So Many Devices, So Little Time

I attended a session a while back at Midwest Library Technology Conference about different ways to help staff, and patrons, with their tech devices when time and staff are limited. (See article from April 2015 Reference Notes, “Offering Technology Help Off the Desk”) Along those same lines, I just read an interesting article from the May 2015 issue of Library Journal, “Manage the Device Deluge,” that touches on many of the same issues that were discussed at Technology Conference back in March.  How do we keep staff current when there are so many gadgets, devices, and tools out there, and we are expected to help users learn how to use them?

Librarians through the years have been there to teach patrons how to use library tools, whether it’s a microfiche reader, card catalog, or computer.  Oftentimes libraries will have staff that are dedicated experts with some technological tools to help patrons with specifics but many times that is not the case.  Librarians are bombarded on a daily basis with questions about gadgets that they may be just as new to them as the person inquiring about it.  Jennifer Koerber, author of “Manage the Device Deluge,” offers san approach to training staff and keeping them up-to-date in this time of technological onslaught.

She recommends the idea of making everyone an expert.  Include all staff in “diverse, partly self-directed and partly synchronous program, accessible…at home and at work.”  Combine hands-on formal and informal instruction.  It is important to take a step back from all this to see where you stand.  Assess the skills and needs of your staff and most importantly identify the essential needs of your patrons.  Along with that you will want to identify how your staff learns best and offer a variety of types of learning from in-person, structured workshops to self-directed training or tutorials.  There are many online options available so choose the format that will best suit your staff.  Koerber also stresses not to forget the skills needed to be a “good technical trainer.”  There are many aspects that go into this including public speaking, troubleshooting, and curriculum development.  Once staff have been trained don’t forget to the need to keep up with the influx of the latest devices and gadgets.  There are many places to get tech news including TechCrunch, CNET, Gizmodo, and other product review and news sites.  Most importantly, encourage staff and patrons to play with their tech tools.  In the end, that may well be the best and most effective way of learning how to use it.