Oregon Library Association Support Staff Division18th Annual Gateways Conference

Support Staff: Changing Lives Every Day!

Friday, July 20, 2012Valley River InnEugene, Oregon

Welcome to the 2012 Oregon Library Association Support Staff Division ConferenceValley River Inn, Eugene, Oregon

7:30 am – 8:30 am Registration

7:30 am  Breakfast Buffet

8:30 am – 9:00 am Opening Session SSD Business 9:00 am Keynote by Brian Doyle 10:00 am – 10:15 am Break, time to visit vendor tables 10:15 am – 11:45 am Session I 11:45 am – 12:00 pm Break, time to visit vendor tables 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Lunch 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm Session II 2:15 pm – 2:45 pm  Afternoon Break and Raffle 2:45 pm – 4:00 pm Session III

Keynote SpeakerBrian Doyle

We are very excited to have Oregon writer Brian Doyle as our keynote speaker at this year’s conference. Among various honors for his work is a Catholic Book Award, three Pushcart Prizes, and the 2008 Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Brian is editor of Portland Magazine at the University of Portland and author of Mink River, finalist for the 2012 Oregon Book Award for fiction. Doyle’s books have five times been finalists for the Oregon Book Award, and his essays have appeared in The Atlantic Monthly, Harper’s, Orion, The American Scholar, and in newspapers and magazines around the world.

The SSD Conference is grateful to Laura White, Author Events Coordinator for the University of Oregon Bookstore. The UO Bookstore will be at the conference selling copies of Brian’s books — he’s written 13 including Thirsty for the Joy: Australian and American Voices, Grace Notes, Epiphanies and Elegies, and The Wet Engine. Books from other Oregon authors will also be available for purchase. The UO Bookstore vendor table is located outside the McKenzie ballroom on the stairway landing.

Session I10:15 am – 11:45 am

Tek4U – Oregon Libraries and the eBook ExplosionColumbia Ballroom North

Lorie Vik, Eugene Public Library Adult Services Librarian, and Jessica Stinson, Adult Reference Assistant, will provide resources and tips to stay current with the exploding technology of ebooks. The focus will be on Library2Go and other tools to help patrons succeed in the world of digital media. There will be ample time for questions and a technology petting zoo.

A Day in the Life – Support Staff in the Digital AgeColumbia Ballroom South

This perennial favorite at the Support Staff conference will entertain and encourage participants to explore changes and opportunities in their jobs created by new uses of technology in libraries. Speakers will share their own job experiences. Jules Filipski, Southern Oregon University Digital Projects Specialist, Eric Molinski, Jackson County Library Services, and Margaret Harmon-Meyers, Eugene Public Library Adult Services Library Assistant, will talk about how technology has reshaped their jobs and the services they provide for their patrons. Michael Mackin, OHSU’s Access Services Coordinator, will share a brief video on why the OHSU Library staff love what they do.

Intermediate Book RepairRogue Room

Carolee Harrison from Portland State University will conduct this all-day session focusing on intermediate level book repair building upon the procedures covered previously as well as introducing some more challenging but frequently needed mends: the “hollow tube” spine repair and endsheet/super replacement (recasing). There will also be a discussion of how to raise awareness of conservation of library materials among staff and users, in the hopes of reducing the amount of damage done.

Lunch12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

McKenzie Ballroom

Lunch will be served in the McKenzie ballroom beginning at noon. Please bring your lunch voucher and place it at your table setting. Special musical guest Kent Goodman will perform during lunch.

Session II1:00 pm – 2:15 pm

Connecting with Youth – Oregon Libraries CareColumbia Ballroom North

Why are library programs for children and teens important? Katie Anderson, Youth Services Consultant in Library Development at the Oregon State Library, will explain the elements of high-quality literacy programs that maintain or grow literacy skills while kids are out of school. Patricia Prisbrey, Eugene Public Library Assistant in Youth Services, will highlight the successful teen programs at the Eugene Public Library and how teen services staff work to encourage teen participation. Tips will be shared that have worked well for staff on effectively communicating behavioral expectations for teen patrons. Esther Moberg, Lane Library District Children’s Librarian, will focus on helping children find ways to give back to their communities through collaborative “read to give back programs.”

Internal Customer Service – Support Staff Working TogetherColumbia Ballroom South

Libraries are a team effort and being a good team player is essential to patrons and coworkers. Jennifer Steward and Patti Vincent from Multnomah County Library will share strategies for supporting your coworkers and library and maybe even making your job a bit more fun!

Lunch12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

McKenzie Ballroom

Lunch will be served in the McKenzie ballroom beginning at noon. Please bring your lunch voucher and place it at your table setting. Special musical guest Kent Goodman will perform during lunch.

Session II1:00 pm – 2:15 pm

Connecting with Youth – Oregon Libraries CareColumbia Ballroom North

Why are library programs for children and teens important? Katie Anderson, Youth Services Consultant in Library Development at the Oregon State Library, will explain the elements of high-quality literacy programs that maintain or grow literacy skills while kids are out of school. Patricia Prisbrey, Eugene Public Library Assistant in Youth Services, will highlight the successful teen programs at the Eugene Public Library and how teen services staff work to encourage teen participation. Tips will be shared that have worked well for staff on effectively communicating behavioral expectations for teen patrons. Esther Moberg, Lane Library District Children’s Librarian, will focus on helping children find ways to give back to their communities through collaborative “read to give back programs.”

Internal Customer Service – Support Staff Working TogetherColumbia Ballroom South

Libraries are a team effort and being a good team player is essential to patrons and coworkers. Jennifer Steward and Patti Vincent from Multnomah County Library will share strategies for supporting your coworkers and library and maybe even making your job a bit more fun!

Break2:15 pm - 2:45 pm

McKenzie Ballroom

Join us back in the McKenzie ballroom for a beverage break that includes freshly brewed Starbucks regular and decaf coffee, hot Tazo tea, assorted soft drinks, and bottled water. We will announce the winners of the raffle supporting the SSD scholarship program. You need not be present to win. Take this last opportunity to visit vendor tables and meet & mingle with your fellow attendees.

Session III2:45 pm - 4:00 pm

Beyond Books – Oregon Libraries Reaching OutColumbia Ballroom North

Jay Handley, Multnomah County Library Supervisor, and Jenny Whittier, Multnomah County Library assistant, will conduct this session featuring unique ways some Oregon libraries are serving their communities by offering non-traditional library services and materials. Participants will be encouraged to think “beyond books” and will be given time to share their own “beyond books” stories.

Coping with Change – Support Staff Striving for ExcellenceColumbia Ballroom South

If the first three things you think of when you hear about a change at work are “not this again,” or “if I hear about one more change, I’m just going to spit,” or “I can’t take this anymore,” then attend this session! Together with Maureen Cole, Director of the Oregon City Public Library, we’ll explore the human side of change, trade tips on living through change, and talk about skills which will help you, and therefore your employer, get through change at work. Libraries are being challenged to be adaptable and flexible in order to survive; that has to start with staff. In his session, we’ll work together to adapt our attitudes about change from evil, awful, and horrid to exciting, invigorating and stimulating.

Presenters

Katie Anderson is the Youth Services Consultant in Library Development at the Oregon State Library. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s in Library and Information Science. Her work experience includes four years as an elementary school teacher, one year as an early literacy trainer for parents and childcare providers, and five years providing consulting services to children’s and teen librarians working in Oregon public libraries.

Maureen (Mo) Cole is the Director of the Oregon City Public Library, moving to that position in 2009 after working at the Eugene Public Library for three years and the Kellenberger Library at Northwest Christian University for 10 years. This year marks her 20th year as a librarian and she notes that the technology has completely changed during that time. Maureen brings a unique perspective because of her broad range of experiences in special, school, academic and public libraries in volunteer, classified and management positions ranging from technical services to public services. She was even a library board member at one point. Even though she is certain that the pace of change has completely exceeded our human capacity to change, she knows that library staff are superheroes who are up to any challenge.

Jules Filipski has worked at the Southern Oregon University Hannon Library since September, 2003. She began as a reference assistant, then became the Government Documents Technician, and is now Government Documents Technician / Digital Projects Specialist.

Jay Hadley has been a library page, a library clerk, a library assistant, and is now the Supervisor at Gresham Library, part of the Multnomah County Library. Jay will be attending the University of Alabama via distance education this fall, pursuing an MLIS.

For Margaret Harmon-Myers libraries have been part of her life since early child-hood thanks to her bookworm mother, a trait passed onto Margaret, who started out reading the back of the cereal box (the only first grader whose playground lingo included Riboflavin and Thiamin.) She has been known to trip on sidewalk cracks and over curbs as she reads while she walks. Margaret was a schoolteacher, office manager at an automotive glass company, telephone operator, and newspaper advertising proof-reader, before going to work at Klamath County Library for six years. Margaret moved to Eugene to get married and was hired at Eugene Public Library 11 years ago where she is currently a Library Assistant IV, in the Adult Services Department. She has a B.A. from the University of Portland and did her graduate work at Fresno Pacific College, and CSU-Fresno. She is also the Archivist for SSD.

Carolee Harrison has worked in library technical services for over 17 years, and as a book mender for 10 years. Carolee has given numerous presentations on collections care and book repair at various conferences and libraries around Oregon, and she has conducted many previous book repair workshops for SSD.

Michael Mackin has worked at the OHSU Library for 13 years. Michael coordinates circulation projects for Access Services and develops and produces technical and informational documentation for circulation staff and library users. He also provides customer support for web-based resources and develops and coordinates student and staff continuing education and training.

Esther Moberg is Children’s Librarian at Lane Library District (Creswell Library) since 2007. Esther is the winner of the 2012 PLE Ole’ award as well as the award for outstanding Ready to Read grant project for 2010-2011. Esther has worked at five different libraries in Minnesota and Oregon including academic, public, and school libraries over the past 12 years.

Eric Molinsky has been with Jackson County Library Services for 11 years and works in several different capacities, from circulation to assisting in reference to branch manager sub. Most recently he has worked with three other employees to create Patron Technical Support, a department which helps patrons understand and use technology, especially as it relates to the library.

Patricia Prisbrey has worked at the Eugene Public Library in the Youth Services Department for almost nine years. Patricia is a Library Assistant 3 assigned to work with teen services librarian Traci Glass. She works closely with Traci in developing teen programming for summer and throughout the year. She enjoys reading young adult books, especially realistic fiction and dystopian novels.

Jennifer Steward is the Circulation Analyst for Multnomah County Library. She works on circulations projects and talks with patrons who have escalated account services issues (fines!). Jennifer is an experienced trainer, especially on the topic of customer service. She is a firm believer in public libraries, reasonable policies, and making things easy and learning how to give good service by watching others - then stealing shamelessly.

Jessica Stinson is an Adult Reference Assistant at the Eugene Public Library. Jessica designed and teaches the Library2Go classes at the Eugene Public Library. Over the past two years she hasn’t taught a class exactly the same way twice. She is constantly responding to changes in technology, changing her lesson content, and improving her teaching skills. She is fascinated by the process of learning – especially the process of teaching new skills to beginners.

Lorie Vik has been working in libraries for eight years, embarking upon this career path after making an educated guess that it would be a good fit. A love of books (of course), a degree in English (no surprise), a variety of work experiences and career aptitude tests comprise the educated part of the guess. In 2003, Lorie began working as an Adult Services Librarian at Eugene Public Library and in 2008 became EPL’s Virtual Services Librarian with the goal of better serving library patrons 24/7. As of July 1, 2012 Lorie will be the Oregon Digital Library Consortium’s current Chair. She spent a couple of years as ODLC’s website liaison before becoming Vice Chair. Lorie has presented at OLA for the past several years trying to help manage staff anxiety about the emergence of digital audiobooks and eBooks and the challenges of this rapidly evolving landscape. Lorie has worked closely with Eugene Public Library staff to develop Library2Go trainings, classes and online guides for patrons and staff.

Patti Vincent is the Administrator of the Capitol Hill Library, located in SW Portland, a branch of the Multnomah County Library.

Jenny Whittier currently works as a library assistant at Multnomah County Library. In previous lives, she has worked as a book printer, forms designer, technical writer, policy analyst, and park ranger. She holds an MLIS from UC Berkeley.

A big thank you to all our presenters. You made this conference happen!

2011 Conference Committee

Jay Hadley – Multnomah County Library, ChairMichael Mackin – Oregon Health & Science University, Co-Chair

Elaine Bortles – Pacific UniversitySylvia Bowers – Baker County Library District

Wendy Dudleheim – Multnomah County LibraryJules Filipski – Southern Oregon University

Jaime Oakeson – Lebanon Public Library

Technology Gurus

Rich Schmidt – Linfield CollegeJonathan Umfleet – J-Mark Studios (j-markstudios.com)

SSD Executive Board

Sean Park – Coos County Library Service District, ChairMargaret Harmon-Myers – Eugene Public Library, Chair-elect, Archivist

Susan Bacina – Oregon State University, Past-ChairCarol Barton – Continuing Education

Jay Hadley – RecorderRea Andrew – Newberg Public Library, Treasurer

Elaine Bortles – Pacific University, Member at LargeSylvia Bowers – Baker County Library District, Member at Large

SSD provides a place to learn and grow, as well as a chance to mingle with some of the best library workers anywhere. It provides a platform for contributing to our profession as a whole.

SSD presents an annual conference, arranges workshops around the state and at the OLA conference, and offers scholarships for continuing education. Our members write for library publications such as OLA Quarterly and serve on SSD and OLA committees.  

The greatest benefit of being involved with SSD is the people. By participating in SSD you are afforded an opportunity to work with top paraprofessionals from across the state. Please consider adding your light to ours.

There are many ways to participate. Get involved!

• Become a fan of our Facebook page• Subscribe to the SSD list-serv• Become a member of OLA/SSD • Volunteer for the 2013 Conference Committee• Join the Board

Contact Sean Park, SSD Chair, at spark@cclsd.org

“The way of fortune is like the milky way in the sky; which is a number of small stars, not seen asunder, but giving light together: so it is a number of little and scarce discerned virtues, or rather faculties and customs, that make men fortunate.”  – Francis Bacon