If you did not have the Outlook, Exchange Server setup, you could use a blog to post meeting minutes.

Internal Communication Project

2006-10-24T19:58:31Z

Kevindixon:

* This project began as a group project in the [http://www.libsuccess.org/index.php?title=LEAP LEAP program] of the Memphis Public Library & Information Center.
* Read [http://mplictechtrain.blogspot.com/2006/05/internal-communication-leap-project.html this blog post for further information].
* Read [http://mplicleap.pbwiki.com the wiki we used] to develop our presentation.
* See [http://mplicleap.pbwiki.com/f/Internal%20Communication.pdf the slide show we used] during our presentation
* Our focus shifted a bit and our final proposal involved three areas:
** [[Internal Communication Survey]]
** [[Meeting Minutes Availability]]
** [[Tapping the Grapevine]]

Internal Communication Project

2006-10-24T19:56:27Z

Kevindixon:

* This project began as a group project in the [http://www.libsuccess.org/index.php?title=LEAP LEAP program] of the Memphis Public Library & Information Center.
* Read [http://mplictechtrain.blogspot.com/2006/05/internal-communication-leap-project.html this blog post for further information].
* Read [http://mplicleap.pbwiki.com the wiki we used] to develop our presentation.
* See [http://mplicleap.pbwiki.com/f/Internal%20Communication.pdf the slide show we used] during our presentation
* Our focus shifted a bit and our final proposal involved three areas:
** [Internal Communication Survey]
** [Meeting Minutes Availability]
** [Tapping the Grapevine]

LEAP

2006-05-22T20:18:23Z

Kevindixon:

LEAP (Leadership Empowerment Achievement Program) is designed to:

*identify potential leaders within the library system,

*allow employees interested in advancement an opportunity to enhance their leadership skills, and

*develop a pool of individuals who can assume leadership roles when the need arises.

The objectives for participants in LEAP are:

*develop visionary leadership through practical hands-on experience and classroom training sessions;

*develop awareness of external and internal social and political influences impacting the library system, resulting in effective communication strategies for disseminating information;

*develop proactive strategies to address a shifting workplace environment; and

*gain an understanding of the overall operation of the library system and how each part works together to support the organization’s mission.

The following is a list of just some of the “soft skills” or “transferable skills” identified by the Leadership Development Steering Committee as shaping future Memphis Public Library leaders. Individual LEAP sessions were designed based on these competencies; each session addresses one or more of these skills:

*identifying and appreciating various leadership styles

*effective communication

*motivating followers and teambuilding

*ethical leadership

*valuing professional organizations

*advocacy and outreach

*strategic planning

*dealing with change

*coaching and mentoring

*community awareness

*public relations

*political acumen or savvy

*building collaborative relationships

*creating and communicating vision

*understanding the library "big picture"

*identifying future trends

----

==LEAP Sessions==
In order to make the LEAP experience comprehensive, it is imperative that we provide a varied experience for people at all levels and position types. It is our goal to provide insight into our organization, our connection to our community, and the importance of the profession as a whole.

Here is the schedule in its current form:

'''July'''

Welcome Reception

'''August'''

LEAP Retreat

'''September'''

Essentials of Communication

'''October'''

Follow the Book

'''November'''

Part 1: Challenge throughout System History

Part 2: We've Come a Long Way, Baby

'''December'''

Public Relations: Our Window on the World

'''January'''

Shake 'Em Up: A Day in the Life Somewhere Else

'''February'''

The Library World Beyond Memphis Public

'''March'''

Community Involvement

'''April'''

Where I Went/What I Learned

'''May'''

Graduation

* [http://libraryleaders.wordpress.com/ LEAP Blog]

Communications - Internal and External

2006-05-22T20:17:09Z

Kevindixon:

[[Category:Management and Leadership]]

* [http://www.blogwithoutalibrary.net/links/ Libraries with Blogs, both internal and external] (separate wiki)
* [[Internal Communication Project]] - a [http://www.libsuccess.org/index.php?title=LEAP LEAP] Project at Memphis Public Library & Information Center

Memphis Public Library & Information Center - Word: When a Customer Asks. . .

2006-05-22T19:22:25Z

Kevindixon:

When I became the Technical Trainer for Memphis Public Library & Information Center, I inherited a training called Word Basics. This class for staff was three hours long and covered everything from character formatting to tables.

I never had a successful training. It was too long and overwhelming. I would have some staff that were not ready to move beyond character formatting into tables. Also, I would have staff that would fight sleep through the easy stuff just so they could supposedly learn everything there is to know about tables, columns, and such.

To top it off, I discovered that a good portion of staff attending had no intention of using Word in their job. They just thought it would be fun to attend.

I wanted to reshape the training so that it was more in line with the library's mission statement (. . .to satisfy the customer's need to know). I also wanted to make it more available to public service staff. Having staff removed from their agency all morning or afternoon caused a problem for some agencies, especially since we are almost two years into a hiring freeze.

First, I changed the title of the training to ''Word: When a Customer Asks. . .''. From the beginning, you know that this is a training for staff so that they can answer customer's questions.

Next, I turned the three hour training into 5 one hour trainings. Each hour is focused on one topic. Staff can attend just the session they are interested in. Plus, since the training is only one hour long, you can explain some fairly advanced aspects of Word that would have overloaded participants in a full blown three hour session. Finally, having staff away from the desk for one hour is easier for agencies to agree to. These trainings are offered once every two weeks with rotating topics.

Here is a [http://mplictechtrain.blogspot.com/2006/03/word-when-customer-asks-series-of.html link to a post on my blog] that explains the trainings in a bit more detail.

Also, here is a [http://www.memphislibrary.org/intranet/StaffDev.html link to the Staff Development site]. When available, titles of trainings are links to the actual training documents used. To see the handouts that I have completed, go to the [http://www.memphislibrary.org/intranet/StaffDev.html#Technical%20Training Technical Training section].

Staff Training

2006-05-22T19:20:41Z

Kevindixon: /* Success Stories */

= Success Stories =
* [[Memphis Public Library & Information Center - Word: When a Customer Asks. . .]]

= Tips for Training Library Staff =

= Blogs/Websites to Watch =
*[http://www.memphislibrary.org/intranet/StaffDev.html Memphis Public Library & Information Center - Staff Development] Lists the trainings we offer for our staff. Some training titles are links to the actual training documents.
*[http://mplictechtrain.blogspot.com Memphis Public Library & Information Center - Technical Trainer Blog]
*[http://www.seedwiki.com/wiki/anewiki1/ Antioch New England Graduate School Library Training Wiki for Front Desk Staff.]

= Specific Blog Posts/Articles to Check Out =

*Lister, Pauline & Hill, Dorothy [http://e-prints.alia.org.au/archive/00000089/ "What's Next?:job enhancement through a shadowing up program"] (2005)
*[http://www.mla.gov.uk/documents/ict_full_rep.pdf MLA (UK) ICT Training Report]: "Competencies & capabilities: new paradigms for workforce development in the 21st Century Library" (2004)
*[http://www.mla.gov.uk/documents/wfd_learning_for_change_sum.pdf MLA (UK) Workforce Development Strategy]: "Learning for change: workforce development strategy (Summary)" (2004)

[[Category:Services to Specific Groups]][[Category:Programming]][[Category:Technology]][[Category:Professional]]

Internal Communication Project

2006-05-22T19:18:02Z

Kevindixon:

* This project began as a group project in the [http://www.libsuccess.org/index.php?title=LEAP LEAP program] of the Memphis Public Library & Information Center.
* Read [http://mplictechtrain.blogspot.com/2006/05/internal-communication-leap-project.html this blog post for further information].
* Read [http://mplicleap.pbwiki.com the wiki we used] to develop our presentation.
* See [http://mplicleap.pbwiki.com/f/Internal%20Communication.pdf the slide show we used] during our presentation
* Next is hopefully implementing some of our ideas. I will keep you posted.

Internal Communication Project

2006-05-22T19:17:08Z

Kevindixon:

Internal Communication Project

2006-05-22T19:14:14Z

Kevindixon:

* This project began as a group project in the [http://www.libsuccess.org/index.php?title=LEAP LEAP program] of the Memphis Public Library & Information Center
* Read [http://mplictechtrain.blogspot.com/2006/05/internal-communication-leap-project.html this blog post for further information]

Internal Communication

2006-05-22T19:13:44Z

Kevindixon:

Communications - Internal and External

2006-05-22T19:13:15Z

Kevindixon:

[[Category:Management and Leadership]]

* [http://www.blogwithoutalibrary.net/links/ Libraries with Blogs, both internal and external]
* [[Internal Communication Project]] - a [http://www.libsuccess.org/index.php?title=LEAP LEAP] Project at Memphis Public Library & Information Center

Internal Communication

2006-05-22T19:11:10Z

Kevindixon:

Internal Communication

2006-05-22T19:09:26Z

Kevindixon:

* This project began as a group project in the LEAP program of the Memphis Public Library & Information Center
* Read [http://mplictechtrain.blogspot.com/2006/05/internal-communication-leap-project.html this blog post for further information]

Communications - Internal and External

2006-05-22T19:06:27Z

Kevindixon:

[[Category:Management and Leadership]]

* [http://www.blogwithoutalibrary.net/links/ Libraries with Blogs]
* [[Internal Communication]] - a [http://www.libsuccess.org/index.php?title=LEAP LEAP] Project at Memphis Public Library & Information Center

Communications - Internal and External

2006-05-22T19:06:09Z

Kevindixon:

[[Category:Management and Leadership]]

* [http://www.blogwithoutalibrary.net/links/ Libraries with Blogs]
* [[Internal Communication]] [http://www.libsuccess.org/index.php?title=LEAP LEAP] Project at Memphis Public Library & Information Center

Communications - Internal and External

2006-05-22T19:05:35Z

Kevindixon:

[[Category:Management and Leadership]]

* [http://www.blogwithoutalibrary.net/links/ Libraries with Blogs]
* [[Internal Communication]] [http://www.libsuccess.org/index.php?title=LEAP|LEAP] Project at Memphis Public Library & Information Center

Communications - Internal and External

2006-05-22T19:04:38Z

Kevindixon:

[[Category:Management and Leadership]]

* [http://www.blogwithoutalibrary.net/links/ Libraries with Blogs]
* [[Internal Communication]] [LEAP|LEAP] Project at Memphis Public Library & Information Center

Communications - Internal and External

2006-05-22T19:04:24Z

Kevindixon:

[[Category:Management and Leadership]]

* [http://www.blogwithoutalibrary.net/links/ Libraries with Blogs]
* [[Internal Communication]] [LEAP] Project at Memphis Public Library & Information Center

Leadership Development and Education

2006-05-22T18:56:39Z

Kevindixon:

* [[LEAP]] - Memphis Public Library & Information Center's Leadership Development Program

==Blogs/Websites to Watch==
* [http://www.libraryleaders.wordpress.com/ Memphis Public Library's LEAP program]

Leadership Development and Education

2006-05-22T18:56:24Z

Kevindixon:

* [[LEAP]] Memphis Public Library & Information Center's Leadership Development Program

==Blogs/Websites to Watch==
* [http://www.libraryleaders.wordpress.com/ Memphis Public Library's LEAP program]

Leadership Development and Education

2006-05-22T18:56:07Z

Kevindixon:

* [[LEAP]] Memphis Public Library & Information Center's Leadership Development Program

==Blogs/Websites to Watch==
[http://www.libraryleaders.wordpress.com/ Memphis Public Library's LEAP program]

Leadership Development and Education

2006-05-22T18:54:54Z

Kevindixon:

== Leadership Development ==

* [[LEAP]] Memphis Public Library & Information Center's Leadership Development Program

==Blogs/Websites to Watch==
[http://www.libraryleaders.wordpress.com/ Memphis Public Library's LEAP program]

Leadership Development and Education

2006-05-22T18:54:28Z

Kevindixon:

* [[LEAP]] Memphis Public Library & Information Center's Leadership Development Program

==Blogs/Websites to Watch==
[http://www.libraryleaders.wordpress.com/ Memphis Public Library's LEAP program]

Leadership Development and Education

2006-05-22T18:54:17Z

Kevindixon:

* [[LEAP]] Memphis Public Library & Information Center's Leadership Development Program
LEAP is a leadership program of Memphis Public Library and Information Center.

==Blogs/Websites to Watch==
[http://www.libraryleaders.wordpress.com/ Memphis Public Library's LEAP program]

LEAP

2006-05-22T18:53:21Z

Kevindixon:

Leadership Development and Education

2006-05-22T18:53:10Z

Kevindixon:

Leadership Development and Education

2006-05-22T18:52:46Z

Kevindixon:

== LEAP==

* [[LEAP]] Memphis Public Library & Information Center's Leadership Development Program
LEAP is a leadership program of Memphis Public Library and Information Center.

LEAP (Leadership Empowerment Achievement Program) is designed to:

*identify potential leaders within the library system,

*allow employees interested in advancement an opportunity to enhance their leadership skills, and

*develop a pool of individuals who can assume leadership roles when the need arises.

The objectives for participants in LEAP are:

*develop visionary leadership through practical hands-on experience and classroom training sessions;

*develop awareness of external and internal social and political influences impacting the library system, resulting in effective communication strategies for disseminating information;

*develop proactive strategies to address a shifting workplace environment; and

*gain an understanding of the overall operation of the library system and how each part works together to support the organization’s mission.

The following is a list of just some of the “soft skills” or “transferable skills” identified by the Leadership Development Steering Committee as shaping future Memphis Public Library leaders. Individual LEAP sessions were designed based on these competencies; each session addresses one or more of these skills:

*identifying and appreciating various leadership styles

*effective communication

*motivating followers and teambuilding

*ethical leadership

*valuing professional organizations

*advocacy and outreach

*strategic planning

*dealing with change

*coaching and mentoring

*community awareness

*public relations

*political acumen or savvy

*building collaborative relationships

*creating and communicating vision

*understanding the library "big picture"

*identifying future trends

----

==LEAP Sessions==
In order to make the LEAP experience comprehensive, it is imperative that we provide a varied experience for people at all levels and position types. It is our goal to provide insight into our organization, our connection to our community, and the importance of the profession as a whole.

Here is the schedule in its current form:

'''July'''

Welcome Reception

'''August'''

LEAP Retreat

'''September'''

Essentials of Communication

'''October'''

Follow the Book

'''November'''

Part 1: Challenge throughout System History

Part 2: We've Come a Long Way, Baby

'''December'''

Public Relations: Our Window on the World

'''January'''

Shake 'Em Up: A Day in the Life Somewhere Else

'''February'''

The Library World Beyond Memphis Public

'''March'''

Community Involvement

'''April'''

Where I Went/What I Learned

'''May'''

Graduation
==Blogs/Websites to Watch==
[http://www.libraryleaders.wordpress.com/ Memphis Public Library's LEAP program]

Leadership Development and Education

2006-05-22T18:52:32Z

Kevindixon:

== LEAP==

* [LEAP] Memphis Public Library & Information Center's Leadership Development Program
LEAP is a leadership program of Memphis Public Library and Information Center.

LEAP (Leadership Empowerment Achievement Program) is designed to:

*identify potential leaders within the library system,

*allow employees interested in advancement an opportunity to enhance their leadership skills, and

*develop a pool of individuals who can assume leadership roles when the need arises.

The objectives for participants in LEAP are:

*develop visionary leadership through practical hands-on experience and classroom training sessions;

*develop awareness of external and internal social and political influences impacting the library system, resulting in effective communication strategies for disseminating information;

*develop proactive strategies to address a shifting workplace environment; and

*gain an understanding of the overall operation of the library system and how each part works together to support the organization’s mission.

The following is a list of just some of the “soft skills” or “transferable skills” identified by the Leadership Development Steering Committee as shaping future Memphis Public Library leaders. Individual LEAP sessions were designed based on these competencies; each session addresses one or more of these skills:

*identifying and appreciating various leadership styles

*effective communication

*motivating followers and teambuilding

*ethical leadership

*valuing professional organizations

*advocacy and outreach

*strategic planning

*dealing with change

*coaching and mentoring

*community awareness

*public relations

*political acumen or savvy

*building collaborative relationships

*creating and communicating vision

*understanding the library "big picture"

*identifying future trends

----

==LEAP Sessions==
In order to make the LEAP experience comprehensive, it is imperative that we provide a varied experience for people at all levels and position types. It is our goal to provide insight into our organization, our connection to our community, and the importance of the profession as a whole.

Here is the schedule in its current form:

'''July'''

Welcome Reception

'''August'''

LEAP Retreat

'''September'''

Essentials of Communication

'''October'''

Follow the Book

'''November'''

Part 1: Challenge throughout System History

Part 2: We've Come a Long Way, Baby

'''December'''

Public Relations: Our Window on the World

'''January'''

Shake 'Em Up: A Day in the Life Somewhere Else

'''February'''

The Library World Beyond Memphis Public

'''March'''

Community Involvement

'''April'''

Where I Went/What I Learned

'''May'''

Graduation
==Blogs/Websites to Watch==
[http://www.libraryleaders.wordpress.com/ Memphis Public Library's LEAP program]

Leadership Development and Education

2006-05-16T15:03:58Z

Kevindixon:

== LEAP==

LEAP is a leadership program of Memphis Public Library and Information Center.

LEAP (Leadership Empowerment Achievement Program) is designed to:

*identify potential leaders within the library system,

*allow employees interested in advancement an opportunity to enhance their leadership skills, and

*develop a pool of individuals who can assume leadership roles when the need arises.

The objectives for participants in LEAP are:

*develop visionary leadership through practical hands-on experience and classroom training sessions;

*develop awareness of external and internal social and political influences impacting the library system, resulting in effective communication strategies for disseminating information;

*develop proactive strategies to address a shifting workplace environment; and

*gain an understanding of the overall operation of the library system and how each part works together to support the organization’s mission.

The following is a list of just some of the “soft skills” or “transferable skills” identified by the Leadership Development Steering Committee as shaping future Memphis Public Library leaders. Individual LEAP sessions were designed based on these competencies; each session addresses one or more of these skills:

*identifying and appreciating various leadership styles

*effective communication

*motivating followers and teambuilding

*ethical leadership

*valuing professional organizations

*advocacy and outreach

*strategic planning

*dealing with change

*coaching and mentoring

*community awareness

*public relations

*political acumen or savvy

*building collaborative relationships

*creating and communicating vision

*understanding the library "big picture"

*identifying future trends

----

==LEAP Sessions==
In order to make the LEAP experience comprehensive, it is imperative that we provide a varied experience for people at all levels and position types. It is our goal to provide insight into our organization, our connection to our community, and the importance of the profession as a whole.

Here is the schedule in its current form:

'''July'''

Welcome Reception

'''August'''

LEAP Retreat

'''September'''

Essentials of Communication

'''October'''

Follow the Book

'''November'''

Part 1: Challenge throughout System History

Part 2: We've Come a Long Way, Baby

'''December'''

Public Relations: Our Window on the World

'''January'''

Shake 'Em Up: A Day in the Life Somewhere Else

'''February'''

The Library World Beyond Memphis Public

'''March'''

Community Involvement

'''April'''

Where I Went/What I Learned

'''May'''

Graduation
==Blogs/Websites to Watch==
[http://www.libraryleaders.wordpress.com/ Memphis Public Library's LEAP program]

Leadership Development and Education

2006-05-16T15:03:47Z

Kevindixon: /* LEAP */

[== LEAP==]

LEAP is a leadership program of Memphis Public Library and Information Center.

LEAP (Leadership Empowerment Achievement Program) is designed to:

*identify potential leaders within the library system,

*allow employees interested in advancement an opportunity to enhance their leadership skills, and

*develop a pool of individuals who can assume leadership roles when the need arises.

The objectives for participants in LEAP are:

*develop visionary leadership through practical hands-on experience and classroom training sessions;

*develop awareness of external and internal social and political influences impacting the library system, resulting in effective communication strategies for disseminating information;

*develop proactive strategies to address a shifting workplace environment; and

*gain an understanding of the overall operation of the library system and how each part works together to support the organization’s mission.

The following is a list of just some of the “soft skills” or “transferable skills” identified by the Leadership Development Steering Committee as shaping future Memphis Public Library leaders. Individual LEAP sessions were designed based on these competencies; each session addresses one or more of these skills:

*identifying and appreciating various leadership styles

*effective communication

*motivating followers and teambuilding

*ethical leadership

*valuing professional organizations

*advocacy and outreach

*strategic planning

*dealing with change

*coaching and mentoring

*community awareness

*public relations

*political acumen or savvy

*building collaborative relationships

*creating and communicating vision

*understanding the library "big picture"

*identifying future trends

----

==LEAP Sessions==
In order to make the LEAP experience comprehensive, it is imperative that we provide a varied experience for people at all levels and position types. It is our goal to provide insight into our organization, our connection to our community, and the importance of the profession as a whole.

Here is the schedule in its current form:

'''July'''

Welcome Reception

'''August'''

LEAP Retreat

'''September'''

Essentials of Communication

'''October'''

Follow the Book

'''November'''

Part 1: Challenge throughout System History

Part 2: We've Come a Long Way, Baby

'''December'''

Public Relations: Our Window on the World

'''January'''

Shake 'Em Up: A Day in the Life Somewhere Else

'''February'''

The Library World Beyond Memphis Public

'''March'''

Community Involvement

'''April'''

Where I Went/What I Learned

'''May'''

Graduation
==Blogs/Websites to Watch==
[http://www.libraryleaders.wordpress.com/ Memphis Public Library's LEAP program]

Library Success: A Best Practices Wiki

2006-04-27T15:30:24Z

Kevindixon:

''News: Contribute to the [[Self-Promotion Tips for New Librarians]] page!

The [[web4lib Manager's Reference Center]] will soon be located on the Library Success Wiki!''

= Introduction =

Welcome to Library Success: A Best Practices Wiki. This wiki was created to be a one-stop-shop for great ideas and information for all types of librarians. All over the world, librarians are developing successful programs and doing innovative things with technology that no one outside of their library knows about. There are lots of great blogs out there sharing information about the profession, but there is no one place where all of this information is collected and organized.

If you've done something at your library that you consider a success, please write about it in the wiki or provide a link to outside coverage. If you have materials that would be helpful to other librarians, add them to the wiki. And if you know of a librarian or a library that is doing something great, feel free to include information about it or links to it. Basically, if you know of anything that might be useful to other librarians (including useful websites), this is the place to put it. I hope this wiki will be a venue where people can share ideas with one another and where librarians can learn to replicate the successes of other libraries.

This wiki is not run by any commercial entity and does not represent any commercial interests. For those wishing to use content in the wiki the wiki itself (and all the content contained herein) is licensed under the [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs] Creative Commons License. Please familiarize yourself with the license before using any of the content on your own site.

'''Anyone''' who wants to add to or edit topics on the wiki can do it. You don't need to ask before making a change -- this wiki belongs to the community of librarians who use it. If you have any technical questions about the wiki, please contact its creator, [http://meredith.wolfwater.com/contact.php Meredith Farkas]. Questions about specific content in the wiki should be directed to that individual author.

If you are going to link to this wiki, please use the following URL:

[http://www.libsuccess.org/ http://www.libsuccess.org]

= Join the Community =

While I am not going to require that people register on the wiki, it would be great if you did. It makes it easier for us to identify spam and it makes the wiki much more like a community if we can get to know each other a little. When you register, you can then add to your own user profile page. Please add your profile to the [[Wiki User List]] so we can all get to know each other!

'''Note:''' If you are going to add to the list of recommended vendors or software, please put your name on your recommendation so we know that it's not from a vendor. From here on in (7/8/05), we will have to delete any '''new''' vendor/software recommendations that do not have the author identified.

If you want to see recent changes made to the wiki, visit [http://www.libsuccess.org/index.php?title=Special:Recentchanges Recent Changes]. There is also an [http://www.libsuccess.org/index.php?title=Special:Recentchanges&feed=rss RSS Feed] for the Recent Changes page.

= Categories =
Check out the [[Categories|alphabetized list of categories]] with alphabetized lists of articles in each category.

If you add a new category, please add it to this list on the main page so people can easily find it. You can also add new pages off of the pages in each category (subpages). For example, if you want to go into depth with a "success story" about gaming, you can create another page for the details on the success story and just put a little teaser or title on the gaming page (with a link).

''You can easily add a new page by putting the title of the new page inside double brackets on the front page (you can see the formatting when you go to edit this page). Then, when you click on that link, you will be taken to a new page that you can add to.''

== Community ==
*[[Special:Recentchanges | Recent Changes Page]]
*[[Tips page]] for getting started on the right foot
*[[Wiki User List]]
*[[Librarians who IM]]

== Management and Leadership ==
*[[Communications - Internal and External]]
*[[Human Resources and Labor Management]]
*[[Management Ethics]]
*[[Organizational Culture and Knowledge]]
*[[Organizational Structure]]
*[[Project Planning and Development]]
*[[Strategy, Vision, and Focus]]
*[[Team Building]]

== Materials Selection and Collection Maintenance ==
*[[Selecting Materials for Libraries]]
*[[Organizing Library Collections]]
*[[Weeding Library Collections]]

== Professional ==
*[[Conferences and Continuing Education Opportunities]]
*[[Keeping Up With the Profession]]
*[[Looking for a Job]]
*[[Publishing and Speaking]]
*[[Self-Promotion Tips for New Librarians]]
*[[Workplace Organizing]]

== Programming ==
*[[Book Clubs for Adults]]
*[[Book Talks and Story Time for Youth]]
*[[Cultural Programming]]
*[[Displays]]
*[[Gaming]]
*[[Getting Kids to Read]]
*[[Grants for Programming]]
*[[Literacy Programs]]
*[[Outreach]]
*[[Programs for Adults]]
*[[Programs for Children]]
*[[Programs for Faculty]]
*[[Programs for Young Adults]]
*[[Technology Training in Libraries]]
*[[Tool Banks and Tool Lending Libraries]]

== Readers' Advisory ==
*[[Definition]]
*[[Leading book groups]]
*[[Recommending books]]
*[[Writing Reviews for Open WorldCat]]

== Reference Services and Information Literacy ==
*[[Online Reference]] (IM, Web-based, etc.)
*[[Free Online Reference Resources]]
*[[Information Literacy]]
*[[Online Tutorials]]
*[[Radical Reference]]
*[[Subject Guides]]
*[[Traditional Reference Services]]

== Selling Your Library ==
*[[Demonstrating Impact, Value and ROI]]
*[[Fundraising]]
*[[Marketing]]
*[[Promotions]]

== Services to Specific Groups ==
*[[Library Services in Academic Institutions]]
*[[Library Services in Schools]]
*[[Services for Distance Learners]]
*[[Services for the Disabled]]
*[[Services for the Elderly]]
*[[Services for First Year Students]]
*[[Services in a Multi-lingual Environment]]
*[[Services for the Poor and Homeless]]
*[[Services for Teens]]

== Staff Training ==
*[[Staff Training]]

== Technology ==

=== Access ===
*[[Cataloging]]
*[[Digitization]]
*[[Electronic Databases]]
*[[Institutional Repositories]]
*[[Improving Access]] (open_url, metasearch, metadata harvesting, etc.)
*[[Library Systems]] (integrated systems, automated systems, circulation systems]
*[[OPACs]]
*[[Web Browser Extensions]]
*[[Web Services]]
*[[Widgets]] (desktop tools, usually based on JavaScript)
*[[:Category:PC Management | Public Access PC Management]]

=== Implementing Tech in the Library ===
*[[Grants for Technology Projects]]
*[[Open Source Software|Free/Open Source Software]]
*[[Providing Technology to Patrons]] (computers, wifi, iPods, etc.)
*[[Self Checkout]]
*[[Technology Planning]]
*[[web4lib Manager's Reference Center]]
*[[Website Design]]
*[[Web Tips and Tricks]]

=== Information Sharing and Education ===
*[[Collaborative Tools in Libraries]] (Blogs, Wikis, etc.)
*[[Courseware]] (Blackboard, WebCT, Angel, etc.)
*[[Online Communities]]
*[[Podcasting]]
*[[Search Engines]]

== Working Together ==
*[[Successful Collaborations]]

= Need help? =

Please see [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Contents Wikipedia Help] or [http://meta.wikipedia.org/wiki/MediaWiki_User27s_Guide User's Guide] for usage and configuration help. Another great way to figure out how to do things in the wiki is to click edit on a certain page and see how things are formatted. Check this [[tips page]] if you're new to wikis and just want a quick intro on how to get started.

'''Not seeing the stuff you added?''' Try this [[caching problem|fix]].

Any questions? Contact [http://meredith.wolfwater.com/contact.php Meredith Farkas].

[[Category:Community]]

Promoting Yourself

2006-04-27T15:26:25Z

Kevindixon:

=== Getting Your Work Noticed By Your Employer ===
* Be a self-starter. Offer new ideas backed by research to your supervisor or management team.
* Follow through with your ideas when approved.
* Be willing to work on your supervisors's ideas.
* Submit all the thank you cards that your library clients give you to your supervisor.
* Write well. Give your supervisor concise, readable reports that make important points without extraneous information.

=== Getting Your Work Noticed by the Profession ===
* Attend local professional meetings regularly.
* Volunteer to work on committees locally and nationally. Respond positively to the pleas for help that come by email or in library publications.
* Help with presentations at conferences. You can start by being an assistant who collect evaluation forms or does other small jobs. Talk with the presenterators and hosts.
* When attending presentations, ask good questions. Be willing to talk to others after presentations end.
* Network with librarians who share your interests. They will help you share your work with others.

=== Promoting Your Blog and Getting Noticed Online ===
* Don't just be a blog author, be a blog participant. Be sure you regularly join the conversation on other blogs and carefully monitor the conversation on yours.
* There are more blog readers/commenters than there are bloggers...think about that for a bit. If you aren't comfortable authoring a blog on a regular basis, it is okay to read and leave comments. Especially if you can tie other thoughts into your comments.
* Submit your blog to blog lists, such as
** [http://www.blogwithoutalibrary.net/links/index.php?title=Welcome_to_the_Blogging_Libraries_Wiki Blog Without a Library Blog Wiki]
** [http://www.libdex.com/weblogs.html Libdex's Library Weblogs]
** [http://www.lisfeeds.com LISFeeds]
** [http://dmoz.org/Reference/Libraries/Library_and_Information_Science/Weblogs/ DMOZ's Open Directory Project Library and Information Science Weblogs].