E ASTERN S HORE R EGIONAL L IBRARY
C
T
C
L
S
In order to best serve customers library staff must be able to adapt to new technology.
To achieve this goal library staff need a basic set of skills. Technical competencies are a listing of those skills and are used to determine what staff members already understand and what they need to learn.
Technical competencies serve a number of purposes. Administrators can use them to create more detailed job descriptions, assist with performance evaluations and help identify training needs. Technical competencies provide a way for staff to become more self sufficient and reduce the burden placed on information technology and systems staff. Staff members also gain a better understanding of job duties and expectations.
Rather than list the skills necessary for specific software and programs, we have listed basic skill sets that can be applied in a number of different situations. This list of technical competencies can be modified to best meet the needs of your library and staff.
We have identified eight core areas of technology competencies:
Basic Computer Use........................................................................ 2
Windows Basics............................................................................... 3
Web Browser Skills.......................................................................... 4
Email Skills...................................................................................... 5
Word Processing Skills.................................................................... 6
Internet and World Wide Web Skills............................................... 7
Library website and Online Catalog Basics.................................... 8
Web 2.0 Skills................................................................................... 9

E ASTERN S HORE R EGIONAL L IBRARY
Skill
BASIC COMPUTER USE
Correctly start and shut down computers
Correctly start and shut down printers
Use a mouse
Understand difference between logging onto a computer and logging into other applications
Start an application: Office applications,
ILS application
Adjust volume
Load ink and paper into printer
Select printers, understand what the default printer is
Clear paper jams
Yes No Applies to Job
Understand where to plug in portable devices (speakers, headsets, thumb drives, etc.)
Empty recycle bin
Save document to a CD and USB drive
Understand how “Deep Freeze” operates on public computers
Learning Resources:
ƒ http://www.umuc.edu/distance/odell/ctla/basic_skills/basic_skills.html
ƒ http://tech.tln.lib.mi.us/tutor/welcome.htm
ƒ http://www.education-world.com/a_tech/techtorial/techtorial004pre.shtml
ƒ http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/techtorial/techtorial012pre.shtml
2

E ASTERN S HORE R EGIONAL L IBRARY
WINDOWS BASICS
Skill
Create folder
Find, copy and move files
Use Start button
Understand taskbar and toolbar
Minimize and maximize windows
Explain “desktop”
Understand “drives” on a PC
Identify file types - .exe, .com, .txt, .doc,
.html, etc.
Find files using Search feature
Yes No Applies to Job
Understand Control Panel
Change appearance, screen saver, sounds, fonts, etc.
Learning Resources:
ƒ http://revver.com/video/188826/organizing-files-learn-basic-computer-skills/
ƒ http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/techtorial/techtorial035pre.shtml
ƒ http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/windows/en-US/usingwindowsxp.mspx
3

E ASTERN S HORE R EGIONAL L IBRARY
WEB BROWSER SKILLS
Skill
Open browser
Show/hide toolbars
Navigate a browser (back, forward, stop, home, print)
Know library URL
Yes No Applies to Job
Create bookmark
Understand browser terms: link, URL, cache
Identify the parts of a URL
Name 2-3 browsers
Search for text within a web page
Know how to print a webpage
Know how to copy and paste from internet to a word document
Learning Resources:
ƒ http://www.aarp.org/learntech/computers/basic_web/
ƒ http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/techtorial/techtorial065pre.shtml
ƒ http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/techtorial/techtorial002pre.shtml
4

E ASTERN S HORE R EGIONAL L IBRARY
EMAIL SKILLS
Skill
Send, reply, forward messages
Understand difference between “Reply” and “Reply All”
Delete messages
Insert/add attachment
Set-up folders
Add to address book
Create a distribution list
Access webmail
Understand what a virus is
Understand the difference between using webmail and using an email client or program
Name 2 – 3 email clients
Yes No
Learning Resources:
ƒ https://zimbra.esrl.org/zimbra/help/Zimbra_User_Help.htm
ƒ http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/basics/virus.mspx
ƒ http://www.learnthenet.com/ENGLISH/animate/email.html
Applies to Job
5

E ASTERN S HORE R EGIONAL L IBRARY
Skill
Create, save, print document
WORD PROCESSING SKILLS
Yes No
Change font and font size
Format using bold, italicize, underline
Cut and paste
Format a document using bold, italicize, underline and center text
Use spellcheck
Use Help
Applies to Job
Identify the five basic components of
Office Suite and understand what each application is used for:
ƒ Word
ƒ Excel
ƒ Access
ƒ PowerPoint
ƒ Publisher
Learning Resources:
ƒ http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/training/default.aspx
ƒ http://www.baycongroup.com/wlesson0.htm
ƒ http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/archives/techtorials.shtml/ ( Look under the Office,
Word, Excel and PowerPoint headings for specific tutorials )
6

E ASTERN S HORE R EGIONAL L IBRARY
INTERNET and WORLD WIDE WEB SKILLS
Skill
Delete history, cache and cookies
Yes No Applies to Job
Fill out an online form
Change home page
Add, delete and organize favorites list or bookmarks
Use search engines
Name 2-3 search engines
Understand the difference between the
Internet and the Web
Understand the difference between a web page and a web site
Recognize Adobe PDF Icon
Understand Patron Management System
(able to support user sessions: add money to patron accounts / import users, etc.)
Learning Resources:
ƒ http://www.learnthenet.com/english/html/12browser.htm
ƒ http://www.webopedia.com/didyouknow/internet/2002/web_vs_internet.asp
ƒ http://www.ctdlc.org/remediation/indexWeb.html
7

E ASTERN S HORE R EGIONAL L IBRARY
LIBRARY WEBSITE and ONLINE CATALOG BASICS
Skill
Know library URL and access library website
Familiar with library website (know where upcoming events, library hours, branch information are listed)
Able to access library databases from library website
Explain how to access library databases to patrons (need library barcode number, etc.)
Articulate library’s internet policy to patrons (basic understanding of filtering)
Able to search online catalog by author, title, subject and keyword
Able to determine location and availability of specific items in catalog
Knows how to access library’s online catalog from website
Yes No Applies to Job
Learning Resources:
ƒ EBSCOhost, http://support.ebsco.com/training/tutorials.php
ƒ ProQuest, http://www.proquest.com/products_pq/training/
ƒ Testing and Education Reference Center, http://gale.cengage.com/Testing&Education/
ƒ Biography Resource Center, http://gale.cengage.com/BiographyRC/
ƒ NoveList, http://support.epnet.com/training/novelist/NLC/Home.htm
ƒ SAILOR resources, http://www.prattlibrary.org/special/camtasia.aspx?id=1214
8

E ASTERN S HORE R EGIONAL L IBRARY
Skill
Create a blog
Post comment to a blog message
Understand what “tagging” means
WEB 2.0 SKILLS
Yes No Applies to Job
Understand what a “blog reader” is used for
Understand what a “wiki” is used for
Name 2-3 useful library related blogs
Learning Resources:
ƒ http://www.marylandlibrarieslearning2.blogspot.com/
ƒ http://explorediscoverplay.blogspot.com/
ƒ http://www.commoncraft.com/blogs
ƒ http://www.commoncraft.com/video-wikis-plain-english
ƒ http://www.commoncraft.com/rss_plain_english
ƒ http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/techtorial/techtorial100pre.shtml
ƒ http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/techtorial/techtorial098pre.shtml
ƒ http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/techtorial/techtorial103pre.shtml
ƒ http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/techtorial/techtorial105pre.shtml
9