RS ALEPH Cataloging Trainers
Group
Minutes
February 19, 2003
Attendee list
Per Naomi's suggestion as well as a follow-up discussion with Michele, the
list distributed at our meeting has been revised to include the Serials
Acquisitions Unit, Monographs Unit, and Paying Unit (see
attached). Jorge offered to create another version of our attendee list
that provides information about who is required to attend which classes.
He will send the list via e-mail when it's ready.
Class offerings
The consensus of the group is to keep with our original plan of having trainers
be responsible for covering all cataloging classes for their respective
units, etc. rather than having training assignments for covering particular
aspects of the cataloging curriculum across units. We identified a couple
of exceptions. Naomi thought it was reasonable for David and her to provide
training in MARC21 holdings. We also agreed that the group should combine
efforts to cover training for the intro staff GUI sessions.
Betsy will talk to Rich about scheduling the intro staff GUI sessions we
will offer. The classes will be scheduled for 2 hours and take place in
mid to late March. We expect to offer ~5 classes with 15 participants each.
3-4 trainers (instructor with 2-3 rovers) will lead each session.
We think other training groups should offer introductory sessions in their
primary modules. Betsy and Jorge spoke to Michele about this and she indicated
that is the plan - for example, the Acquisitions trainers are planning to
provide introductory sessions for non-Acquisitions staff.
There was general acknowledgement that it is difficult to determine the
exact make-up of the functional classes and to schedule them before we've
gone through functional training ourselves. Betsy pointed out that we have
documentation from Harvard and input from University of Minnesota, both
of which should give us a relatively good idea of our class structure.
Class format
The group decided a format that combines demonstration with hands-on is
the best approach. We also want to have "lab" time set aside when
staff can come to the training room for additional instruction. We will
designate a workstation in RS to be a "training" computer area.
A likely candidate is the workstation near the approvals.
Scheduling
Jean suggested that trainers be provided with instruction in how to use
the MSL training room, and we all heartily agreed. Some in the group expressed
concern about potential difficulty in scheduling the MSL training room,
fearing that it is already being reserved and we might not be able to schedule
it for our needs. There was some thinking that we might need to use LW Rm
148 in addition. Betsy will be meeting with Rich to discuss these issues.
Doug expressed his desire for trainers to have practice sessions. Betsy
will touch bases with Rich about our scheduling the MSL training room for
this purpose, too.
Email update on use of training room
-----Original Message-----
From: Betsy Simpson
Sent: Thursday, February 20, 2003 1:28 PM
To: CatTrainers
Cc: Lawan Orser; Cecilia Botero - HCL; Jean Bostwick - LL; Jimmie Lundgren;
Priscilla Williams; Phek Su; Michele Crump
Subject: FW: 2/19 meeting summary
Update on my meeting with Rich to discuss MSL training room:
The room has not been reserved by other groups yet, except one session by
Acquisitions and the ongoing ExLibris sessions. We shouldn't have any problems
scheduling the room. The room is specifically designated for Aleph training.
If, for some reason, a non-Aleph training group schedules the room, we will
get bouncing rights if we need to use the room at the same time. The strong
message he sent is that the room is there for us to use for Aleph training
- period.
Library West 148 should not factor into our training plans. Aleph has not
been installed on the computers in Rm 148 (except the instructor's computer)
and there are no plans to install Aleph on those computers.
Rich is going to ask Denise to provide written instructions on how to use
the equipment, etc. in the MSL training room. He's planning to share that
information via e-mail. It should also be available in the room. He said
we can arrange to have an orientation if needed, but apparently it's extremely
easy to get things up and running - written instructions plus a visit to
the room to go over things together will probably be all we'll need.
Per Rich, there are 22 workstations in the room and they are all working.
Martha/Rich are going to set up soon (possibly today) an online calendar
for the room. I believe we'll have a way of reserving the room through Outlook.
Requests will go to Rich.
It is perfectly alright for us to schedule the room to use for practicing
our training presentations.
Betsy Simpson March
3, 2003
