Staff Day Follow-Up

Submitted by Anna Lyle

Thank you to the Staff Day Committee for planning and executing last Friday’s virtual event. I’ve heard many positive comments about the day. This year’s committee included:

·         Jennifer Bell (Information Specialist, MLIS, at Cumming)

·         Kayla Bolton (Youth Services Supervisor at Hampton Park)

·         Meredith Causey (Materials Services Supervisor at HQ)

·         Mendy Gunter (Branch Manager at Sharon Forks)

·         Trina Schlecht (Information Specialist at Post Road)

·         Nicholas Yeatman (Network Administrator at HQ)

Thank you also to Amy Szvetecz (Youth Services Supervisor at Post Road) for guiding us through the event as our emcee.

Later this week you will be asked to complete a survey about Staff Day. Please be sure to provide your input. Although we cannot satisfy everyone’s preferences, we take the feedback very seriously. Next year’s committee will use 2021 survey responses to help shape Staff Day 2022.

Staff submitted two questions that we were unable to answer on Staff Day.

What was the result for the research done on the surrounding library systems hours of operation on weekends?

During the meeting, Steve and I did not recall the research mentioned. Later he determined it was related to asking Cumming Library staff to compile a list of the opening hours for public library systems in each of the surrounding counties. This information was used to help justify to the County Finance Committee the need to implement the library’s salary study. We were able to say that we are open 7 days a week for a total of 67 hours, with more staffed open hours than public library systems in neighboring counties. FCPL’s per capita funding is higher than that of neighboring counties, so we need to be able to demonstrate the higher level of service (service hours, current materials, staff expertise, programs) that our patrons receive as a result.

Are there any resources through FCPL such as grants for time allowances for staff who are enrolled in an MLIS program?

FCPL’s Educational Leave Benefits are described in Section H-10 of the Personnel Policy Manual.

FCPL may grant educational leave with pay [up to four hours] to full-time classified employees who are enrolled in a degree program per the following guidelines: 

1. The education must be in a degree program that is directly relevant to the employee’s work with FCPL (such as a Master of Library and Information Science, or MLIS). Priority will be given to employees in positions where they do not meet the current educational requirements.

2. Requests for such leave must be approved in advance by the Director, upon recommendation by the appropriate supervisor.

3. The employee must have been employed with FCPL in a classified position for a minimum of two (2) years. Part-time employees are not eligible for educational leave.

Please see the policy for additional details on qualifying and applying for educational leave.

FCPL does not currently offer tuition reimbursement or other assistance in funding tuition payments.

Toilet paper?

No one asked, but Nikki was prepared to answer that 125 cases (48 rolls each) of toilet paper were purchased in FY2021. That was a bit low due to COVID-related closures. Only 3.5 months into FY2022, we’ve already purchased 46 cases.

Do you have other questions? 

Please feel free to reach out directly to me with any additional questions. I will visit each location in the next two weeks and am also available by phone or email.