OLA Annual Conference 2017

Data from the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) shows that adults in the US are less skilled in digital problem solving than in many other countries. As more of our communication, creation and learning moves online, how do we help our patrons thrive in a new environment, and how do we transform our training and resources so the library thrives, too?

We used a digital problem solving assessment tool from PIAAC to find out if our patrons’ skills matched up with national data, and we mapped the digital skills we assessed to common library tasks. Results will help us take action to transform training and refine our digital resources.
By the end of this session, you will be able to advocate for digital literacy training and digital skill building sessions at their own library, understand how digital problem solving skills and common library tasks are related, and bring the tools back to your own library to design a strategy for implementing a large assessment.

As we move into more digital offerings at our public libraries, partnerships with vendors become more and more critical to delivering the collections and services our patrons expect. Public library staff may not feel like they have the experience or confidence to effectively navigate these relationships, especially since working with vendors can often be a role that a library staffer falls into, without any prior knowledge.

This session will address the basics of managing vendor relationships, with the goal of empowering public library staff to be able to establish and develop a strong vendor relationship, which ultimately benefits their patrons. We’ll cover:
- How are library vendors usually structured (i.e. who are you talking to and when?)
- Communication tips - learn to be assertive, set boundaries and communicate clearly, without being adversarial or too passive
- Fostering productive, positive relationships
- Dealing with sales-y tactics, negotiating, and contracts
- The tough stuff - how to handle problems with the service or product
- How you can continue to learn and grow in this area

We’ll share real-life strategies from our day-to-day work with vendors, as well as having time for discussion, so that we can all learn from each other.

How can our public library encourage staff engagement, while finding new ideas to fulfill our mission? Multnomah County Library created an innovation fund to encourage staff to gain comfort and experience with trying new things, failing, learning and trying again!

Come learn how we started, how we got buy-in, how the initiative evolved from year to year, and how this project has encouraged collaboration, helping us thrive together.

By the end of this session, you will be able to describe our process for eliciting ideas from staff, our voting process, and how we supported staff who implemented projects. We will also share our lessons learned, including how we shifted the ways we offered support and how we communicated with staff.

Speakers will address cataloging for discovery of three-dimensional objects including circulating puppets, board games, a human bone study collection, plus historical and technological artifacts usually placed in Special Collections. Catalogers will explain how details are added to bibliographic records to enhance discovery by fit of object to patron (number of players, playing time, suggested age, for example for games), whether intended for circulating or preservation objects. The session is useful for librarians or support staff involved in cataloging and collection development decisions for three –dimensional objects, or those with curiosity about accepting realia for collections or enhancing its discovery by library patrons.

A crucial part of thriving together is connecting to others. The OLA annual conference provides a venue by bringing library staff throughout the state together in one place. New Member Round Table aims to advance the overall professional development of 21st century librarians, library staff, and information professionals. The speed networking program will bring these ideas together by helping library staff come together and encouraging collaboration among colleagues.

The speed networking program is simple yet effective. Participants turn to the person next to them and spend five minutes talking about who they are, where they live, and their professional interests. The exchange of contact information is highly encouraged. After five minutes, one person moves to a new seat and the networking continues with a new partner. At the end of one hour, each person will have met ten new people. Whether the connection will be short-term, such as someone to sit with during lunch, or long-term, such as someone to help brainstorm library programs, the speed networking program will help everyone involved to thrive together.

Greater Albany Public Schools and the Albany Public Library launched a partnership this school year to make sure that every GAPS student has a library card. As of Fall 2016, every student enrolled in Greater Albany Public Schools and attending a brick-and-mortar school has been able to use their GAPS student identification card as their public library card. Albany Public Library director Ed Gallagher and West Albany High School librarian Jean Gritter will discuss the specifics of this single-card program, the process they went through to get it off the ground, and the various hurdles they had to overcome along the way.

Are you on the cusp of breaking into the world of libraries, searching for your first job? Are you interested in growing your career, but have struggled with confusing interview processes? Are you a hiring manager, challenged in running a successful recruitment process within the boundaries of organizational structure and mandates? If so, join our panel of five library professionals who have broad experience with recruitment in public and academic libraries as they provide practical guidance about: common topics in library interviews; content, form and delivery of good interview questions and responses; interview expectations for internal and external candidates, especially within the public sphere; and the role of professional engagement and development in growing your career. Join us as we discuss tips and strategies for turning the recruitment process into a first step in a thriving career within Oregon's libraries.