NASIG Newsletter

TACTICS SESSION

To Train or Not to Train

Rick Anderson, University of Nevada-Reno; and Kittie Henderson, EBSCO Information Services
Reported by Danielle Williams 

Training is an integral part of purchasing any new library technology.  However, vendors solicit meetings with librarians for other reasons aside from simply training personnel on new systems.  Rick Anderson presented several useful tips regarding what should be taken into account when a sales representative wishes to hold a meeting.  First and foremost, who would gain the most from attending the meeting?  In addition, it is important to consider whether the lost staff time would be worth the time spent in the meeting.  Is it necessary for all staff to attend the session?  Are the tasks that are not being done more important than the knowledge acquired at the meeting?   

It is also important to prioritize the types of meetings that are being held.  Ranking meetings with vendors can lend assistance to choosing who attends meetings. The most important type of meeting is obviously a straightforward training session.  Any staff that will be using the new interface will need to attend the meeting.  Second in importance is end-user training, although Anderson was quick to point out that library personnel receiving the training are not always the end-user and if the end-user needs training to use the system, there is something wrong with the product.  The least important meeting is the sales pitch.  While sales pitches can be interesting and necessary, it is never necessary for the entire library staff to attend the meeting.  On the other hand, a good representation of the library personnel is essential. 

Kittie Henderson presented the vendor’s point of view.  Just as it is important for librarians to consider whether a meeting with a vendor representative is necessary for all staff personnel to attend, it is also essential for the vendor to be clear about the type of meeting they are offering and to let the library know what type of audience they would like to address.  The vendor should not force themselves on their clients and should listen to their clients’ needs.  Any meeting between librarians and vendors is a meeting between professionals and should be treated as such.  Meetings are just as expensive, if not more so, for the vendor as for the library.  While the vendor’s job may be more of a numbers game, it is also important to remember that they deserve the respect of any professional for a job well done.