Inspired by the Digital Literacies Framework, we created an informal lunchtime journal club and online library tearoom space in Yammer for library staff to discuss, debate, and reflect on issues related to our practice. It is based on the 7 principles for designing communities of practice.
Thanks for volunteering to be a facilitator.
Purpose of this guide
Whether you are a new or experienced facilitator, please take a few minutes to read through our facilitator’s guide to help make our lunchtime sessions fun, inclusive and organic.
Two weeks before
- Choose reading and complementary media
- Book Zoom
- Please add your session to the library staff training database. Create a new program with “Eat, read, connect and learn (lunchtime journal club)” in the title and theme (e.g. The dangers of technology)
- Promote details in Yammer and Library Link
- Clare will send regular attendees a calendar invite
- Try to familiarise yourself with the venue and equipment before. Know where the camera and microphones are positioned.
- If you can, bring some appropriately themed snacks (e.g., third party cookies for privacy themed readings)
During
- Roundtable check in – briefly introduce reading and encourage participants to share their initial thoughts (if they want to do so) – you may like to create a poignant activity or question that is relevant to the topic/readings
- Check in with regional colleagues to make sure they can hear everyone and invite them to contribute
- Have a few loosely structured questions in mind to help the conversation flow but be prepared to adapt and change them
- Regulate the flow of discussion by calling on speakers in some kind of order. You may want to ask more vocal people to hold back from speaking in order to let others have their say
- Try to wrap up 5 minutes early so that colleagues can get to meetings and/or rostered shifts
- Further tips on videoconferencing from LTLT
Create a comfortable environment
- Let everyone have a voice
- Help everyone participate – draw out quiet people, limit over-talking, don’t let anyone dominate the discussion, but acknowledge that some people prefer to listen and do not force anyone to contribute – you may even like to try the Polling feature in Zoom to encourage non-verbal contributions
- Try to keep discussions and debates academic, not personal
- Be positive, non-judgmental and open to new ideas
- Listen for understanding – inquire (ask) before you advocate (persuade)
- Remind participants that they can contribute online
Show respect
- Be open minded to others’ views
- Be quiet when others’ speak
- Articulate hidden assumptions
- Share your experience (not others)
- Discrimination will not be tolerated
After
- Use the Online library tearoom on Yammer to share resources (and/or share via email) to continue the conversation.
- If appropriate, you might want to share a summary of ideas generated with our executive colleagues, e.g Melissa facilitated a session on library space design which generated many ideas for consideration in the midst multiple library refurbishments.
Eat, Read, Connect and Learn 