Defining Moments: Decoding Library Job Satisfaction

Defining Moments:

Decoding Library Job Satisfaction

Defining Moments:Decoding library job satisfaction

Over the next hour you will:• Learn about library staffing compliments and

investments

• Explore ways to challenge traditional thinking about library jobs

• Consider personal roles and match them to professional skills

Beth Maddigan

Librarian - Faculty of Education, Memorial University

Former Provincial Children’s Librarian, NL Public Libraries

Former Children’s Services Coordinator, Cambridge Libraries & Galleries

Author and instructor

Meet your Presenter

Let’s take a poll to see who is out there in the virtual world today

Introduce yourself…

The Job Satisfaction Puzzle

No matter where you work, job satisfaction has multiple players and dimensions.

It is dynamic, changeable - and often- elusive.

EmployerMandate

Vision

Strategic plan

Staff investment

The Job Satisfaction Puzzle

Employerinvested in staff?It doesn’t always feelthat way.

How invested?Take your best guess…

The Job Satisfaction Puzzle

Indicate the operating budget percentage you think libraries spend on staffing.

How much do libraries typically spend on staffing?

Note: Results from the most recent American Library Association (ALA) Library Fact Sheet.

Public Libraries spend the largest percentage on staffing – ALA reports 66% for American libraries. CULC (Canadian Urban Libraries Council) reports about 63% in 2009 in Canadian urban public libraries

Academic Libraries spend about 50% according to ALA, the numbers in Canada are likely a little higher.

How much do libraries typically spend on staffing?

EmployerMandate

VisionStrategic plan

Staff investment

+YOU

The Job Satisfaction Puzzle

What is MY role in this investment?

Make the most of this job while you have it.

When you are applying for a new job, learn about your employer AND yourself.

The Job Satisfaction Puzzle

How?• Learn about your

library’s mandate, vision, strategic plan

• Learn how your job fits in the big picture

• Value-added thinking

The Job Satisfaction Puzzle

How can you add value AND fit

into your employer’s big

picture?

Probably *not* like

this

Using your chat box, type in your guess for the job title that each of the next 6 people hold

Judging a Book by its Cover

Hint: they are NOT all librarians…Note: You may know one or two of these folks (if so, don’t type!)

Defining ActivityGrab a piece of paper. While we are looking at the 6 people we just met and how they define themselves…

Define yourself using 5 nouns. To help choose your five, think about the most personally or professionally fulfilling aspects of your life…. What do you do for fun? What makes you happy? What are you most proud of?

momma

friend

yogini

actress

author

Aedon

Young

Job titles: Teacher & Author

father, husband, story-teller, peace-keeper, son

JeremyTankard

Job Title: Authorstrator

mommy lover

dancer

librarian dreamer

Mic

hele

H

op

kin

s

Job Title: Branch Head

Job Title: Community Event Planner

List 5 roles & use only nouns. Consider all aspects of your life.

Define yourself…

positive outlook

open to innovation

hopeful for the future

recognizes strengths

has high expectations

optimist

persistent

dedicated

appreciates diversity

determined

open-minded

activist

nurturing

forward thinking

patient

tolerant

resourceful with money

father

Further ReadingDonovan, G. L., & Figueroa, M. A. (2009). Staff development

strategies that work: Stories and strategies from new librarians. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers.

Everett, A. (2011). Benefits and challenges of fun in the workplace. Library Leadership & Management, 25(1), 1-10.

Goulding, A. (1995). I want to work with books and people: The job satisfaction of public library support staff. Public Library Journal, 10, 71-74.

Ingles, E. B., & 8Rs Canadian Library Human Resource Study. (2005). The future of human resources in canadian libraries. Edmonton, Alta.: 8Rs Canadian Library Human Resource Study.

Further ReadingKane, L. T. (2003). Straight from the stacks : A firsthand guide to

careers in library and information science. Chicago, Ill: American Library Association.

Kenney, B. (2009). Happy days. School Library Journal, 55(1), 28-31.  

Lim, S. (2007). Library informational technology workers: Their sense of belonging, role, job autonomy, and job satisfaction. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 33(4), 492-500.

Metz, R. F. (2001). Coaching in the library : A management strategy for achieving excellence. Chicago: American Library Association.

Williamson, J. M., Pemberton, A. F., & Lounsbury, J. W. (2005). An investigation of career and job satisfaction in relation to personality traits of information professionals. The Library Quarterly, 75(2), 122-141.