Library Talk Resources

Key Points

• Provide an environment that encourages good, open communication

• Establish the difference between a lack of good communication and a performance issue

• Be open and inclusive, not accusatory and exclusive

• Provide leadership by facilitating good, open communication skills

• Give immediate feedback - both enthusiastic praise and constructive criticism

• Establish expectations and goals through written job descriptions and performance appraisals

• Use performance appraisals as an effective communication tool

• Complain effectively by stating the problem clearly and giving a possible solution to the person who can make the change

• Take ownership of your mistakes - admit them and learn from them

• Listen effectively and understand what the complainant expects from you

• Keep all staff informed on a regular basis

• Include the staff in as many decisions and processes as possible

• Set the tone, provide a good example and lead

• Give staff praise when due and more responsibility when earned

• Catch staff doing something right

Ideas

• Keep a job blog on staff intranet, in a word document or in a notebook so information is shared immediately and is in one place

• Make a job notebook that includes job descriptions, division of duties and how-to documents for each task that is performed

• Create or revamp your performance evaluation sheet and allow everyone to have input on what is included

• Ask staff to help evaluate themselves by requesting goals and accomplishments

• Give reports to the trustees each month on the innovative, creative and accomplished things that the staff is doing

Books

These books, and many others, are available from the State Library through ILL

Belcastro, Patricia Evaluating Library Staff: A Performance Appraisal System, c1998

Bell, Chip Managers as Mentors: Building Partnerships for Learning, c1996

Blanchard, Ken and Bowles, Sheldon Gung Ho! Turn on the People in Any Organization, c1998

Brinkman, Rick and Kirschner, Rich Dealing With People You Can't Stand: How to Bring Out the Best in People at Their Worst, c1994

Caputo, Janette Stress and Burnout in Library Service, c1991

Carson, Paula; Carson, Kerry and Phillips Joyce The Library Manager's Deskbook: 102 Expert Solutions to 101 Common Dilemmas, c1995

Christopher, Connie Empowering Your Library: A Guide to Improving Service, Productivity and Participation, c2003

Conroy, Barbara and Jones, Barbara Improving Communication in the Library, c1986

Curzon, Susan Managing Change: A How-To-Do-It Manual for Planning, Implementing and Evaluating Change in Libraries, c1989

Deeprose, Donna How to Recognize and Reward Employees, c1994

Deeprose, Donna Recharge Your Team: Keep Them Going and Going..., c1998

DuBrin, Andrew The Complete Idiot's Guide to Leadership, c2000

Evans, G. Edward Performance Management and Appraisal, c2004

Fournies, Ferdinand Coaching for Improved Work Performance, c2000

Giesecke, Joan Practical Help for New Supervisors, c1997

Giesecke, Joan Practical Strategies for Library Managers, c2001

Goodson, Carol The Complete Guide to Performance Standards for Library Personnel, c1997

Gordon, Rachel The Accidental Manager, c2005

Haasen, Adolf and Shea, Gordon A Better Place to Work: A New Sense of Motivation Leading to High Productivity, c1997

Hacker, Carol The High Cost of Low Morale and What to do About It, c1997

Hemsath, Dave and Yerkes, Leslie 301 Ways to Have Fun at Work, c1997

Kaye, Beverly and Jordan-Evans, Sharon Love 'Em or Lose 'Em: Getting Good People to Stay, c2005

Metz, Ruth Coaching in the Library: A Management Strategy for Achieving Excellence, c2002

Sheldon, Brooke Leaders in Libraries: Styles and Strategies for Success, c1991

Stone, Douglas; Patton, Bruce and Heen, Sheila Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most, c1999

Thomas, Kenneth Intrinsic Motivation at Work: Building Energy and Commitment, c2000

Wilson, Lucile People Skills for Library Managers: A Common Sense Guide for Beginners, c1996

Yerkes, Leslie Fun Works: Creating Places Where People Love to Work, c2001

Articles

The non-web articles can be found on EBSCO or from the State Library through ILL

"Alternative Performance Reviews" on Toolpack Consulting's website

"How to do an Employee Appraisal" on VisitorInfo.com.

Lubans Jr., John "I'm So Low, I Can't Get High: The Low Morale Syndrome and What to do About It" in Library Administration & Management (Fall 2000), pp. 218-221

Lubans Jr., John "She's Just Too Good to Be True, But She Is: Recognition Ceremonies and Other Motivational Rituals" in Library Administration & Management (Fall 1999), pp. 212-215

Maloney, Donna "Meeting Performance Appraisal Head-On" in Public Libraries (May/June 2001), pp. 178-180

McAbee, Pat "Library Leadership IQ: What Good Managers Know" in Book Report (May/June 2002), pp. 38-39

Osif, Bonnie "Evaluation and Assessment: Evaluation of Individuals" in Library Administration & Management (Winter 2002), pp. 44-48

Quinn, Brian "Understanding the Differences Between Committees and Teams" in Library Administration & Management (Spring 1995), pp. 111-116

Raymond, Chadwick "But No One Told Us How to Talk in a Library" in Library Administration & Management (Summer 1991), pp. 140-144

Topper, Elisa "Working Knowledge" in American Libraries (January 2004), p. 96

Verbesey, J. Robert and Catan, Rachel "The Leaders' Tour" in American Libraries (November 1994), pp. 917-918

"Why Ratings Based Appraisals Fail" on Work911.com

Websites

About Human Resources - A list of websites on employee morale, motivation and incentives.

Better Workplace Now - Although this site may ultimately try to sell you a CD-ROM or online package, there are many interesting articles on a variety of topics here. The gray tabs across the top will lead you to the free stuff.

Library Support Staff - The title says it all, this site is full of information for all staff at every level, from training, education opportunities, reference sources and interesting links.

U.S. Office of Personnel Management - This is the US Government's "Resource Center for Addressing and Resolving Poor Performance." The first button, "Resource Center Overview" is an excellent place to start.

Warrior Librarian - Just a bunch of fun stuff and a glimpse into how other librarians around the world live (Warrior Librarian is from Australia).

Library Humour - Posted by the Library Mistress, this is a collection of library-related comics and cartoons, with most in English.