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But I Want To Hold It In My Hand! Print Resources
Massis, Bruce E. The Practical Library Trainer. New York: Haworth, 2004. ISBN 0-7890-2268-0 (pbk): $17.95; 0-7890-2267-2 (hc): $29.95. Purchase from Amazon.com.
Written for library administrators setting up a staff training program at their institution, this book is for anyone interested in the subject. It takes readers step-by-step through the process, from justifying the need for the program to evaluating it once it has been established. Massis provides a vision of the library as a learning place for patrons and staff and discusses the tools needed to make this vision a reality, including in-house training, e-learning, and professional conferences. This book lives up to its name as a practical guide; it is fairly short and very readable, with plenty of examples, suggestions and samples. There are five excellent appendixes that give information on ROI courses and train-the-trainer programs offered in the U.S. and some sample surveys for use with patrons and staff. The selected bibliography gives the reader further material on training programs and issues to supplement this excellent guide.
Lisa O'Hara is Electronic Resources Cataloguer at the University of Manitoba Libraries.