Training Framework?

[Abigail Siemers]

We are examining our training framework in order to create more consistent training for new Bookmobile staff members at our library. I’m curious what other libraries do for this. Specifically, I’m looking at the following questions:

 

• What process do you use for training new staff members, both to operate your vehicles and for learning library policies as a whole?
• Does your library have one person who does all of the training or is the training spread out among the department staff?
• Does your library have a written curriculum or procedure manual that you follow for training? If so, would you mind sharing it with me? If not, how do you know what has or has not been covered?
• Is your library’s training a formal “sit down in a classroom and listen to someone teach you” type of policy/procedure training or is more “on the job” training where you learn as you go?
• If your library does more of a classroom-style training, does the new person work with a training buddy for a period of time on the vehicle after policy/procedures training, or do they immediately jump into the job as soon as policy/procedures training is complete?
• How long does the training process normally take from start to finish?

 

Any help with this would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

Abigail Siemers
Community Services Librarian
(785) 580-4592 | asie...@tscpl.org

 

Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library
1515 SW 10th Ave | Topeka, KS 66604-1374
tscpl.org

 

[Mary Beth Adams]

Training for new staff:

1. I, as department head, walk through the general library policies. We also have a general library orientation on our Staff Niche Academy, and a policies and procedures LibGuide.
2. We do have a checklist, which we used more before we had the Niche Academy training (it has quizzes to make sure people understand what they’ve learned), but I still use this checklist for my own memory to know what we’ve talked about.
3. We have new staff shadow both our staff and the branch library staff (the branch where we are located). This helps them learn basic circulation, reference, reader’s advisory, and programming policies and procedures.
4. Driving instruction – we are lucky, because my coworker’s husband drives tour buses for musical acts (yes, how cool is that). He is an awesome teacher! He will schedule time to come on a day we’re not on the road to train our new employees. Right now, we have two waiting to learn. We can try train them ourselves, but we’ll be honest and say he does a better job!! If we didn’t have him, I would call local truck training schools. Before we got our bookmobile, we took the CDL course (just the book portion, not the driving portion). We don’t need a CDL in our state as long as our vehicle comes under a weight limit, but it was helpful to have that information.
5. I’m probably quick to release people to do the job, but I hope my coworkers know they can come to me with any questions at any time. We do have monthly check-ins when someone can share what is working and what they feel they still need to learn.

 

Right now, our Mobile Library driver has primary driving responsibilities. I fill in when she can’t drive because of vacation or illness. Once our other two coworkers are trained, they, too, can fill in for her, which would be wonderful!

 

Mary Beth Adams (she, her)

Community Engagement Librarian

Alamance County Public Libraries

(336) 570-6981

 

From: 'Abigail Siemers' via ABOS-Outreach <ABOS-O...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2022 3:02 PM
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Subject: [ABOS-Outreach] Training Framework?

 

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[Karen Funke]

Thank you for sharing your checklist, Mary Beth.

karen

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ABOS-Outreach/f63526b37caf4453b7ce78f110bdfe06%40alamancelibraries.org.

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Karen Funke
Head of Outreach Services
Montrose Regional Library District
320 South 2nd Street
Montrose, CO 81401
(970) 964-2556

[Tanisa Thompson]

For Howard County System -

I train all staff who wish to reserve the van, assist ORK or host/assist with PopUp library events. We use Niche Academy for assignments. This a 2-hour class where staff receives 2 CEU's. I conduct a road test- drive around library property, practice backing in to the loading dock and operating the lift gate. Sessions are added pending my schedule's availability but I strive for seasonally. 

I have attached the description of the training to this email.

Staff can:

• register for sessions
• ask pre-training questions
• review & print the Mobile Branch Handbook
• rate the instructor/class
• what they learned
• sign up for a shadow day with the On the Road to Kindergarten (my team) to experience 

Hope this helps! 

Tanisa Thompson  | On the Road to Kindergarten Customer Service Specialist

Howard County Library System | Administrative Branch | 9411 Frederick Road | Ellicott City, MD 21042

410.313.1862 desk or 410.313.3611 (ORK office)  | 410.313.7675 fax

tanisa....@hclibrary.org

&

On the Road to Kindergarten | o...@hclibrary.org

2021 5-Star Library |  2013 Library of the Year  |  Listen to our HiJinx and HoCoCast podcasts, read our blog, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, Instagram, issuu, and Spotify. 

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From: 'Abigail Siemers' via ABOS-Outreach <ABOS-O...@googlegroups.com>

Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2022 3:01 PM
To: abos-o...@googlegroups.com <abos-o...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [ABOS-Outreach] Training Framework?

 

We are examining our training framework in order to create more consistent training for new Bookmobile staff members at our library. I’m curious what other libraries do for this. Specifically, I’m looking at the following questions:

--

[Beth Brown]

Hello,

Here is an onboarding checklist we use.

All the Best,

Beth Brown

Outreach Services Manager

220 N. 5th St

Zanesville, Oh. 43701

740-453-0391 ext. 142

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ABOS-Outreach/2ad376d5-da08-ebf3-17de-01a467dd49a5%40montroselibrary.org.

[Mary Beth Adams]

I would love to see your training materials – this is great!

 

Mary Beth Adams (she, her)

Community Engagement Librarian

Alamance County Public Libraries

(336) 570-6981

 

From: abos-o...@googlegroups.com <abos-o...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Tanisa Thompson
Sent: Thursday, September 1, 2022 12:43 PM
To: abos-o...@googlegroups.com; Abigail Siemers <asie...@tscpl.org>
Subject: [SPAM] [ABOS-Outreach] Re: Training Framework?

 

*WARNING* This email originated outside Alamance County�s email system. *WARNING*

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For Howard County System -

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