Ohio Library Council 2007 - Report

Some of this comes from my report that was sent to my supervisor. My report to my library is considerably longer. I wanted to at least share what I learned with other people. I picked three workshops that I thought were very valuable.

Look Before You Leap: Why Web 2.0 Alone Can't Save Your Library
This was presented by Laura Solomon from Cleveland Public Library and Glen Horton from SouthWest Ohio and Neighboring Libraries. The presenters discussed various Web/Library 2.0 tools and what not to do. “How to Kill a Blog/Wiki/IM service/etc.” As I took the notes, I changed it to positive as to how you can make xyz item successful. They also mentioned the positives of engaging/using these tools. You can find their PowerPoint presentation here.
The last part of the presentation discussed how to look at these tools critically; asking if this is the right tool, what are your expectations, etc. A closing note to the presentation was that even if an organization does not want to engage in this, it ought to claim the webspace/Internet space so that others do not. I spoke with Laura Solomon afterwards and noted that I did not have my bubble burst and would still like to incorporate these tools. I’m willing to do the work and even train people. I am uncertain as to the reasons for administration’s apprehension and would welcome a discussion.

"You Offer Me Nothing": Serving Next Generation Patrons
This was a very well attended workshop and I anticipated it highly. Don Yarman of Delaware County District Public Library moderated a panel discussion with Karl Jendretzky, OPLIN and Christine, a friend of Don’s. Both of these individuals do not use libraries. Their reasons varied. Karl uses bitTorrent to download videos and audio files. He stated that it’s easier to steal rather than borrow legally and in some ways safer. If a person uses audio CDs on a computer, the DRM programming installs files onto that computer which can cause damage.
Christine does not like to go to libraries because she feels that libraries are intimidating and the shelves make her feel claustrophobic. Both of them do not understand Dewey and don’t like having to go to the reference desk for help. Christine likes to read a book and then keep it. Someone suggested that if libraries were able to allow patrons to check out books and keep them for as long as they want. The counterpoint to that argument is it would potentially throw off the budget. Most people would not tell the library that they plan on keeping the book and if they did, the library would still have to figure out how many books to acquire, etc.
One thing I would like to see is faster ILL. If a person can get an item sent from a company overnight, why can’t libraries do the same thing? I understand that there are costs involved but I still find the ILL turnaround time to be longer than necessary. This is merely an observation. It’s probably not under the Hudson Library’s control based on our CLEVNET membership.
They liked the roving reference idea and had suggestions for ways to get people into the library. For people like Karl, holding a LAN party where people are playing a multi-user game together (example: World of Warcraft, Runescape). Marketing ideas: advertising on pizza boxes (flyers attached to a pizza box noting various events or services.)

You're the Expert – Share It!: On-the-job Training at Your Library
This workshop discussed ways that employees can benefit from micro learning sessions. It is important to maintain institutional knowledge along with creating opportunities for professional development within the organization. The loss of information can be devastating to an organization. Indeed, an organization can bounce back but it’s never quite the same.
Sometimes there is not enough time or funding to allow for employees to attend training workshops. The homegrown approach is definitely applicable within our organization. There are some talents that other might not have. For instance, there are those that have the ability to talk to irritable patrons/customers and to de-escalate a situation; technical proficiency, etc. These talents can be shared in brief 15 minute snippets here and there. However, there needs to be managerial buy-in in order for the employees to utilize their training time together most efficiently. The manager must be willing to allow them uninterrupted time to train.
A particular point that was addressed is whether an organization wants a body or a skills set. Anyone can fill in someone else’s shoes but in order to serve the customers in the best way possible, a certain level of knowledge is essential. Competencies established by various organizations, such as the Ohio Library Council, can provide guidelines in order to lay the groundwork for required skill sets within an organization. (OLC’s core competencies can be found here.)
I have submitted on the Intranet a discussion to see how the Reference/Adult Services department can tackle the issues of institutional knowledge loss and skill set building. It would be optimal for those to take the initiative and seek out those that would be willing to share their knowledge. However, what would stop a co-worker from approaching another colleague in the hopes of establishing a knowledge partnership? Buddying up with another colleague that may be lacking in certain areas not only will provide the worker with an opportunity for growth but it will also increase knowledge share across the board, thereby enabling and empowering employees to provide the best service possible to our patrons/customers.

Overall, I had a great time at my first Convention and Expo. I had been to the previous sectional conferences and found them to be very useful for professional development. The Ohio Library Council is a worthwhile organization for any Ohio library professional and I'm proud to be a member.