Present: M. Advocate, S. Alderdice, J. Cohen, C. Donick, L. Duebert, J. Ford, W. Fuller, P. Keaton, J. Meyer, E. Tannenbaum, R. Smith Aldrich,
Guests: M. Keefe

Minutes:
Vote: 1st: W. Fuller
2nd: L. Deubert
Discussion: None
Passed unanimously

Review of evaluations

• The committee discussed expanding or morphing the Orientation for New Library Staff workshop to provide much of the same information to more long-term library staffers.
• Geographic considerations were discussed. Greene and Columbia Co. representative said that locations must be close to the bridge, and suggested Hudson Library is the most central option for them to attend MHLS workshops, Catskill was the next best choice.
• M. Advocate noted the new addition on the evaluation form of the 'percentage of information they already knew' had worked very well in judging the appropriateness of the curriculum for the audience.

Review of 2005 offerings

• Trustee Attendance handout:
  • M. Advocate noted that 8 libraries have not yet had trustees attend
    • The committee suggested letters to all board presidents regarding past attendance, thanking those that attended, encouraging those that attended to share what they learned [ACTION]
  • How they found out about sessions
    • Essentials: 58% from director 38% at a board meeting
    • Advanced: 25% from direct email
  • Friends Event: The committee discussed how to reach Friends next year through a CE event with less emphasis on a system-level recognition event. If a recognition event is held, the committee asked MHLS staff to work to ensure equality so that every Friends Group has the opportunity to participate before it is opened up to all who would like to come. The committee noted the importance of making sure all who would want to come to a CE event could attend and to offer two sessions if necessary.
  • Committee would like the "MHLS CE Programs 2005 including attendance" handout to be distributed at the next DA meeting with the inclusion of all MHLS on-demand trainings/consultations added. [ACTION]
  • The committee discussed how to ensure members take advantage of central reference library trainings that are offered. Ideas included:
    • scheduled, county-based offerings at multiple points during the year, advertised through the recognized bright-yellow Workshop Notices, with registration through the MHLS web calendar;
    • re-enforcing that the Central Reference Services Coordinator will come to a library to do an on-demand training for a small number of library staff and that libraries can group together and have an on-demand training;
    • pathfinders that would help library staff answer frequent reference questions (health, construction, etc.)

Potential workshops for 2006

• Resource Sharing:
  • Recommended that Millennium for Administrators or at least Create Lists be offered as a hands-on workshop.
  • Create Lists: Emphasis/Reinforcement of first few steps and how to pull up only your library's data; need the pace of the training slowed down, more basic, introductory information should provided.
  • 'Inventories' as an on-demand offering
  • Data entry for local history collections workshop was recommended
  • Collection Development Roundtable was discussed
• Technology
  • Committee agreed that there is a need for HomeACCESS training that is regularly scheduled during the year.
  • Downloadable audio book training was suggested as a priority for 2006, including a demo/recommendations for MP3 players
• Leadership
  • Committee was in favor of offering the Board Leadership Begins with You workshop as proposed in two locations.
  • John Perry, LIU adjunct, marketing seminar recommended by L. Deubert
• Management & Supervision
  • Marshall Rosenberg, "Nonviolent Communication," recommended by J. Meyer to address conflict resolution and communication issues.
  • Evaluation of Staff workshop for directors was suggested
  • Policy Development Management for Directors was suggested
  • Resource reallocation/cost reduction strategies related workshop was suggested
• Planning & Evaluation
  • Bibliostat Connect as a possible pre/post DA meeting session
• Awareness & Advocacy
  • Something that would address the predicted cultural shift for libraries away from information centers, towards more of a cultural center
  • Friends for Directors: possible DA meeting session
• Trustee Training
  • Advanced education session will focus on 'building support' (along the lines of Getting to Yes)
• Children's Services & YA Services
  • Committee was in favor of a "connecting boys with books," graphic novels, book clubs for kids and teens workshop
• Adult Services
  • Committee in favor of a workshop on book discussion groups
  • Combine 'programming made simple' with 'adult programming roundtable'
• Construction/Renovation
  • Committee was in favor of 'writing your building program' workshop and the 'marketing inside your building' program.

Other

• Update of Library Administration program - MHLS, RCLS, Westchester
  • $780 per person, per course if we can get 25 people to commit to this program

Actions

1. MHLS Staff will send a letter to all board presidents noting their library's representation at trustee education.
2. M. Advocate will update the "MHLS CE Programs 2005 including attendance" handout to include all MHLS on-demand trainings and consultations and distribute it at the next DA meeting
3. The committee discussed how to ensure members take advantage of central reference library trainings that are offered. Ideas included:
   1. scheduled, county-based offerings at multiple points during the year advertised through the recognized bright-yellow Workshop Notices, with registration through the MHLS web calendar;
   2. re-enforcing that the Central Reference Services Coordinator will come to a library to do an on-demand training for a small number of library staff and that libraries can group together and have an on-demand training;
   3. pathfinders that would help library staff answer frequent reference questions (health, construction, etc.)
4. Committee members will send back suggestions to MHLS staff for workshops for special client populations.

Handouts

• Tracking Attendance at Trustee Education Sessions over Four Years
• MHLS CE Programs 2005 including attendance
• Draft workshop topics for 2006
• Professional Development Consultations & Training on Demand
• Trustee Resources Consultations Available for MHLS
• SENYLRC upcoming CE offerings
• Assorted CE evaluation summaries

Next meeting: TBD

Report to DA:

1. Committee reviewed all 2005 continuing education / professional development events. Summaries of evaluations were also reviewed.
2. Committee discussed training suggested for 2006, and have proposed a balanced year of enrichment opportunities.
3. The committee discussed how to ensure members take advantage of central reference library trainings that are offered. Ideas included:
   • scheduled, county-based offerings at multiple points during the year advertised through the recognized bright-yellow Workshop Notices, with registration through the MHLS web calendar;
   • re-enforcing that the Central Reference Services Coordinator will come to a library to do an on-demand training for a small number of library staff and that libraries can group together and have an on-demand training;
   • pathfinders that would help library staff answer frequent reference questions (health, construction, etc.)
4. Trustee Education:
   • Just 8 libraries have not yet had trustees attend MHLS Trustee Education in the past four years. The committee has suggested that letters be sent to all board presidents regarding past attendance, thanking those that attended, encouraging those that attended to share what they learned.
   • The evaluation forms ask trustees how they found out about the session they attended:
     • Essentials: 58% from director; 38% at a board meeting
     • Advanced: 25% from direct email from MHLS, 18% from director; 18% at a board meeting

Submitted by Rebekkah Smith Aldrich/Merribeth Advocate, 11.16.05