Kyiv-area Librarians Embrace New Skills at National Training Center Pilot Course

In time for the launch of the national program, the Bibliomist-equipped National Training Center (NTC) for librarians opened its doors in September. Hosted by the State Academy for Managers in Culture and the Arts (DAKKKiM) in Kyiv, the center will offer courses in support of Bibliomist’s commitment to training librarians across Ukraine in how to use new technologies to provide better services to library visitors. First on a long list of planned training sessions was a pilot course designed to test a curriculum formulated specifically to address the needs of Ukraine’s librarians.

The pilot course was open to all libraries in the Kyiv region and the participants ranged from centralized library system directors to village librarians. “I am very grateful for the opportunity to participate in the pilot training,” said Yuliya Viktorivna Muntianu, a librarian from the village of Petrushky—about 30km west of the capital. “In my village I do not have access to this kind of professional development opportunity but at the training session I learned the basic principles of working on a computer and using the internet. Now I know I can find a lot of useful information for my library online.”

The curriculum tested during the pilot training consisted of three modules. In addition to a primary module on the basics of computer literacy and internet use, a second module focuses on internet access as a library service, while a third covers library management, advocacy, and fundraising. The developers of the curriculum modules served as pilot trainers and also used the opportunity to try new teaching methods.

Densyansky District library system director Tetyana Kurylo was impressed with the interactive training style and use of digital materials. “I appreciated the combination of theory and practice and the use of internet technology during the training. I’m also glad the trainers shared their materials and presentations with us on flash drives so that we can use them for training in our libraries.”

The training program also provided an opportunity for librarians to network and exchange experiences and best-practices on incorporating Web technology in their libraries. “Since several directors of advanced Kyiv-based libraries were present, we were able to exchange stories about how we use internet in our libraries during the training. I learned a lot of new features of Google and many ways internet searches can be more effectively used in libraries,” remarked Halyna Konashko, Director of the Kyiv Specialized Youth Library Moloda Hvardiya.

The National Training Center agenda continues in December with training of trainers on each curriculum module, followed by several training sessions for centralized library system directors in January 2010. Over 3000 librarians will upgrade their skills in courses at the National Training Center in Kyiv and regional training centers across Ukraine over the next four years.