“required (by lcpl), not mandated (by standards) ” why bother? why not?

“Required (by LCPL),

Not Mandated (by Standards)”Why Bother? Why Not?

Library Education Units - Clerical

Employee Training and Development Initiative

Established 2008

The Challenge

Personally, I am always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught.

- Winston Churchill

Evolution of LCPL U

1959-1984“Business as Usual”

State Certification Required for Professional

Librarians and Para-Professionals (15 cr hrs)Library Clerks trained for specific job duties

Evolution of LCPL U

1986: Expanded Training Program

2002: Trending, Tax Disbursements

2008: Tax Reform and Standards

Evolution of LCPL U

In 2002, Statewide Reassessment of Property Taxes payable in 2003 resulted in:Sticker ShockLate Tax DisbursementsLibrary Action: Cost Containment Plan

Since 2002, LCPL took action to maintain and enhance the quality of library services at all levels.

HEA 1001, Property Tax Reform March 19, 2008

“Circuit Breaker” limited Property Taxes1% of assessed value for homeowners2% for rental properties and farmland3% for businesses

Projected Circuit Breaker CreditsLSA, 03/13/2008

Lake County Public Library projected losses:

Total Estimated Credit to the Taxpayers2008 2009 2010 $3,467 $483,747 $1,509,030

HEA 1001; Section 176Library Capital Projects Fund

As of January 1, 2009 the exception for the LCPF from the levy limits was not in effect

This was in keeping with the theme of property tax reform - imposing “hard caps”

Other Factors – Beyond Our Control

COIT not adopted in Lake County 2008 Economic Recession September 2008 Flood Big Unknown: Property Tax Shortfalls Compliance to Public Library Standards Payments to bond debt Minimum Wage Increases Benefit Cost Increases

Action Plan

LCPL took immediate action to meet this funding deficit!

How??

By implementing a version of the library’s Cost Containment Plan of 2002

LCPL and Belt-tightening

Reduction of the Materials Budget Evaluating every new staff position Re-allocation of Staff Evaluating library services Cross Training of Staff Supplies Streamlining Operations

Board Directive:Trained Staff = Quality Library Services

Library Board recognizes that the library’s most important asset are the employees.

The goal is to maintain the library’s reputation, and maintain a qualified staff.

LCPL Staff are highly dedicated and trained individuals who have made LCPL a library system that is recognized for its outstanding services.

Public Library Standards

Indiana Public Library Standards addresses the certification of librarians

The void was in Clerical Staff

Note: With the Standards in place, LCPL did not find it necessary to require Para-professional certification (15 cr hrs); the Public Library Standards met our needs.

Most Important Library Asset: All Employees

“Always be nice to library clerks. They are the real gatekeepers of the library.”

-- Anonymous (happy library patron)

Established LEU-CPurpose

It is the goal of the Lake County Public Library to have trained clerical staff for effective job performance and service to the public.

LEU-CFull-time Clerks

A minimum of 30 LEU-C units must be obtained within a 5 year period.

A maximum of 24 hours per year may be dedicated for training.

A maximum of 2 hours per month may be dedicated for online training.

LEU-CPart-time Clerks

A minimum of 20 LEU-C units must be obtained within a 5 year period.

A maximum of 12 hours per year may be dedicated to training.

A maximum of 1 hour per month may be dedicated for online training.

LEU-C CreditsHow to obtain??

In-house Training Online Training Quarterly Staff Meetings Agency/Departmental Meetings College classes (job related) Conferences (job related)

LEU-CIn-house Training In-House Training Modules (required):Course Name LEU-C Trainer

Electronic Databases for Clerks 2 Ref Polaris Searching, Introduction 2 Ref Polaris Searching, Advance 2 Ref Circulation Procedures 2 CircReference Interview 2 RefReference Tools, Basic 2 RefInternet 2 RefUpdates (Subject Sessions, as needed) 2 Agency

LEU-C CreditsOnline Training Online Training

Indiana’s Webjunctionwww.webjunction.org

Indiana Career Connect www.indianacareerconnect.com

Note: If continuing education units are not available, the LEU-C equals the course length. For example: Basic Excel on Webjunction cites the course length as 3.5 hours which will equal 3.5 LEU-C units.

LEU-C CreditsOther Accepted Sessions

Quarterly Staff Meetings 1 LEU-C Credit earned

Agency/Departmental Meetings 1 LEU-C Credit earned

Conference Attendance LEU-C Credits dependent on sessions

attended (job related)

LEU-CCertificates awarded by LCPL

Agency trainers or organizers are responsible for distributing certificates earned.

Certificates cite the employee name, course title, LEU-C units, date and signature of trainer.

LEU-CCertificates awarded by LCPL

LEU-CCertificates Employee is responsible for

maintaining original certificates earned. Employee must document online

courses completed. Employee must notify Human Resource

Manager of all courses completed. Annual Audits (9/30 every year)

LCPL U Achievements

Annually staff must submit to HR a LCPL U Transcript and certificate copies of their completed LEU & LEU-C’s for that year.

Honor Roll 30 unitsHigh Honors 50 unitsDean’s List 75 unitsScholars 100+ units

LCPL U Achievements Staff are acknowledged for each LCPL

U achievement once during a 5 year cycle. This is the time LCPL audits LEU or LEU-C progress.

The LCPL U Achievements are announced once per year and staff receive an acknowledgement for their achievement.

Growing PainsConcerns !#$%&

“I’ve been working at LCPL for ____years and I have been doing my job just fine, thank you.”

“I am going to retire in less than 5 years so I don’t need your LEU-C units!”

Oh great, more work – not more money!”

“I’ve been working at LCPL for ____years and I have been doing my job just fine, thank you.”

Yes, you have been working for many years and have been doing an excellent job.

You received in-house training. You attended LCPL sponsored meetings for

further information and updates. You learned new library databases. Your learned new computer applications. You trained a few supervisors. (Thank

you!) Et cetera!

“I am going to retire in less than 5 years so I don’t need your LEU-C units!”

Lucky you! You worked hard, saved and will enjoy retirement.

The future: unknown. If you cannot retire due to personal circumstances, you still have a job at LCPL.

Not to worry, by taking the required courses, attending meetings, etc., you would have accumulated enough LEU-C units in a 5 year period.

If not, you can request a 1 year extension.

“Oh great, more work – not more money!”

Yeah, I know, life is not fair – but you have a job!

Webjunction courses are free! (Indiana pays for each course taken.)

Extra paid hours are allotted for part-time clerks’ attendance for in-house training.

Clerks are paid while training. It is not on your own time.

Tuition Reimbursement is available for job related courses.

Example ~Minimum hours of training is adequate for review and practice over a 5 year period.

Course-Meeting-Online Classes LEU-CElectronic Databases for Clerks 2Reference Interview 2Reference Tools, Basic 2Internet 2Summer Quarterly Staff Meeting 1Fall Quarterly Staff Meeting 1Polaris Trainer, Updates 1Branch Staff Meeting 1Basic Features of Excel 2003 (online ) 3.5Spring Quarterly Staff Meeting 1Customer, Conflict and Confrontation (online) 2Circulation Procedures, Updates 26 online courses (1 hour each) 6Total 30

If LEU-C not completed?

If not completed, the staff member is considered as “insubordinate” since certification is a requirement of employment.

Insubordination is when a clerk refuses to attend required classes, or as wasting time online (possibly 24 hrs a year without completing a course!)

LEU-CWhy?? LCPL has traditionally had high

standards. LCPL Clerks will be the best trained

library clerks in Lake County. Clerks will be expanding their work

experience with documented training. New skills may lead to other positions. Skilled clerks will have access to cross-

training opportunities.

LEU-CWhy??

LCPL Clerks will be considered as highly trained and “marketable” in any future re-organization plan.

Outcomes for LCPL

Target skills training in the areas of library services

Better customer service and productivity improvements

Demonstrate to staff that we value them enough to invest in them, improving loyalty and staff retention

Highly trained Staff at all levels

Benefits for Staff Acquire new skills, increasing their

contribution and building their self-esteem

The training they do can take them into other positions within the organization – positions with better prospects and/or better pay

Benefits for Staff

They’re upskilled to do new and different tasks, which keeps them motivated and fresh

Because they’re being trained on our time, they see that we value them enough to invest in them.  A good organization is seen as one that retrains and retains rather than churns.

Why LCPL U and Not ALA-APA?

ALA’s Library Support Staff Certification National Certification Program

6 online classes – 3 required, 3 electives

Courses are outsourced

Costly for students to pay

Why LCPL U and Not ALA-APA?

Indiana Public Library Standards does not recognize ALA-APA Certification

LCPL does not control the content LCPL training is continuous LCPL training is affordable Staff know that LCPL values them

and invests in them

Questions or Information?

Ana Grandfield, DirectorLake County Public Library

agrandfield@lcplin.org

Library Skills Trainer

YEAR 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014TOTAL HRS 223.5 54 269.5 226 86.5 49.5

COSTTotal Salary&Benefits 217,986.81$ 131,485.43$ 313,867.13$ 308,251.67$ 68,570.52$ 48,392.86$ -$

NOT in ads 3,318.30$ 1,106.10$ 553.05$

Total COST per year 221,305.11$ 132,591.53$ 313,867.13$ 308,804.72$ 68,570.52$ 48,392.86$ -$

Cumulative TOTALS 221,305.11$ 575,201.76$ 1,242,965.53$ 2,219,534.02$ 3,264,673.03$ 4,358,204.91$ 5,451,736.78$

(Cumulative Totals is total cost carried over each year)

Grand Total of Hours NOT filled 909 (These are hours of positions LCPL did NOT fill)Grand Total of Savings 1,093,531.88$ (Grand Total of Savings is savings of positions NOT filled, this is NOT Cumulative)

TOTALS OF SALARY & BENEFITS FROM NOT FILLING A POSITION

LCPL Savings since Cost Containment initiated in 2008