'Knowledge Explosion' and 'information explosion' are the terminologies used to represent the growth of knowledge. Knowledge gets accumulated; process of organizing knowledge available in different formats is the skilled work of knowledge workers.

Librarians must now work at a different level from that required 20 years ago, but the training available is not always appropriate or accessible to all. The authors of this volume have responded to this significant and continuing change within the profession by offering a much-needed guide to best practice for staff training and development in library and information work. This handbook addresses new aspects of service provision both in the UK and abroad, and provides an up-to-date review of the current developments that are becoming increasingly important to librarians through the influence of the electronic age and the widening of areas of professional involvement. The Handbook of Library Training Practice and Development will be invaluable to those responsible for the development of staff and line managers as well as providing a crucial insight into the information profession for anyone new to this career path or looking to develop their knowledge within it.

The Library Staff Development Handbook: How to Maximize Your Library’s Most Important Resource provides practical tips, suggestions for resources, and concrete examples for addressing the multiple and varied aspects of staff development. From crafting a job description to recruitment, hiring and retention, and from progressive discipline and succession planning to continuing education, performance appraisals, and the importance of workplace fun, this handbook can serve as a companion for managers, supervisors and library staff as they negotiate the challenging range of staffing issues and the opportunities they provide in the library setting.

Using examples, tips, suggestions for resources, samples, and anecdotes from a wide variety of library practitioners and settings, The Library Staff Development Handbook shows how to create an environment that nurtures individuals while encouraging staff opportunities in order to generate optimal institutional performance.

An indispensable resource for librarians of all roles, the case studies in An Introduction to Staff Development in Academic Libraries demonstrate the necessity and value of integrating the library's mission statement and strategic plan with bold approaches to staff orientation, training, mentoring, and development.

This book, first published in 1991, presents a variety of insightful perspectives on how proper human resources management strategies can provide library staff members at all levels with the skills needed for libraries of the future. The shift of the concept of management from control to development means that library administrators must adapt to a more inclusive definition of the human resources field. In addition to such administration activities as recruitment, wage and payroll management, and benefits, human resources management now encompasses all activities that promote greater job satisfaction and support the development of individuals within the context of the workplace. This valuable book examines some of the procedures that can help library managers identify the human resources in their organizations; design and implement programs, policies, and procedures to address these issues; and commit the necessary resources to support the full development of all library staff.

Newly qualified library and information staff are thrown in at the deep end in their first jobs, where they are expected to function as skilled practitioners. They find themselves in a world where technological developments and global competition are changing the shape and reach of information services. The scale and speed of change present constant challenges to develop awareness and understanding of the wider environment in order to improve local services. Their need for support in their professional development is particularly acute at this stage in their careers. This easy-to-use manual aims to provide that support at both operational and strategic levels. It is designed to help new professionals make sense of the contemporary information world and devise effective strategies for developing their skills and services. It brings together a host of useful sources covering the professional and managerial aspects of information work, introducing key concepts and techniques in a coherent framework, and using practical examples to illustrate current organizational and service trends. The book offers a global cross-sectoral perspective on information resources and services, covering strategy and marketing as well as day-to-day operations. The thematic arrangement means that each chapter can be used as a self-directed training module, or as the basis of a session with a supervisor or mentor. Packed with activities and reflection points, the book encourages a critical approach through the use of questions and also offers annotated bibliographies providing quick access to relevant publications, websites and organizations worldwide. Readership: Particularly valuable as an on-the-job reference source for those working towards chartered/corporate membership of professional bodies, this workbook also makes extremely useful reading for students and lecturers, staff development officers, those returning to employment after a break, and established professionals in search of fresh perspectives or career development.

Contents Preface 5 Acknowledgments...............................................................9 List of Abbreviations................................................................11 1. Introduction................................................................................15 2. Review of Related Literature......................................................36 3. SDP: Concept and Its Evolution.................................................76 4. Provisions and Effectiveness of SDP.....................................105 5. Analysis and Interpretation of Data..........................................142 6. Conclusions, Findings and Recommendations......................258 Appendix - 1......................................................................296 Index..................................................................................303