Staff Education Coordinating Team (SECT) Minutes for March 8, 2005

Present: Sue Baughman, Joyce Chestnut, Jennifer Hatleberg, Jennifer Muter, Bob Kackley, Sue Koutsky (facilitator), Johnnie Love (notetaker), Tony Prosseda (timekeeper), Ambika Sankaran, Maggie Saponaro, Jane Williams

Agenda & Minutes

Agenda was reviewed and no changes were made.

February Minutes were approved and will be posted on Thursday, March 10.

Spring 2005 Learning Curriculum Program Update

Maggie Saponaro gave an update on all workshops that will be offered this spring. She shared PR material that identified all of the standard workshops and other programs. An article will be written for Library Matters to explain course offerings. All courses will be posted on the Learning Curriculum Web Site.

Questions asked by SECT members on the Microsoft Workshop:

• What is the content of the workshop for Microsoft Publisher?
• Can this training be used for internal projects?
• Would this workshop conflict with PR Team activity?

Additional discussion focused on two other programs:
“Tapping Creativity”(NEW Program ) The content of this workshop will focus on “what is creativity”, and tools and techniques that promote thinking “out of the box.”
“How to Deal With Difficult People in the Work Place.” Maggie Saponaro stated that Ivor Heyman would facilitate this session. It will cover different aspects of human interaction. This workshop will be presented May 10th and May 19th. Two sessions will be held on each day.

Computer Training Survey Update

Jennifer Muter stated there was a 30.7% return or responses on the survey. She presented two handouts identifying survey results. The first handout gave a Summary of the SECT Computer Survey. The second handout identified the top 10 requests of topics for courses on the computer survey. She also discussed workshops that we are prepared to teach, and workshops that will be facilitated by other groups and/or departments. She also identified 5-6 people who reported they would like to be trainers. The Desktop Services Committee is also working on instruction for several of the topics discussed in the survey.

It was also stated that Basic Windows classes should be offered. This says something for orientation to the Library workplace. An article will be appearing in Library Matters on the final report of the survey. Jennifer asked the SECT members to get back with her if there were questions and/or concerns.

2004 OCDA Report

Sue Baughman facilitated the discussion of the OCDA Survey findings. The purpose of this topic was to begin to look at possible programs/activities that may be needed as a result of the report. Topics and/or issues that were discussed were:

• Organizational withdrawal—What does it mean? “Burn Out”
• T.S was mentioned a lot of times at low ends of the spectrum for many issues—
• Focus groups will dig deeper
• There are race issues
• We are missing specific findings
• Within units—need to discuss
• Focus on Supervisors
• Skill development
• Communication skills
• G & R Feedback
• Sensitivity awareness
• How to coach and encourage staff
• How do we get supervisors to attend training? We need encouragement from divisional directors
• Need for cross training—job skills, need to learn what other people do.
• Cross organizational communication –need to keep building
• Readdress the philosophy of a learning organization
• Respark the energy and relevant substance. The complexity of all of the functions of the library
• Role of SECT
• Think about incentives—use them to attract people
  How do sports teams deal with motivation?
• Think about ways to help people expand their views about learning
• Explore experts/speakers---Who can speak to the latest information?
• Performance review—integrate issues for a department for each individual within the Work Plan and/or review
• Talk to other groups who have done similar surveys—how have they addressed issues?
• Other observations from the report:
• We do not have the grocery list as we had in the past of specific problems.
• We need to be more inventive in how we address the issues.

Round Robin

• Jane Williams – Gave a “Heads-up” on the ARL Lyceum course on Professional Writing that will be offered to library faculty and staff. It will be an all day workshop
• Johnnie Love – Mentioned the Provost Conversations and the success of the Selected Reading List and Other Resources. Selected Reading Lists have been prepared for each of the Lectures this spring.
• Robert Kackley –Neal Kaske from EPSL for the Branch Libraries mentioned having a Peer Training session for Library staff called “What to Do When Engineering Librarians Are ALL Out to Lunch?” Also in a few months, Jim Miller and Bob Kackley will give a presentation on the new WEST system for searching patents similar to what is at the USPTO itself in Alexandria, VA. Then we will look into a Science Direct peer training session later this spring 2005.
• Maggie Saponaro ---Encouraged everyone to register online for the workshops.

Next Meeting’s Agenda

Next Meeting: April 12, 1:00-2:00, McK 2234

Facilitator: Love; Notetaker: Prosseda; Timekeeper: Saponaro

Topics:

1. Revisit the Computer Survey
2. OCDA work
3. Update on Learning Curriculum document as of 3/29/04
4. Official co-sponsorship of SECT with other library groups

Meeting location will be RM 2234

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