David King, Kansas City Public Library
Michael Stephens, St. Joseph County Public Library
Hiring and Keeping Techie Staff (David)
- External Hiring
- Job ad
- Get lots of applications
- Get apps from suitable candidates
- Attract, describe basic requirements, written from applicants viewpoint, use specific wording about the skills you want
- Be specific with “must have” skills
- Place the job ad where qualified people will see it
- Online for techie jobs
- ALA, LITA, Chronicle, LISJobs.com, Your Web site
- NON-MLS: Local newspaper, Monster
- Weeding candidates
- focus on basic job requirements
- preferred qualifications
- interview who’s left
- Internal Hiring
- Can hire “good library employee” then train them
- Offer interally first is a good option
- Steal from other departments
- Why internally: skills, library-friendly, will work for food
- “This person should be a quick learner and enjoy technology changes”
- Hiring goals
- dedicated to the library
- enjoys service
- willingness ot learn
- already helps out with technology
- Keeping Staff
- Obvious things
- benefits, praise & recognition, pay, interperonal relationships
- If your the leader, be flexible and be willing to experiment
- Keep the involved in the library
- committees, planning, yearly goal setting for the library
- make them feel personally invested in the library
- Training
- on the job
- formal
- buy lots and lots of books
- Techies like toys! Give them some.
Ten Steps for Staff Buy-In (Michael)
Here’s his blog post explaing all of them
- Listen
- Involve staff in planning
- Tell stories
- Be transparent
- Report & Debrief
- Do your research first
- Manage Projects Well
- Offer training for all technology (including the board!)
- Let them play
- Celebrate successes
- Breathe & take care of yourself
