First of all, I have been working at this library for almost six years. This is the first time that staff development has come up that is not associated with regional training.
The former director never attended any regional training that I am aware of. She didn't think it was important. So therefore, staff development is foreign to me!!
I can say that any time training is offered by the Regional or State Library, I offer it to any staff member that I think it would benefit. Our Technology plan was just approved that included staff training in the goals for each year preferably offered by the Regional Library or reasonably priced elsewhere.
I realize, as Heather was talking this morning, that staff training is not all encompassing in staff development. I would like to get some staff development ideas that have been successful in libraries that have done this. Then implement some of these in my library in the future.
I also had a predecessor who did not like inservice training. She thought it was beneath her and that she was needed more at the library (mainly on the phone to her daughter/granddaughter) than doing anything to better herself. I suppose after 30 years of running the library, she thought she knew it all. None of us know it all, and none of us are perfect employees or managers. We all have a need to improve and I think that is what is great about continuing education. We can learn new ways of thinking and doing... and there is always a great idea that we can discover and bring back to implement in our library.
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