John J. Burke, MSLS
ALAO Annual Conference
November 1, 2002
The Ohio Support
Staff Institute
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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
OSSI Becomes OLSSI
How It All Began
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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 MiniGrant in April 2002
Formed steering committee
Secured additional funding and made
arrangements
2002 Steering Committee
Cathy Bennett, Belmont Technical College Chris Hopkins, Mideastern Ohio Regional
Library Organization (MOLO)
Sarah B. Brown, Mason Public Library
Cynthia Hustead, INFOhio
Jay Burton, State Library of Ohio
Melissa Lattanzi, Northeast Ohio Library
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
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
Contributing
Organizations
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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
OSSI 2002: Basic Facts
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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
What Do You Get for Your
Money?
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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
The Participants
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Backgrounds:
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Academic library: 54%
School library/media center: 7%
Public library: 13%
Special library: 26%
Regions:
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NW: 18%
NE: 31%
SE: 15%
SW: 15%
Central: 21%
The Program
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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
The Program (cont’d)
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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
Distinguished Panelists
Participant Reactions
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“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.”
Areas to Improve
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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
Why Come to OLSSI?
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Extended period for learning
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Practical skills and information
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Chance to meet other support staff members
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Well-paced between learning and informal
discussion
Why Send Your Staff?
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Update an individual’s skills or prepare a new
staff member
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Bring new skills to the library
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Give staff a broader view of libraries
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Affordable
Why Support OLSSI?
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All of the above, plus:
Brings together staff from different types of
libraries and specialties within libraries
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The only institute of its type in Ohio
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Quality continuing education opportunity
The Future: OLSSI 2003
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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, 10:302:45, State Library of Ohio
2003 Steering Committee
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
Collaboration in Ohio
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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
Opportunities for
Collaboration
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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
Questions?
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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