Educational Opportunities for Library Support Staff Members in Ohio

John J. Burke, MSLS

Ohio Library Support Staff Institute

Where are you starting from?

Formal degree (H.S., AA/AS, BA/BS, MA/MS)

Past (ongoing) continuing education On-the-job training Library experience

What is your educational goal?

Adding specific skills Keeping up with new developments Taking on new responsibilities Moving into a new role/location Seeking promotion/reclassification Adding experience to change library type

Where do you want to go?

Continuing education I (workshops, conferences, etc.)

Continuing education II (credit courses) Formal degrees (non-library) Associate degree (library focus) Bachelor’s degree (library focus) MLS

How do you learn best?

Face to face

Distance Learning Videoconferencing Web-based Video courses Correspondence course

Continuing education I

OH Regional Library Systems CE - http://www.rls.lib.oh.us/coned.htm

OHIONET - http://www.ohionet.org/training/

Various other library organizations – http://www.users.muohio.edu/burkejj/ techawareness.html#ceopps

Librarysupportstaff.com - http://www.librarysupportstaff.com/ stafftrain.html and ed4you.html

Formal degrees (non-library) and Continuing Education II

Your local institution - http://www.regents.state.oh.us/ visit_campuses.htm (search database of colleges in your area)

Ohio Learning Network – OhioLearns - http://www.ohiolearns.org/

Associate degrees (library-focus) and Continuing Education II

Belmont Technical College – AAS in Information Services: Library Paraprofessional - http://www.btc.edu/Future_Students/ programs_list_detail.cfm?ID=33

University of Cincinnati – Raymond Walters College – AAS in Library Technology - http://www.rwc.uc.edu/academic/libmedia/lt/

Ohio Dominican University – AA in Library Services –http://www.ohiodominican.edu/majors/library/

Bachelor’s degree (library-focus) Bowling Green State University – BS in

Advanced Technology Education – online degree completion program for AAS students –http://www.bgsu.edu/colleges/technology/ate/

Ohio Dominican University – BA in School Library Media Education – http://www.ohiodominican.edu/majors/ librarymedia/

MLS

Kent State SLIS –

http://www.slis.kent.edu In-person at Kent or Columbus 12-12-12 MLIS Distance Degree –

http://www.slis.kent.edu/programs/ distance.php3

What will your employer provide? Encouragement Paid/reimbursed opportunities Time off to attend Flexibility in scheduling

Know your options and benefits: How is CE funded and allocated at your library? Does your larger organization offer funds or

scholarships?

How’s the job market?

Doug Morrison article – http://associates.ucr.edu/fmor703.htm

ALA Library Fact Sheet 2 – 136,000 librarians, 272,000+ support staff

OH Labor Market Information - http://lmi.state.oh.us/PROJ/OUTLOOK/ Archive/2010/Complete2010.pdf From 2000 to 2010 (number of annual jobs) Library assistants, clerical – up 18.8% (398) Library technicians – up 23.3% (477)