John J. Burke, MSLS ALAO Annual Conference November 1, 2002

1. John J. Burke, MSLS ALAO Annual Conference November 1, 2002

2. The Ohio SupportStaff Institute • 3.5 days in August • Unique continuing education opportunity • Open to support staff from all libraries • Technology/functional training focus • Networking opportunity • Independent collaboration of interested Ohio library community members

3. OSSI Becomes OLSSI

4. How It All Began • The legends say . . . • Linda Dobb and Doug Morrison • Lunchtime conversation at ALAO-SSIG spring workshop in April 2001 • Many conversations in between • Pursued and were awarded an LSTA Mini-Grant in April 2002 • Formed steering committee • Secured additional funding and made arrangements

5. Cathy Bennett, Belmont Technical College Sarah B. Brown, Mason Public Library Jay Burton, State Library of Ohio Mary Mlynar Conroy, OHIONET and Ohio Council of Library and Information Systems John Crissinger, Ohio State University/Newark Campus Margaret "Doc" Delaney, Ohio Valley Area Libraries (OVAL) Linda Dobb, Bowling Green State University Shana Fair, Ohio University Zanesville/Muskingum Technical College Anne Hanning, Ohio Educational Library Media Association (OELMA) Kathleen Hipes, Ohioana Library Association Chris Hopkins, Mideastern Ohio Regional Library Organization (MOLO) Cynthia Hustead, INFOhio Melissa Lattanzi, Northeast Ohio Library Association (NOLA) Douglas Morrison, Ohio State University/Agricultural Technical Institute Judy Orahood, Ohio Wesleyan University Dorrie Russell Sacksteder, Contractor/Adult Literacy/ESL Tutor Eileen Theodore-Shusta, Ohio University Sandi Thompson, Puskarich Public Library Robin Weinstein, Greene County Public Library 2002 Steering Committee

6. Contributing Organizations • Academic Library Association of Ohio (ALAO) • Columbus Area Library and Information Council (CALICO) • Kent State University Library & Media Services • INFOhio • Institute for Museum and Library Services (LSTA Grant) • Mid-Eastern Ohio Library Organization (MOLO) • Northeast Ohio Library Association (NOLA) • Southeastern Ohio Library Organization (SOLO) • Ohio Council of Library and Information Systems (OCLIS) • Ohio Educational Library/Media Association (OELMA) • Ohio Valley Area Libraries (OVAL) • State Library of Ohio • Library Mosaics

7. OSSI 2002: Basic Facts • When: August 4-7, 2002 • Where: Ohio Dominican University (housing and instruction all on campus) • Who: 39 participants, 5+ counselors, 19+ speakers • What: Room, board, and study • Cost: $200.00 • Aerial flyovers: several • Campus-wide blackouts: 1

8. What Do You Get for Your Money? • World-class, hands-on instruction • Networking opportunities • Remove from the everyday world • Instruction binder of handouts • Three nights of accommodations • Seven meals • OSSI tote bag • Vendor goodies • Games and movie night • Chance for free Library Mosaics subscription

9. The Participants • Backgrounds: • Academic library: 54% • School library/media center: 7% • Public library: 13% • Special library: 26% • Regions: • NW: 18% • NE: 31% • SE: 15% • SW: 15% • Central: 21%

10. The Program • Materials Repair I (Hands On)       • Website Editors & Maintaining the Library's Web Page • Excel for Library Use    • Genealogical Resources & Records (Online & Print) • Windows File Management    • Effective Web Search Strategies • Reference Resources - Online and Print       • Government Resources Print & Online • MARC Format & Copy Cataloguing

11. The Program (cont’d) • Online Learning Opportunities • Technology Futures, Libraries, & You (Panel) • Stress-Durability: Developing a Personal Plan • Self-Defense for Women • Welcome/Meet and Greet session • Tours of the Spangler LRC and ODU campus

12. Distinguished Panelists

13. Participant Reactions • “Excellent for support staff.” • “Was worth every minute and every $.” • “One of the best organized I’ve been to.” • “Nice mix of topics! I learned a lot.” • “The food and the food service people were the best!” • “Door prizes were fun.”

14. Areas to Improve • Beginning/advanced computer classes • Fewer sessions with longer class periods • Additional “non-library” topics • Potential for offering CEUs • Lots of planning ideas generated by steering committee and counselors • Regular funding sources

15. Why Come to OLSSI? • Extended period for learning • Practical skills and information • Chance to meet other support staff members • Well-paced between learning and informal discussion

16. Why Send Your Staff? • Update an individual’s skills or prepare a new staff member • Bring new skills to the library • Give staff a broader view of libraries • Affordable

17. Why Support OLSSI? • All of the above, plus: • Brings together staff from different types of libraries and specialties within libraries • The only institute of its type in Ohio • Quality continuing education opportunity

18. The Future: OLSSI 2003 • August 3-6, 2003 • Central Ohio site selection underway • Surveying library community on topics • Increased marketing to public and school library/media staff • Looking for new steering committee members • Next meeting: November 6, 10:30-2:45, State Library of Ohio

19. Cathy Bennett, Belmont Technical College Helen Black, Oberlin College Joy Blair,Belmont Technical College Sarah B. Brown, Mason Public Library Katy Bruns, Lexis/Nexis Corporate Library John Burke, Miami University Middletown Jay Burton, State Library of Ohio Mary Mlynar Conroy, OHIONET & OCLIS John Crissinger, Ohio State University/Newark Campus Margaret "Doc" Delaney, OVAL Linda Dobb, Bowling Green State University Shana Fair, Ohio University Zanesville/Muskingum Technical College Anne Hanning, OELMA Kathleen Hipes, Ohioana Library Association Chris Hopkins, MOLO Cynthia Hustead, INFOhio Diane Jordan, Columbus Law Library Melissa Lattanzi, NOLA Angie Lorensen, Northwest Ohio Regional Book Depository Douglas Morrison, Ohio State University/Agricultural Technical Institute Judy Orahood, Ohio Wesleyan University Erin Peters, Kettering College of Medical Arts Amy Pickenpaugh, Otterbein College Martha F. Powers,Ohio Wesleyan University Dorrie Sacksteder, Independent Member Eileen Theodore-Shusta, Ohio University Sandi Thompson, Puskarich Public Library Joyce Weed, Ohio University 2003 Steering Committee

20. Collaboration in Ohio • A jumble of organizations: no true central group • Diverse needs, but common rallying points & issues • When we understand each other and work together, we grow stronger • Pursue cooperation and collaboration to strengthen our communities, our libraries, and ourselves • OLSSI shows us the way

21. Opportunities for Collaboration • Ohio organizations: www.ohionet.org/WhoWeAre/oclis.asp#Members • Ohio libraries (all types): winslo.state.oh.us/publib/libdir.html • Worldwide organizations: slisweb.sjsu.edu/resources/orgs.htm • Individuals within libraries • People and organizations beyond the library world

22. Questions? • OLSSI Steering Committee members • OLSSI listserv: listserv@lms.kent.edu (subscribe OSSI your name) • OLSSI Web site: www.olssi.lib.oh.us John J. Burke, MSLS Assistant Director Miami University Middletown burkejj@muohio.edu (513) 727-3293