The Human Resources function for libraries is a complex and ever-changing subject. It’s always a challenge to screen, hire, train, and supervise people. Even if you have an HR Department or a full-time HR Manager, all library leaders who have supervisory responsibility over their staff (hiring, coaching, assigning job duties, performance evaluation) must have a working, updated knowledge of HR issues related to employing people in their branches. This session covers new HR approaches, helpful guidelines, and best practices.
The length and depth of the Employment Cycle means that all libraries leaders must know how to legally and ethically interview applicants, on-board new-hires, manage all levels of employees effectively, and promote fairly. (And throw in the occasional need for progressive discipline, terminations, and retirements.) Success in HR happens when employees stay as long as they want to stay; do the work we ask – at the quality we need; get along with their co-workers; and serve our patrons with empathy, patience, and skill. This webinar guides you, as a library leader who has HR functions as part of your role – to help you and them succeed.
LEARNING AGENDA:
- Creating a successful employment cycle.
- Improving the hiring process.
- Skillful on-boarding and new-employee orientation.
- Patron harassement prevention.
- Using coaching skills for performance and behavioral improvements.
- Initiating fair and legal progressive discipline and terminations, especially in union environments.
- Helping mangers and supervisors create accurate, fair, and worthwhile Performance Evaluations.
- Working with labor law attorneys.
- Mentoring to assist promotions and career development.
About the Speaker
Since 2000, Dr. Steve Albrecht has trained thousands of library employees in 28+ states, live and online, in service, safety, and security. His programs are fast, entertaining, and provide tools that can be put to use immediately in the library workspace with all types of patrons. He has written 27 books, including: Library Security: Better Communication, Safer Facilities (ALA, 2015); The Safe Library: Keeping Users, Staff, and Collections Secure (Rowman & Littlefield, 2023); The Library Leader’s Guide to Human Resources: Keeping it Real, Legal, and Ethical (Rowman & Littlefield, May 2025); and The Library Leader’s Guide to Employee Coaching: Building a Performance Culture One Meeting at a Time (Rowman & Littlefield, June 2026). 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.
