WebJunction - Personnel Management

staffing formula or calculator

2009-04-27T20:05:32Z

Has anyone seen a recent formula or calculator for determining how much staff a public library should have? We are looking for information that would say for example - if you have X number of people through the door, you should have Y number of staff. Thanks for any tools or suggestions.

RE: Dewey Decimal shelving

2008-11-27T09:21:12Z

I think you can't depend on DDC alone for shelving locations because you may faced authors writing in different subjects or with different languages, so their books will be distributed by DDC only, so you will not be able to collect threir works toghether.
Here in Bibliotheca Alexandrina we are using Cutter in combination with DDC, by this cutter we have always the same code to the author what ever DDC number o the language.
by this you can find all William shakespeare works in DDC 822.33 with cutter number S5272 (cutter for shakespeare) what ever the book language

RE: Procedured and Policies for Hiring and evaluating staff.

2008-11-21T01:09:10Z

When you're small, there seldom need for much in the way of personnel policies. Sounds like you're doing fine.

RE: Personnel problems

2008-11-21T01:08:00Z

Likely fewer problems in the long run anyway. This seems to be an issue of unstated (assumed) expectations that should have been handled early on (and why facilities sharing can pose enormous problems).

Good luck!

Library Staffing Levels and Studies

2008-11-07T14:17:11Z

Information on Library Staffing Patterns and Staffing Studies
Has your library done a public library staffing study within the last three years or so? If so, how did you use the study, and were you able to set staffing levels for libraries based on the criteria in the study? If you have a written study, please share a copy with me or provide a link to the study.
Also, if your library has experienced cutbacks in staffing within the last year or so, how has this impacted the library’s programs and services? Considering the circumstances, what has worked well?
Please send your responses to Sandy Newell snewell@dos.state.fl.us.
Thanks,
Sandy Newell
Library Program Specialist
State Library and Archives of Florida
Office of Community Development
(850) 245-6624
snewell@dos.state.fl.us

Personnel problems

2008-09-28T01:41:59Z

As I am the only one working at the Runnells Community Library there is no problem with any staff. However, I have had problems with the Runnells Elementary School librarian. She told me not to buy anymore books because my shelves were full and she was not going to give me any more room. I was not taught how to weed materials or how enter new books or could I even look up circulation statistics. She even changed my patrons numbers to the school numbers and I had no way of finding out the summer library circulation. There were other problems with the school in general. I was constantly being asked when we were going to move, my library shelves were never dusted by the custodians, there was no air-conditioning in the summer, and the PTA held their meetings in the library when we were open and that caused a conflict. Finally I felt things piling up and took my concerns and complaints to the Library Board. They went over them and decided something needed to be done. I wrote a letter outlining the problems and they were taking it to the city council which would then forward them on to the S.E. Polk School Board. A library board member who is friendly with the principal sent him a copy of the letter and a big flare-up is going on at the present time. The principal is trying to straighten things out with guidance from the superintendent and we hope to have everything settled soon. I guess if I had taken a few of the small complaints to the board instead of letting them pile up we would not have had so many things to complain of all at once. Carole Adams

Procedured and Policies for Hiring and evaluating staff.

2008-09-26T02:01:34Z

The Runnells Community Library has no policies on hiring or evaluating staff. They only have a list of librarian responsibilities and not a job description. As director, I am the only employee there is. Someday we hope to increase our hours and then we will need a policy for hiring more staff. I hope to implement a policy for that soon. I present my ideas for policy to our library board, they talk it over, revise if necessary and hopefully adopt it. It will then be dated and added to our present list of policies. Carole Adams

Re: Who uses Long Range Planning?

2008-04-23T21:12:41Z

I think my library (and me) were of those three, so I'd best comment.

I'm planning to update our long-range plan this next contract year (Nov. to Oct. in my case) ... because it's a useful exercise and forces one to look at choices ... but I'm not likely to look at the document much after it's made. The future, in the sense of technology and the options it forces upon us, moves too quickly.

We can make general, strategic, responses but specific, tactical, moves *must* be suspect when more than 12 to 18 months have past. Sometimes sooner.

Also, many libraries (like mine) are part of automation consortia. The "fact of membership" is at least as important as the specific vendor and the timetable for vendor review isn't necessarily something the individual library controls.

Re: Who uses Long Range Planning?

2008-04-23T16:13:37Z

Generally speaking in my experience it's not intentional...

Some public libraries spend a lot of time being reactive to situations and dealing with brush fires, rather than being pro-active and using their planning documents to avoid issues.

Alternatively, individuals/organizations when doing their long-range planning look at best case and wish list items, and when reality sets in that funding those initiatives would require cutting existing programs or efforts it becomes very hard to do.

Of course, every situation is different, I don't know that there is one easy answer for the reasons why, but those are two things I see on a regular basis..

-Joe

Who uses Long Range Planning?

2008-04-23T15:17:51Z

As part of a library school student team gathering info on Illinois public libraries, I discovered that none of the 3 libraries we investigated actively adhered to their Long Range Planning document. Is this a trend? What is replacing it? Any comments from managers or directors is appreciated.

Re: Career Coaching

2008-04-14T20:41:46Z

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. ;-)

Career Coaching

2008-04-14T18:20:47Z

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

Re: Security Audits

2008-02-22T18:22:35Z

One of the things that triggered the concern of the local PD is that they found some Bad Things in the City Council Chambers. For example, there is a double door from the Chamber to the Police Department, but there is no way that responding officers can see what's going on in the Chambers -- and in a violent situation that could be fatal (and it's being fixed!). Their test response also found that it took two (2) minutes to get officers into the Chambers, and that's a lifetime when things are going bad.

The cops will be doing the assessment.

We had an 18 year old threaten an 8 year old with a knife, trying to push the younger kid back into the Boy's Bathroom. The younger kid yelled and ran, the attacker ran and was captured a hour later, fortunately by the cops and not by my staff. The attacker was identified by the staff (he was a "regular") and will be spending the next five years or so as a guest of the State of Idaho.

But...over the past two years I have so far spent about US $14,000 on security cameras and DVRs. I could have used the money for things like books.... However, parents and patrons feel MUCH better just knowing that someone is keeping an eye out. There was some concern that we "would know what people are reading" but I pointed out that if we could find that out easily enough without cameras AND I have shown the camera displays to anyone who cared to see.

I think that if you tell the public what you're doing and why, pointing out that it is actually for the greater good and that we don't really care what they are doing or reading or browsing (within legal limits, of course!), they accept it. Being transparent is good for libraries as well as for politicians.

And although some of the staff WOULD like Tasers, I'm not going to do it! :-)

Re: Security Audits

2008-02-22T18:02:54Z

One thing that must be done is talk to your police department and invite them into the library to meet the staff.

Staff need to understand that calling the cops is a *good* thing and not hesitate because it will make trouble for someone (like a staff member having to write a report or a patron hauled off to the police station). Prompt calling keeps the number of calls down because people will perceive the library as an "orderly" place and act accordingly.

Re: Security Audits

2008-02-22T17:27:57Z

I remember the feeling I got when I had to go through a security gate staffed by two security guards at a branch of a large urban library (to remain nameless), just to walk into the library. It was like going through security at the airport (before the liquid restrictions). I can imagine that the gate probably intimidated many people so much, they decided to just not enter the library at all. I won't go so far as to say that they were denying access to the library, but it was a pretty big hurdle to jump in order to get in.

I was only a summer resident in that city, so I don't know what the history of that branch was in order to prompt them to install the security gate, but it makes you ponder what are we securing if people are too intimidated to get into the library. Though of course, if there is no security, people may be afraid of coming in because they will feel unprotected from those who will bring in weapons, or harass other library users. It's definitely a sticky wicket.

I've been thinking of this even more as last week, at my local library branch where I am a patron, an elderly man was beat up in a path right behind the library. I wonder if parents are going to start restricting their kids from going to the library on their own (almost every time I go in, I see kids coming out of the library and hopping on their bikes to ride home - even after dark). That would be sad since this library is only a year old - and the neighborhood has been advocating for a library to be there for at least 50 years.

I wonder what the library's role is in providing a safe and secure place for community members of all ages, from children to seniors, to read, share, and explore.

Emily

Re: Security Audits

2008-02-22T14:23:05Z

I haven't had it done... but I recall being at PLA in Charlotte several years ago and attending a security presentation and the security consultant who was putting it on said something that has always stayed with me.

As a security person he wanted to deny access and 'strip search' those that he had to let come in... which he said is diametrically opposed to what most of public librarians want to do, which is allow everyone in with no questions and no restrictions...

Where you draw those lines is something that as an organization is difficult to determine. Where do valid concerns on freedom of speech, freedom to read intersect with public security/safety concerns??

Every community has to decide that.

Good luck!

Security Audits

2008-02-20T20:17:38Z

Following the recent shooting at NIU (one of my old schools!), the shootings at the City Council meeting in Kirkwood, MO, and the suicide of a student at a nearby high school, the local police forces are a-quiver about security in schools and city buildings -- like the library.

We are going to have a security audit done by the PD and take their advice regarding things to do.

Has anyone had this done? What were the results? Any suggestions or advice?

Licensing Electronic Resources Program

2008-02-01T20:34:54Z

Licensing Electronic Resources Program

Date: 3/4/08

Location: Dartmouth College (New Hampshire)

Time: 8:30-5:30 with break at 4:30 for those who need to leave early,
lunch included

Cost:
$65 members of any sponsoring Library Association.
$85 for non-members.
$40 for Library School students.

8 Medical Library Association (MLA) credits included.

Instructors: Laurie Thompson, Director; UT Southwestern Medical
Library(Dallas, TX) and Harry Youtt, Attorney; Los Angeles, CA

In the good old days, all we had to master was the Copyright Law and
Fair Use. We would acquire a book or a journal, post and monitor a
"fair-use" photocopy policy, and go on about our activities. Now,
instead of receiving print materials, we become connected with online
resources. With each new digital information product, there arrives a
separate license. Each contains its own private "copyright" terms
imposed by contract. This course provides an introduction to license
provisions and terminology, comparing the license and copyright, and
managing the licensing process. Through lecture, instructor debate and
student participation, you will learn strategies for developing a
license management model, including building a team for license
evaluations and negotiation; conduct a clause-by-clause analysis of an
existing license agreement; develop negotiating strategies; and discuss
techniques for building a productive relationship with the legal department.

To Register go to: http://www.holycross.edu/departments/library/erm/ler/

Sponsors:

NAHSL
NETSL
NE ASIST
MAHSLIN
ACRL NEC ITIG SIG
ACRL NEC CE Committee
ACRL NEC Serials SIG
Dartmouth College
College of the Holy Cross
Serials Solutions
Innovative Interfaces Inc.

=========================
Bob Scheier
Electronic Resources Librarian
Dinand Library
College of the Holy Cross
1 College Street Worcester, Mass. 01610-2395
508-793-3495
rscheier@holycross.edu
=========================

Re: Merchandising success stories

2007-10-18T23:17:30Z

I suppose I should ask whether or not you're distinguishing "merchandising" from "advertising" and/or "sales." It tends to get foggy with some folks and I'm of the "they're very different" camp.

Nice idea for a book!

Merchandising success stories

2007-10-18T22:04:12Z

I don't know if this is the right forum so please excuse me as this is my first posting on Web Junction. A colleague and I are completing a book on library merchandising and we are looking for measurements of merchandising success in libraries. Either anecdotal stories or hard facts and figures would be very helpful. Thank you in advance,
Jenny LaPerriere, Denver Public Library