Rapid City Public Library

1. Rapid City Public Library New Employee Orientation Session One

2. Orientation Schedule • Session One: RCPL History and Services • Session Two: RCPL Departmental Shadowing • Session Three: City Government and Organization – Tour of City Departments • Session Four: Sixty Day Check-up

3. RCPL History and Services THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE

4. RCPL History and Services The library’s Strategic Plan • Current Plan • Current Implementation Strategy

5. RCPL Services and History A day in the director’s life

6. RCPL History and Services Employment Criteria • All Ages and Cultures • Relationships [patrons and staff] • Approachability, scanning the space and safety • Verbal and nonverbal communications • Culture: trust, conflict, change and communication. • Embracing technology • Traditional and evolving services • Personal and Professional Development • Life-long learning

7. Relationships in Service • Traditional and evolving services • Highest circulating collections: Media and Online • Print will always be here • Community Support • Law enforcement, fire/ambulance • Diversity of the community • Cultures • Businesses • Active and comfortable in virtual world

8. Informational and Directional ???s • Informational questions • Informational question – This is an information contact that involves the knowledge, use, recommendations, interpretation or instruction in the use of one or more information sources by a member of the library staff. • Examples: How do I find information on medieval history? Do you have any books on starting a small business?

9. Directional Questions • Directional question – A directional question is an information contact that facilitates the logistical use of the library and does not involve the use of information resources or skills. • Examples: • Where is the bathroom? • Where is the children’s area?

10. Meeting Customers where they are. • What is your best level of skill? This can be used in all the points of contact with customers. • Online, telephone and in-person skills • This requires the following attributes: • Courtesy • Patience • Responsiveness • The ability to multi-process when several different types of contact are being made at the same time. • Flexibility

11. Conflict Management 3 myths about conflict: • Conflict is about them, not about me • Take a look in the mirror • If I ignore conflict, it will go away • It stays, grows, and festers until you address it • Conflict is bad • Managing conflict presents opportunities for personal and professional growth and building of relationships

12. Conflict Management Library’s expectations for conflict management: • Conflict will be addressed • Conflict will be addressed between the parties directly involved • Conflict will be addressed in a timely manner

13. Conflict Management Resources to deal with conflict: • Sirsi-Dynix webinars: • Library conflict management for consenting adults: turning enemies into allies • Workplace culture: building positive and productive staff relations • Dealing with conflict in a peaceful library • Conflict management: a communication skills approach (2nd ed.) – Deborah Borisoff, David A. Victor

14. Policies and Procedures Policies define what we do • Policies impact the entire organization • In general, policies address access, fees, or services • By law, policies are adopted by the Board of Trustees Procedures outline how we implement the policies • Procedures may address the entire organization or a specific department • Procedures are updated as needed to implement the policies Access point for policies and procedures is the staff intranet

15. Embracing Technology traditional services in nontraditional environments. • Understanding trends and staying relevant • Social Networking tools are becoming increasingly popular. Why should we use them at RCPL? • The library reaches greater populations. • They are accessed by millions. • They are a fun way to interact with patrons. • It helps to change the patron’s perception of what a library can be.

16. Embracing Technology • Social Networking training • According to Wikipedia: • A social network service uses software to build online social networks for communities of people who share interests and activities or who are interested in exploring the interests and activities of others. • What does this mean? • This means that a social networking tool connects people with similar interests online. • http://plcmcl2-about.blogspot.com/ • Social networking is part of the RCPL experience.

17. Embracing Technology • Overview of current technology • Blogs • http://rcplweb2.rapidcitylibrary.org/announcements/ • Wikis • http://rcflood.wikispaces.com/ • MySpace • http://www.myspace.com/rcpl_teens • del.icio.us • http://del.icio.us/rcpl • LibraryThing • http://www.librarything.com/profile/RapidCityPubLib • Flickr • http://www.flickr.com/photos/rcpl/ • YouTube • http://www.youtube.com/user/rapidcitylibrary

18. RCPL History and Services Putting it all together • RCPL Organizational Chart • Administration • Support • Circulation and Technical Services • Public Services • Next Orientation Session will be shadowing in each of the locations.