Staff Development Officer and Committee as well as Core Teaching Staff

To support the provision of information in a diversity of formats, the UF Libraries provide and promote a well-balanced staff development program. The primary objective of the program is to facilitate change by challenging the staff to participate in a continuous learning program provided in a supportive environment that encourages participation. The Libraries recognize that staff development and training is only successful when it is flexible and adaptable to the changing environment. The three components of the plan are:

• Orientation
• On-the-job training
• Development

In 1993, the Libraries allocated a full time faculty line for the position of Staff Development Officer. The first working Staff Development Committee began soon after, in August 1993. Since its formation, the Committee has functioned in its role as adviser, assisting the Staff Development Officer. The Committee is a working committee whose primary goal is to consider the training needs of the staff. The Committee consists of seven library staff members, representing various departments and ranks, serving two-year appointments. It is charged to:

• Advise and assist in identifying training/development needs
• Advise and assist with prioritizing funding
• Conduct select presentations when appropriate
• Advise and assist with development and planning of presentation
• Assist with evaluation of individual presentations and of the program as a whole
• Serve as a clearinghouse for feedback and suggestions from the library staff
• Assist with identifying policies and procedures which need to be developed

In addition to the Staff Development Committee, there is a core group of approximately six in-house staff who have strong teaching abilities, expertise in various software programs and/or other competencies and who volunteer to teach many of the workshops.

Prepared by: Trudi Di Trolio, Staff Development Officer