Branch Library Management

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Branch Library Management

• Instructor
• Hillary Theyer
• librarylady16_at_yahoo.com
• An Infopeople Workshop
• Spring 2008

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This Workshop Is Brought to You By the Infopeople
Project
Infopeople is a federally-funded grant project
supported by the California State Library. It
provides a wide variety of training to California
libraries. Infopeople workshops are offered
around the state and are open registration on a
first-come, first-served basis. For a complete
list of workshops, and for other information
about the project, go to the Infopeople website
at infopeople.org.
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Workshop Overview

• Roles of branch libraries
• Branch library collections
• Branch facility basics
• Branch services and programs
• Branch staff and supervision
• Incidents and emergencies
• Wrap-up

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Manager Hats

• Boss
• Collection builder
• Service provider
• Public face
• Building maintenance
• Problem solver
• Incident commander

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Roles of Branch Libraries

• Popular materials center
• Local information
• Ready reference and non-fiction
• Community activity center
• Information and referral
• Formal education support
• Early literacy and childhood learning

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Other Roles for Branch Libraries

• Free day care
• Skateboard park
• Public restroom/bathing facility
• Social center
• Meet your tutor/notary/real estate agent
• Use the internet/phone/copier
• Stay warm/cool
• Find someone to talk to

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Managers View of Branch Collections

• Scope of role in collection development
• Level and depth of collection
• Use of collection
• Condition of collection
• Budget for collection
• Weeding policies and procedures

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Assessing Collection Depth

• Popular/recreational
• Basic/general
• Instructional
• Research
• Exhaustive

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Other Collection Concerns for the Manager

• Quality vs. demand
• Space
• Price
• Controversial content
• Cataloging and access
• Format issues

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Basics of Collection Budgeting

• Format of the budget
• Time span for budgeting
• Percentage requirements
• Purchase limitations
• Reporting requirements
• Maintenance of records

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Buying Goes With Weeding

• Move out the deadwood
• Display the great stuff
• Help people find what they need
• Make branch more attractive
• Increase circulation
• Make room to buy more!
• Use MUSTIE

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The Library Building

• Managers building knowledge
• While on your building walk
• What do I do if?
• Considerations for unexpected closure

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What You Need To Know About Your Library Building

• Do building walks
• Know the major systems
• Know who maintains and fixes them
• Know who to call when something doesnt work

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On Your Building Walk

• Damage or vandalism
• Windows
• Graffiti
• Entrances/exits
• Landscaping
• Outer fixtures
• Signs
• Trash

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What Do I Do If?

• Building damage found
• Safety issue
• Security issue
• Nuisance issue
• Long-term issue
• Find out before you need to know!

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Managers Role for Unexpected Closure of the
Library

• Make and hang signs
• Change phone messages
• Assign bookdrop duty
• Alter due dates of materials
• Handle public relations
• Notify authorities
• Notify staff!

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Branch Library Services

• How well is it working now?
• Who is using the library?
• What impact do we have?
• Lets do some outreach!
• The exciting part!

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Assessing Branch Library Services

• System services
• Library users
• Library use patterns
• Other services in area
• Your available resources
• Your potential resources

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Who is Using the Library?

• Working adults
• Parents
• Young children
• Teens
• Students
• Older adults
• Job seekers

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Manager Plans Input to Impact

• Inputs what do I need to do this?
• Process how will it work?
• Outputs what can I count?
• Outcomes what will the public get?
• Impacts what is the long term benefit?

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Performing Outreach

• Seek out local events, fairs, festivals
• Make contact with community groups
• Offer to charities, foundations, societies
• Host or visit book groups
• Read the local paper
• Make customer contacts

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Managing and Supervising

• Train new staff, retrain others
• Train and review daily supervision duties with
  anyone left in charge
• Resolve difficulties as they arise

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Training Your Staff

• Develop a training schedule
• Add written documentation
• Use real life examples
• Include side by side learning
• Ask for feedback
• Set aside time

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Essentials For Staff Training

• Security of property duties
• Customer service expectations
• Cash handling and record requirements
• Policies and procedures
• Usage of equipment
• Emergency procedures

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Resolving Difficulties

• Supervisor ? best friend
• Goal is improvement not punishment
• Know system policy and procedure
• Assess the personalities involved
• Assess the particular situation
• Know, but let go of, the past

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Coaching and Discipline

• Facts
• Rule
• Impact
• Suggestion/correction
• Knowledge

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Incidents and Emergencies

• Policy, procedure, and practice
• Policy development
• Policy enforcement
• Common policy scenarios
• Incident reporting
• Basic emergency checklist

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Three Ps for the Manager

• Policy
• formal
• governing body
• Procedure
• written, step-by-step instructions
• Practice
• way things get done

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Policy Development and the Managers Role

• Draft the policy statement
• Obtain approvals
• Design and create notification
• Provide training
• Provide re-enforcement
• Reward the change!

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Policy Enforcement and the Managers Role

• Show no fear
• Know your policy
• Know your options and limits
• Go in with good expectations
• Tell the person what they get
• Be ready for the next step

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Three Common Enforcement Scenarios in a Branch
Library

• Unattended children
• Homeless patrons
• Fines and fees

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Unattended Children

• Whats the policy?
• Can you get contact information?
• Assess the immediate situation
• Call law enforcement?
• Have a handout/posting of policy
• Know the consequences

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Homeless

• Whats the policy?
• Whats the true problem?
• appearance, behavior, location
• Whats the rule violation?
• hygiene, loitering, bags, sleeping
• Other factors?
• mental state, current use, space

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Fines and Fees

• Whats the policy?
• What power do you have?
• Consistency across your staff
• Consistency across other locations
• Communication

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Four Tests for a Legally Enforceable Library
Policy

• Does the policy comply with current statutes?
• Is the policy reasonable? Including reasonable
  penalties?
• Could there be discriminatory application?
• Is the policy measurable?

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Policy Needs E.N.D.

• Equal enforcement
• Notice
• Due process

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Incidents

• Handle consistently
• Document, document, document!
• Communicate UP first
• Train as needed, and before it happens again

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Incident Reporting

• Date, time, place, people
• Order of events
• Direct dialogue
• Direct action
• NO assessment, interpretation, diagnosis,
  guesses, or blame
• Name authorities and witnesses
• Follow up

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Basic Emergency Supplies

• Emergency supply checklist
• Emergency phone numbers
• Evacuation kit
• Personal kit

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Essential Phone Numbers

• Police (911 and non-emergency)
• Fire (911 and non-emergency)
• Building maintenance
• Emergency contacts for staff
• Your boss
• Helpful neighbors

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Follow-Up After

• Take care of your staff
• Take care of the library
• Pursue incident with higher authority
• Training needed?
• Review of policy needed?
• Resources needed?
• Thanks and kudos!

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Manager Hats

• Boss
• Collection builder
• Service provider
• Public face
• Building maintenance
• Problem solver
• Incident commander
• oh, sometimes Librarian too!

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Say oh wise man how you have come to such
knowledge? Because I was never ashamed to
confess my ignorance and ask others. -
Johann Gottfried Von Herder, critic and poet
(1744-1803)
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Ask Me!
Hillary Theyer Torrance Public Library (310)
618-5953 librarylady16_at_yahoo.com
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your certificate