Orbis2 Training Announcement

[Alice Prochaska <alice.prochaska@YALE.EDU>]

We are about to embark on a major training initiative with the
implementation of the new Orbis2 Voyager Library Management System. There
will be a learning curve for all of us as we continue to provide high
quality service to our readers, using the new system. Everyone on the
library staff who uses the Library Management System for their work will
be challenged to learn new skills and knowledge. Each one of us will need
to be as committed to the success of our co-workers as to our own
achievement, as we undertake this major change in the Library's way of
working.

In order to be successful, staff members will need to practice the new
Orbis2 skills on a daily basis right up until the Orbis2 go-live date of
July 15th. Each staff member
is recommended to take practice time of between 5 and 7 hours per week,
to assure mastery of these skills. Managers and supervisors will have to
adjust expectations about the level of departmental outputs during this
critical training period, and Library HR will be offering support and
advice to them as their staff members master the new skills.

We will be giving a great deal of support to library staff during this
period and for some time to come. Staff may use their own workstation if
they wish, to practice Orbis 2 skills alongside coworkers. In addition,
special practice areas will be designated. A program of training is being
provided for us by the library consultants Nelinet. In addition, I am
delighted to announce the appointment of Audrey Ho as Technical Training
Coordinator on the library staff for an eighteen-month period. Audrey
will work with library staff in a variety of ways to ensure that nobody
is left behind in mastering the new skills, and that any problems can be
sorted out readily.

I would like to pay tribute to the Orbis 2 implementation team under
Audrey Novak's leadership for their careful and intensive work designing
this phase of the transition. I believe Yale's migration to the new
system has been managed with the highest possible level of
professionalism and attention to detail. We can all feel a high degree of
confidence in the process, as a result. The training program that is now
being put in place is designed to reinforce that confidence for each
member of staff, so that the benefits of working with the new system will
be realized for everyone, and above all of course for the library's
patrons, as quickly as possible, and with a minimum of problems.

This program is intended to form part of a continuing enhancement to the
training and development offered by the Library to all staff. Kate
Reynolds would be glad to receive any questions or comments about this
program, or other training opportunities that are on offer.