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Career Coaching
2:20 PM EDT 4/14/08
Hello!
I'm a graduate student in the School of Information Resources & Library Science at the University of Arizona. This semester one of my courses is in Library Management, and this week we're discussing issues related to Human Resources. I'm curious to know how various libraries promote staff development.
At your library, what kind of incentives exist to motivate staff to acquire additional skills that will help them become better para-professionals and/or librarians? (reimbursement for expenses, time off with/without pay, opportunities to negotiate a better salary, etc.).
A secondary, related question is what skills, experience, qualifications would your ideal applicant possess? (in addition to an MLS and excellent customer service skills).
Thank you for your help!
-Meg Timour Beer
mtimour@email.arizona.edu
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Re: Career Coaching
4:41 PM EDT 4/14/08
as a reply to Meg Timour.
We offer class/course reimbursements and do encourage people to take whatever work seems useful to them. We've a luxury inasmuch as we belong to an active library system in Illinois (NSLS) that makes such available, plus access to paraprofessional coursework at the local community college.
One point to be made, though, has to do with making sure that continuing education is a part of annual expectations ... not so much as to be onerus but as something easily accomplished in order to qualify for a bit more money. A class taken during work hours could qualify.
Another point, though, has to be made ... staff need to know that administration is also reading/taking courses/stretching. If I do not, how can I expect them to?
As to your other question ... I want someone who is smarter than me who has experience (and aptitude) with new technology. I also want him/her broadly read and curious but w/o any condescending attitude.
We are, necessarily, public intellectuals if we're to get our work (and our library's work) done. But, given America's cultural phobia about pointy-headed-overly-educated types we have to be sneaky about it. ;-)
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