As someone who gives workshops, I'm wondering what I and others can do to make our workshops more relevant to those involved in digitization programs. Is the difficulty that every program is different and a workshop may not touch deeply on a topic that is relevant to a specific program? Is it that hands-on experience can be impossible to build into some workshops? Or is it that by the time people attend workshops, they already know the information that the workshop is going to cover?
If you have thoughts on this topic, I'd like to hear them (as would others who give digitization workshops). If you've learned about digitization in varies ways, what method was most useful to you? What would have made the workshops more useful?
If you don't want to leave a comment here, you can e-mail me at hurst {at} hurstassociates {dot} com . If you don't want to tell me at all, consider telling your local library consortium which is likely planning some digitization workshops and could use the input.
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digitization
2 comments:
I think some generic learning in workshops offsite is useful, but the frustration expressed by many staff we have had on this kind of program is that it is generic and not specific enough to the equipment and software they use or the programs they are involved in. That means they can't immediately apply their learning in an operational environment. So, last year I applied for funding to set up a new training program that was more like hands-on guidance and coaching from experts on-site in our workplace. Also, we were proposing an integrated program of tailored training to address different needs for staff engaged at all levels from senior executive management down to operational levels. The concept was put together by a training provider and myself (a collections manager in a museum). Unfortunately it was not seen as being beneficial by the department offering funding for new initiatives and it did not become successful. I still think it is the way forward, especially in such a dynamic and specific environment. Generic training will never accomplish as much.
My institution (an academic library) is sending me to the "School for Scanning" being put on by the Northeast Document Conservation Center in Minneapolis this May. I am very new to digitization but one of my new job responsibilities is to take over the digitization projects our library is involved with. I'd be interested in hearing if others have attended the School for Scanning and if they found it helpful, especially for someone very new to digitization.
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