Staff Development

     After attending PLMI last year, I realized that based on what I had learned, there were many tools I now had to bring back to my library.  I decided to take a step back and look at my library and my staff from a different perspective - a perspective other than that of the library director.  How did other people see our facility?  How do they view our staff?  Do patrons and visitors of our library feel that they are being treated as they should and in a professional manner?  Are library staff giving them the correct information when an inquiry is made, and do they know where to look?

     Indeed no library is perfect and mine is no exception!  Staff development workshops or staff days, were not a regularly scheduled occurrence when i first took over as library director two and a half years ago - so it was obvious to me that needed to change.  My experience with staff development is that they count on me to take the lead and provide them with the tools that they need to be of better service, not only to our library but to themselves.  Since staff development has become a regular occurrence, the response from staff has been mostly positive, and they seem to come out with more confidence, pride in their work, and have become more eager to gain further knowledge.