ASSOCIATES (vol. 6, no. 1, July 1999) - associates.ucr.edu
The Council on Library/Media Technicians (COLT), held its 1999 Annual Conference titled "Standing at the Crossroads" at an international crossroads in Detroit, Michigan, with Windsor, Ontario, just across the river. The spring weather was fine April 7 -10. The American College and Research Libraries (ACRL) met just following COLT, and they graciously allowed COLT members to visit their exhibit hall.
This report takes a little about each of the conference presentations from our homepage. To find out more, visit http://library.ucr.edu/COLT/
What happens outside the formal programs is what makes conferences memorable! Our lunches and the Awards Banquet were held on the top floor of the hotel with a spectacular view of Detroit and Windsor all around below us. The meals were also excellent. Eating in Greektown, riding the People Mover, seeing the ACRL exhibits, visiting the casino in Windsor, going on the tours in Detroit and in Canada--these are the fun things. (A couple of our group actually left the casino with more cash than when they came in!)
Wednesday, April 7, the Executive Board met, accepting minutes of meetings and receiving reports from various officers and committees. This information was summarized for the members in the Business Meeting on Friday. The traditional Pre-Conference Reception Wednesday evening gave everyone a chance to meet friends, both new and old.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Dr. Maurice Wheeler gave Thursday's keynote speech, "Meeting 21st Century Challenges: Professional Development for Library Support Staff." He said, "Staff development is a two-sided coin. On one side is the library organization; on the other, the individual. Each side bears some responsibility for staff development and training.
Dr Wheeler gave some practical advice for support staff who have "resistant" administrations. "Explain your interest and desire to contribute to the library's mission. Gather information from other libraries with solid development programs and share it. Look at creative collaborations with other organizations, which may expand your opportunities.
Dr. Wheeler's message is as important to other library administrators as it is to staff. You can find the full text of his speech on the COLT homepage to share with your library supervisors: http://library.ucr.edu/COLT/
CERTIFICATION: PRESENT[ING] POSSIBILITIES
Dorothy Morgan, of the Liverpool Public Library in New York, presented an overview of the movement to certify library support staff. She has become a national authority on staff certification through her work with various library related organizations.
Morgan makes the story of how the New York State Library Assistants' Association (NYSE) developed their Certificate of Achievement into an exciting narrative. She helps us all understand what kinds of credentials are presently available and why more will be available in the future.
Y2K
James Johnson, of the Wayne State University Computer Service, gave a funny, informative talk about the infamous year 2000 computer bug. Yes, it's real: his university is spending two and a half million dollars to correct the problem on their campus. No, it won't cause great, world-wide catastrophe: much of the world is not computerized, and it can effect only computer applications that need to deal with dates. It is wide-spread panic behavior that could cause trouble. "Contingency plans are needed since, no matter what preparations are made, something will go wrong."
RESUME WRITING
Bryan Rawlings is a Senior Human Resource Specialist at the American Association of Retired Persons with special emphasis on career development. His presentation provided information on writing resumes.
NEWSLETTER GUMBO
Missy Anderson of the Medical University of South Carolina gave a very informative recipe for a great newsletter. When you start a newsletter you need to know just what you intend it to do. Get support of your administration: explain the reasons for doing your newsletter. Anderson listed practical start-up suggestions and demonstrated the Word template that she uses. Her general design tips included balance, proportion, sequence, emphasis, and unity.
HISTORY OF PARAPROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
(Reported by Geri Nynas)
As an instructor in a new AAS Degree program for Library/Information Technology, I have to admit I am more interested in the future of paraprofessionals than in their past, but I know that in order to effectively plan for the future we must know where we came from.
Linda Owen outlined the history of the COLT organization as it traces its roots back 32 years when it was developed to promote recognition and acceptance of library employees. She outlined changes in duties and responsibilities with boundaries diminishing between the librarians and the support staff, increased responsibilities and new technologies.
Owen emphasized the changes in how paraprofessional staff receives training now compared to in the past. From in-house training of the past to more and more opportunities and demands for continual training. Education now comes from several sources today ranging from in-house, off-site, and within associations.
Owen continued by describing the types of organizations. Ranging from the national level organizations such as COLT with affiliation with ALA to independent state organizations and round tables. The concerns of all of these organizations again centers on education and recognition which has sometimes lead to development of certificate of achievement programs in some states to the movement for national certification. The library always benefits because the paraprofessional brings new skills, enhanced leadership ability and an expanded view of libraries because of their participation in these organizations.
I am glad to have had the opportunity to participate in Linda Owen's presentation. I know it has given me an opportunity to learn from our past and given me an expanded view of library support staff and their role in today's libraries.
OH NO, NOT TODAY! TROUBLESHOOTING YOUR PC
Everyone who uses a computer could use the advice of Robbie Weaver, Medical University of South Carolina, when things won't work right. Some of his reminders are obvious, such as checking that the power cords and surge protectors are firmly connected and plugged into live wall outlets
Weaver had practical suggestions for a monitor that stays dark, for a CD that won't mount, and for a dirty mouse or keyboard.
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP BUSINESS MEETING
First thing Friday, President Diane Welsh presided over the 1999 Council on Library/Media Technicians general business meeting. The agenda, the minutes of the last meeting, and the treasurer's report were accepted. Welch announced information from the Executive Board meeting, including the resignations of three members of the Executive Board: Central Region Director Annamarie Erickson, Constitution Chair Barbara Eastland, and Vice President/Conference Chair Barry Harvey. Diane Welsh acted as Conference Chair this past winter, and Linda Owen will be Interim Conference Chair for the planning of Conference 2000.
Membership Chair Julie Ree reported that membership is down, but that she expects more membership dues soon. Members received the current directory in August and will receive update pages later this summer. She applauded the efforts of committee members in recruiting new members.
Public Relations Chair Joyce Nielsen reported that the winning entry for the design contest was sent in by Beverly Butler and Kathy LeLievre of the Northern California COLT Chapter. The new burgundy tote bags are popular, just as predicted by the survey at the Washington conference.
Education Committee Chair Margaret Barron reported on the plan to offer a Continuing Education Unit (CEU) course in conjunction with Conference 2000.
Northeast Regional Director Dorothy Morgan reported on her many presentations concerning COLT and certification. Some preliminary planning has begun for a regional conference in Pennsylvania.
Chapter presidents, Canadian visitors, and our webmasters were also recognized.
LIBRARY MOSAICS: HOW TO WRITE FOR PUBLICATION
Publisher Ray Roney and editor Charlie Fox turned this program into a writing workshop for Library Mosaics. They gave us a list of contributions they like to receive. Then they showed us how easy writing could be by having each of us write about the work we do in the library.
As you read Library Mosaics during the coming year, you will certainly see the results of some of this program in print.
BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEWING
Bryan Rawlings, a Senior Human Resource Specialist at AARP with special emphasis on career development, presented this program. Before coming to AARP he was responsible for the design and implementation of Behavioral Interviewing training programs in Maryland's county government. His program helped members deal with interviewing situations.
PUBLISHING WITHOUT PAPER
(notes from Sherri Anderson)
Lisa Schultze, a library systems consultant at the Medical University of South Carolina, gave a quick course on creating a webpage. First she explained what a webpage is and how to access one through its URL (Uniform Resource Locator). Next Schultze demonstrated HTML (HyperText Markup Language).
"Brain storm ideas, plan, construct, test and revise, upload/transfer to the server, promote/link": these are the steps to creating a good webpage, Schultze pointed out. She especially elaborated on the subject of design considerations in planning. We need to consider content, audience, ease of reading on different browsers, placement of important information at the top, aesthetics, graphics, links, technical, privacy/security, and copyright.
THE COMBINED HELP DESK
Many academic libraries are considering some sort of one- stop service desk where patrons may receive help with both research and computer problems. Valerie VanBilliard described her experiences with the implementation of such a service at Lehigh University.
The concept of the combined help desk seems to have merit, but implementation and staff training are major challenges. VanBilliard's experience suggests these as some good points to remember. First find staff members who have real interest in the project and in this intensive public service. Then provide pre- service training that gives staff sufficient skills to be able to solve the patrons' problems. Always have one computer tech person and one library research person staff the combined desk together so they can learn from each other as these technologies evolve. Select and maintain equipment well. Create policies that are supportive of the Information Resources team. Phase in the program so it and the staffing team enjoy success as they grow.
CERTIFICATION: THE REALITIES
Margaret Barron is a Librarian/Associate Professor for Information Science at Cuyahoga Community College. Currently she is Chairperson of the Education Committee and the COLT Certification Committee.
Barron clarified that certification "requires passing a skills test to gain a certification credential," while a certificate of achievement is a means of recognizing an individual's experience without an examination.
The national, renewable certification plan that Barron envisions would have three levels, depending on educational attainment. Each level would require passing an exam. Study guides for each level would be available at cost. Continuing education units with curriculum developed by managers of library/media technical training programs would also be available to prepare students for exams.
Developing the procedures, application forms, study guides, and exam materials is still under way. COLT plans to present a Continuing Education opportunity in conjunction with our Conference 2000 in Chicago. This is an exciting development!
BANQUET SPEAKER
Paulette Feld, Management Information Technician at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, is the current president of the ALA Support Staff Interest Round Table (SSIRT) and has been on the editorial board for ASSOCIATES: The Electronic Library Support Staff Journal. She described her road through library staff work, beginning with her high school yearbook theme: "Give a damn. Dare to care."
She has always dared to care. Early on she fought a proposed move of serials to more vulnerable location. Then, when a new work schedule was imposed on her working group, she volunteered to try to improve it. She "listened to the needs and worked it out for the good of all." These experiences led her to become active in the union representing clerical and technical workers.
Feld has worked on conferences for library support staff in Wisconsin and for national groups such as COLT and SSIRT. These groups are all working on related issues. "This work can make a difference". There is more than one path to a goal," Feld says as she encourages all of us to become involved. "I've changed, but I've dared to care."
ANNUAL AWARDS
Publisher Raymond Roney and Editor Charlie Fox presented the major awards which each include a cash prize and a plaque. Each of the recipients responded with a short message of appreciation.
Meralyn Meadows is the winner of Library Mosaics' and the Council on Library/Media Technician's 1999 award for Outstanding Support Staff. She is Administrative Assistant at Stanly County Public Library in Albemarle, North Carolina. The award is presented annually for noteworthy service by a library support staff member.
Meadows created, researched, compiled and maintained the annual edition of the ALA SSIRT National Directory: Library Paraprofessional Associations. This also has included coordination with the Web version (on the LSSRC). Also she has been a speaker at numerous paraprofessional conferences around the country on such topics as paraprofessional leadership and team building.
Edward T. Gillen is the winner of Library Mosaics' and the Council on Library/Media Technician's 1999 award for Outstanding Supporter of Support Staff. He works for the New York State Education Department, Albany, New York. The award is presented annually for outstanding service to library support staff.
Gillen was selected for his dedicated work on behalf of support staff. Among his foremost accomplishments, he was involved in the New York State Library Assistants' Association (NYSLAA) from the very beginning and for several years held the office of recording secretary. He also served on the committee that created NYSLAA's Certification of Achievement Program. As president for his regional group, Capital District Library Assistants (CALA), Mr. Gillen promoted, and is largely responsible for, the forming of many other groups since the NYSLAA.
In April 1996, Mr. Gillen pitched the "Day in the Life of Library Support Staff" as an issue of Library Mosaics. This eventually led to a worldwide celebration of Library Assistants Day on April 17, 1996. He also developed the idea for the creation of an electronic journal for library staff, out of which was born ASSOCIATES.
President Diane Welsh presented thank-you gifts to a number
of COLT members for their help in making this 1999 conference a
success. Now all of us are looking forward to Chicago, July 5-8,
2000.
