CS Policy for Staff Participation in Learning and Service Opportunities
- Jacquie Samples
- Heather Baker
Scope: The following policy serves as guidance from the Collections Services Leadership Team on staff participation in learning and service opportunities
Unit: Revised and adopted by the Duke University Collections Services Division in June 2023
Contact: Dracine Hodges
Date last reviewed: 06/06/2023
Date of next review: //06/30/2024
Collections Services staff are encouraged to participate in learning and service opportunities as a mutual benefit to themselves and the organization. Shared contributions to the Duke University Libraries (DUL) and its partnerships and communities all depend on meaningful contributions from library staff. Staff are expected to engage when relevant to the mission and needs of DUL, their department and/or their own role as part of work assignments and related activities within a regular full-time schedule. Learning or professional development is an ongoing process meant to improve an individual’s skills and knowledge to better perform in their existing role or to attain skills needed to perform at a higher level. Participating on committees and similar kinds of groups is an opportunity to create working relationships with colleagues beyond your department or division, explore new ideas or trends, learn and/or practice new skills, influence directions and outcomes, and add to your resume.
It is the responsibility of staff to identify learning and service opportunities and discuss them with their supervisor for approval for participation. Supervisors should also share known opportunities with staff to assist with identifying interests. Once a learning, training, and/or service opportunity is approved, it is incumbent on CS department heads and managers to facilitate and support CS staff in their pursuit, including requesting funding. Supervisors may also consider supporting staff participation in other ways, such as through the temporary pause or re-prioritization of projects, a redistribution of tasks, or by a limited scaling back of productivity in certain functions to create the space and capacity for staff to engage outside their daily routines. Staff engaged in learning and/or service opportunities are responsible for managing their workload and communicating with their supervisor for help or adjustments when needed. It is through this policy and its possible impacts to daily work that CS managers affirm the importance DUL places on supporting service and learning opportunities.
DUL depends on its staff members for their time, energy, and leadership to pursue strategic priorities. It is through the activities of library staff that DUL is able to sustain strong programs and services as well as engagement in new initiatives, emerging trends, and with diverse stakeholder groups.
Key guidelines for staff participating in service activities:
- You are not being asked to work in excess of a 40-hour work week
- Time spent on DUL learning or service activities takes place during the workday
- Regular work productivity may be impacted to a limited degree
- Staff should communicate with their supervisor if productivity as a result of learning or service participation becomes unreasonably slowed or impaired
Examples of DUL learning or service include, but are not limited to:
- Participating on or leading a committee, task force, working group
- Convening or participating on a board, as a liaison, or in other roles for project communities or consortia (e.g., Alma, TRLN, IPLC, PCC, etc.)
- Serving as an organizer or facilitator of workshops, panels, or meetings
- Working with others to develop and/or present new ideas and concepts or to stand up new programs and services
- Essential Project Management Skills for Library Workers is a six-week eCourse presented by ALA Learning
- Library Juice Academy courses on Collection Services related topics such as
- Caring for Collections
- Library of Congress Classification
- Python for Librarians
- Assessing Digital Collections Using DEIA
- Attending conferences or local/state/national organization service