Helping patrons and community members develop 21st century skills requires staff with 21st century skills of their own. Creating an overall organizational culture that fosters learning and innovation requires administrative support and prioritization.
Technically, this is a subset of Personnel Management, but it is called out separately due to the primary focus that the WebJunction Index places on this set of competencies. Library leaders:
Establish strategies and long-range initiatives to create a learning environment within
the library
Plan for and support staff career development opportunities
Develop and implement a culture that embraces ongoing learning
Develop effective methods to evaluate learning initiatives
The Competency Index for the Library Field includes Staff Training & Development on pages 34 & 35.
Staff Training & Development ranked #15 out of 51 self-identified urgent training needs. It ranked #24 out of 60 topics staff would like training in. 36% (39) of respondents indicated they would like training at the Beginner level, 28% (30) would like training at the Intermediate level, and 37% (40) would like training at the Advanced level.
Safety - Provide a safe environment for staff and public, ensuring privacy, confidentiality, and physical well-being.
Courtesy - Treat everyone with kindness and respect.
Knowledge - Be aware of library policies, procedures, and resources.
Efficiency - Provide accurate and timely service with the best use of tangible and intangible resources.