A Complete Guide to Training Library Staff: From Onboarding to Offboarding

by Emily Leachman, A. Garrison Libby

Overview

This practical guidebook presents an infrastructure for training library staff, starting with a robust onboarding process and continuing through a staff member's entire duration at an institution.

Because library services and resources can change rapidly, ongoing training is an important aspect of library operations. Training can be a particular challenge at large, multi-branch library systems, because it can be difficult to ensure all staff are able to receive the relevant information.

Written for library managers and training leaders, A Complete Guide to Training Library Staff presents a comprehensive lifecycle for staff development with a focus on tools and techniques to build a sustainable training program, set staff up for success in their positions, and develop a positive and supportive community across the library. Authors Emily Leachman and A. Garrison Libby spearheaded their library's movement to largely online trainings, which are inclusive of staff at all branch locations.

This practical guidebook helps managers and trainers develop a comprehensive plan that allows new staff to quickly become acquainted with the operations of the library, provides ongoing training to make staff aware of new procedures and services, and creates a collaborative and supportive training environment to empower staff to learn and lead.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781440880902
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	12/12/2024
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Emily Leachman is the Assistant Director for Public Services at Central Piedmont Community College, USA. She serves as the chair of the library's internal training committee. Her previous publications include a chapter in Sustainable Online Library Services and Resources: Learning from the Pandemic (Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited, 2022). Leachman is an active member of the North Carolina Library Association and the North Carolina Community College Library Association. When not at work, she is an avid quilter.

Garrison Libby is the Head of Research Services at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, USA, where he supports a team leading research and instructional services. Prior to that, he spent many years working in public service, instruction, and leadership roles in community college libraries. He has published articles in Internet Reference Services Quarterly and Virginia Libraries, as well as a chapter in Sustainable Online Library Services and Resources: Learning from the Pandemic (Libraries Unlimited).

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
1. Introduction: A Life-Cycle Model of Training
2. Creating a Training Team
3. Onboarding
4. Delivering Ongoing Training
5. Cross-Training
6. Training Partners
7. Building Community Through Training
8. Training Tools
9. Assessment
10. Offboarding
Appendix A: Onboarding Checklist for New Employee: First Six Months
Appendix B: Things to Arrange Prior to a New Hire's First Day
Appendix C: Programs Employees Need and How to Get Access
Appendix D: Examples of Library Competencies
Appendix E: Offboarding Checklist
Appendix F: Exit Interview Questions
Author Bio
Index

Editorial Reviews

This practical guide is an invaluable resource for libraries looking to create or expand upon existing training programs. By prioritizing ongoing training, libraries can ensure that their staff members are empowered to adapt, learn, contribute, and grow.” —Library Journal

“This is a great resource for library administrators or managers of staff training who want to build a culture of learning in their libraries. I wish I'd had it when I was first building a library training team.” —Tiffany Hayes, Education Design and Development Manager, South Carolina State Library, USA

“A Complete Guide to Training Library Staff: From Onboarding to Offboarding is a valuable resource for library administrators, managers, trainers, and anyone involved in staff development. This book provides helpful advice with ample examples that can be tailored to fit any type of library. Emphasis on accessibility and EDI resources, a list of technology tools, and a dedicated chapter on assessment are value-added. With its practical approach, comprehensive coverage, granular details on implementing the activities, and emphasis on training as a lifecycle needed for continuous improvement, this hands-on guidebook will empower staff with the tools they need to build a skilled, motivated, and resilient workforce in the rapidly evolving landscape of libraries.” —Mou Chakraborty, Salisbury University Libraries, Salisbury University, USA

“A Complete Guide to Training Library Staff: From Onboarding to Offboarding truly lives up to its name. It's a comprehensive manual on the topic that covers just about every angle you'd want to consider regarding library staff training. So many libraries are reactive in this area, and a book such as this can help change the dynamic to be proactive. The authors build a solid case based on evidence and research that quality staff training can make a very big difference in the effectiveness of any library. Topics covered run the gamut from onboarding new employees to cross training, working with partners, and assessing the quality of training overall. Every library has a wide variety of functions, and the authors have considered this throughout. They have also written their content with the understanding that there are many different types of libraries. Everything they share has a certain amount of flexibility. One could even use specific chapters in the book on their own, which is also a very nice feature. The appendix is rich with examples that any library administrator or training team could use to create their own training documents and materials for their library. I highly recommend this book for anyone in library administration or anyone involved in helping to develop a training program for their library.” —Richard Moniz, Director of Library Services, Horry-Georgetown Technical College, USA

From the Publisher

05/01/2025

Leachman (assistant director for public services, Central Piedmont Community Coll.) and Libby (head of research services, Univ. of North Carolina at Charlotte) provide hands-on suggestions and guidance for developing library training programs for new and experienced staff alike. The authors put forth a "life cycle" training model designed to meet staff at every point in their careers. The systematic and intentional model includes onboarding, staff competencies, locating external training, assessment, and offboarding. The appendixes at the end of the book are helpful for those seeking to create or improve their current training programs; included within are sample checklists for onboarding and offboarding, examples of library competencies (service desk tasks, printers, computer skills), and sample questions for exit interviews. The chapter on assessment is strong, acknowledging that many libraries may be unfamiliar with assessment and could benefit from basic but still valuable approaches. This section contains excellent examples of crafting effective questions (both close-ended and open-ended), quizzes, and interviews. VERDICT This practical guide is an invaluable resource for libraries looking to create or expand upon existing training programs. By prioritizing ongoing training, libraries can ensure that their staff members are empowered to adapt, learn, contribute, and grow.—Sarah Hashimoto

Library Journal