The largest percentage of the staff development and training budget is spent to pay registration fees for individual employees (librarians, classified and professional staff) to attend campus, local and regional continuing education events.
Each biennium, between $25,000 and $29,000 is spent on this program with more than 150 different individuals applying for funding and time off. The approximate cost of each grant is $100. Some employees apply for several. These are not travel funds, which are handled directly through Libraries administration. The employee fills out a simple application form for time off and funding and gets appropriate approval and signatures. The money is used in a variety of ways, such as:
The Libraries Staff Development Coordinator administers the program. Supervisors and appropriate assistant directors approve individual funding grants. The Director of Libraries must approve any grant over $200.00.
The program is introduced to all new staff members during orientation and supervisors and managers actively encourage their employees to take advantage of the opportunities. Our employees boast to other departments about this “perk” and we believe it to be a strong factor in positive morale. It also gives supervisors one more tool to help them become better managers as well coaching and helping employees to improve and excel.