Rationale for new CE Program

*** Rationale for the new program ***
The old CE program did not have a core list of skills librarians, library staff and trustees should know. Each year's workshops were compiled from librarian surveys and hot topics. There was no standard to measure whether the continuing education program was teaching what librarians, staff members and trustees needed to know.

All rewards (i.e., money) and recognition (e.g., continuing education certificates) were for merely attending presentations at workshops. This created a whole array of problems.

• Everyone had to drive to workshops. This costs travel money and, for small libraries, hiring replacements to run the library while the librarian attended the workshop.
• Since the focus was on presentations, all learning materials (e.g., PowerPoint presentations and handouts) were for use during presentations. These materials are of little use for later training outside the workshop.
• Since the focus is on making great presentations, little attention is paid to applying learning back at the library. Presenters seldom gave step-by-step instructions about what to do when you get home.
• Since there is no reward or recognition for actually applying the learning back home, there is little motivation to complete projects. Often the urgency of everyday activities overwhelms efforts in completing projects.

The new program emphasizes support for applying learning to library work.

• CKLS adopted an official list of over 130 core skills that becomes the curriculum of the continuing education program.
• Librarians and trustees can learn and work on any of these skills at any time.
• Librarians and trustees can work on their own and receive full CE rewards and recognition without attending any workshops.
• CE Project Agreements identify learning resources and clear step-by-step instructions for applying learning to library work. When a librarian and trustees complete a CE Project, they are identified as resources others, working on that CE same Project, can call for help.
• As librarians and trustees earn CE grant money for completing projects.