1. Ten Tips for Teaching 2.0 at Public Libraries Janie L. Hermann Technology Training Librarian Princeton Public Library, NJ jhermann@princetonlibrary.org Computers in Libraries 2007 Cybertour

2. Reaching &Teaching a Tech-savvy Public Library customers are becoming increasingly proficient with computers, using the Internet and technology. Technology and training expectations from library customers are rising exponentially. Computer classes and technology training must evolve to meet this demand and undergo constant innovation to remain relevant.

3. Princeton Public Library Background Single-branch municipal library in heart of downtown and near Princeton University New state-of-the-art 58,000 square foot building opened in April 2004 Staff: 50 FTE; Population: 31,000 100+ computers for public use; fully equipped technology center

4. Looking Back Approximately 10 years since Princeton, and other public libraries, began offering basic computer/Internet classes Emphasis on mouse skills and using online catalogs Subject-specific Internet classes, email, and Microsoft Office classes soon added to class calendars and curriculums Focus was on basic computing and searching skills

5. 10 Tips for Teaching 2.0 It is a time-consuming process – can take several years to build. PPL’s current program has been over 6+ years in the making

6. Tip 1: Outreach Position yourself and your staff as “Tech Gurus” in your community Offer to give talks about 2.0 and Social Software to local groups Computer User Groups, Job Seeking Groups, Chamber of Commerce, PTO etc. Get OUT and get known!

7. Tip 2: Start Modest Implement monthly lecture/demo programs that will appeal to advanced users. Technology Talks; “DataBytes” Use invited guests to minimize staff preparation time. Don’t be afraid to ask; you will be surprised at how many are willing to share their expertise Tie-in to hands-on classes from these series

8. Tip 3: Develop Communication Channels Gather email addresses at every session or class you offer Send no more than one or two targeted messages per month Inform but don’t Spam Create a Technology Training Blog with RSS feed and update regularly

9. Tip 4: Cover the Basics Create a comprehensive training plan Decide answers to questions such as: Who will do the training? How many courses to offer per week or month? How many new courses can be developed per quarter? Write Lesson Plans Don’t reinvent the wheel – borrow from others Create Support Materials Consider hosting them on a wiki

10. Tip 5: Train Staff or Volunteers Hire staff or recruit volunteer trainers to assist depending upon budget considerations. Training the Trainers is essential. Provide practice sessions before going live to work out the glitches.

11. Tip 6: Walk the Walk Allow time for staff to play with new technology Create blogs, wikis, podcasts, etc. for your library web site Stay on top of trends

12. Tip 6: Classes in Constant Beta Update lesson plans frequently Switch sites/applications as needed to stay current and cutting edge Continually scan the literature for trends – both in terms of teaching and technology

13. Tip 7: Promote! Promote! Promote! Create print calendars and distribute widely Regular press releases Library Newsletter Profiles of you and your tech staff Generate email lists and create blogs Negotiate for front page real estate on your library’s web site!

14. Tip 8: Variety is the Spice of Life Rotate classes Vary the type classes Bootcamps One-shots Mini-courses (with homework) Connect courses “Sell up” to keep them coming back

15. Tip 9: Learning Together Consider training staff with patrons creates transparency maximizes training time for trainer

16. Tip 10: Prove the Value Compile statistics Gather testimonials Demonstrate Impact

17. What’s Hot and What’s Not Hot: Fun with flickr Become a Blogger Fantastic Freebies What’s the fuss about RSS Photoshop Mini- Course Firefox Extensions School for Scanning Not: Meet the Mouse Learn the Library Catalog Email Essentials Intro to Search Engines (but, Xtreme Search is hotter than Hot) Subject-Specific classes

18. What’s Hot and What’s Not Lukewarm: Shortcuts and Timesaving Tricks Top Sites and Other Treasures Computer Basics Introduction to the Internet Databases Revealed Genealogy Online Digital Camera Test Drive Powering up with PowerPoint

19. Questions or Comments! Special Thanks to the PPL Tech Aides: Bob Keith, Evan Klimpl, Jim Crawford and David Heredia