In response to an Old Dominion University Library Administration initiative, the Acquisitions & Preservation Services and Reference Departments participated in a self-directed training pilot project over a six month period from October 2015 through March 2016. Administrators looked to the departments to inform them of the viability of implementing such a program system-wide and to develop a blueprint for other units in the library to follow in case of implementation.
Department members were charged with completing two programs per month in any of eighteen subject areas. In addition, participants were asked to keep a log of programs attended, to write a synopsis of those programs, and to explain how the sessions impacted their work performance. Webinars, formal training modules, in-library programs, on-campus training sessions - about any delivery format and forum were acceptable options.
Visuals will provide an overview of the initiative, charts of training sessions attended, and challenges faced by participants. Perhaps, most importantly, takeaways and recommendations will be represented including insights into whether self-directed training is a feasible option for meeting individual and library training needs. An example of an effective and efficient self-directed training model will be featured.
