Spotlight

• How Many Ways Can You Grow?

  By Caitlin Williams, Ph.D.

  How do you make certain you’re on your cutting edge? How do you convince a prospective employer that you’re the candidate of choice, or to assure your current boss that you’re the “go-to” person who should be promoted into a leadership role? In most instances, you do so by demonstrating your expertise or thought leadership in the areas that your employer most needs – and you most enjoy. One the best ways to do that is … Read the rest

ALA-APA News

• Happy National Library Workers Day!

  Today, April 10th, is National Library Workers Day (NLWD). NLWD is a day set aside to recognize the contributions of all library workers —librarians, support staff and others who make library services possible. 

  Library employees are crucial to our economy and culture. The ALA–Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA) encourages you to take time to honor those workers who make a difference in your library by nominating them as stars. Let others know about the creativity, enthusiasm or great customer service … Read the rest

• Money Smart Week @ Your Library, April 21-28

  This year libraries in 38 states are participating in Money Smart Week @ your library.  Money Smart Week’s mission is to promote personal financial literacy. Libraries of all types have participated in Money Smart Week, partnering with community groups, financial institutions, government agencies, educational organizations and other financial experts to help consumers learn to better manage their personal finances. The American Library Association is a national partner in this initiative with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.… Read the rest

Certification

• LSSIRT, Ten States, Offer New Round of Library Support Staff Certification Registration Assistance Awards

  The Library Support Staff Certification (LSSC) Program is proud to announce that the Library Support Staff Interests Round Table (LSSIRT) as well as ten state library agencies will offer another round of financial assistance to LSSC Program applicants. The LSSC Program offers library support staff the opportunity to achieve recognition for their existing skills and knowledge, to gain new skills and knowledge and to enhance their library’s service to the public.

  The ten states participating are the Idaho Commission for … Read the rest

HR Practice

• Protect Your Library from Employment Discrimination Claims

  By Michael Germano

  Editor’s note: This article was originally published as part of Library Management: Tips that Work, edited by Carol Smallwood, and part of the ALA Guides for the Busy Librarian series. Published with permission of ALA Editions.

  The costs of defending, settling or paying damages for a verdict related to a claim of employment discrimination can be substantial for most organizations and potentially debilitating for a cash-strapped library. Money that goes toward compensating aggrieved employees can represent … Read the rest

Salaries

• Equal Pay Day April 17, 2012

  The next Equal Pay Day is Tuesday, April 17, 2012. This date symbolizes how far into 2012 women must work to earn what men earned in 2011. Equal Pay Day was originated by the National Committee on Pay Equity (NCPE) in 1996 as a public awareness event to illustrate the gap between men’s and women’s wages. Because women earn less, on average, than men, they must work longer for the same amount of pay. The wage gap is even greater … Read the rest

Statistics

• Recovery Is “Durable,” Reports DOL. How Is Your Library Recovering?

  Our nation’s labor market added 121,000 private sector jobs in the month of March, while the unemployment rate fell to 8.2 percent. For 25 consecutive months, we’ve registered private sector job growth. Secretary Hilda Solis of the U.S. Department of Labor said, “Some months we are seeing tremendous job gains, while other months we are seeing more modest gains. But the trend line is clear: Our economy is growing, and our recovery is durable.”

  Has your library added to … Read the rest

Work/Life

• Greetings From Retirement!

  By Satia Orange

  When I announced my retirement in September 2009, my friends and colleagues assured me that after a few months of rest, I would be driven to fill my time. “The sleeping late will get old fast,” said one friend. “You’ll be so bored with nothing to do.” Others told me that “after the first year, you’ll be hungry for volunteer opportunities, to pass the time,” and that I’d embrace retirement as a time to travel the world and tackle … Read the rest

• First Thoughts from a Workplace Wellness@Your Library Symposium

  By Loriene Roy

  Our Workplace Wellness@Your Library Symposium took place in a School of Information classroom in Austin, Texas, March 23-24, 2012. Funded by a Year 1 Regional Symposium Award through the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and National Institutes of Health (NIH), the event provided an opportunity to explore topics related to wellness that impact library workers. This article features an introduction to selected key messages from several speakers at the meeting and serves as a preview for topics that … Read the rest

LW Tip

• Register Now for April 11 Conflict Resolution Webinar

  There’s still time to register for “Moving Difficult Conversations Toward Positive Outcomes: Coping with Challenges in the Library Workplace,” a free webinar addressing conflict resolution in the workplace.

  Librarians often face unexpected confrontations with an upset patron, community member, coworker or concerned citizen. Knowing how to steer conflict toward healthy resolution is critical. These issues will be discussed in a free webinar on Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at 12:00 p.m. CDT. 

  The conflict resolution webinar is sponsored by … Read the rest

• Use Story, Brand and Accomplishment Statements to STAND OUT in Your Job Search

  Did you know that the interview question “Tell me about yourself” is a fantastic opportunity for you to distinguish yourself from other candidates? Did you know that powerfully written accomplishment statements on your resume can help you make the cut and get that interview? Join us for an online chat on Thursday, April 26, 12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m. (Central) and discover the secrets of a well-written resume and the power of a compelling career story. Bring along your resume and learn … Read the rest