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ANLTC Annual Report 2008

ANLTC Committee, 2008 

Miriam Corcoran (Dublin City University): Programme Evaluator

Pauline Corrigan (University College Dublin): Treasurer [to Feb 08]

John Cox (National University of Ireland, Galway): Web Site Manager

Helen Fallon (National University of Ireland, Maynooth):  External Liaison

Ursula Gavin (Dublin Institute of Technology): Secretary

Jessie Kurtz (Trinity College Dublin) : Vice Chair

Trevor Lyttle (Queens University Belfast): Continuing Professional Development

Colette McKenna (University of Ulster): Programme Co-0rdinator

Grainne MacLochlainn (National Library of Ireland):  Treasurer

Seamus McMahon (University College Cork)

Lindsay Mitchell (University of Limerick): Research

Paul Murphy (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland): Chair

Carmel O’Sullivan (University College Dublin) [from April 08]

From the Chairperson

2008 was a year marked by steady progress with ANLTC delivering a core  training programme of 10 events which are described and evaluated in the “Programme Evaluation Review” section of this report. The programme consisted of a mix of commissioned ready-made content and locally customised events. The programme was developed from previous analyses of library staff training needs and suggestions from participants in ANLTC courses. 

Delivery of a relevant and successful training programme in itself remains a significant achievement for ANLTC. The ongoing development of library and information sector activity is reflected in an increasingly active and competitive programme of professional events, seminars and conferences provided by a range of stakeholders and providers, both within ANLTC institutions and nationally in the LIS sector.

2008 marked the retirement of Pauline Corrigan, Deputy Librarian of UCD and with her departure ANLTC lost one of its founding members. Pauline was instrumental in the birth and successful development of ANLTC and we wish her well in her retirement.

Previous and current ANLTC CPD Award winners participated in the Irish National and Universities Library conference held in DCU in June 2008 presenting their experiences of undertaking and delivering ANLTC supported research projects. The participants at INULS were Marie Cullen, NUI Maynooth (2007), Petra Schurenhofer, UCD (2004) and Siobhan Dunne, Dublin City University (ANLTC/Swets Research Award, 2007).

ANLTC’s 2006 Continuing Professional Development report Report of the Sub-Group on CPD which addressed issues of accreditation, co-ordination, and resource support for CPD development remains under consideration by CONUL for further action.

We thank Swets for their continued support of the ANLTC Swets Research Award. 

The ANLTC website www.anltc.ie  remained a useful tool for marketing our programme and also provided a range of information about ANLTC activities.

I would like to thank all the ANLTC Committee members for their commitment and contribution to ANLTC’s activities, especially in organizing, presenting or facilitating our core training and development programme.   Thanks again to all.

Paul Murphy

Chairperson

ANLTC CPD Support Programmes

Currently ANLTC runs two support programmes to encourage development and research activity, one aimed to encourage development work by library assistants, the other aimed at assistant librarian and above.

ANLTC Staff Development  Award

To promote and support staff development, ANLTC (Academic and National Library Training Co-operative) offers a bursary (currently €1,500 ) to an individual library staff member at Library Assistant and related grades. The money can be spent on travel, study, attendance at a conference or seminar or other relevant activities.  The aim of the award is to encourage continuing education and development. The Award is usually offered biennially; more information, including details of previous awards, is available at  www.anltc.ie/awards/awards.htm  

ANLTC Swets  Research Fund

The objective of this funding award is to encourage practitioner based research among librarians in ANLTC member libraries. Research may be on any topic of relevance to the individual or their library, especially ANLTC libraries. The judging panel will be looking for an awareness of reflective practice and evidence-based practice, along with sound research methodology.     

The recipient of the award may be required

•           to produce an article on the research for a library-related publication
•           to provide a report on their research at  the Swets Annual Customer Forum
•           to do a presentation on their research at an ANLTC event
•           to write a report for the ANLTC website

A report from the 2005 Award project Researcher Environment and Behaviour in the University Setting remains outstanding as of December 2008.

ANLTC Programme 2008

Evaluation Review

Introduction

During the 2008 calendar year 10 events were offered on the programme to ANLTC participant Libraries. 5 events were held in the greater Dublin area. The programme of 10 events included a visit to the new postgraduate library in UCC. 

Programme 2008 comprised the following events:

ANLTC 08/01              Introducing Coaching – University of Ulster (Feb. 08)

ANLTC 08/02              Supervisor and Team Leader Skills – UCD (March 08)

ANLTC 08/03              Filling the Empty Chairs: what I need to know in preparing myself for succession – TCD (April 08)

ANLTC 08/04              Presentation Skills for Library Staff – DIT (April 08)

ANLTC 08/05              Introduction to Writing for Academic Publication – NUI M (May 08)

ANLTC 08/06              Change Management Skills – UCC (May 08)

ANLTC 08/07              Visit to New Postgraduate Research Library – UCC (May 08)

ANLTC 08/08              Metadata: principles and practice – RCSI (July 08)

ANLTC 08/09              Instructional Design and Online Facilitations – DCU (Sept 08)

ANLTC 08/11              Lessons in Leadership – UL (Dec 08)

1.         Analysis Methodology

Analysis of Programme 2008 is based on evaluation forms submitted for the 10 offered events.

Out of 145 participants, 127 submitted an evaluation form.

1.1       Participants were asked to respond to a number of questions under the following sections:-

§     Content and Design (6 questions);

§     Presentation (5 questions);

§     Venue and Administration (4 questions);

§     Overall Course Satisfaction (2 questions); and

§     A number of open-ended questions.

1.2       The questions, apart from open-ended questions, required the participants to select from the following options:-

 

§     Strongly Disagree;

§     Disagree;

§     Agree; or

§     Strongly Agree.

1.3       Analysis was undertaken on the actual number of responses received from participants. The data on which this analysis is based is included in Appendix 1.

2.         Overall Response to Programme

Overall it may be concluded that, following the trend since the initiation of this evaluation format, there is a high level of satisfaction both with the individual elements of the programme and the programme as a whole.  

2.1       The majority of the responses fall in either the Agree or Strongly Agree category with it being the exception to Disagree or Strongly Disagree to the question posed.

 

2.2       The following graph highlights this level of satisfaction as expressed by participants responding Agree and Strongly Agree. Participants responded positively across all elements of the programme with 98% recorded for Content and Design, Presentation and Overall Course Satisfaction.

2.2      The programme continues to build on the high standards it achieved from the previous years with the responses consistently responding a high overall satisfaction within the programme. Analysing Strongly Agree responses, the individual elements of the programme reflected an improved score on last year’s programme:

2.3      In analysing how each course contributed to the Strongly Agree scores it can be concluded that scores for each course, were by and large, equally distributed, with some exceptions: ANLTC 08/02 – Supervisor and Team Leader Skills (UCD) scored highly on Content and Design and Course Satisfaction, ANLTC 08/04 – Presentation Skills for Library Staff (DIT) also scored highly on Course Satisfaction and ANLTC 08/08 – Metadata Principles and Practice (RCSI) scored highly across all elements making a significant contribution to the Strongly Agree responses.

Analysis of the free text comments associated with ANLTC 08/08 do not categorically indicate the reason why this course was so successful but it may be assumed that this course was particularly relevant and timely given recent development in institutional repositories and the increasing discussion of metadata standards.

2.4          The overall programme scores for Agree responses were 44% for Content and Design, 25% for Presentation, 47% for Venue & Administration and 36% for Course Satisfaction. These scores should be considered in the context that that the majority of responses were in the Strongly Agree category.

            Again, as with the Strongly Agree responses it can be concluded that there is, in general, a normal dispersion across these Agree responses with all courses contributing to this very positive result and ANLTC 08/03– Filling the Empty Chairs (TCD) the notable peak for all course elements.

3.         Analysis by Element

3.1       Content and Design

When Strongly Agree and Agree responses are totalled, there is 98% satisfaction with the Content and Design of courses (up 3% from last year). This area covers the overall content and format design and method of course delivery. As with last year’s programme the open questions indicate the importance of practical sessions, group discussion and group work to participants when assessing a course.

Issues under this element tend to be around time constraints with recommendations for 2 day courses and insufficient time for discussion or completion of exercises.

A very high 98% of participants Strongly Agree or Agree with the statement that “the course was relevant to my needs”. This is an important criterion for measuring the success of individual courses and this highly positive response is consistent across the entire programme.

3.2       Presentation

            Continuing the trend of the last four years, Presentation remains consistently the highest scoring area in course satisfaction across the entire programme. When the Strongly Agree scores are taken in isolation, presenters are consistently seen to deliver high quality courses and to have “demonstrated good knowledge of their subject” (81% Strongly Agree).

3.3       Venue and Administration

            This area also scored a high satisfaction rate of 96% which represents an increase over last year’s figure of 96%. This section covers pre event administration, the training facilities including equipment and catering supplied. Analysis of the quantitative data and the open questions shows that where issues did arise they were around catering and environmental factors. 

3.4          Overall Course Satisfaction

This category contained the following two questions:

§  Overall the course met my objectives

§  Overall I was satisfied with this course

98% when combined Agreed or Strongly Agreed with the first question and 98% combined Agreed or Strongly Agreed with the second question, giving rise to an overall course satisfaction rating for the programme of 98%.

 

            This extremely high score of 98%, (3% up on last year) demonstrates the continued high value of the ANLTC programme to individual course participants.

Conclusion

It may be concluded the ANLTC Programme 2008 can be evaluated as a success. All facets of the programme are judged to be consistently highly satisfactory.  The presentation dimension is critical to the success of the programme with the quality of presenters, contributors and facilitators proving a key determinant of course.

Miriam Corcoran

Programme Evaluator

Hon. Treasurer’s Annual Report 2008

During 2008 there were 9 courses and one visit, two additional courses were deferred and are scheduled for 2009. A total of 135 paying participants took part in the courses.

Course fees remained at €120 for most of the courses although 4 courses fees were charged between €180 and €200 to cover tuition fees for overseas providers.

 Bank balance at  31 December 2008: €15,730.03, compared to €10,069.49 at the end of 2007.

Bank activity

 Course profit/loss at year end

Gráinne MacLochlainn 

Hon. Treasurer, ANLTC

Updated: 18 March 2009