WebJunction

The topic of staging Staff Development Days generated a wealth of ideas.

Someone suggested collecting these ideas in a central, accessible online location. How about right here?

The chat log offers a great list to start with:

Solutions: Staff Development days
shon_barnes says, "We do close all of our libraries in the system and everyone comes to
the main branch for a full day of training."
GA_pat says, "yes, our library closed for staff day on the 3rd friday of september every
year."
Kris says, "the public would never let us close for a day of training"
Penny says, "Many of our staff are doing Helene Blowers's "23 Things" (see Oct. 2008
SLJ article)"
Kris says, "I'd love to do that"
Lola_D_ says, "What about most of your staff works and no money in the budget to have
all staff come for a training session."
GA_pat says, "I recommend emphsazing staff training and development during New Hire
Orientation."
martha_hendricks has returned.
wj_EmilyI says, "staff development days? thoughts?"
Lola_D_ says, "I meant our staff is usually working solo."
Roberta_Sparks says, "With over 500 staff it is the only time we are all together."
Sarah says, "Be interested to know how public respond to libraries closing for a day for
training - are they supportive?"
Roberta_Sparks says, "We have had no complaints from the public."
Sharon_STBB says, "We close and all staff attends our system-wide development day."
GA_pat says, "I have voice capability but I have no voice (bad cold) so I'm chatting
instead."
Kelli_Staley says, "as long as you send the message that it is to improve the library &
service"
shon_barnes says, "I've never heard of any complaints, thus far. "
martha_hendricks says, "Our library used to close one or two days a year for staff
development"
Denise says, "how can you disable the talk button?"
Phyllis_Smith says, "We do have a staff day scheduled for oct 12th - first time ever"
Stephanie_Gerdin says, "When of our libraries closes on Veteran's day, which isn't
normally a day that their city closes, but they get less complaints."
shon_barnes says, "Yeah!"
Bobbi_Newman says, "our staff day is on Columbus day so a day the Lib might be closed
anyay"
pam_bachman says, "we have an annual staff day; the public never seems to object."
Shannon_Halikias says, "We close a couple of days a year to close for Development. "
Mary_Haney says, "Our staff day is always Columbus Day-public thinks it's just another
holiday"
Kris says, "Columbus Day is a good idea"
shon_barnes says, "We normally have it on President's Day"
Shannon_Halikias says, "We are closing for a day and sending everybody to ALA as it is
local this year"
Nichol_Lusk says, "If we close the libary for even an hour we make sure the patrons
know well in advance and we do it on Thursday- a not so busy day generally for us"
GA_pat says, "We closed on the 3rd Friday in September except for when it conflicts
with the Jewish holidays."
Nichol_Lusk says, "We notify the public with fliers and phone message if they call in"
GA_pat says, "We didn't want to close on those floating holidays because we felt that's
when the public needed us to be open."
Robin_Hastings says, "can you repeat the question?"
Penny says, "We do the feel good stuff at lunch, but the rest is training"
Bobbi_Newman says, "In the past we had different training session you could attend in
the afternoon"
AZ_mala says, "We did a smaller version of 23 things which we called Baker's dozen and
we encouraged all staff to do this within a fixed period of time - 12 weeks. to learn web
2.0 stools. We had over 150 library staff do it just for the fun of learning "
Kate_Laughlin says, "There's room for both fun & learning!"
Gerie says, "i agree with kate"
GA_pat says, "ours is a combination of library issues, feel-good stuff and soft-skills
training."
Christi is clapping
Roberta_Sparks says, "We usually have a main theme it's built around."
Shirley_B_Idaho says, "Idaho did "6 Things" and had over 200 people participate!"
shon_barnes says, "That's what we do. I'll actually be facilitating a break out session on
our Tech Competencies this year."
Justine says, "Gerie, I think your idea is really good, write about the highlights so people
only have to hear about the great tips you picked up from this training it'll be an incentive
for others to attend and bring back great ideas!"
pam_bachman says, "administration staff plan the day very carefully. sometimes an
outside presenter is brought in. Lunch is fun and time to socialize."
Nichol_Lusk says, "targeted training works well for us, otherwise the staff seems to get
itchy to get back to work"
Gloria_Soernsen says, "We're having 15th annual staff day this year. We do include
training in the day. Try to include both fun and learning. Usually include a Customer
Service Component. That was the focus of last year's."
Shirley_B_Idaho says, "Defining competencies will help tremendously!"
Gerie says, "yes, justine, and it reinforces the issues for the learner"
Jane_H says, "We find that our librarians really appreciate practical stuff they can take
back and use immediately in their libraries"
shon_barnes says, "We normally have a main speaker come in the morning and then have
three or four break out sessions later in the day."
GA_pat says, "if your staff is large enough to have breakout session in a staff day this is a
good option."
shon_barnes says, "It works pretty well for us."
Roberta_Sparks says, "We always have a keynote. The Director addresses all staff. Staff
awards are presented as well. Three breakout sessions."
shon_barnes says, "That's kind of like what we do."
Renee_Zurn says, "We've done training on loading and pushing book carts plus showed a
DVD on back care and carpet tunnel. "
Kate_Laughlin says, "Staff planning committee solicited neighborhood businesses for
donations & there was a big raffle at the end of the day. Prizes galore!"
Christi says, "The Baker's Dozen sounds the Special Libraries Association's 23 Things
project."
Kris says, "we use our worker's compensation carrier for all safety related training"
Shirley_B_Idaho says, ""Carpet tunnel"??"
Christi says, "Also, TENN-Share hosted a summer-ling ning project to learn Web 2.0."
Bobbi_Newman says, "we have a speark in the morning, some fun things and then some
different training sessions then back for a fun presentatin at the end"
Jo_Ann_Flynn says, "I would like to see trustee training mandatory for each library"
Kate_Laughlin says, "staff art show in lobby"
shon_barnes says, "We have contests for staff to participate in such as " Pimp My
Bookcart"."
Kris is laughing
GA_pat says, "it would be great to create a Best Practice list for Staff Day activites that
everyone could add to."
Sharon_STBB is laughing
Ross_Callender is away
shon_barnes is laughing
wj_EmilyI says, "i've cleared the hand raise, so if you'd like to speak, please raise your
hand again."
Kate_Laughlin says, "mayor opens the day with comments represetning support for the
the library."
pam_bachman says, "in addition to our annual all-staff day, each branch plans and holds
a staff retreat - for one morning or afernoon. used for staff bonding and training."
Gerie says, "we've had the technical services/catalogers explain why records show in the
OPAC the way they do. helps the rest of us understand the method behind the madness"
wj_EmilyI says, "hi linda"
Christi says, "Is there a wiki out for Staff Development ideas? That would be great!"