Next week I'll be doing performance appraisals with my staff. While it seems to be a rather straight forward process, it is one that I need to work on.
I enjoy giving my staff praise, but find it difficult to offer constructive criticism. Well, I really don't find it difficult to offer it, more like difficult to communicate it. I guess no one likes telling someone that they need to work harder at something or may be doing something wrong.
I also find our performance appraisal system a bit limiting and want to give it more value for my staff. Most of my staff have been working in their roles for 10 years plus so they don't really have an opportunity to move up the pay scale any higher than what they are - so how then do you make this process a motivating one?!?
Also, the current process is based around job descriptions and is hard to rate. I also have staff in other branches that I don't work with so have difficulty appraising them. How do you know how someone is performing if you have never worked with them or witnessed how they work?
So, to make it a bit more interesting this time, I thought I would have a look around for some "core competencies" that library staff should have.
I found some good one's here.
So basically, I took the competencies relevant to the roles my staff performed and created a list of competencies that they can be appraised against.
The core competencies I chose are: Adaptability; Communication; Customer Service; Organisational Awareness; Personal Responsibility; Problem Solving; Teamwork; Basic Computer Use; Email Skills; Internet Basics; Library Website and Catalogue Basics; Windows Basics; Word Processing Skills; Reference Skills; Readers' Advisory Skills; Technical (Circulation) Skills.
I think these competencies will provide clearer goal posts for my staff to work towards.
Does your organisation use competencies in performance appraisals?
What do you think are your core competencies?
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
The Readers and Writers are Coming
The Bellingen Readers and Writers Festival is happening next week, and so begins the take over of our shire with reading and writing addicts.
As a librarian, it's a little bit exciting for me because I will get to rub shoulders with some well-known and not so well-known authors, and share the excitement with fellow readers.
However, I was not always excited about meeting authors. I thought it would be a bit like meeting your favourite actor and being disappointed because they were nothing like the character you fell in love with in which ever movie or television show they star in.
And sometimes it is like that. Sometimes it's not really the author you care about. It's the characters that you fall in love with.
Sometimes meeting the author can be disappointing and leave you wondering how someone like that managed to write characters that you managed to love so much.
And sometimes the opposite happens, and you meet and listen to an author you've never read, and suddenly you need to devour their book(s) as soon as possible and you wonder why you never read them in the first place.
I must say that in the last five years of living here, I have met more authors than ever before. And I must say that I have not been disappointed with any of them.
However, I do know a number of people who will never come to author events/presentations, even if that author is their favourite author - because they really don't want to know about the author or the process they followed writing their books. They would be more excited if they could meet a character(s) from the book(s) they love.
So where do you sit dear blog reader? Are you a meet the author junkie or are you happy just to know the characters?
As a librarian, it's a little bit exciting for me because I will get to rub shoulders with some well-known and not so well-known authors, and share the excitement with fellow readers.
However, I was not always excited about meeting authors. I thought it would be a bit like meeting your favourite actor and being disappointed because they were nothing like the character you fell in love with in which ever movie or television show they star in.
And sometimes it is like that. Sometimes it's not really the author you care about. It's the characters that you fall in love with.
Sometimes meeting the author can be disappointing and leave you wondering how someone like that managed to write characters that you managed to love so much.
And sometimes the opposite happens, and you meet and listen to an author you've never read, and suddenly you need to devour their book(s) as soon as possible and you wonder why you never read them in the first place.
I must say that in the last five years of living here, I have met more authors than ever before. And I must say that I have not been disappointed with any of them.
However, I do know a number of people who will never come to author events/presentations, even if that author is their favourite author - because they really don't want to know about the author or the process they followed writing their books. They would be more excited if they could meet a character(s) from the book(s) they love.
So where do you sit dear blog reader? Are you a meet the author junkie or are you happy just to know the characters?
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Kids Mini Book Series - What of the leftovers?
Since last Sunday, I have been regularly purchasing the Sydney Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph to get the free mini books for kids. There are 14 titles in total to collect.
It is my understanding that each major newspaper in each state will offer these mini books at some time during 2012/13.
While there will be plenty of parents, grandparents, carers and lovers of kids books taking up this offer, I'm sure there will be plenty of books left over at the end of this offer, as not everyone is prepared or in the financial position to purchase a paper plus pay the extra for a book.
I wonder what the newspapers have planned to do with the left overs. Wouldn't it be great if they offered the left over books and bag to the public/school libraries to hand out to children or new parents?
I know that libraries have heaps of different programs for new parents where they are provided with a bag of book(s). But I keep thinking that the newspapers must have produced thousands of copies of these books and bags and there must be heaps left over - wouldn't it be great to get the local newsagents to donate the left over packs to libraries?
Anyway, just a thought!
It is my understanding that each major newspaper in each state will offer these mini books at some time during 2012/13.
While there will be plenty of parents, grandparents, carers and lovers of kids books taking up this offer, I'm sure there will be plenty of books left over at the end of this offer, as not everyone is prepared or in the financial position to purchase a paper plus pay the extra for a book.
I wonder what the newspapers have planned to do with the left overs. Wouldn't it be great if they offered the left over books and bag to the public/school libraries to hand out to children or new parents?
I know that libraries have heaps of different programs for new parents where they are provided with a bag of book(s). But I keep thinking that the newspapers must have produced thousands of copies of these books and bags and there must be heaps left over - wouldn't it be great to get the local newsagents to donate the left over packs to libraries?
Anyway, just a thought!
Just Google It - Continued
I had to do a follow up post to my last post because I think it is important to share what has happened since gaining approval to run sessions with the students as Miss A's school.
The school had organised library visits for the year 2/3, 3/4 and 5/6 classes. However, the weather had other ideas and due to the extreme conditions, I said that I could visit the classes at the school rather than have the students walk to the library in the horizontal rain and wind.
At these visits, I had the students divide into their project questions/topics. I provided each group some butchers paper and different covered felt pens (textas). I then asked the students to label the paper with their project topic and write all the words and questions they could think of when it came to their topic. E.g. for those doing shipwrecks they put ship, boat, rocks, storm, where did the boat/ship come from?, what was the boat/ship carrying?, where was the ship/boat going? etc.
I then handed out a kids guide to Dewey Decimal Classification that I had modified to be more Australian.
We went through how the Dewey Decimal Classification worked using a comparision with supermarket shopping and how all the fruit and vegetables are together and all the meat is together and all the bread is together, etc.
I then asked them to look at their words on their butchers paper and go through the Dewey Decimal Classification handout and write down any Dewey Decimal numbers that they thought matched their words.
By this time, I had run out of time with them - I only had half an hour with each class. But the end product was butchers paper full of keywords and possible Dewey Decimal numbers they could go to when visiting the library.
Luckily for me, the teachers arranged for library visits once the weather had cleared.
During the library visit, I gave a quick tour of the library. We then sat down and I asked what parts of a book they could look at to find out if the book would have anything about their topic. The students were really cluey about this and all could answer - the blurb at the back, the contents page and the index.
I had put aside books to do with their topics and made sure they couldn't be loaned to allow all students equal access to the resources. We all know what can happen if you have one student or parent of a student who is quick of the mark and borrows all the books about a particular topic resulting in the other students having access to nothing.
The students were then allowed to look through the books and photocopy (for free) any pages they thought that would help then with their projects - with a limit of 10 pages!
All in all it has been a success. The teachers were really impressed and have already talked to me about making this a regular thing.
The principal even put a small article in the school newsletter talking about the partnership with the school and local library and how wonderful it was for the students to learn about how they can access learning resources from a place within their community outside of school.
Now all I have to do is continue working on the other 6 primary schools and 2 high schools in our region - which I have been hammering away at since I started in this job 5 years ago.
The school had organised library visits for the year 2/3, 3/4 and 5/6 classes. However, the weather had other ideas and due to the extreme conditions, I said that I could visit the classes at the school rather than have the students walk to the library in the horizontal rain and wind.
At these visits, I had the students divide into their project questions/topics. I provided each group some butchers paper and different covered felt pens (textas). I then asked the students to label the paper with their project topic and write all the words and questions they could think of when it came to their topic. E.g. for those doing shipwrecks they put ship, boat, rocks, storm, where did the boat/ship come from?, what was the boat/ship carrying?, where was the ship/boat going? etc.
I then handed out a kids guide to Dewey Decimal Classification that I had modified to be more Australian.
We went through how the Dewey Decimal Classification worked using a comparision with supermarket shopping and how all the fruit and vegetables are together and all the meat is together and all the bread is together, etc.
I then asked them to look at their words on their butchers paper and go through the Dewey Decimal Classification handout and write down any Dewey Decimal numbers that they thought matched their words.
By this time, I had run out of time with them - I only had half an hour with each class. But the end product was butchers paper full of keywords and possible Dewey Decimal numbers they could go to when visiting the library.
Luckily for me, the teachers arranged for library visits once the weather had cleared.
During the library visit, I gave a quick tour of the library. We then sat down and I asked what parts of a book they could look at to find out if the book would have anything about their topic. The students were really cluey about this and all could answer - the blurb at the back, the contents page and the index.
I had put aside books to do with their topics and made sure they couldn't be loaned to allow all students equal access to the resources. We all know what can happen if you have one student or parent of a student who is quick of the mark and borrows all the books about a particular topic resulting in the other students having access to nothing.
The students were then allowed to look through the books and photocopy (for free) any pages they thought that would help then with their projects - with a limit of 10 pages!
All in all it has been a success. The teachers were really impressed and have already talked to me about making this a regular thing.
The principal even put a small article in the school newsletter talking about the partnership with the school and local library and how wonderful it was for the students to learn about how they can access learning resources from a place within their community outside of school.
Now all I have to do is continue working on the other 6 primary schools and 2 high schools in our region - which I have been hammering away at since I started in this job 5 years ago.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Just Google It
Last week, Miss A came home with her first project. Miss A is in year 2 this year but has been put in a year 2/3 class so instead of continuing stage 1 work (Kindy-2), she is now doing stage 2 work (yrs 3-4). I'm in mixed minds about this but I'm not focusing on this in today's blog post.
Back to the project. So this is the project:
During each Term this year you will be given an outline for a project to work on at home. The projects will be linked to that Term's theme in HSIE. While not compulsory, we hope you will take these opportunities to further develop valuable skills in research and presentation.
Our theme in Term 1 is early Australian history: sea exploration, reasons for colonisation, and first settlement.
For this Term's project you should choose one of the following:
Back to the project. So this is the project:
During each Term this year you will be given an outline for a project to work on at home. The projects will be linked to that Term's theme in HSIE. While not compulsory, we hope you will take these opportunities to further develop valuable skills in research and presentation.
Our theme in Term 1 is early Australian history: sea exploration, reasons for colonisation, and first settlement.
For this Term's project you should choose one of the following:
- A biography of a convict. This can be any convict who became well-known, e.g. Francis Greenway, James Ruse, John Cadman. If you know you have a convict as an ancestor, you can do your project on him or her.
- A famous shipwreck, e.g. Batavia, Vergulde Draeck, Zuytdorp or Trial (there are two - one in WA and another at South West Rocks)
- This year is the bicentenary of the crossing of the Blue Mountains by Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson in 1813. Explain why it took 35 years to find a way over the mountains west of Sydney, and why it was so important for the colony of NSW.
And it goes on to explain how the project is to be presented.
Imagine my shock when Miss A told me that the teacher (not her teacher) explaining the project told them to use Google. I asked - did they mention books, the school library, the public library?? She said no.
So like any good mother, I visited her teacher and mentioned that I wasn't very happy that the students were told to use Google and I'd happily offer the students a session on how to find information in the public library - which is just down the road from the school.
This week I'm providing "how to find information" sessions for the year 2/3's, 3/4's and 5/6's from my daughter's school.
Now I don't dismiss having students use Google to find information. But I do get disappointed when there is no explanation on how to define what they should be looking for, no discussion of keywords, no discussion of how to evaluate the information found, and no discussion of the other research tools and resources that could be used.
I also find it disappointing that the school librarian is not insisting on offering "how to find information" sessions to the students.
I understand that there can be many reasons why this doesn't happen - lack of funds, lack of support by the teachers, lack of time etc etc. But what if I my daughter was not at this school? Who else would jump in and ask that the students be given the opportunity to be taught these skills? Especially since the project states that it is allowing the students to further develop their research skills - well how about giving them research skills to develop instead of giving a project without the basic support to get them started?
Even if the school had not agreed to allow the students to come to the library, Miss A would still be provided with a lesson in finding information from me - but what about the other students?
And I'm trying very hard not to think about the other schools in our area that are also not providing their students with the basic start in finding information.
What are your thoughts on this?
Monday, February 4, 2013
My Love of The Outsiders Fan Fiction
Ok there are some readers that will know I love The Outsiders and that I have also mentioned my love of some, not all, The Outsiders Fan Fiction. But here I will share a little bit more on why I love some of The Outsiders Fan Fiction.
To quote from Wikipedia: Fan fiction (alternatively referred to as fanfiction, fanfic, FF, or simply fic) is a broadly-defined fan labor term for stories about characters or settings written by fans of the original work, rather than by the original creator.
I stumbled across The Outsiders Fan Fiction purely by accident - so much so I can't even remember how and why I found it. Regardless, I haven't looked back since finding it.
For me it is the ability for the characters to continue to live on once I finished the book that does it for me. And while some fan fiction is absolutely terrible, others I have found to be quite good - even up there with the original book.
I admit that I don't always feel in the mood to go to it and I have my The Outsiders on and off phases but it is something I keep coming back to.
I have re-read the original book to many times to remember but at times I feel I have out done it (definately not out grown it) - but am over it and want the to see the characters move on and that is exactly what fan fiction has allowed me to do.
Sometimes you find a story that you just shake your head in disbelief at what they put the characters through. Others try to re-write the original with different endings - some I have liked, others I haven't.
I now have a few fan fiction authors that I have feeds for so I know when they write a new chapter or new story. It is frustrating at times at how slow they release the chapters but most are very much worth waiting for. Other stories have been started and left abandoned - I have found a few where it has been a real shame that this has happened.
Did you know that Fifty Shades of Grey started as a Twilight Fan Fiction story? So fan fiction can be and has been a starter for some successful authors.
Anyway, for those who share my love of The Outsiders - here are some links to what I think have been good stories/authors:
To quote from Wikipedia: Fan fiction (alternatively referred to as fanfiction, fanfic, FF, or simply fic) is a broadly-defined fan labor term for stories about characters or settings written by fans of the original work, rather than by the original creator.
I stumbled across The Outsiders Fan Fiction purely by accident - so much so I can't even remember how and why I found it. Regardless, I haven't looked back since finding it.
For me it is the ability for the characters to continue to live on once I finished the book that does it for me. And while some fan fiction is absolutely terrible, others I have found to be quite good - even up there with the original book.
I admit that I don't always feel in the mood to go to it and I have my The Outsiders on and off phases but it is something I keep coming back to.
I have re-read the original book to many times to remember but at times I feel I have out done it (definately not out grown it) - but am over it and want the to see the characters move on and that is exactly what fan fiction has allowed me to do.
Sometimes you find a story that you just shake your head in disbelief at what they put the characters through. Others try to re-write the original with different endings - some I have liked, others I haven't.
I now have a few fan fiction authors that I have feeds for so I know when they write a new chapter or new story. It is frustrating at times at how slow they release the chapters but most are very much worth waiting for. Other stories have been started and left abandoned - I have found a few where it has been a real shame that this has happened.
Did you know that Fifty Shades of Grey started as a Twilight Fan Fiction story? So fan fiction can be and has been a starter for some successful authors.
Anyway, for those who share my love of The Outsiders - here are some links to what I think have been good stories/authors:
They used to have Wrong Side of the Tracks awards for the best The Outsiders FanFic but it hasn't been updated for many years.
Of course, they also have some YouTube clips where fans have put together some clips from the movie to appropriate or sometimes inappropriate song - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4EHMS7a-IU
But if you are an Outsiders fan - you can't go past this website http://www.theoutsidersbookandmovie.com/Index.html
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Is the grass greener?
Ok, so I'm haven't been posting to my blog at least once a week. Honestly, so far this year I'm feeling flat. Usually on return from the Christmas/New Year break, I am excited and revitalised about work and the year to come. I'm ready to launch into planning heaps of exciting activities and seeking out opportunities to promote the library.
This year, it's not happening. Each morning I wake up thinking this is the morning my motivation will return. This is the morning I'll feel a skip in my step and anticipation for the day ahead. Nope - not happening.
I'm not quite sure if I can pinpoint just one reason as to why this is happening. I mean, I took a longer break and I didn't fill my break with drives to Qld which normally exhaust me and make me feel I really haven't had a break. No this holiday I relaxed and I spent lots of time at the beach and quality time with my family. So it's not because I didn't have a good holiday.
I think it might be a combination of things. Currently I don't have enough relief staff so I am constantly on edge that someone is going to get sick and we'll have no one to back fill.
One of my long term, highly organised staff members is off sick, so it has been hard to pick up the things that they would normally do without thinking.
I'm also involved in another project at work that I'm having an internal battle trying to devote time to - also trying to get my head around exactly how to tackle it and get it done in the very tight deadline is stressful. I'm also supposed to be able to pull myself out of my day job to complete this - but that brings me back to the lack of relief staff.
Other things that may be at play are the fact that I do keep an eye on what jobs are going in the library industry and often find a job that I think would be much better than the one I'm in now - be it to be closer to family and friends, less responsibility, higher pay, better conditions, etc. So there have been a few that have come up recently that I have thought maybe I should go for them. But in reality I'm probably only trying to run away from this situation and is the grass really greener elsewhere?!?
I am coming up to having been in this job for 5 years. In the past I always had a 3 year rule - no more than 3 years in the same job. However, since having a child and she is in school, I have longed for somewhere to be long term. To be in the same place so that we don't have to move and Miss A doesn't have to change schools and I'll actually get to get one of those certificates saying I've been in an organisation for 10 years, 15 years, 20 years, 25 years etc. To actually be somewhere long enough to make some big changes or go through some big changes and come out the other side better than before.
That said, there are some big changes happening - restructure, possible (probably more like inevitable) changes to local government models/boundaries in NSW, the never ending battle for funding. And for me that creates a feeling of uncertainty. What happens if my job no longer exists - what then?
Of course, I then kick myself for being worried about something that has not happened yet.
So I'm sorry for this post being so personal and probably a bit depressing, but I felt I had to write down how I am feeling and see if it gives me a light at the end of the tunnel moment.
And perhaps it has, because when I drive to work this morning and I go over the river and past the beautiful scenery which may be a bit muddy and wet at the moment, I'm sure to feel lucky to live here. And if I think about what we did over the holidays - is it really so bad that I should give up this lifestyle?? Is it really as bad as it seems??
Honestly, I think I'm just going through a phase but I really hope that it hurry's up and passes me by.
This year, it's not happening. Each morning I wake up thinking this is the morning my motivation will return. This is the morning I'll feel a skip in my step and anticipation for the day ahead. Nope - not happening.
I'm not quite sure if I can pinpoint just one reason as to why this is happening. I mean, I took a longer break and I didn't fill my break with drives to Qld which normally exhaust me and make me feel I really haven't had a break. No this holiday I relaxed and I spent lots of time at the beach and quality time with my family. So it's not because I didn't have a good holiday.
I think it might be a combination of things. Currently I don't have enough relief staff so I am constantly on edge that someone is going to get sick and we'll have no one to back fill.
One of my long term, highly organised staff members is off sick, so it has been hard to pick up the things that they would normally do without thinking.
I'm also involved in another project at work that I'm having an internal battle trying to devote time to - also trying to get my head around exactly how to tackle it and get it done in the very tight deadline is stressful. I'm also supposed to be able to pull myself out of my day job to complete this - but that brings me back to the lack of relief staff.
Other things that may be at play are the fact that I do keep an eye on what jobs are going in the library industry and often find a job that I think would be much better than the one I'm in now - be it to be closer to family and friends, less responsibility, higher pay, better conditions, etc. So there have been a few that have come up recently that I have thought maybe I should go for them. But in reality I'm probably only trying to run away from this situation and is the grass really greener elsewhere?!?
I am coming up to having been in this job for 5 years. In the past I always had a 3 year rule - no more than 3 years in the same job. However, since having a child and she is in school, I have longed for somewhere to be long term. To be in the same place so that we don't have to move and Miss A doesn't have to change schools and I'll actually get to get one of those certificates saying I've been in an organisation for 10 years, 15 years, 20 years, 25 years etc. To actually be somewhere long enough to make some big changes or go through some big changes and come out the other side better than before.
That said, there are some big changes happening - restructure, possible (probably more like inevitable) changes to local government models/boundaries in NSW, the never ending battle for funding. And for me that creates a feeling of uncertainty. What happens if my job no longer exists - what then?
Of course, I then kick myself for being worried about something that has not happened yet.
So I'm sorry for this post being so personal and probably a bit depressing, but I felt I had to write down how I am feeling and see if it gives me a light at the end of the tunnel moment.
And perhaps it has, because when I drive to work this morning and I go over the river and past the beautiful scenery which may be a bit muddy and wet at the moment, I'm sure to feel lucky to live here. And if I think about what we did over the holidays - is it really so bad that I should give up this lifestyle?? Is it really as bad as it seems??
Honestly, I think I'm just going through a phase but I really hope that it hurry's up and passes me by.
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