who trains distance librarians? jack fritts & anne marie casey
TRANSCRIPT
Who Trains Distance Librarians?
Jack Fritts & Anne Marie Casey
IntroductionMore libraries serving distance
learnersWhat training is needed for
librarians?What training opportunities
exist?How are those opportunities
delivered?How can we adapt current
training data to the needs of distance learning librarians?
Some HistoryD. L. in the U.S dates to the
1830sD. L. grew as new technologies
evolvedGuidance for D.L. library services
◦1963 – first ACRL Guidelines◦1982 – first OCLS Conference◦1991 – ECLSS established◦2008 – ACRL Guidelines become
Standards
Training Librarians on the JobFormal training
◦New employee orientation◦Peer training◦Formal mentoring◦Conferences & workshops◦Campus training
Informal training◦Being thrown into the deep end◦Networking
Research DesignFive groups identified to survey
◦Distance Learning Section Leadership
◦Regional Campus Libraries D.G.◦LITA Distance Learning SIG◦OCLS Conference listserv◦Offcamp
MethodologyThirteen-question survey Available for one week in
December 2009Do not know how many the
survey reached141 responded
QuestionsWhat is your current position?
In what type of library do you work?
Do your job responsibilities include service to distant learners?
How did you become involved with distance learning?
Questions, continuedDid you receive any training in
distance learning librarianship in library school?
What kind of on the job training did you receive in distance learning librarianship?
Have you received training in distance librarianship through conference or workshop attendance?
Questions, continuedHave you received training in
distance learning librarianship from:
◦ALA◦ACRL◦ACRL Distance Learning Section◦ACRL Regional Campus Librarians
Discussion Group◦LITA Distance Learning SIG◦Other
Questions, continued
What training formats would you recommend for distance learning librarians?
Have you been a distance learner?
Questions, continuedAre you a member of any of the
following?
◦ACRL Distance Learning Section◦LITA Distance Learning SIG◦Regional Campus Librarians Discussion
Group◦United States Distance Learning
Association
Questions, continuedHave you ever attended the Off-
Campus Library Services Conference sponsored by Central Michigan University?
Do you have any comments about the issue of training for distance learning librarians?
Demographics
How respondents received training
Sales
1st Qtr2nd Qtr3rd Qtr4th Qtr
How respondents received training
How respondents received trainingLibrary School
◦Yes and no. No formal coursework but did my degree online
◦Please! My library degree was in 1974! I wasn’t even using an electric typewriter.
◦I received my MLS with a concentration in distributed/distance learning librarianship
◦Kind of – our reference class focused on email and chat
How respondents received trainingOn the job:
◦Learned by doing – started over 15 years ago
◦Trial by fire :)◦Personal study◦I’m learning it as I go.◦Training materials provided for
position and edited as needed.◦Learning about best practices from
faculty
How respondents received trainingConferences or workshops:
◦Nothing that was specifically labeled as “training’
◦Off Campus Library Services Conference
◦DLS activities at ALA, various related conferences like Virtual Ref Desk
◦Only some events at ALA. Planning to attend everything at Midwinter and be at Offcamp
Recommended Training Formats
Recommended Training FormatsAll of the above – depending on the
situationOrientations, shadowing DL librarians at
other institutionsBlog, wiki, podcastTaking a DL course before teaching oneDiscussion groupsSpend time with DL facultyNetworking and sharing experiencesMentoringLocal interest groups
ResultsMany evolved into their jobsMany wear multiple hatsWorkshops and webinars Foundation in MLIS degree
programsDLS has strongest potential for
training
ConclusionHow do we develop training?Can DLS take the lead?Mentoring programs such as
CLS?Hybrid conference programs?Webinars?Your ideas?
Comments and Questions
Contacts
Jack FrittsBenedictine University
Anne Marie CaseyEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical