Communities of practice offer reference librarians a conceptual model through which to develop and maintain general and subject specific knowledge. Reference librarians acquire general and subject-specific knowledge in many ways, sometimes independently and sometimes collaboratively. Applying the concept of the "community of practice" to reference…

Describes patterns observed in the on-the-job training of copy and original catalogers, noting similarities and differences, and provides recommendations for both the training of new staff and continuing education for experienced staff. (CLB)

Describes a faculty training program instituted by the Instructional Media Center at University of California Northridge, which helps faculty members to become competent content specialists by working with media specialists to produce instructional media, and exposes them to the media center's operation. The program's objectives, operation, and…

Identifies and discusses seven critical issues in the implementation and maintenance of a library automation staff training program: timing, a modular learning approach, training location, trainers, documentation, lesson reinforcement, and continuity. An appendix describes some of the options available for computer assisted training programs.…

Technological, social, legal, economic, educational and political advances have greatly affected the management of staff who have had to adapt to such developments as networking, the independence of educational institutions, income generation, compulsory competitive tendering, quality management and user consultation. This book is a guide to staff…

Describes a training program based on research in the private sector, which was developed to improve the performance and job satisfaction of the library's public contact personnel. Suggestions are offered for future research and applications based on trainee and patron evaluations. (Author/CLB)

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) Library participated in the statewide conversion to a new integrated library system in the summer of 2002. Prior to the system's implementation, various local and statewide committees coordinated efforts to train their staffs so as to ensure a seamless transition. This case study analyzes, in…

Like most academic libraries, Purdue University Calumet depends heavily on student workers for its daily operations. After the investment of time and effort involved in training student workers, it is important to retain them from one year to the next. This case study examines training procedures that are designed to cultivate a sense of mutual…