Review: Technology Competencies and Training for Libraries
Cliff June 7th, 2007
Dear reader, you have two objectives:
- Buy two copies of this report–one to read/mark up, and one to share.
- Grab a pencil–you’ll want it.
In Technology Competencies and Training for Libraries, Sarah Houghton-Jan has created a concise, humorous, and illuminating step-by-step guide for planning, writing, implementing, training for, and reviewing technology competencies in libraries. This report continues the sensible organization and writing style that I have come to love about the Library Technology Reports series. In addition, Houghton-Jan has included practical advice for each step, gleaned from personal experience and thorough research. As she says in the introduction:
A few years ago, I found myself wanting a work like this to exist. Because it did not, I figured that I might as well consolidate all the information about library technology competencies in one place so that others could benefit from my hunting and gathering.
She has truly succeeded in this, because her writing style fluidly combines personal narrative with an abundance of research. I found myself scribbling notes in the margins, drawing big arrows, and underlining entire passages. It is impossible to read this report without thinking about the ways that you can implement the information in your own library. Be prepared–reading this report will induce a brainstorming session!
The step-by-step format of the report makes it accessible and practical. I could see this becoming the standard work for technology competenies taskforces, with each chapter serving as a practical guide in the process of developing and implementing technology competencies. The author’s advice is useful and down-to-earth; she skillfully addresses dealing with the possible fears and reluctance of staff, librarians and administration. Problems with funding, skilled trainers, learning styles and lack of time are all addressed in full. Each time that I thought of a potential question to write in and ask, I found the answer a few sentences away (the mark of a great trainer!).
Even if you don’t plan on implementing technology competencies in your library, this report will prove valuable. Instruction librarians in particular should read the chapter “Conducting Technology Training,” since the library skills that we now teach to our users are inseperable from technology. I will be passing along Houghton-Jan’s list of twenty technology training tips to our Library Instruction committee, and will be reviewing them for my own benefit for years to come.
On a personal note, huge thanks to Sarah, Jenny, and Mary Mackay for providing me with a review copy (so I didn’t have to mark up the library’s copy!). And to answer your question on p. 54, Sarah, I use Google Calendar. ;)
Thank you for your very, very kind words Cliff. I’m so glad that my work will help make positive change at your own library, and glad that my review copy preferences actually had an impact. Review copies R-O-C-K.