Human Resources Crash Course for Library Managers

A three-part webinar series taking place Friday, October 27; Friday, November 3; and Thursday, November 9, 2023 at 11:30am Pacific/12:30pm Mountain/1:30pm Central/2:30pm Eastern each session.

Most managers come to the position with no HR training, and while they may have skills that teach them how to be an effective librarian, they may not necessarily have the training to be an effective manager. 

This series will provide current or future managers and directors the foundation they need to excel in their new role. Participants will go through the life cycle of an employee, focusing on how they can create inclusive and welcoming environments by applying an EDI lens to HR decisions while also covering how to navigate various HR laws.

Event Outline:

  • Session 1: Laying the Foundation
    • Creating a job description
    • Developing strong policies 
    • Navigating legal issues and HR laws to know
  • Session 2: Getting & Keeping Staff
    • How to hire staff, including crafting interview questions 
    • How to successfully onboard and train staff
    • How to provide ongoing feedback and annual evaluation of staff
  • Session 3: Saying Goodbye
    • When and how to discipline an employee
    • Handling a termination 
    • Prepare for the future with succession planning

Kathy Parker has over 35 years of library experience, with 16 serving as library director at Glenwood-Lynwood Public Library. Kathy has participated on various library boards and has served as a library trustee at her local library and in the regional library system, and started several continuing education initiatives for library staff and trustees. Kathy retired in summer 2018 and has started her own consulting business serving as an interim director, offering coaching to new directors, and helping boards hire directors.

Kate Hall has been a Library Director since 2010; first at New Lenox and now at Northbrook Public Library. Kate has held numerous library leadership positions and has worked with Kathy Parker on the successful Director’s University program that has taught over 300 new library directors what they need to know to run a library. Kate is active on many boards, including serving previously on the Illinois Library Association Executive Board and as President on the Reaching Across Illinois Library System.

This event will be hosted in Zoom. Automatic captions will be enabled for this event. This event will be recorded, and registrants will receive access to the recording within a day after the event ends.

If you have questions or requests regarding accessibility, contact us at ce@ala.org or at 312-280-5100.