The SSD blog is back!

Unfortunately we haven't been able to add content to our blog for a few years. But we finally found the old login info and now we are back!

We apologize for this long silence and any confusion it may have caused. We plan to start posting regularly again.

Here are a few announcements:

The current SSD Executive Board list has been updated. There are still several positions open.

Our next board meeting is Friday, June 12th at 11:00 am.

Unfortunately, Covid-19 has made it necessary to cancel the 2020 Support Staff Division Conference.

We will be able to hold the 2021 conference at Timberline, however! More on this in another post.

An opportunity that will be ending soon - scroll down the right side of the blog to SSD Scholarships. We have three scholarships, $150 each, intended to help support staff pursue professional development and learning opportunities. Clicking on the link will take you to information about the scholarships and the application form. The deadline is coming up fast on May 25th.

In the meantime, here are some other ways to connect with the Oregon Library Association Support Staff Division.

Best wishes to you and your families as Oregon starts to re-open.

May we all be back working in our libraries, safely, and soon!

Hello Library Support Staff community!

 I hope your winter is going well.  SSD is looking for enthusiastic, creative people who want to get involved with their peers from around the state.  We have the following positions open on the Executive Board:

Chair-Elect
Recorder
Conference Chair/Committee
Member-at-Large
Blog Manager
Website manager

Please visit the OLA-SSD website here and you'll find information on SSD and the different positions listed above.

If interested, please contact me here.
Thank you,
Margaret Harmon-Myers
Chair of the Support Staff Division of the Oregon Library Association.

Get Involved with SSD Conference Planning!

We hope you had a great time at the OLA SSD conference last month! If you've enjoyed attending, you might enjoy being on the conference committee as well. If yes, email olassdconference@gmail.com to sign up, or with your questions. If you're not sure, read on!

The graphic below has roles that have been part of the committee in the past few years, and a few of the responsibilities for each. This can be somewhat fluid, and we want you to be able to make SSD your own. If you're considering being involved, but want to know more, here's some FAQs based on the last few years. If you still have questions just email olassdconference@gmail.com and you can chat with a conference committee member.

How much of a time commitment is it?

- The last couple years we've had co-chairs and that's helped to balance responsibilities. The schedule has been a remote/virtual meeting once a month or so, for approximately an hour. Conference planning starts ~Sept. and really ramps up mid-May- July. For committee members, maybe an hour a week from roughly Feb-June, and a couple hours a week later June/July, on average. For chair(s), a little more than that.

What benefits are there?

-Helping to plan a conference for your peers, and helping to shape the theme, speakers, vendors, etc. Also, this looks fantastic on a resume/for professional development. You can hone or learn skills like time management, leadership, communication, marketing, promotion, negotiation, design, photography, decorating, and more. There's a lot of flexibility. Also, it's fun! The few years we've had a mix of public and academic library staff involved and it's a great way to meet people you wouldn't normally, network, and help each other build skills.

I want to, but I'm not sure how to check with my supervisor:

-We have a great blog post/interview with a supervisor of an SSD Board member here that will give you some tips.

How do I start/learn more?

-Email olassdconference@gmail.com. This is an email monitored by the 2017 conference committee, and we're happy to answer questions or provide you with specifics. If you'd like to schedule a phone/Skype/Google etc. hangout (or an in-person!) one with a 2017 committee member to ask us questions, email and we can see about setting something up!

This post was also shared on our Facebook. Like us for current SSD news and events!

Conference Thank You and Presentations

A huge thank you to everyone who attended, presented at, or helped with OLA SSD 2017! We couldn't have done it without you! If you'd like to see pictures, check them out on Facebook (no login or likes needed- but you might want to to keep up on SSD news!)

We're working with our friends at NW Central to get the presentations on their site, but since we've had lots of interest, we have them uploaded in a (much less pretty!) way to get them to you ASAP. You can find all the presentations from presenters who had visual aids here. If you have any issues accessing them or any questions just contact us at olassdconference@gmail.com .

Important Day of Info for SSD 2017!

Thanks to everyone who registered for OLA SSD 2017! We're looking forward to seeing you Friday July 28th at University of Oregon in beautiful Eugene. Starting Tuesday 7/18, we'll be sending an email with crucial parking and lodging info for the venue- please check your email (and your spam!) and if you don't see that end of the day Wednesday 7/20 please contact olassdconference@gmail.com.

We also have the EMU (conference location at U of O) map and schedule posted below- previews of our fabulous programs (just wait until you see them in person!)

OLA SSD 2017 Conference Schedule

We're looking forward to seeing you all at OLA SSD 2017! Registration is open until July 14.

Here's the complete schedule for the day- fantastic presenters, great food, a chance to see colleagues from all over the state/Northwest- what more could you ask for?

As always, if you have any questions please contact us at olassdconference@gmail.com

OLA SSD 2017

Friday July 28^th

University of Oregon

8am-9:15am Registration and breakfast:

Breakfast Buffet:

Choice of two griddle Items, served with farm-fresh scrambled eggs, crisp pepper bacon, fresh fruit, coffee, and hot tea.

-Choice of poppy seed brioche French toast with strawberry compote and warm maple syrup.

-Choice of ricotta cheese blintz with berry compote.

-Choice of Belgian waffles with butter, warm maple syrup, berry compote, whipped cream.

9:15 Keynote Speaker Evan Dumas - “"How Not to Burn Out" or "Whoops, too late, now what?"”

Evan Dumas will be taking a humorous look at the serious issue of burnout in the workplace. We'll see how failing-to-thrive is a natural part of the thriving process, it just doesn't get as much press. By normalizing the challenges of goal-setting and self-care we will all realize that no one's perfect at thriving and that's ok, and if there are perfect people they can kindly keep quiet while the rest of us figure this out.

10:30 - 11:45 Breakout Session #1

--Presentation- Responding to and Assisting People with Unique Needs - Presented by Elise Thompson - Our libraries serve not only as centers for information and learning, but as safe harbors for some of our neighbors who are either uncomfortable--or sometimes feel unwelcome--in stores, coffee shops, or other retail venues where folks may be expected to spend money... then leave. At the library, everyone is welcome to enter and stay as long as the doors are open, and there is no admission charge. That means that the library staff see the entire unique and wonderful range of humanity at the library, and that can present some interesting challenges to staff concerning how to keep that shared space as comfortable and welcoming as possible for all who use it. This presentation is intended to provide you with some “boots on the ground” ideas about how to engage effectively, professionally--and compassionately--with all of your patrons and their unique needs.

--Panel/Interactive- Make the Most of Your Day: Scheduling the Easy Way! - Presented by Jessica Rondema, Jennifer Patterson, and Bryan Lee Feyerherm - It can be easy to forget how important the logistics of scheduling staff, space, and other scheduling efforts, but here we'll be focusing in on it.

11:45am-1:15pm Lunch & SSD announcements:

Lunch Buffet: Burrito Bar

Build your own burrito with chipotle chicken, organic pinto beans, Spanish rice, lettuce, cheddar cheese, olives and jalapeños, flour and corn tortillas, tortilla chips, and house-prepared salsa.

1:15 - 2:30 Breakout Session #2

--Presentation- Misinformation and Political Propaganda - Presented by Donna Cohen - We are overwhelmed with messages from politicians, news sources, and other media. Learn about critical thinking strategies through real world examples of political ads, news headlines, graph/charts, the effect of word choice in messaging, statistical data and other types of information. This session will hopefully help us all navigate the new politics and media landscape.

--Panel/Interactive- Three Perspectives on Accessibility: Bring your Challenges! - Presented by Elke Bruton, Wendy Beck, and Bryce Kozla - Accessibility is an important consideration for any library who cares about the communities they serve. Bring your questions about accessibility (and your great ideas) to this panel.

2:30pm-2:45pm Break & afternoon snack:

Snack: Matinee

Flavored popcorn: classic, chocolate, and herb Parmesan. House-baked cookies, assorted sodas

2:45 - 4:00 Breakout Session #3

--Presentation- How well are you adapting to change? - Presented by Tracey Letmate. Change is a constant in our libraries. How well are you prepared to cope with the changes happening around you? In this session you will learn about creating a healthy work culture and better understand how to build resilience and practice self-management during change.

--Panel/Interactive- Serving Vulnerable Populations - Panelists include Kate Schwab, Crystal Grimes/Kate Anderson. This panel will focus on patrons experiencing homelessness. They have unique needs and barriers to library service that most of us don't realize. Kate S will share information to increase participants understanding of homelessness and practical tips to extend service to people who need libraries despite their housing status. Crystal and Kate A will take you on a tour of what happens on a daily basis of a book in the Talking Book Library. They will discuss circulation, delivery, and the return process of these Talking Books. They will also touch on the equipment and accessories that their patrons use to read these books. Attendees- please your questions and comments for a guided discussion!

--Presentation- Day in the Life - Presented Rachel Kenny, Sami Kerzel, Jennifer Bosvert. Join several of your fellow support staffers as they run you through a day of their challenges, wins, and clever workarounds. Presenters’ days include digitization, preservation, and cataloging projects for the State Library, working in small academic branch libraries, and more!

Early Bird Registration Ends June 17th!

Early Bird registration is going on for the SSD conference for a few more days- until June 17th! Register now to take advantage of savings.

If you can't make Early Bird, never fear! Registration is open until July 14th. But for a conference being held at the home of the Ducks (University of Oregon) it only seems appropriate to swoop in now and save.

You can find more details about the conference on the registration page or on our conference page. For any questions please email the conference committee.