Education

Policy

When attending workshops for professional growth, the library will pay for registration and CEU fees. If a workshop falls on a workday, the librarian will be paid for hours she would have worked.

Personnel Policies

Staff Development

All staff members (except full?time college students) are expected to meet the appropriate qualifications for state certifications, and to update these regularly as required.

All employees are required to attend staff meetings as scheduled by the Director or Assistant Director. They may also be required to attend information education meetings sponsored by region, state or other library agencies. Expenses for out?of?town meetings will be paid by the library. Compensation for time spent in travel to out?of?town meetings is covered by Federal Law as follows:

If an employee is given a one?day assignment in another city, which does not require an overnight stay, all the time spent traveling between cities is counted as "hours worked." If the employee's out-of-town assignment requires an overnight stay, time spent traveling to the other city is counted as hours worked only to the extent that it coincides with the employee's regular workday.

Membership in the Iowa Library Association will be paid by the library for all employees.

Education

1. The staff is encouraged to avail themselves of the continuing education classes sponsored by the Regional Library and the State Library as well as other such educational opportunities.

   Attendance at such meetings by staff must be approved by the Librarian.

2. The Library shall pay any registration and/or lunch fees charged in conjunction with the class or course.
3. The Library shall reimburse staff for the noon meal if the course offering is an all?day session and the meal is not included. A paid receipt is required for payment.
4. The staff shall be paid at their regular hourly rate for the time actually spent in session at such meetings.
5. The Library shall pay 20 1/2 cents per mile for travel to and from such meetings.
6. Registration, meals and housing will be paid by the Library for the Librarian's expenses at such meetings or Conferences longer than one day (eight) hours with prior board approval.

Upon presentation of paid receipts, the Librarian shall be reimbursed for expenses not pre-paid.

The Librarian shall be paid at her regular hourly rate, not to exceed eight hours per day.

Personnel Policies

Development and Training of the Library Staff.

1. It is expected that the Library Director and nonprofessional staff, where deemed appropriate by the Library Director, shall attend professional meetings, workshops, and conferences for the purpose of continuing education.
2. The Library Director shall be encouraged to attend, with time off, pay, and expenses, any meeting within the State that he feels would be beneficial for him to attend. Any meetings occurring outside the State require specific Board approval.
3. Non-professional Library staff members shall be encouraged to attend, with time off, pay, and expenses, the district meeting of the Iowa Library Association and any other library?related meetings deemed useful by the Library Director.
4. The Library Director shall be required to earn a minimum of 3 continuing education units annually. Other adult staff members shall be required to earn a minimum of 1 continuing education unit annually.
5. Travel expense to and from meetings attended by Library staff members shall be paid by the Library at the per mile rate in effect for State employees.
6. Dues in the Iowa Library Association for the Library Director and adult staff members shall be paid by the Library on an annual basis.

Staff Development

Staff Meeting

In order that understanding exists among individual staff members on policies and programs of the library, staff meetings will be held regularly. The date and time of all staff meetings will be posted at least four days in advance except for emergency meetings. All staff members are expected to attend all staff meetings. A staff member who is not normally scheduled to work when a staff meeting is held will be compensated at his/her regular rate for the meeting.

In-Service Training

When appropriate, in?service training will be provided to individual staff members and the staff as a whole. The staff members involved will be informed In advance of the nature of the training and date and time of its occurrence. When in?service training takes time in addition to an employee's scheduled hours, that employee will be compensated at his/her regular rate.

Workshops and Conferences

A specific amount of money will be budgeted each year in the library budget to defray part of the expenses Incurred by staff members who attend workshops and conferences.

Preference in attending workshops and conferences will be given to the staff members who hold positions for which the Board of Trustees require the State Library of Iowa's Certification for Librarians. All staff members are encouraged to become certified, however.

When a staff member attends a workshop or conference in another city, his/her registration for the meeting and mileage to and from the meeting will be paid. Meals and lodging are the responsibility of the individual staff member.

The number of workshops and conferences each staff member will be allowed to attend will vary dependent upon staffing patterns, the amount of money in the Training, Travel and Conference budget and the appropriateness of the session. Attendance at all workshops and conferences is subject to the approval of the Director. Occasionally, a staff member may be granted permission to take time off for a meeting but not given registration and travel funds, placing the financial burden on the staff member. Should this situation occur, it is up to the individual staff member whether or not he/she will attend. Under no circumstances will a staff member be required to attend a meeting without receiving compensation.

An unsalaried staff member who attends conferences and workshops will be compensated for the number of hours he/she would have worked during the time of the meeting unless the time spent In travel and attending the meeting is significantly less than the scheduled number of hours for that period. If the number of hours spent In travel and meeting attendance is significantly less than the scheduled number of work hours, the employee has the option to work the remaining hours either ahead of time, on the same day or after the fact, or to be compensated for the number of contact hours during the meeting attended. Arrangements should be made with the Director prior to the meeting In regard to working the extra hours. If the meeting occurs on an unsalaried staff member's day off, that staff member will be given another day off and paid for the hours of that day, subject to the requirements described above. Salaried staff members may record the number of actual contact hours spent at the meeting.

When two or more staff members attend the same meeting for the same time period, mileage will be paid for one vehicle only.

Certification

The State Library of Iowa supports a voluntary certification program for librarians. All staff members are encouraged to apply for certification and to maintain their certification through continuing education. While the Board of Trustees will not pay the certification fee, it will maintain a policy of requiring certification for the positions of Director, Assistant Librarian and Administrative Assistant and will provide financial support for continuing education with preference to these staff positions. Other staff members who maintain certification will be allowed paid time off for continuing education and will be compensated for mileage and registration whenever possible.

Professional Affiliations

Membership in the Iowa Library Association, the American Library Association and other professional organizations is encouraged. The cost of membership in professional associations is the responsibility of each staff member.

Policy

Training, Education, and Development

Continuing education of the Library staff is vital to effective service to the public and efficient use of tax money. The Board of Trustees encourages the development of each employee to the fullest potential. Training programs may include courses, seminars, workshops, demonstrations, assignment of reading matter, or such other methods as may be available for improving the effectiveness and broadening the knowledge of employment in the performance of their duties.

1. Special Training
   1. Participation in and successful completion of special training programs shall be considered in making advancements and promotions. Employees are encouraged to develop and further their job skills and personal potential by participation In such programs. Evidence of such completion will be noted In the employee's personnel file.
   2. To encourage employee development, the Library may reimburse an employee for expenses incurred in obtaining approved training which is related to the employee's present or future job responsibilities. At the discretion of the Director, promising employees will be encouraged to attend various kinds of training sessions with time off with pay and may be reimbursed for tuition and travel within the Library's budgeted ability to pay. Any requests must be presented to the Director in writing.

2. Encouragement of Further Education

   Leaves of absence without pay for educational purposes may be granted by the Director. The leave may not extend more than _______ months.

3. Professional Reading

   Professional staff members are expected to keep current on professional literature and books in other fields.

4. Professional Meetings
   1. In addition to the Director and Assistant Director, staff members in Ranges, 14, 16, 19, and 22 will be encouraged to attend meetings of the Iowa Library Association and other meetings. So far as possible, the Library will reimburse the staff member for travel and other expenses. At the diiscretion of the Director, persons in other ranges will be allowed to attend.
   2. Staff members who are members of the American Library Association may be allowed time off to attend Association conference and may be reimbursed for actual expense if the budget allows.

5. Staff Participation in Management

   Suggestions from individual staff members for changes in policy or procedures are welcomed and encouraged. Such suggestions should be made to the immediate supervisor, Assistant Director, or Director.

© 1987

posted April 5, 1999