LMS Travelling Roadshow

We’ve just finished an intense 4 weeks of training, with SirsiDynix trainer Cathy Cusack running daily sessions in the PLS offices.  We filled 200 training slots and had over 90 different people attend various training sessions on aspects of the LMS – from configuring Enterprise to training in circulation.  We’ve also had a few “Web-ex” sessions where the trainer is remote & talks on the phone while controlling the screen and demonstrating system features. 

I am sure you can imagine the excitement that people are feeling now that they’re finally getting their hands on the system – albeit in a training environment.  We’ve also been able to provide access to a training database so people can leave their training & go back to work and continue their familiarisation with the system & show it to work colleagues.

As well as office based training we’re out covering the State at the request of various libraries to either meet with councils to discuss the business case for next year or to run awareness raising and training sessions. 

I’m currently in Woomera to meet with staff from 7 libraries in the mid to far North – all of whom are scheduled to join the LMS consortium later this year.   Staff from Woomera, Roxby Downs, Andamooka, Leigh Creek, Hawker, Quorn & Coober Pedy are all here with us.

The reason for the gathering is that teachers from a range of schools were having a regional T&D day & we’re here to run a “getting ready” workshop and answering a whole range of questions.  We are running through the high level project plan, doing an overview of the various components that we have purchased, and helping libraries with whatever they need to know.  We’re also handing out copies of the FAQ sheets that Jo Freeman has been working on.  These should be up on the website by early next week.  I’ll let you know when they’re published.

I say “we” because I’m travelling with JoAnne Rivers of PLS and Domenic Novia – one of our KDN project managers.  Part of the reason for this is that Dom is one of our 2 KDN project managers & we plan for him to show and step people through a project plan and answer all the questions about the responsibilities of libraries in the project from his perspective.  And Jo has great skills in library management systems, conversion from one system to another and general library operations, so she will answer all the technical questions that people have.

Also it will be an opportunity for Jo & Dom get to see a couple of remote libraries (Roxby Downs & Woomera) as well as meet staff, so that they have an understanding of local library resourcing levels and the skills of the people that they will be supporting remotely.

We will take a few pictures of the day & I will load them up soon.

As well as this Woomera trip I am booked to travel to a range of places including Streaky Bay (flying in through Ceduna) & Mt Gambier in the next few weeks.   The Libraries Board will also be touring the Mallee & Riverland in late April & I am sure there will be lots of LMS questions while on tour.  If you look on a map then Ceduna, Roxby Downs (where we flew in & out of today), Renmark and Mt Gambier pretty much covers the extremities of the State where there are public libraries.  Along with these places on the edge I’m also slated to meet with staff or councillors in various metro and near metro councils in coming weeks.

So – libraries are currently stretched out along a continuum everywhere from 2 months away from going live & currently flat out training, testing data etc, some are getting ready for coming on board later this year & so are doing awareness raising with staff, some are preparing budget bids for the 12/13 year while some have said, “We’ve already got lots on for next year, so we will be putting in budget bid to our council for the 13/14 year.”

Wherever you are along this continuum, if you need support whether just by phone or email, or you need someone to attend a staff workshop or a Council meeting give us a call & we’ll see what we can arrange.