| Branch
Out 2005
Chris Lang
Plum Creek Library
System Office Administrator
“Branch Out Conference for Paraprofessionals”…oh
my goodness what a wonderful experience! I wanted
to attend Branch Out for a couple of reasons. The
first was to attend Voluntary Certification Day 1 and
kick-start my participation in the program. The
second reason, and probably the more important reason
was to see, first hand and up-and- personal, exactly what
Branch Out was all about. Is attending Branch Out
something Plum Creek should be promoting more to its member
libraries? Who goes to Branch Out? Lots of questions
only going to the event could answer. But Duluth—waaaay
up there??? Anyway, I asked our (Interim) Director
for permission to go, applied for a SAMMIE Scholarship
grant to help with the cost…and begged Library Director
Tam Erickson (Jackson County Libraries) to go with me…as
luck would have it, I got permission, was awarded the
grant and received an enthusiastic “welllll OK”
from Tam, and away we went.
After registration and a continental breakfast,
to totally die for, we listened to Keynote Speaker, Author
Sarah Stonich. She spoke of her travels and read
excerpts from her short stories and novels. I was
so impressed by her writing style, I bought one of her
books - my shopping urge satisfied! (You never go on a
trip without “shopping”)…
The rest of the day was spent in workshop “Voluntary
Certification Day 1”. I am not a librarian.
Although I do a variety of things at Plum Creek, what
I don’t do is work a circulation desk, process books,
answer reference questions, do interlibrary loan, catalog
materials or put on the “happy” librarian
face for patrons young, old and in between. Listening
and networking with other paraprofessionals from public,
school, special and academic libraries, who do these things
and more, was very interesting and informative.
Our presenter Mic Golden, on staff at the Great River
Regional Library, was great! Under her direction,
the group discussed the five “pieces” that
make up a “library”: the building, the resources
and services, its personnel, the organization, and its
cooperation, and collaboration with partners. We
learned how libraries function through the use of “Standards,
Guidelines and Policies”. Participants
did an exercise to help develop a sense of how the community
views the library – what benefits the library provides
as well as barriers, if any, patrons might
encounter. On the flip side to that, we took a look at
how the library views its community by conducting community
profiles, and environmental scanning. Participants
learned the difference between federated and consolidated
(or a combination of the two) regional library systems
and how their funding and governance is structured, what
a multitype system (like SAMMIE) is and does and how it
differs from a regional public library system, and that
the State Library Services and School Technology is an
agency within the Minnesota Department of Education.
These are only a few sentences about what is learned in
Day 1 of Voluntary Certification…but there is so,
so much more. Quote for the day: “Taking
risks can make for better library service”.
During our taco salad with all-the-trimmings lunch, our
Keynote speaker, Rachael Ewoldsen Martin, presented: From
Finland to America…a story told in first person
about the trials and tribulations of those immigrating
to America. Rachael captured the audience’s
attention and certainly mine…I laughed AND cried
during that luncheon and it was wonderful!
Branch Out – day 2. Again
our breakfast of bagels, sweet rolls, fruits of all sizes
and shapes, juices, coffee (hard and soft), ice water,
and all the goodies that go along with such delicacies
were fabulous! Gretchen Wronka presented the opening
Keynote address: Grass Roots Library Advocacy. Each
of us can and should be library advocates! How?
you say! Each time you wear your Summer Reading
Program or READ T- shirt whether at the library
or to the grocery store, or carry your library’s
canvas bag down the street, or hang a poster promoting
a program, you are being your libraries best advocate!!
It can be as simple as that. Gretchen spoke and
promoted the ALA program Every Child Ready To Read @ Your
Library. You’ll hear more about this program
and how Minnesota libraries are participating in the next
few months.
Following the Keynote address, participates went on their
way to the break-out sessions. The first I attended
was entitled: “Everybody Services Children”.
In this session, we further discussed the implications
of the Every Child Ready To Read @ Your Library program.
Each Regional Library System will host an all-day training
workshop. Those attending will be given the tools and
techniques to “train” others locally on how
to promote and be good literacy teachers using the philosophy
that early literacy begins with “you” (whoever
the “you” is, parent, librarian, childcare
provider, etc.). This program will definitely
be a partnership sharing experience. I’m excited
about the role Plum Creek, SAMMIE and Pioneerland will
have in this statewide initiative.
“Making Change Happen” ,presented by Gary
Meier (City of Duluth Human Resources) was the next session
I attended. How soon we all learned that we can
not make change happen by yourselves! In this session
we were given practical tips on the process we need to
go through to make change happen. “Planning”
of course was at the top of the list and probably the
“key” to making change a success! Following
that discussion, we learned the stages to a change initiative:
Fear, the Emotional Cliff (implementation), bottoming-out
stage, getting back control and mastery of the “change”.
Having measurable goals and objectives is important when
contemplating change, getting co-workers or colleagues
to buy-in to the change is equally important – we
were given tips on how to do that. Overall…a
good session and lots of information exchanged.
Following a very filling lunch (you’d need three
large plates if you wanted to sample everything –
which I ALMOST did), I went on to “Presenting a
Book Award Program as a Community Outreach Event”.
I’m always interested in programs that Plum Creek,
SAMMIE and Pioneerland could work together. I was
the only participant at this session so I received the
total attention of the three presenters, Brenda Bonnema
(Tech Services UMD Library), Charlene Brown (Circulation
Services UMD Library), and Gail Trygstad (Computer Systems
Team UMD Library). And they were so good! They even gave
me a piece of pie as my reward for attending…can’t
beat that! The presenters gave me so many
wonderful tips on how to plan, host, and implement a successful
book award program from promotion to whether or not to
charge admission. Bottom line – Step 1: books
are nominated for award by “anyone”, Step
2: volunteer readers read the nominated books and, Step
3: through a structured process, make their recommendations
for winners, Step 4: host a author award night complete
with decorated display tables where attendees can “meet”
the authors, Step 5: make presentations of the awards,
Step 6: provide a keynote speaker and Step 7: have a
FOOD reception! I’ve made this sound easy
and it’s by far that. It takes a lot of work
from a lot of people…but what a wonderful way for
a library (or group of libraries) to promote literacy
in their community(ies). Not to mention the
exposure the Authors receive. I received lots of
helpful handouts should we ever attempt a Book Award Program
in our region.
Next year, Branch Out will be in Sioux Falls SD.
For some of us…that’s a lot closer to home.
Would I recommend Branch Out to library directors from
all types of libraries? By all means. Would I recommend
Branch Out to library staff and paraprofessionals from
all types of libraries? Most assuredly YES, Yah,
you betcha! Etc., etc. Networking (human style)
is a great way to share knowledge and expertise with others.
A+ sessions, A+ presenters! Other break-out session offered
at Branch Out were: MORE and MOTSE, “Do-it-yourself
PC Maintenance”, “How I Learned to Relax and
Love Public Speaking”, “Keeping Your Back
in Balance”, “Workplace Violence”, The
Branch Manager’s Toolkit for Effective Management
and Community Integration of Branch Library Resources”,
“Data Privacy”, “ELM”, “Exercise
and Ergonomic Tips for Office Workers”, “Stress
Management”, “Writing: A Way of Nourishing,
Healing and Celebrating our Lives”, “There’s
No Page Like Home: Designing You Library Web Site”,
“Basic Book Mending”, “Make Your Library
Literacy-Friendly”, “Documenting Immigration
Past and Present”. Simply put: there IS something
for EVERYONE!
On Wednesday evening, the majority of attendees
gathered for a “social” time of [more] eating
, talking, and Karaoke. I handled the eating part
ok and engaged in friendly conversation, but when Tam
and I heard “Karaoke”, we bailed. Instead
we attended the SSPiN annual meeting. SSPiN stands
for Support Staff & Paraprofessional interest section
(of MLA). I’m going to learn more about SSPiN
by becoming a member – I’ll pass on what I
learn.
This “report” was lengthy, and I apologize.
but Branch Out was so worth it for me, that I wanted to
share my experiences. I want to thank Plum Creek
for giving me the “time” to attend, to SAMMIE
for providing the “dollars” for travel, and
to everyone at Branch Out for the putting on the “show”.
I truly encourage paraprofessionals and support staff
to attend – if not in Sioux Falls next year…then
“somewhere” in Minnesota in 2007.
PS. We were “on campus” of UMD - staying
in a dorm room at 50 “something” was in itself
a new experience and I must admit – a totally delightful
challenge…
|
|
BRANCH
OUT 2003 ATTENDEES
SHARE PERCEPTIONS
LaVerne Doering
Ortonville Public Library
Attending the Branch Out 2003 “Grounded and Growing”
August 13 & 14, at Gustavus Adolphus College, St.
Peter, will be on my list of Great Events Opportunities
of 2003. Thanks to the excellent planning and organization
of the Conference Committee, (Chair Kathie Martin of G.A.
College), both days were filled every moment.
Keeping on schedule was great exercise and a chance to
see the central campus andview the Paul Granlund sculptures.
Keynote speakers began each day. First, Cindy Ahrens,
2002 Library Journal Paraprofessional of the year shared
her personal career path development.
Second Day: KathleenBaxter, columnist for School Library
Journal, reviewed her “Get Real: Non Fiction to
Excite Kids about Reading” Book List. Luncheon speakers
who both did books signing: Barbara Fister, Academic Librarian,
G.A., by day, and mystery writer at night. “On Edge”
is her first novel. Jim Gilbert serves as Director of
the college arboretum and instructor of Environmental
Studies at G.A. He has been a consulting naturalist at
WCCO Radio for 27 years and authored two Minnesota nature
books. He provided a slide presentation of “August
in Minneota” for us. I was scheduled for the MOTSE
and MORE workshops that moved along very quickly.
The two days did not seem long enough. Minnesota Opportunities
for Technical Services Excellence (Cataloging Basics).
The fundamental source of all cataloging and use of AACR2
(Anglo-American Cataloging Rules - 2ndEdition, 1988);
cataloging a book and group exercises. Diane Powers of
Hamline University conducted this all day class. Susan
Hoffman, Hennepin County Library System, instructed the
MORE (Minnesota Opportunities for Reference Excellence)
class. Reference service, reference sources, training
to improve public services skills for any level of library
employee. She calculated her class of students totaled
152 years of library experience.
Branch Out this year included library personnel from Iowa,
North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota.It was announced
that Augustana College, Sioux Falls, S.D. would be the
site of the S.D. Branch Out of 2004.
Sherry Lund
Hutchinson Library
“Grounded and Growing” was the title of the
conference
and it certainly lived up to its name. I even felt like
I was growing a little too fast at times trying to absorb
everything, as it was a busy two days. But isn’t
learning with peers fun?
Being a new children’s librarian I was looking forward
to the programs that would inspire me and help me do my
job better. Both Kathleen Baxter and Joanne Bongaarts
did just that with their enthusiastic talks on new children’s
books. I especially enjoyed the Maud Hart Lovelace presentation
by Dolly Bloomquist. She spoke about the author’s
life, the influence of her books and theaward. And my
poor pen couldn’t write fast enough during Laurie
Holland’s computerized walk through web sites for
students.
Other highlights of the conference were seeing the new
St. Peter Public Library and the wonderful food from the
Gustavus Adolphus College food service. The lunch speakers
of Barbara Fister and Jim Gilbert added so much.
I set a personal goal for myself of getting to know as
many fellow Branch Out attendees as I could. It was fun
to visit with each of them and their insights added so
much to my conference experience.
To top off an already great conference I won the door
prize of Branch Out 2005 in Duluth. . .
Will I see you there? |
