We have several CLN members who are on conference teams who plan training events for librarians. One complaint that these planners often hear is “I’ve already heard him or her speak so I don’t need to go to that session.” OR “I want to experience something new and different in training.” All are legitimate even if the session facilitators spend hours planning the sessions. What would you like to experience during training events going forward? Let’s collaborate to design new training models. Our collaboration will result in shifts in library training models.
BTW, in recent days the Tennessee Baptist & Reflector carried an article about the September 13 library conference: THE LAP IS BETTER THAN ANY APP’: CHURCH LIBRARIANS CHAMPION CHRISTIAN READING.
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I would need to know what their definition of "new and different" is, I suppose. Perhaps begin by asking what are we trying to do? Then you could design training around the topic. As smart as librarians are, they are not mind readers. Is is library promotion, readers advisory, weeding books, book selection, cataloging, etc. The conferences have topics to appeal to a broad range of attendees and all of our needs may not be the same. Training seems to have shifted online a lot during COVID, but I go to conferences to network with people and to me it's not the same if the training is online.