Librarians have always taught the public how to use the tools that serve their information needs, but now there's an ever-changing variety of devices that patrons use to access our services. How do we train and support staff to keep up with the diversity of gadgets? Based on my recent Library Journal article, "Managing the Device Deluge," June 1, 2015

1. Managing the Device Deluge
Training and Supporting Staff
Jennifer Koerber
NCompass Live, July 8th

2. Librarianship, as we know it, has shifted fundamentally.
I won’t say ‘changed’ because the core of our work -
providing professional & scholastic information, lifelong
learning resources, and recreational reading & activities -
hasn’t changed. But there has been a seismic shift in how
we provide those services….
The key is not resources, but attitude: making innovation,
adaptation, and change part of everyday work.
After Internet Librarian 2006

3. The Problem

6. Staff:
● Surveys
● Self-evaluations
● Annual reviews
Assessment
Users:
● Surveys
● Gadget counting
● Informal data gathering
o Notice the devices you get asked
about most often
o Ask patrons what kind of device
they’re using (with tact!)

7. ● Support library services on users’ own devices
● Results of patron needs assessment
● Upcoming technology trends
● General troubleshooting skills
● Soft skills - presenting, public speaking,
customer service
What to focus on?

8. At a Tipping Point: Education, Learning, and Libraries. OCLC. Fall 2014
http://www.oclc.org/reports/tipping-point.en.html
Making Skills Everyone’s Business: A Call to Transform Adult Learning
in the United States. US Department of Education, Office of Career, Technical,
and Adult Education. February 2015
http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/pi/AdultEd/making-skills.pdf
Financial Literacy Education in Libraries: Guidelines and Best Practices
for Service. RUSA, BRASS, IMLS. Fall 2014.
http://www.ala.org/rusa/resources/guidelines
National Trends

9. ● Existing training classes on tech topics
● Drop-in gadget or petting zoo sessions
● “Bring a Thing” to meetings (show & tell)
● Peer training by other staff
● Have staff attend public classes at your library
or other libraries
In-Person Training

10. Visit a store and play!

11. ● City/county/regional IT staff training
● Local companies willing to train your staff
along with theirs
● New Horizons and other in-person tech
training available in your area
Look especially for Help Desk training.
Outsource Formal Training

12. ● Lynda.com
● Gale Cengage
Courses
● New Horizons
● General Assembly
● Udemy
● Floqq (Spanish &
Portugeuese)
Online Training

13. Douglas County (CO)
Library eMedia
Training

14. Library-Oriented Resources
● T is for Training
(tisfortraining.wordpress.com/) with
Maurice Coleman of the Harford County
(MD) Library System
● TechSoup for Libraries
(www.techsoupforlibraries.org/events)
● Idealware (www.idealware.org/online-
training)
● Former librarians like Crystal Schimph and
Kieran Hixon at Kixal
(kixal.com/workshops)
● Lead the Change from Library Journal
(http://lj.libraryjournal.com/lead-the-change)
● ALA Tech Source
(www.alatechsource.org/workshops)
● “Advanced eCourse: Library Technology for
the Low-Tech Librarian,” a 12-week course that
covers a broad spectrum of library-related
technology
(www.alastore.ala.org/detail.aspx?ID=11375)

15. Schedule
Instruction:
● Large, formal training
at regular intervals
● Informal training as
often as possible
● Online training always
available
Maintenance:
Same schedule.
There will always
be new stuff to
cover.

16. Keeping Up
Library News Sources
ALA TechSource
(www.alatechsource.org/)
Publications from international,
national, state, and local library
organizations
Professional journals
Mainstream News Sources
New York Times
Washington Post
The Huffington Post
The Atlantic
The Economist Tech Quarterly
Geek News Sources
Gadgets & reviews - Gizmodo, Engadget, CNet
News - Slashdot, ZDNet, TechCrunch,
ArsTechnica, Hacker News on yCombinator.com
Manufacturer release events - Apple Worldwide
Developers Conference (WWDC), Google I/O,
Microsoft’s Tech Ed
Conferences
Library conferences
Tech industry conferences
Don’t be afraid to listen to these online.
You’ll know more than you think you do.

18. Google I/O

19. ALL ON LIBRARY TIME
Show that professional development
and staff technology proficiency are
management priorities.

20. ● Computers in Libraries 2015 had an entire track on connecting to your community
through technology.
(http://computersinlibraries.infotoday.com/2015/Wednesday.aspx#Track-B)
● The Accidental Technology Trainer: A Guide for Libraries, Stephanie Gerding,
Information Today Inc., 2007.
● The Tech Set, #1-10 (2010) and #11-20 (2012), ALA TechSource. From Set 1, Technology
Training in Libraries by Sarah Houghton and Library Camps and Unconferences by
Steve Lawson offer suggestions for training structures outside the norm.
General Resources

21. Emerging Technologies: A Primer for Librarians, Jennifer Koerber &
Michael P. Sauers, Rowman & Littlefield, 2015.
“Manage the Device Deluge: Professional Development,” Jennifer
Koerber, June 1, 2015 issue of Library Journal.
http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2015/06/public-services/manage-the-
device-deluge-professional-development/
From Me

22. Base your trainings on:
o Staff Skills
o Patron Needs
o Resources Available
Mix & match to build a program
that works for your library.
There is no Right Way

23. Thank you!
Jennifer Koerber
jennifer.koerber@gmail.com
www.jenniferkoerber.com