Effective Strategies for Library Staff Management
Library Director position involves fiscal management, strategic planning, community involvement, facilities management, and personnel management. It requires gaining respect, building trust, effective communication, and dealing with interpersonal conflicts. Building trust, coaching, and mentoring are key elements for successful staff management, along with involving staff in decisions and ensuring resources for their work.
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Managing Library Staff LEAH WAGNER, DIRECTOR, MONROE TOWNSHIP LIBRARY LWAGNER@MONROETWPLIBRARY.ORG
What you think managing a library staff might look like .
What managing a library staff frequently looks like .
Take a deep breath and abandon this approach!
Youve planned on an administrative position from the beginning of your career. How did you become a Library Director? You have extensive experience and you wanted to take on a position that paid more. You were next in line. You think you can make a positive difference as a Library Director. You re not really sure how it happened. Any combination of the above.
Fiscal management, including responsibility for purchasing within legal guidelines Being a Library Director brings a wide range of responsibilities Planning expertise, including maintaining an awareness of evolving trends in the profession Community involvement Facilities management, from day to day maintenance to renovation and new construction And personnel management!
Gaining Respect, Building Trust Communication and Creating Connections Coaching and Mentoring Key elements of successful personnel management
Deal with situations as they arise (more on interpersonal conflicts later). Follow through on promises. Spend some time on the front lines or at least ensure you are aware of what takes place there. Gaining Respect Treat all staff with respect. Do your own job and do it well; you will be scrutinized.
Staff have to trust that you will look out for their best interests and that you will take their input seriously. Staff have to trust that you will back them up. Give them the tools they need to do their work, whether these tools are resources, time or a collaborative setting. Building Trust Be inclusive, involve other staff in discussions and decisions. Trust takes time to build
Connect with staff on an ongoing basis; get out of your office and walk around. Communicating and Creating Connections Ask about their work and their weekend. Pay attention to different styles of communication and modify your style to theirs. Develop an understanding of staff relationships within the organization. Be available and approachable
Pay it forward give staff the tools they need to move ahead in their careers. Coaching and Mentoring Build healthy relationships with staff to allow them to progress. Listen when needed and provide guidance or advice when asked. Think of mentoring as your responsibility to the profession
Encourage growth Provide autonomy Look out for staff Respect everyone s contribution Lead by example Communicate and listen Provide leadership and vision. Top compliments for a successful library manager From the Accidental Library Manager
Micromanagement Lack of communication Fostering divisiveness Abusiveness Failure to listen Avoiding conflict Taking credit for others work Top complaints for a successful library manager From the Accidental Library Manager
Maintain objectivity Give staff members the benefit of the doubt Establish and follow a policy for progressive discipline Interpersonal Conflict: Key Steps Meet with the staff member, and his or her supervisor, and calmly discuss the situation Follow up with written documentation Continue monitoring and document, if needed If the situation is resolved successfully, acknowledge that to the staff member
Assess your current situation. Set your goals and strategies. Engage staff and Stakeholders Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Diversify your collections and services. Evaluate your impact and progress. Learn from others and share your practices. How to Promote DEI in Library Management.LinkedIn, Sept. 8, 2023. www.linkedin.com
Develop a respectful relationship with the Union officers/shop stewards Bring them into conversations about difficult topics (disciplinary actions, budgetary dilemmas, etc.) before actions are taken. Working with Unions Meet with them regularly. Include Union representation in any meeting regarding disciplinary action. Thank them for their commitment.
Review Statutes with the Board and encourage them to establish a Personnel Committee, if one does not already exist. Reinforce that the Board hires the Director and the Director recommends all other staff for hire. Working with Boards Encourage the Board to establish a policy the clarifies that communication between the Board and the staff is conducted through the Director Stress that any discussion of staff at a Board meeting must be legally compliant and requires a RICE notice
Your role has changed dramatically you are no longer the person who gets things done! You make it possible for others to get things done. Delegating can be difficult but critical to moving the Library forward and to gaining the trust of staff. Some random thoughts Not every crisis that is brought to you truly requires your intervention learn to figure out when you have to act. Project confidence even when you don t feel it. People will believe that you can handle things.
Good Luck as a New Director! LWAGNER@MONROETWPLIBRARY.ORG
