People and Technology

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

  1. Listen
  2. Involve staff in planning
  3. Tell stories
  4. Be transparent
  5. Report & Debrief
  6. Do your research first
  7. Manage Projects Well
  8. Offer training for all technology (including the board!)
  9. Let them play
  10. Celebrate successes
  11. Breathe & take care of yourself
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