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Getting real buy-in and support from the top levels of management is crucial to the success of training and learning. And it needs to be genuinely invested buy-in. It is one thing for a director to agree that training is important; it's another level of investment for the director/manager to make sure that time is allotted and money is budgeted and learning is recognized.

Chat log from this segment of the Town Hall conversation:

Solutions: supervisor support and management buy-in
Ross_Callender says, "I think Supervisor support is so crucial. My boss, on a monthly
basis, asks me if I have taken any interesting courses lately?"
Kate_Laughlin says, "Ross, that's great!"
Shirley_B_Idaho says, "Yes, I agree"
Stephanie_Gerdin says, "Let them set their own learning goals."
Kris says, "supervisors need to give their employees time, ours are nervous if their staff is
learning (most need to retire)"
Shirley_B_Idaho says, "Training is crucial to a library's flexibility!"
AZ_mala says, "Let people get time off to do training as a performance reward"
Christi says, "Evidence-based results"
shon_barnes says, "Allowing time for staff to train is still a big problem. Some locations
have shortages which makes it really hard to schedule training."
Kelli_Staley says, "some initial cross-training can help staff cover desks while staff
trains"
Roberta_Sparks says, "Our Friends help fund staff training"
wj_EmilyI says, "producer note: please be careful about the pressing the CTRL key. it
opens up your audio line if you are on VOIP>"
Renee_Zurn says, "We have a gift fund that we can use as the city training budget has
been cut"
Penny says, "Training is key to doing more with less."
Morgan_Sohl says, "city froze travel budget but we are looking for speakers to come to
us"
GA_pat says, "i think my former library in Ohio must hold the record for the most
consecutive years of Staff Development Day - 33 years and it's never been cancelled!"
Nichol_Lusk says, "we try to set aside 1 hr one day a week during open hours for half of
the staff while the other staff works the desk"
Colleen_Eggett says, "Put it into a performance plan- yours or someone else's helps get
people there"
shon_barnes says, "Ours will be February 23rd."
shon_barnes says, "Making the connection is crucial but some supervisors do not take the
time to sit down and communicate with staff. "
Sarah says, "Staff Development Days sound great - do you close the library for the day? "
Nichol_Lusk says, "I designed a "competencies" list and have the staff work through the
list on their own as much as possible and then I plan training sessions from what is left"
Roberta_Sparks says, "We close all libraries one day a year for Staff Development Day."
wj_streamss says, "use gift fund to pay for training"
arwka says, "I am the only one in my library and I am required to take continuing ed. My
library has a grant from the state for training"
Gerie says, "if staff go to a great conference or session, ask them to present their
experience to the staff, either in person or in writing: share the new knowledge"
Christi says, "Shon, then you go communicate with them, if they aren't very active with
you."