ANLTC Filling the empty chairs

1
ANLTC Filling the empty chairs

• My story..
• Case studies in succession planning
• Jessie Kurtz, Deputy Librarian,
• Trinity College Dublin

2
The education bit.

• University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario
• Completed Honours B.A. in History 1977
• Completed B.Ed (Secondary School History School
  Librarianship) 1978
• Completed MLS (Masters in Library Science) in
  August 1979

3
My working life so far

• (1) School Librarian 1979-81 Moosonee,
  Ontario
• (2) Team/Childrens Librarian, Kitchener Public
  Library 1981-85 - Kitchener, Ontario
• (3) Librarian, Central Theology Library
  1985-87 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
• (4) Head of Circulation Services - University of
  Saskatchewan Library 1987-90

4
My working life so far (2)

• (5) Library Personnel Organisational
  Development Officer, University of Saskatchewan,
  Saskatoon, SK
• (6) Head of Access Services - University of
  Victoria 1992-98 Victoria, British Columbia
• (7) Head of Public Services - John Rylands
  University Library 1998-2005 Manchester,
  England
• (8) Deputy Librarian Trinity College Library
  Dublin 2005-current

5
What core competencies have I picked-up along the
way?

• (1) School Librarian in isolated community to
  be resourceful and the importance of regional
  libraries and local, regional and national
  cooperation, knowledge management
• (2) Public Library job this was my first
  supervisory job I learned to be patient,
  appreciate experience and take staff along with me

6
What core competencies have I picked-up along the
way? (2)

• (3) Theological Library job learned about
  selling the concept of a professional librarian
  to a management who had never had one
• (4) Head of Circulation Services leadership,
  the concept of expertise in a field, strategic
  planning, knowledge management, team building,
  committee member, job evaluation, project
  management

7
What core competencies have I picked-up along the
way?(3)

• (5) Library Personnel Organisational
  Development Officer IR issues, HR management,
  staff training development, organisational
  development, chairing committees, member of
  Library Executive Team
• (6) Head of Access Services library-wide
  strategic planning, university-wide job
  evaluation, membership on university committees,
  budgeting, liaison with university HR

8
What core competencies have I picked-up along the
way?(4)

• (7) Head of Public Services larger remit,
  multi-branch, facilities, forming committees,
  management once removed, coaching the line
  managers
• (8) Deputy Librarian multi-tasking
  extraordinaire

9
Understanding your transferable skills

• Communication interpersonal skills
• Team player, leader, builder,
• Participative management style
• Personal initiative, creative, flexible,
  positive attitude
• Leadership advocate, policy setting, problem
  solving, strategic planning

10
Understanding your transferable skills (2)

• Change management organisational development,
• Human Resources performance management,
  recruitment, conflict resolution, staff
  supervision, coach/mentor,
• Administration procedure writing, project
  management
• Teaching user education, staff training
• IT skills
• Experience customer service, operations
  management

11
What have I learned so far?

• To apply only for jobs I knew I could do
• To keep up-to-date with my professional
  development seeing the gaps and training to
  fill these
• To think bigger picture
• To have a career path that is achievable
• To be enthusiastic about the possibility of change

12
Remember

• Dont limit yourself
• Be flexible
• Be mobile
• Dont be afraid to say what you want out of a job
• Be yourself
• Make today and every day count!