OVERVIEW:
It can be hard to talk with certain patrons, for a variety of reasons. Our ability to provide the best service possible to them means we have to be even better listeners and ask useful questions, especially when the patron is either under stress or having trouble listening or communicating with us. This session can help you get conversational control before things spiral in wrong directions and ruin the library experience for you and them.
LEARNING AGENDA:
- What makes talking to rude or entitled patrons so tough?
- How not to take it personally.
- What can learn from the Hawaiians about excellent customer service?
- Defining the Library Patron’s Customer Value Model.
- The value of using questioning models: therapeutic, open-ended, closed-ended.
- Talking to an angry parent.
- Getting help for non-English speaking patrons.
- Talking to a frustrated,confused patron.
- Helping patrons with possible dementia issues.
- What about the tearful patron?
This 60-minute overview session on how to respond step-by-step to service situations in the library is another in our “Essential Librarian Series,” designed to be shown to new staff and leaders and to provide a refresher for all who work in the library. It is is presented by Library 2.0 and hosted by ALA author and library service, safety, and security expert, Dr. Steve Albrecht. A handout copy of the presentation slides will be available to all who participate. This is an updated version of this webinar for 2023.
About the Speaker
DR. STEVE ALBRECHT. Since 2000, Dr. Steve Albrecht has trained thousands of library employees in 28+ states, live and online, in service, safety, security, and supervision. His programs are fast, entertaining, and provide tools that can be put to use immediately in the library workspace with all types of patrons. In 2015, the ALA published his book, Library Security: Better Communication, Safer Facilities. He is currently writing the sequel, The Safe Library: Keeping Users, Staff, and Collections Secure, for Rowman & Littlefield. Steve holds a doctoral degree in Business Administration (D.B.A.), an M.A. in Security Management, a B.A. in English, and a B.S. in Psychology. He is board-certified in HR, security management, employee coaching, and threat assessment. He has written 24 books on business, security, and leadership topics. He lives with six dogs, two cats, and three chickens. (Not all in the same room, of course.)
