Training Programs for Libraries

All workshops cater for up to 15 people and are provided at your in-house venue. Prices for external venues available upon application. Training can be provided for one or more library services when libraries wish to share a workshop.  Jan can also develop, adapt or expand workshops to meet your specific needs.

Please enquire for latest prices

Current programs include:

Successful Strategic Planning

Designed for managers, this workshop will cover: how to formulate a strategic planning framework how to develop a vision, mission and plan, bearing in mind the library's client values and culture the importance of an operational plan to achieve strategic directions, the need to measure outcomes and to be accountable. This full day session gives participants experience in writing strategic and operational plans and some exposure to measurement practices.

Full Day.

First Time Manager

For staff recently appointed to their first management position or those who would like to revisit the basics of library management. This workshop will consider library management roles from a practical perspective. Participants will revisit the skills required in areas such as communication, motivation, delegation, supervision, planning and also managing themselves.

Half day or Full Day 

Creating Successful Teams

 For librarians or library technicians who are leading a team but have received no formal leadership training. Issues to be covered include problem-solving, group dynamics, decision making and conflict resolution.

 Full day

Maximising the Skills of your Library Team

This workshop offers library managers and supervisors an opportunity to re-examine their procedures for staff selection, recruitment, professional development and performance appraisal at all levels. This workshop provides the opportunity to identify strategies and procedures that might improve your current approach to managing library staff and developing a skilled and flexible library team.

 Half day 

RDA (Resource Description and Access) Readiness

A cataloguing workshop for cataloguers and library managers already familiar with cataloguing. The introduction of RDA as a replacement for, or alternative to, AACR2 (Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules) is imminent. This workshop is an introduction to RDA and what it means for libraries. It will help you prepare for RDA and show you how it differs to AACR2.

 Half day

Cataloguing and/or Classification Refresher

This workshop can be tailored for library cataloguers who need a refresher in the application of any of the traditional cataloguing and classification tools: subject headings using LCSH (Library of Congress Subject Headings) or SCIS headings (Schools Catalogue Information Service); Dewey Decimal Classification using either WebDewey or Dewey in hardcopy; descriptive cataloguing using AACR2 (Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules).

 Full day

Quality Service at the Frontline 

This workshop is aimed at all library staff involved in customer service. It will cover interpersonal communication skills, the principles of good customer service, strategies for dealing with difficult customers, effective ways of communicating with people with disabilities and how to be a valued member of a customer service team.

Half day or Full day 

Difficult Customer Situations: Making and Breaking the Rules

There are times when library staff need to draw on skills beyond basic customer service in dealing with difficult customers. This workshop presents a range of strategies to provide library staff with the capacity to handle situations involving aggressive or unacceptable behaviour.

Half day

Teaching Adults Information Skills

For librarians and library technicians who are involved in user education and information literacy activities. Participants will learn how to teach small groups of adults, explore how adults learn, learn how to develop a teaching plan, and design a training session.

 Full day