Staff Profile - April 2014: Sharon Kirkes

Webb Wesconnett's Branch Manager is a leader in pushing for staff education in the basics of technological issues so customers can be better served and JPL as a whole can use e-specialists' time in the most efficient way.  How does she do that and manage CW effectively?  Glad you asked.

Q: You are credited with leading your entire reference staff to do basic troubleshooting with technical issues for customers before offering people an appointment with the e-library specialist.  How did you accomplish this? 

A: More than anything else, probably by example. Many of the questions and issues that come up can be dealt with on the spot—we try to save our E-Library Specialist for the more challenging or time-intensive issues. I think the customers appreciate our efforts, and it keeps us aware of their needs and issues. Most of my employees are more technologically adept than I am anyway, so it wasn’t too much of a stretch.

Q: Do you now have training for other staff in some areas of new technology, and if so, please share your plans and results with that.

A: We try to take advantage of training opportunities offered by SST and the Training Office, but scheduling for these is difficult. Recently our Reference staff participated in an internal, mini-seminar on Google Power Searching. We are looking forward to the E-Services Get-to-Yes training, and at least two of us will attend a session on SharePoint.

Q: Are the majority of Webb Wesconnett Branch customers transitioning to new technologies and what are their main issues with technology?

A: Many of our customers, probably more so than at other locations, are very much on the wrong side of the Digital Divide. Their main issues tend to be really basic—struggling with setting up email accounts, producing simple documents, finding appropriate websites and filling out applications for work or assistance.

Q: You also support JPL’s efforts to provide computer classes in Spanish, both at CW and other libraries.  How do you plan and execute that?

 

A: This is primarily a scheduling function on my part. I try to ensure that Webb has adequate coverage for Thursday evenings and Friday mornings when the classes are here, and that Jessica is available to participate, as needed, in classes or meetings that may be held at other locations in the system.

Q: What is something most of us would not know about you that you would like to share with us?

A: I enjoy watching, and reading about  silent films—particularly those of Lillian Gish and D.W. Griffiith.