Professional Development for the Professional Development for the New Digital Library TeamNew Digital Library Team

Presented by Dr. Tara Lynn Fulton Presented by Dr. Tara Lynn Fulton Lock Haven UniversityLock Haven University

Educause ’07Educause ’07Seattle, WASeattle, WA

October 24, 2007October 24, 2007

The Setting

• Small, rural university

• No mandate for digitization

• No separate, specially trained staff

• Team structure

• Growing our own team

Prologue

1. Opportunity for access to ContentDM

2. Initial discussions about undertaking a small, pilot project

3. Called for volunteers for a team

4. Team did research on possible projects and selected one

5. Then dealt in earnest with their needs for training

The Cast of Characters …

Four roles

• Project leader

• Technician

• Metadata expert

• Content expert

Each team member needs

• Knowledge

• Technical skills

• Management skills

• Interpersonal skills

• Attitudes

So, let the training begin …

Training in three acts

1. Overview

2. Initial training

3. Ongoing training

Act 1: The big picture Act 1: The big picture overviewoverview

Workshop or site visitWorkshop or site visitStory of a real life experience Story of a real life experience

planning and implementing a project planning and implementing a project from beginning to endfrom beginning to end

Introduction to principles, processes, Introduction to principles, processes, techniques, and lessons learnedtechniques, and lessons learned

Lecture/demonstration works wellLecture/demonstration works well

Act II: Core trainingAct II: Core training

Multiple experiences in a variety of Multiple experiences in a variety of formatsformats

Combination of self-study and formal Combination of self-study and formal training opportunitiestraining opportunities

Jargon

Learning theory tells us we need

• an introduction to concepts

• an opportunity to apply concepts in a reasonable amount of time

• time to observe and reflect on training and experience

• visual, auditory, and kinesthetic experiences

• cognitive, affective, and psychomotor elements

Training should beTraining should be

• Fun

• Practical

• Tailored

• Stimulating

• Learner-centered

• Oriented to continuous learning

Act III: Ongoing trainingAct III: Ongoing training

Learning contract – concrete, personalized, self-Learning contract – concrete, personalized, self-directed plandirected plan

Mentors and coaches to provide feedbackMentors and coaches to provide feedback

Consider a pilot project – learn by doingConsider a pilot project – learn by doing

Summary of process

1. Provide big picture orientation to the whole team

2. Assess competencies and training needs of individuals

3. Identify available training opportunities

4. Provide initial training

5. Provide for on-going skill development

Curtain Call: The First Digital Project

Director’s Role

Hire/select a strong team Clarify expectations Provide realistic timeframes Provide resources (space, funding, time) Help them ask the big questions Create the right environment for learning Encourage the team; attend to morale Help them make good judgments along the way Encourage risk-taking Feed them Then, let them do their jobs

Resources

Council on Library and Information Resourceshttp://www.clir.org/pubs/cliringhouse/house02.html

Digital Library Federation.http://www.diglib.org

Digitization 101 bloghttp://www.Digitization101.com

Dublin Core Metadata Initiativehttp://dublincore.org/documentas/dcmi-terms/

Resources

Northeast Document Conservation Centerhttp://www.nedcc.org

OCLC Capcon http://www.oclc.org/capcon/training/default.htm

Society of Imaging Science and Technologyhttp://www.imaging.org

University of Virginia. Rare Book School.http://www.virginia.edu/oldbooks

References• Avery, Elizabeth, Dahlen, Terry, and Carver, Deborah. Staff Development: A Practical

Guide. 3rd ed. Chicago, IL: ALA, 2001.• Gaunt, Marianne. “A Bridge to the Future: Observations on Building a Digital Library.”

Syllabus, vol. 15, no, 8 (March 2002): 12-16.• Hastings, Kirk, & Tennant, Roy. “How to Build a Digital Librarian.” DLib Magazine, vol.

12, no. 11 (Nov, 1996). Retrieved October 15, 2007 from • http://www.dlib.org/dlib/november96/ucb/11hastings.html• Houghton-Jan, Sarah. Technology Competencies and Training for Libraries. (Library

Technology Reports, vol. 43, no. 2). Chicago, IL: ALA TechSource, 2007.• NEDCC Handbook for Digital Projects: A Management Tool for Preservation and

Access. Andover, MA: Northeast Document Conservation Center, 2000. Retrieved October 1, 2007 from http://www.nedcc.org/digital/dighome.htm

• National Information Standards Organization. A Framework of Guidance for Building Good Digital Collections. 2nd ed. Bethesda, MD: NISO, 2004. Retrieved October 1, 2007 from http://www.niso.org/framework/framework2.html.

• Perry, Claudia. “Education for Digitization: How Do We Prepare?” Journal of Academic Librarianship, vol. 32, no. 6 (November 2005): 523-532.

• Tennant, Roy. Managing the Digital Library. New York: Reed, 2004.