Library Directors: Have you publically praised your staff lately
I don’t just mean out on the floor of the library, I mean really in public, like in the local paper (or their Web site), like Omaha Public Library director, Gary Wasdin just did.
“A library’s greatest treasures go home every night.”
It may sound a little corny, but it’s true nonetheless. A library’s staff members are its greatest asset. People working in libraries touch the lives of so many people in big ways and small. One joy of my work at Omaha Public Library is receiving letters from people throughout Douglas County telling me how they’ve been helped or how thankful they are for the kind service. It might be from an unemployed person sharing how a staff member helped them to improve their resume, or from a parent telling me how wonderful a children’s librarian was during story time. Collections, programs and services at the library are great, but the library employees make it work.
Michael Sauers is the Director of Logan Library in Logan, UT. Prior to this he was one of the founding staff and Technology Manager for Do Space in Omaha, NE. After earning his MLS in 1995 from the University at Albany's School of Information Science and Policy Michael spent his first 20 years as a librarian training other librarians in technology along with time as a public library trustee, a bookstore manager for a library friends group, a reference librarian, a technology consultant, and a bookseller. He has written dozens of articles for various journals and magazines and has published 14 books ranging from library technology, blogging, Web design, and an index to a popular horror magazine. In his spare time, he blogs at TravelinLibrarian.info, runs The Collector's Guide to Dean Koontz website at CollectingKoontz.com, takes many, many photos, and typically reads more than 100 books a year.
Unless otherwise stated, all opinions are my own and are not to be considered those of the City of Logan, UT.
View all posts by Michael Sauers
I don’t just mean out on the floor of the library, I mean really in public, like in the local paper (or their Web site), like Omaha Public Library director, Gary Wasdin just did.