2023-2024 CCL Professional Development Pilot Program: Your Feedback and Going Forward

By Elizabeth Bowman, LSP Program Manager/Professional Development

In August 2023 the CCL Board approved a pilot program so that CCL could expand one of its organizational goals: to support the professional development of those working in California community colleges.

The project sought to effectively, efficiently, and regularly identify professional development opportunities for librarians and staff, and to disseminate information about professional development opportunities from around the state and the nation.

This was done by checking dozens of PD sources checked each week and using recommendations and feedback from others throughout the academic year and sending a weekly email.

When we asked for your feedback in spring 2024, we got 98 responses, comprised of people working in 63 different colleges across the California community college system about the process.

• Respondents nearly unanimously described the emails as informative and/or interesting, often introducing readers to opportunities previously unknown ; only 5% of respondents reported “rare” or “never” as an answer about learning about opportunities through the emails.
• Nearly 84% of respondents indicated they had attended professional development options because of the emails.
• A wide span of barriers that limit or prevent participation in professional development was mentioned in these broad categories:
  • Staffing levels/coverage needs 
  • Time, release time 
  • Money
  • Workload
  • Impact of travel

Narrative comments were full and thoughtful, and they offered: 

• Various and specific ways the project was valuable and useful.
• Ongoing professional needs and new interests:
  • Specific Alma and Primo issues were identified which have been shared with the LSP Program Manager.
  • Broader professional development needs were shared with the CCL Leadership and Professional Development Committee which creates programs for north/south workshops and plans the Annual Meeting of CCL in March each year. 

All of this feedback informs the program and will make it better for those who read and use the emails and any other updates to be devised.

At the annual CCL Board retreat in July 2024, the board decided to continue this project and looks forward to the shape it will take going forward, in addition to weekly emails.

As ever, anyone is welcome to offer:

• Feedback on professional development opportunities attended/used from the emails
• Recommendations for specific programs or new sources of professional development
• Feedback on this process

Be in touch! pd@cclibrarians.org