Please join the  ALCTS Interest Group, Role of the Professional Librarian in
Technical Services (RPLTS-IG) at the 2016 ALA Annual Conference in Orlando,
Florida. 

 

Time: 10:30AM- 11:30AM

Place: Orange County Convention Center, Room W107

 

Title:  The role of professional librarians in technical-service training:
Professionalizing paraprofessionals

 

Abstract:

Paraprofessional library positions are often viewed as stepping-stones to
library careers rather than career destinations, and professional librarians
conducting training can explicitly prepare paraprofessionals for
higher-level work in libraries. Emphasizing professional development is an
act of inclusion that can break down the perceived barrier between staff
levels and increase enthusiasm and effectiveness. Learn how one library's
weekly trainings of two e-resource paraprofessionals balance practical
training and professional development with discussion of readings, taking
turns presenting innovative technologies, identifying training needs and
exploring presentation venues collaboratively, and even preparing for future
job interviews.

 

Bio:

Robert Heaton is the Electronic Collections Librarian at Utah State
University. He is finishing a two-year term as cochair of the LITA/ALCTS
Electronic Resources Management Interest Group and is currently studying the
selection and use of technological tools in support of e-resource
troubleshooting.

 

Title: Breaking Down the Silos Inside and Outside of the Back Room: Everyone
Wins

 

Abstract: 

I will review the changes in staffing (both professional and
paraprofessional positions) and their roles that have taken place in the
last few years at the Langsdale Library, University of Baltimore.  By
changing the "traditional" [meaning: that's how it's always been done]
breakdown of responsibilities and implementing greater back-room support of
public services and Special Collections, we have been able to upgrade
paraprofessional staff and add a new professional librarian position.
Examples of changes include finding ways to provide access to locally useful
information (using software such as WorldCat Lists, previously the purview
of reference staff); training everyone on updating all records (not just the
ILS but also the A-Z list and the link resolver) for a title regardless of
its format; collaborating with public services to develop a local thesaurus
of genres for games; and creating metadata for digital special collections
materials.

 

In March 2016 the department had a "title change" from Technical Services
and Content Management to Resource Acquisition and Discovery, recognizing
the active role we play.  We are RAD indeed!

 

Bio: 

Betty Landesman was with the University of Baltimore from July 2012 to April
2016.  She had held previous positions in technical services, public
services, and systems in academic libraries, federal libraries, special
libraries, and with a library automation vendor.  She has had extensive
involvement in information standards work and currently serves as co-chair
of the National Information Standards Organization (NISO)'s Content and
Collection Management Topic Committee.

 

Jessica Lee

Electronic Resources/Serials Librarian

Odum Library

Valdosta State University

229-245-3751

[email protected]

 

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