Recent research has been drawn upon throughout to fully revise this volume, especially in the areas of staff motivation, job satisfaction and workforce planning. Of particular note are the many new examples featured of documentation now used by libraries, particularly in the coverage of job descriptions, recruitment, staff selection and staff appraisal. All topics highlighted by the changed Library Association requirements for achievement of its qualifications are covered, and the chapter on staff appraisal has been completely re-written to take account of the great progress made in libraries and information units since the last edition. The section on staff supervision and interpersonal skills training has been reorganized and now encompasses time management, conflict management and the management of stress. With these new features bringing the book up to date, it remains an indispensable guide for all library and information centre professionals, and all those involved with the supervision and management of library and information staff.

This standard text has been fully revised and updated for its fourth edition to reflect continuing technological changes, as well as issues such as social inclusion, lifelong learning and European employment legislation. Chapter 1 on the working environment has been completely rewritten. The present environment brings problems of staff motivation, de-professionalization and the loss of control: Chapter 2 reminds readers of basic motivation theories, now presented in a more logical sequence, and how to deal with such problems. Chapter 3 on workforce planning has been retitled Human Resource Planning and revised to take into account the modes of staffing appropriate for today's turbulent environment. Effective human resource planning requires excellent selection and recruitment procedures: best practice and developments in this area are explored in Chapters 4, Job Descriptions and Person Specifications, and 5, Recruitment and Selection of Staff. In Chapter 6 on staff appraisal more attention has been given to multi-rating approaches, such as 360° whereby different aspects of work can be assessed by different groups of people, and to appraisal of junior by senior staff. The last decade has seen increased emphasis on training and development to deliver high quality services in a climate of constant change. Chapter 7 has therefore been reordered and expanded in order to reflect new approaches and changes in this area. In Chapter 8, Staff Supervision and Interpersonal Skills, recent emphasis on leadership and counselling skills are reflected, as is the growing need to do more with less through enhanced time management and stress management techniques. With this new edition, this core guide brings professionals involved in managing library and information staff up to date with how to cope with the most pressing problems and challenges in today's fast-changing environment.

Whether the HR function in your library is handled by an entire department, or a single individual, this nuts-and-bolts primer is a treasure trove of templates, forms, samples, and checklists that you can start using today. Organized in a Q&A format for quick reference, the author asks the everyday questions that few other guides bother to address. How do you write a job description? What kinds of questions should I ask in the interview? How should star employees be recognized? What are the most important elements in training staff? How do we handle a Reduction in Force? Every answer is specifically tailored to libraries' particular needs and circumstances. From the basics of hiring and firing, training, evaluation, legal requirements, recruitment and retention to hot topics like attracting minorities to librarianship, the "graying" of the library workforce, technologies useful for HR tasks, and more, this book gives you the full range of need-to-know information. Particularly useful for students, new professionals, and occasional or "accidental" HR managers who need a reference to consult as issues arise, this book is the ideal go-to guide for quick, well informed advice, useful summaries of the most important research and professional resources, and proven HR tools for every kind of library.

This latest volume contains approaches from researchers around the world. The chapters explore such issues as skills-building and other professional development activities, changing demographic profiles of staff, changing modes of resource provision, succession planning, remote work, and planning for Linked Data.

There’s no shortage of library management books out there—but how many of them actually tackle the little details of day-to-day management, the hard-to-categorize things that slip through the cracks of a larger handbook? Library Management Tips that Work does exactly that, addressing dozens of such issues facing library managers, including How to create a job manual, and keep staff accountable Keeping your library board in the loop Using numbers to make your case Dealing with unreturned library materials Methods for managing multiple libraries with one FTE librarian Retaining services despite budget cuts and staff shortages Public relations on a shoestringWritten by contributors from across the field, this eclectic guide offers best practices suitable for managers in all types of libraries.

Written in a warm and personal style, Working in the Virtual Stacks presents an exciting future for librarians, already upon us today!