Managing Small and One Person Libraries is one of the specialty
tracks participants may select. This track is for the director or
supervisor of a one-person library, a branch librarian or substitute
librarian, or the department head of a larger library. Competencies
cover governance and structure, policy
development, cooperation, personnel management, financial management,
planning and evaluation, and physical facilities.
Each Regional Public Library System in Minnesota has
a copy of the manuals:
- Training Manual
- Training Resources
- Small Libraries: Organization and Operation by Donald J.
Sager, 3rd ed, published by Highsmith, Inc.
Use the Manuals in pursuing Career Renewal. Use the
competencies as a checklist to determine the knowledges and abilities
you need to enhance. In the Training Manual, turn to the tabbed
section dealing with the category of competencies and use the
readings suggested both at the bottom of the outline and in the
sections Suggested Readings and Assignments to identify those
that will be of most help.
For information about the requirements for Career Renewal:
- Read the Handbook for Minnesota
Career Renewal.
- Use the list of competencies to Identify Personal Needs for
Career Renewal.
- Use the resources and assignments in the Managing Small
and One Person Libraries Training Manual to Develop a Personal
Continuing Development Plan
- Use a combination of group and independent activities as
learning methods. For example, you might attend the series of
three workshops outlined in the Managing Small and One Person
Libraries Training Manual, concentrate on one or more categories
and teach a session including your area of concentration as the
presentation milestone session.
Or, you might develop a plan including several of the suggested
readings and assignments in the sections Assignments and
Suggested Readings, complete the Final Project and ask your
Collaborating Colleagues to read your work.
This may form the basis for the third Milestone Session: Collegial
Forum Capstone.
These Managing Small and One Person Libraries Manuals are
useful for instructors and for staff development and orientation of
new library directors and branch heads.
For instructors, the manual is organized for three learning sessions of
approximate four hours each. The content is based on the competencies.
For staff development and orientation, the nine topics are organized
separately with listings of related handouts, readings, and group
exercieses. Each topic could be presented in a one-hour segment or be
assigned for discussion at staff meetings. Both manuals and the Sager
text are useful for those accepting the position of branch or department
head for the first time.
Bibliographies
Managing Small and One Person Libraries: Suggested Readings
Managing Small and One Person Libraries: A Bibliography with Additional Resources
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