1 of 12

Educational Opportunities for Library Support Staff Members in Ohio

John J. Burke, MSLS

Ohio Library Support Staff Institute

2 of 12

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

​

3 of 12

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

​

4 of 12

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

5 of 12

How do you learn best?

  • Face to face

​

  • Distance Learning
    • Videoconferencing
    • Web-based
    • Video courses
    • Correspondence course

​

6 of 12

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

7 of 12

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/

​

8 of 12

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/

9 of 12

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/

10 of 12

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

​

11 of 12

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?

​

12 of 12

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)