SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN LIBRARY COOPERATIVE

CONTINUING EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETING

Meeting Minutes

 Monday, March 27, 2006

                                                                                               

Present: Bonnie Kliss, Carol Richardson, Judy Smith, Maude Moore, Ann Perrigo, Gail Powers-Schaub

 

The charge to the committee was reviewed.  It was determined to be valid as it stands – no changes are recommended.

 

In order to help to balance our budget, we need to take an aggressive stance in using continuing education to generate revenue.  We want to aim for offering a program once each week.  It is important to keep the costs of attending training low so that libraries can participate.  It was agreed that a charge of $40.00 is very high – but that quality carries a price.  The co-op will offer discounts for multiple attendees at workshops, and open workshops to patrons of libraries and the public.   Our general goal is to generate $500/week in revenue for the co-op.

 

The idea of traveling workshops was resurrected.  We will be scheduling the Saturday trustee training, but will also offer a traveling version.  We will implement a sliding scale for the cost of onsite training, to be developed by Gail, for presentation to the committee.  Genealogy and customer service training are other topics for traveling workshops.  It was suggested that we coordinate with local businesses to offer/promote customer service training.  Some school programs may be offered through the RESA/REMC – Gail will investigate.

 

There was a brief discussion about the value of membership in the co-op.  Affordable training is one of the big attractions, along with opportunities for networking. 

 

The committee proposes the implementation of a rental fee for the traveling computer lab, $10.00 per computer was thought to be a good price.  Members should pick up and drop off the computers, or SMLC can do so for a fee, to be established as part of the traveling workshop program.

 

The Committee is responsible for getting speakers for the Council meeting.  April’s speaker is Christine Berro on Public Policy.  Gail will investigate future speakers.

 

Programs to be planned:

  • Selling Items on E-bay, and other sale sites
  • Trustee Training
  • Basics of working in a library
  • Customer Service Training
  • Basic Computer Maintenance
  • Quickbooks
  • Serving Hispanic Patrons
  • Creating Library Policies
  • VOIP – if we can get a presenter who will speak to library opportunities
  • Proposal Writing/Grantseeking
  • Future of Libraries
  • Strategic Planning
  • Records Management
  • Crafts – Hands on Workshop
  • Intro. To Digitization
  • Vendor Demonstrations – for Council meeting
  • Digital and Audio Books
  • The Reference Interview
  • Reader’s Advisory
  • Teen Books/Graphic Novels
  • ISBN13 as applied to AGENT
  • Invisible Web/Black Web
  • New Staff Training for Libraries
  • Videogames as A Service
  • Budgets and Financial Statements
  • New Technologies in the Classroom
  • Next Generation Library Websites
  • QSAC
  • Power Libraries
  • Gift Acceptance/Financial Planning
  • Endowments for Libraries
  • Disaster Preparation and Planning

 

The Committee will meet again on May 25th at 2:30, at the co-op. 

 

U:\Continuing Ed\Minutes 3-27-06.doc