branch library management instructor: hillary theyer [email protected] an infopeople workshop...
TRANSCRIPT
This Workshop Is Brought to You By the Infopeople Project
Infopeople is a federally-funded grant project supported by the California State Library. It provides a wide variety of training to California libraries. Infopeople workshops are offered around the state and are open registration on a first-come, first-served basis.
For a complete list of workshops, and for other information about the project, go to the Infopeople website at infopeople.org.
Workshop Overview
• Roles of branch libraries
• Branch library collections
• Branch facility basics
• Branch services and programs
• Branch staff and supervision
• Incidents and emergencies
• Wrap-up
Manager Hats• Boss
• Collection builder
• Service provider
• Public face
• Building maintenance
• Problem solver
• Incident commander
Roles of Branch Libraries• Popular materials center
• Local information
• Ready reference and non-fiction
• Community activity center
• Information and referral
• Formal education support
• Early literacy and childhood learning
Other Roles for Branch Libraries• Free day care
• Skateboard park
• Public restroom/bathing facility
• Social center
• Meet your tutor/notary/real estate agent
• Use the internet/phone/copier
• Stay warm/cool
• Find someone to talk to
Manager’s View of Branch Collections• Scope of role in collection development
• Level and depth of collection
• Use of collection
• Condition of collection
• Budget for collection
• Weeding policies and procedures
Assessing Collection Depth• Popular/recreational
• Basic/general
• Instructional
• Research
• Exhaustive
Other Collection Concerns for the Manager
• Quality vs. demand
• Space
• Price
• Controversial content
• Cataloging and access
• Format issues
Basics of Collection Budgeting• Format of the budget
• Time span for budgeting
• Percentage requirements
• Purchase limitations
• Reporting requirements
• Maintenance of records
Buying Goes With Weeding• Move out the deadwood
• Display the great stuff
• Help people find what they need
• Make branch more attractive
• Increase circulation
• Make room to buy more!
• Use MUSTIE
The Library Building• Manager’s building knowledge
• While on your building walk
• What do I do if?
• Considerations for unexpected closure
What You Need To Know About Your Library Building
• Do building walks
• Know the major systems
• Know who maintains and fixes them
• Know who to call when something doesn’t work
On Your Building Walk• Damage or vandalism
• Windows
• Graffiti
• Entrances/exits
• Landscaping
• Outer fixtures
• Signs
• Trash
What Do I Do If?• Building damage found
• Safety issue
• Security issue
• Nuisance issue
• Long-term issue
Find out before you need to know!
Manager’s Role for Unexpected Closure of the Library• Make and hang signs
• Change phone messages
• Assign bookdrop duty
• Alter due dates of materials
• Handle public relations
• Notify authorities
• Notify staff!
Branch Library Services• How well is it working now?
• Who is using the library?
• What impact do we have?
• Let’s do some outreach!
The exciting part!
Assessing Branch Library Services
• System services
• Library users
• Library use patterns
• Other services in area
• Your available resources
• Your potential resources
Who is Using the Library?• Working adults
• Parents
• Young children
• Teens
• Students
• Older adults
• Job seekers
Manager Plans Input to Impact • Inputs – what do I need to do this?
• Process – how will it work?
• Outputs – what can I count?
• Outcomes – what will the public get?
• Impacts – what is the long term benefit?
Performing Outreach• Seek out local events, fairs, festivals
• Make contact with community groups
• Offer to charities, foundations, societies
• Host or visit book groups
• Read the local paper
• Make customer contacts
Managing and Supervising• Train new staff, retrain others
• Train and review daily supervision duties with anyone left in charge
• Resolve “difficulties” as they arise
Training Your Staff • Develop a training schedule
• Add written documentation
• Use real life examples
• Include side by side learning
• Ask for feedback
• Set aside time
Essentials For Staff Training• Security of property duties
• Customer service expectations
• Cash handling and record requirements
• Policies and procedures
• Usage of equipment
• Emergency procedures
Resolving “Difficulties”• Supervisor ≠ best friend
• Goal is improvement not punishment
• Know system policy and procedure
• Assess the personalities involved
• Assess the particular situation
• Know, but let go of, the past
Coaching and Discipline• Facts
• Rule
• Impact
• Suggestion/correction
• Knowledge
Incidents and Emergencies• Policy, procedure, and practice
• Policy development
• Policy enforcement
• Common policy scenarios
• Incident reporting
• Basic emergency checklist
Three Ps for the Manager• Policy
– formal– governing body
• Procedure – written, step-by-step instructions
• Practice – way things get done
Policy Development and the Manager’s Role
• Draft the policy statement
• Obtain approvals
• Design and create notification
• Provide training
• Provide re-enforcement
• Reward the change!
Policy Enforcement and the Manager’s Role• Show no fear
• Know your policy
• Know your options and limits
• Go in with good expectations
• Tell the person what they get
• Be ready for the next step
Three Common Enforcement Scenarios in a Branch Library
• Unattended children
• Homeless patrons
• Fines and fees
Unattended Children• What’s the policy?
• Can you get contact information?
• Assess the immediate situation
• Call law enforcement?
• Have a handout/posting of policy
• Know the consequences
Homeless • What’s the policy?
• What’s the true problem?– appearance, behavior, location
• What’s the rule violation?– hygiene, loitering, bags, sleeping
• Other factors?– mental state, current use, space
Fines and Fees• What’s the policy?
• What power do you have?
• Consistency across your staff
• Consistency across other locations
• Communication
Four Tests for a Legally Enforceable Library Policy• Does the policy comply with current
statutes?
• Is the policy reasonable? Including reasonable penalties?
• Could there be discriminatory application?
• Is the policy measurable?
Policy Needs E.N.D.• Equal enforcement
• Notice
• Due process
Incidents• Handle consistently
• Document, document, document!
• Communicate UP first
• Train as needed, and before it happens again
Incident Reporting• Date, time, place, people
• Order of events
• Direct dialogue
• Direct action
• NO assessment, interpretation, diagnosis, guesses, or blame
• Name authorities and witnesses
• Follow up
Basic Emergency Supplies• Emergency supply checklist
• Emergency phone numbers
• Evacuation kit
• Personal kit
Essential Phone Numbers• Police (911 and non-emergency)
• Fire (911 and non-emergency)
• Building maintenance
• Emergency contacts for staff
• Your boss
• Helpful neighbors
Follow-Up After• Take care of your staff
• Take care of the library
• Pursue incident with higher authority
• Training needed?
• Review of policy needed?
• Resources needed?
• Thanks and kudos!
Manager Hats• Boss
• Collection builder
• Service provider
• Public face
• Building maintenance
• Problem solver
• Incident commander– oh, sometimes Librarian too!
Say oh wise man how you have come to such knowledge? Because I was never ashamed to confess my ignorance and ask others.
- Johann Gottfried Von Herder, critic and poet (1744-1803)
Thank you!
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