I love that librarianship is rich with opportunities to learn and grow, but these opportunities can seem beyond reach if your library isn’t able to fund them. While it’s vitally important to make a case for supporting professional development, something that Melissa Horak-Hern expertly outlines here, what do you do while funding isn’t there? Here are some tips for creating financially accessible professional development opportunities. Who is already doing this work? Think broadly: is your library interested in creating accessible spaces? Is there a population that you’re not seeing at the library? Are there issues in your community that you’d like to be more knowledgeable about? Start with the things you’d like to learn and find local groups already doing the work. Forging these connections has the added bonus of creating a local network. I arranged for visits from the county’s Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs that touched on the scope…
Tag: Administration and Management Skills
All About Volunteering: Become an ALSC Administrative Assistant
Learn about volunteering as an ALSC Administrative Assistant for the Notable Children’s Books committee.
Developing Social Skills . . . in Your Staff
How are your social skills post-pandemic? Not your party repartee; no doubt you still sparkle there! We’re talking about your ability to listen and to communicate clearly, respectfully, and often as you lead your team at work. And about that team . . . how effective are your staff’s social skills?
Rock Your Next Interview!
Getting an interview for a position you are interested in is super exciting, but also can be pretty scary because many times you only have one chance to make a great impression. After 8 years of hiring for youth services positions at all levels, here are some of my tips for rocking your job interview. Be prepared to share your experience and successes. This seems like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised by the amount of candidates I’ve interviewed that struggled with effectively sharing their qualifications. Before the interview, review your resume and think about how your previous experience has prepared you to succeed at this position. What are the highlights you want to be sure you share? Are there any programs, partnerships, or initiatives you helped to develop, implement, or improve? If there are any specific qualifications or skills that this position calls for, like understanding childhood development,…