15 Apr Natanya Belle de Smit: Impact of the ABQLA’s Professional Development Award
This post is also available in: Français
It was a wonderful honor to receive the ABQLA’s Professional Development Award. It opened the door to many opportunities for me to continue my training and development as a librarian. I took great care to carefully select the training that would benefit me in my career. Although I considered many conferences and courses, I ultimately opted to spend my award on a training specific to my current position.
I was lucky enough to find myself in a new role at the library where I served as a Youth Service Librarian. Despite my year of transition learning from the knowledgeable Eddie Paul, who served as the Head of Learning & Library Services at the Jewish Public Library, there were still a few gaps in my knowledge.
Technology advances very quickly in today’s world and I am by no means an expert. I still remember helping classmates use the card catalogue in my elementary and high schools before computer catalogs became the norm. My love for cataloguing is no secret but navigating library systems does not come naturally to me. I became well-versed in cataloguing using SirsiDynix Symphony software. What became a problem once my role changed to administrator, was my comfort running reports.
BlueCloud Analytics is a wonderful software that greatly enhances a library’s ability to analyze collections. Reports can provide information of library members, holdings, and usage, just to name a few examples. Despite Eddie Paul’s tutelage, I continued to struggle with the complexities of efficiently navigating this software. I was very lucky that SirsiDynix offers several different types of trainings for library staff. I selected a one-on-one session with a specialist to walk me through building reports in a logical and systematic way.
My familiarity and comfort level with running reports has greatly improved. I am now better able to assess my library’s functioning in an accurate and time sensitive way. This leaves me more time to oversee staff, acquire new materials, and help plan more programs for my patrons. Although this training was costly, it was beneficial beyond any doubt. I would still be struggling to juggle my new responsibilities without the guidance of Eddie Paul, as he is now retiring, were it not for the kindness and generosity of the ABQLA. Thank you for this wonderful honor and for making me a better, more knowledgeable librarian.