Kathy Esteves, LAS, Marilyn J. Praisner Library
This year's Conference Theme: "The Many Faces of Libraries: Fearlessly Evolving to Meet User Needs"
This was my first trip to VLA and I had heard over the past 10 years that it was a great informational and networking forum as well as uplifting and a lot of fun to attend. It was all that I anticipated and more.
Virginia Library Association Paraprofessional Forum (VLAPF) was founded in 1979 and this year marked the 16th Annual Conference. This forum supports the continued sharing of information, networking and conveys the importance of Library support staff, mainly Circulation staff, and the pivotal role that they play each and every day impacting public service.
This year’s program offered something for everyone from daily challenges public service staff face to philosophical debates on the library’s role in the digital realm. The conference theme focused on the myriad ways libraries offer services. Today’s libraries not only offer access to traditional materials as in year’s past, but with more print shifting to electronic format, multimedia’s increasing importance and library staff becoming ad-hoc referees of trusted web content, libraries have become true gateways to all information sources. 2008 Conference Brochure (PDF)
Dr. Sandra Treadway, previously director of Virginia’s Library’s Publications Division, then deputy director for the Virginia Library and now the current Librarian of Virginia was the keynote speaker. The following are the highlights from her presentation:
· She stated that we were all here to learn from each other to find new ways
of thinking and writing including wiki’s, blogs and to refine our customer
service skills.
· She recognized the crucial role of Library support staff. “We are the Face
of Change” in what we do everyday with the level of contact with the public
· The public doesn’t understand or see the difference between libraries and
patrons don’t understand library terminology and don’t always understand
the limits libraries have with technology. Databases are expensive
interlibrary use only and that we have to pay for them because there is a
statewide license.
· Most customers are looking for office functions—computer training, faxing,
copying,printing and basically we have to teach them on the job. We are
constantly doing a balancing act.
· The public wants a transparent process in that they want to be empowered to
do things themselves.
· Customers want more visual based signs in graphics, i.e. restrooms, copiers,
check in /check-out, reference, new releases, movies, etc.
· The public has expectations and want a specific atmosphere – they don’t
want to feel like they’re in church, so quiet and orderly.
· There are increasing new comers – provide a center that is a community
center where patrons feel they can talk and interact with friends and
family, use phones and be able to and eat and drink if they want to.
After doing some research in VA Libraries and consulting with library support staff in different branches, Dr. Treadway was given the following input:
· Circulation staff have been encountering internal issues for the past 5
years due to the necessity to take on much more work than their job
description shows.
· She stated that much of the circulation staff felt that they were not shown
much appreciation, they didn’t get the respect they deserved or the
training they needed and that there was a definite line between the
professionals and the paraprofessional staff.
· Circulation is truly using databases to find answers to questions because
they are most of the time the first point of contact
· They feel there is a huge pay differential
· There is no real career ladder
· There should be more opportunity for staff to go the professional route
without having to get an MLS.
She continued to tell us that there is a Library Certification Program and that ALA has a grant from IMLS to put together a pilot program for paraprofessionals. It will identify core competencies that circulation staff need and will become proficient in, through training.
She felt that Libraries should encourage professional staff to energize internal staff and paraprofessionals need to be given the opportunity to showcase their knowledge and abilities and hone skills.
She also went on to say that The Code of Ethics should be followed to make sure that all staff are respected and held accountable through their PPE for the way they treat people and that there should be staff input from all levels and it should be used. The issues should be communicated, heard and addressed.
Her closing comments were, "Paraprofessionals really are 'The Face of Change' in libraries and they are really moving us forward. The group shows that when there is a need, they will bring about a change. Libraries will not be successful if ALL levels don’t work together!"
There were several breakout sessions over 2 days. I attended the following:
Speak Up! The power of Public Speaking – This session taught how to warm up your voice and calm down nerves before stepping up to the podium or when giving information or instruction at staff meetings. It also showed how to transform fear into energy for making powerful presentations.
Managing Library Volunteers – Very good session, very detailed. Provided an overview of the necessary elements needed to run a successful volunteer program. Got information on how to recruit the right volunteers for the right position; learned about retaining volunteers, focusing on their interests and skills; how to recognize volunteers on a budget; how to get support from the staff and management and how to determine if the program is effective and worthwhile.
iPods to Go – Very interesting--staff and students from The College of William & Mary gave a presentation on iPods to Go. The College lends iPods to college students and have had much success. Circulation staff handle all related functions with the iPods. They handle check in/check-out, fines, etc.
· Each iPod is 80 GB and comes in a Camera type case/bag with: AV cable, iPod charger, ear
buds (in sealed plastic bags), Information card and bag content card
· Initial Supply cost – (10) iPods w/ case, AV cable, microphone, iPod charger and 2 yr.
Apple Care Protection Plan approx $4,761.74. They also offer an FM transmitter (80) for
cars that don’t have CD
· The library website updates the availability of the iPods
· Customers can’t copy information from the iPods
· They won’t purchase any movies over $40, but some TV shows are a little more and they
will order full season
· They have a wiki about the iPods
· They had light publicity because they only had 10 iPods to start and they launched
the iPods at a table set up.
POLICIES for the iPods –
* No holds – first come first served
*1 week loan period
* Overdue fines - $5 a day – max $20
* After 2-3 wks overdue, charge 4500. + accrued fines
*2 photo IDs to check out
*Signed out with signature – legal signature easier to uphold
RULES for the iPods
*Never leave iPod unattended
* Don’t remove skin/cover
* Return iPod to staff – not drop box
* Tell patron at check out that iPod may need to be charged
* Borrower assumes full responsibility
PROGRAMS for iPods
* iPods can be preloaded with content, i.e. Library programs, website information,
policies, etc.
* Borrowers may request audio book/video downloads – staff do downloading,
generally takes 2 min. for audio and 10 min. for movies, TV shows/series/season
1 hr.
* Library can purchase movies/TV series for Itunes store
* 1 Title on iPod at a time because of copyright issues, no 2iPods can have the
same program on it at the same time
* Subscriptions Run aprrox. for 1 year for Audible Subscription $230 and Itunes
music $200 = $430 a year
Collection Management and Technology – This session went over the different ways in which the collection is changing and how materials are processed. The Library system presenters talked about the many types of media they circulate and process. It was very interesting that due to the small size of their system, all damaged media, i.e. tapes, CDs, DVDs etc. were repaired at their collection management site. I felt a very positive, cost effective and good service that they provide there is they have a special DVD and CD cleaning machine that cleans and revitalizes scratched unusable DVDs so that they can continue to circulate instead of being disposed of.
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