Does your library host an annual in-service day for staff development? As a librarian, I always looked forward to those in-service days as a time to mingle with coworkers and learn new things.
This past President’s Day, one of our senior consultants was hired by the Pueblo City-County Library District to do two presentations for their staff during the library’s annual Staff Development Day. One was a class on search strategies for public services staff, followed by a facilitated session with technical services staff on refinement of work processes.
At Pueblo City-County Library District, planning for their annual in-service day starts early. The executive director, executive director’s assistant, and community relations manager work together to set an overall theme for the event. A committee is then assigned to work on the details. This year, everyone participated in a morning session on conflict management. Following the morning session, lunch was provided by the Friends of the Library, giving everyone the opportunity to talk informally with their coworkers. During the afternoon, staff had the option to choose from a variety of breakout sessions, including the technical sessions provided by SirsiDynix Consulting Services, a session on dressing for success, or a session on library programming that included a magic show presented by the library youth services division.
As a Maryland librarian, my most memorable in-service also took place on President’s Day. Unfortunately, on this particular year I woke up to the biggest snowstorm I have ever seen, with totals of more than 36 inches. After that unforgettable day, the words “in-service” and “blizzard” have been forever linked in my mind. However, Pueblo City-County Library District has shown that with a little planning, every library in-service day can be a memorable event for your staff.
For more information on how educational and consulting services can help make your library in-service a day to remember, contact your SirsiDynix account manager or email sales@sirsidynix.com.
