8 Ways to Boost Library Staff

Last summer, there was a great question on Facebook asking for ideas on how to strengthen staff's teamwork, morale, and motivation. I thought the answers would be perfect to share for today, Staff Appreciation Day. It boils down to 8 fun ideas:

1. Fun Traveling Trophies

These trophies (which could be gnomes, Kermit the Frog stuffie, a stuffed bear, etc.) travel from person to person. Each meeting, staff can nominate the winner. The manager decides who gets it for the month. There's also another variation which the winner selects the next person who will get the trophy.

2. Heartfelt Note

Even something as simple as a note highlighting their achievements and $5 to their favorite establishment can go a long way.

3. Golden Date Stampers

One library went so far as to buy date stampers, spray paint them gold, and hand them out to people who have done something above and beyond. They also come with a certificate.

4. Highlight the Little Wins

Take the time in your meeting for staff members to recognize their colleagues who helped them with the small stuff, too, like teaching a time saving technology trick or switching shifts. These little acts of kindness are needed to keep a library running smoothly, too.

5. Bravo Drawing

Staff can give each other a "bravo" which go into a gift card drawing (writing the name of the person and why they earned it). Winner is selected at the staff meeting.

6. Shout Outs

Skip the internal meeting, and highlight your hard workers in the newsletter, website, and the main wall of the library. If you are giving out a coveted parking space, put their name on the sign in front of it.

7. Traditional Gift Card Awards

Gift cards given out quarterly, annually, etc. to those who went above and beyond. They vary in amounts.

8. Kudos Bulletin Board

Staff can write up things their colleagues have done and attach it to a bulletin board. Right before the staff meeting, these notes are collected and distributed to those praised. If you are feeling creative, the bulletin board can have different themes like "You're a Peach" or "Thanks a Latte".

What are the Popular Prizes?

The prizes tend to be a gift card, a parking spot, comp time, or a monetary prize. Providing a meal where staff have to come in on their day off may not be the best way to show your appreciation. Some places also hand out plaques and certificates, and of course, the Golden Date Stamper.

7 Tips for the Newbie Library Director

Congratulations, you have landed the coveted role as a Library Director! But what to do now? This was a question posted on ALATT Facebook Group, and there were so many great responses, we thought we'd record them below so they would not be lost in the black hole of the internet.

1. Find Mentors

Reach out to other directors in the area. They will make a great sounding board and resource.

2. Interact with All Staff

Don't hide in your office. Meet with all staff members, not just your supervisors. Work with staff on the desk and out in the stacks. Find out what their strengths and weaknesses are. Give them opportunities to shine and ask for feedback. Help them re-tailor their jobs so they can love it as much as they can. Make sure to establish clear boundaries between boss and friends (No Facebook!).

3. Support Staff

Attend staff programs so they know you care and patrons can also interact with you, too. Ask questions about their workflow. Every library does things differently and there's usually something that can be improved. Ask them what their biggest challenges are and find ways to help them through them.

4. Reach Out to the Community

Create community contacts (PTO/PTA,Chamber of Commerce, Women in Business, United Way, Lion's Club, EDC, etc.) for possible donations, supporters, etc. Attend all meetings so they can become familiar with the library and you get to learn more about your community. This will help with knowing who's who in your community and for collection development and program planning.

5. Read, Read, Read

Read the minutes from previous board meetings. Read the Trustee manual, internal procedures, State and Federal laws, flowcharts, who's who in the internal and external environment, history of your library/library system, human resources files: the resumés of your people, if you have a person covered by ADA in your staff and so on. Learn the HR rules in your state.

6. Remember:

• There is very little that you can do which cannot be fixed. It might take time and money, but they can be remedied. So, don't worry about mistakes!
• Treat your first year as your learning year. Listen, watch, assess, then take action.
• Morale is your number one asset. Treasure it, nurture it, do not let an individual destroy a team. 
• You don't have to fake it to make it. Just act as what you think a dynamic holder of the position would look and plan to grow into that full role.
  

7. Visit the Library Directors' website

Lastly, you can connect with a broader group of library directors through the http://www.librarydirectors.org/. Join the listserv, check out their long list of resources, and more! If you are active on Facebook, you can also join the Library Management Group.

Do you have any tips for new directors? Please share below.

Like this article? Check out:

Management 101: What to Be & What to Do
Management 101: A Manager Should Not, A Manager Should Know, A Manager Should Remember

Patrons Under the Influence of Drugs: What Libraries Can Do About It

One topic you don't hear too often is what to do about patrons who come in under the influence of drugs. At our recent YA Collaborative Group meeting, we invited two Community Police Officers to talk to a room full of teen and youth librarians about this important topic. They shared some great tips that I'd like to share with all of you, too.

1. No matter how small your library, you are not immune from the drug epidemic

• Across the United States, we have an opioid crisis. So much so that Marijuana isn't even much of a concern anymore. 

"Prescription opioid overdoses now kill more people in the United States every year than all other drugs combined, including illicit drugs. Collectively, drug overdoses are now the leading cause of death in the majority of states and kill more Americans every year than car crashes." (ncsl.org, 11/24/2015)

• With these scary statistics, we all need to work together to end this crisis. Ignoring this problem won't make it go away.
• Does your library policy cover drug use? Our presenters recommended including something that states: that if a person is suspected of drug or alcohol use, library staff will activate the EMS system (basically calling 911).
• Update: since this article has been published, many more overdoses have happened in libraries. The question isn't "if", but "when" will this happen at your library, too.
• Norfolk man dies after heroin overdose inside Slover Library
• Medical examiner: Man died of heroin overdose at Oak Park library
• Man overdoses in Cambria County library bathroom
• Life-Saving Librarian, Narcan Prevent Overdose Death
• Children Discover Couple Passed Out From Drug Overdose In Local Library

2. Partner with your community officers or school resource officers.

• You can ask your local law enforcement for regular walk-throughs to your library to see what's going on and to get to know patrons and staff.
• If they unable to visit frequently, at least get their contact information. If you suspect a patron is using drugs but have no proof, you can still call and ask them to have a chat with the patron, especially if they are a teen/child. Chances are, they are already on the police's radar.
• Due to this crisis, thirty states have passed drug overdose immunity and good Samaritan laws. Basically, law enforcement is shifting their focus from arresting people for drug crimes to getting them the help they need. So now, if you call 911 for a drug overdose (for you or someone you are with), you won't be charged for low level drug possession and use offenses. They are hoping this change will encourage more people to seek help when they need it. (ncsl.org, 11/24/2015) 
• So in these states, don't worry about getting someone "in trouble". That isn't the focus anymore.
• Feel comfortable in trusting your gut -- if something feels off, you are most likely right. Asking for police to come in for a chat isn't going to hurt anything, and that's what community police officers do. (Please call the main office line and not 911 for non-emergency matters.)
• People under the influence of drugs will often try to refuse medical attention because they don’t want to be arrested for possession.  It’s important that they know about the drug overdose immunity and get the medical help they need.

Image from http://www.ncsl.org/research/civil-and-criminal-justice/drug-overdose-immunity-good-samaritan-laws.aspx

3. Know what to look for:

Symptoms of opioid use/overdose:

• Pupils are like pin-points.
• Person is lethargic.
• Person may collapse (people suffering from an overdose usually die from respiratory failure – they may have a pulse, but they're not breathing).
• Excessive scratching.
• Keep in mind that people with certain medical conditions might display similar symptoms when they are experiencing an issue related to their condition (such as diabetic shock, so you should check for an insulin pump or medic alert bracelet).
• Recognizing Opioid Overdose
• Prescription Painkiller Addiction Effects, Signs & Symptoms

Synthetic marijuana is also becoming an issue:

• It’s technically legal.
• It can be purchased at some convenience stores.
• It can produce really bad effects.
• People under its influence tend to exhibit very bizarre behavior.
• Synthetic Marijuana

4. What to do if someone in the library is experiencing (or appearing to experience) an overdose:

• Call 911 immediately.
• If their heart is still beating but they are not breathing, you can use a Narcan (a nasal spray that is used to reverse the effects of opioids).
• Narcan can be purchased over the counter at stores such as CVS and Walgreens.
• It costs about $30.
• It’s safe to use even if turns out the person is not experiencing a drug overdose. (There are no ill effects)
• The effects are only temporary!  It lasts about 30 minutes so the person would still need immediate medical attention.
• After administered, the person will most likely be combative when they first revive because they will be confused as to what’s happened.
• There is some concern that towns might be sued if they administer this to a person without their consent, but the officers said that the Good Samaritans Law should protect from any lawsuits. 

5. Behavior you should look for if you suspect someone is dealing or hiding drugs:

• They keep hold of their stuff at all times.
• They walk around a lot (in and out of rooms, going into the bathroom frequently, etc.).
• They use their cell phones a lot.
• They’re scratching themselves a lot.
• If you suspect that a patron has a drug problem, don’t hesitate to contact officers (especially Community Officers and School Resource officers) so that they can privately talk with them to try to help them.

6. Did You Also Know...?

• You can order professional brochures on drugs and other topics from samhsa.gov for just the cost of shipping. They also provide free downloads, too.
• Tips for Teens: The Truth About Heroin/Club Drugs -- (Free Downloads)
• Alcohol and Drug Addiction Happens in the Best of Families -- (Free Downloads!)
• Some schools have allowed Teen, Children, and Youth Librarians to participate with teachers during their professional development days to learn more about these kinds of topics. Free training! And possibly, a chance to network with more people in your community.
• Reach out to drug rehabilitation centers for any possible trainings. Our local center is actually offering a free Narcan training next week and giving out two free doses of Narcan to all participants. That's a $60 value!
• Please consider keeping a Narcan on hand. They last a long time, and you could possibly save a life.
• This is a great chart about the different types of drugs and their indicators: Cumulative Drug Symptomatology Matrix

Special thanks to Amanda Maclure for taking such great notes at our YA Collaborative Group Meeting and letting me use them here. Also, thank you to our local police department for coming out and talking to us about this.

Management 101, Part 2

Last week, we shared the first half of the Management 101 list that we compiled from librarians all over the world on the ALATT Facebook Group. Today, we're going to talk about the harder parts of management.

A Manager Should Not...

• Don't micromanage.
• Don’t take any of their BS personally.
• Don't assign your staff to do anything you wouldn't do yourself.
• Don't be passive aggressive. 
• Don't call people out in front of others. Always take the time to pull the person aside to talk about any problems. 
• Don't feel you need to answer requests or communication immediately; take the time to think about it before you answer.
• Don’t befriend anyone on your staff, ever. You are never, ever off duty. 
• Don’t bring your ego to work. The folks you manage are the experts at their roles; don't micromanage their work. Facilitate it.
• Don’t put anything surprising on a person's annual review.

A Manager Should Know Sometimes...

• Sometimes, you will just be the bad guy and you have to suck it up.
• Sometimes, you just need to listen and not necessarily take action.
• Sometimes, you don't know the answer. It is okay to not know everything!
• Sometimes, your staff is talking and whispering about you. It comes with the position. Sometimes it is good, though.

A Manager Should Remember...

• Remember you have an obligation to the people you work with and to the mission of your institution. Look at both when making decisions and do your best to balance them.
• Remember that it is not your job to make them like you but to respect you as a professional and as their supervisor; however, that respect works both ways.
• Remember people will be people. Managing people will likely be the hardest part of your job.
• Remember the focus of your work is no longer direct service provision but the *people* who provide the direct service. Support them, guide them, include them and good service will follow.
• Remember almost no one shows up to work each day intending to screw up. If they do, there was usually a reason. Assume good intent and follow up from there.
• Remember when you become a manager, it's no longer about you. Take your place at the end of the line - it's the mission and your people first.
• Remember you can change behavior but you can't change personalities. 
• Remember clear communication is the key to happy living.
• Remember constructive criticism is a gift, done out of love for their institution and a desire for it to be the best it can be. Don't just dismiss those concerns, even if you can't actually do anything about their suggestions.
• Remember you can admit to being human.
• Remember to listen, really listen, when people talk to you and make sure you hear all of what they are saying.
• Remember, always remember, you don't manage people, you manage things. You work with people.

Don't forget to check out our Management 101, part one post, for the "What to Be" and "What to Do" list.

Management 101, Part 1

Back in October, there was a fabulous conversation on ALA Think Tank about what is Management 101. So many people participated that the comments filled up eleven pages! I enlisted my Director (thanks, Margaret!) to help me pull out the best of the best and trimmed it down to a two part series.

Today, we'll focus on the first three categories:

A Manager Should Be...

• Be a leader, not a manager.
• Be professional, consistent and kind.
• Be really aware of the power differential - people respond differently to you when you are their boss than they did when you were their peer. If you really want open dialog, you have to create an environment where people feel safe expressing their thoughts.
• Be willing to own up to your own mistakes and shortcomings.
• Be an active listener. Don't rush to judgement.
• Be willing to change your mind and make sure that your staff understands that it's okay to change your mind.
• Be compassionate - to everyone.
• Be fair and back up your staff.
• Be optimistic, be positive - but also be alert to the possibility that you'll be inheriting a couple long-standing, under-addressed problems that you'll be responsible for fixing.
• Be honest, transparent, and consistent. Have integrity and start with yourself. Be the example.

A Manager Should Always...

• Always say thank you often.
• Always share praise.
• Always invite feedback.
• Always keep your composure.
• Always deal with it NOW!
• Always praise everyone or none at all when in front of others.
• Always check with fellow supervisors before you ask someone else's supervisee to do something.
• Always start any new relationship with respect regardless of anything that you've heard before. A person not worthy of respect or trust will reveal that quickly enough.

A Manager Should Do...

• Do engender a positive work environment.
• Do proactively earn their trust - don't just expect it.
• Do listen more, talk less.
• Do develop a thick skin.
• Do retain your sense of humor.
• Do take responsibility when you could have managed better.
• Do reflect on the best and worst managers you ever had, and then learn from it.
• Do have a willingness to jump into the trenches and help when it’s needed.
• Do learn your staff's learning styles and how they communicate best.
• Do give your employees tasks that speak to their strengths and interests whenever possible.
• Do spend more time and energy on the people with positive attitudes than the ones with negative attitudes; understand that there's not always a solution to negative situations.
• Do use clear communication and outlined tasks.
• Do communicate more, and in more detail, than you think you need to.
• Do hire good people, and then get out of the way and let them do their jobs.
• Do find a mentor.

Part two is now available: What a Manager Should Not Do, Should Know, and Should Remember!