Staff Training in Public Libraries: 2007 Fact SheetThe WebJunction Staff Training in Libraries Survey 2007 provides insights into how libraries support, deliver and evaluate staff training programs. We randomly selected libraries to participate in a web- based survey from May 15 to July 1, 2007. The sample for this survey was supplied by OCLC and was drawn from a directory of all libraries in the U.S. and Canada ensuring adequate representation for each library type.

This Public Libraries Fact Sheet provides a snapshot of key figures for 177 public library respondents, representing a 9% response rate to our survey invitation. We segmented our public library survey respondents into two groups based on the size of their total annual operating budget using $1 million as the breakpoint. For a few questions, readers should focus on the trend rather than exact percentages given the small number of respondents for each response choice. Given the random sample used, we are confident in the overall direction and general findings provided in this fact sheet. The number of respondents for each question is noted in parentheses at the top of each answer column. Please note that percentages in data tables may not total 100 percent due to rounding or because respondents were asked to select all responses that may apply.

We hope you find this fact sheet valuable as you examine your library’s staff training program.

Thank YouWe would like to thank survey respondents and report contributors for their help in conducting this research.

Principal Contributors:

Sarah ChesemoreStrategy Consultant, The Chesemore Group

Linda Belew General Partner, LINRAY

Joanne Cantrell OCLC

Rachel Van Noord WebJunction

Laura Zingg WebJunction

Survey Respondent Information

Approximately what is your library’s total budget for staff training and education?

<$1M Budget(136)

$1M + Budget(41)

$1-$1,000 60% 5%

$1,001-$2,499 14% 5%

$2,500-$4,999 8% 17%

$5,000-$24,999 4% 41%

$25,000-$49,999 1% 12%

$50,000-$99,999 0% 2%

$100,000+ 0% 5%

No answer 13% 12%

3

Approximately what is the total annual operating budget for your library?

<$1M Budget $1M + Budget

Total Numberof Respondents 136 41

Multi-library systems entered the total budget for their entire system.

1How many FTEs (full-time equivalents) are employed in your library?

<$1M Budget(136)

$1M + Budget (41)

2 or fewer 51% 0%

3-4 18% 0%

5-24 31% 41%

25-99 0% 49%

100-249 0% 7%

250+ 0% 2%

Multi-library systems entered the total budget for their entire system.

2

How would you rate the adequacy of your current training and education budget on a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 means “Less than Adequate” and 5 means “More than Adequate”?

<$1M Budget(136)

$1M + Budget(41)

1 24% 10%

2 26% 34%

3 31% 39%

4 7% 7%

5 1% 2%

No answer 11% 7%

4

Survey Respondent Information

Staff Training and Education Budget

In the past two years, has your library’s training and education budget increased, decreased, or remained about the same?

<$1M Budget(136)

$1M + Budget(41)

Increased 14% 44%

Decreased 8% 2%

The Same 68% 49%

Don’t know 4% 2%

No answer 6% 2%

5

In the next two years, do you think your library’s training and education budget will increase, decrease, or remain about the same?

<$1M Budget (136)

$1M + Budget (41)

Increase 18% 34%

Decrease 4% 0%

The Same 58% 56%

Don’t know 13% 5%

No answer 8% 5%

6

Staff Training Options

Which of the following training options does your library offer for staff participation?

<$1M Budget (136)

$1M + Budget (41)

(a) Face-to-face training conducted by in-house staff 55% 71%

(b) Online training conducted by in-house staff 15% 29%

(c) Face-to-face training developed and delivered by outside contractors (off/on-site)

48% 71%

(d) Online training developed and delivered by outside contractors 35% 49%

(e) Conferences (local, state, national) 71% 80%

(f) Degree programs, including bachelor’s or master’s level work 7% 22%

(g) Other options 8% 15%

No answer 15% 15%

7

Staff Training and Education Budget (continued)

For respondents that offer e-learning: Which of the following formats do you currently offer for e-learning?

<$1M Budget (39)

$1M + Budget (19)

Synchronous Facilitator-Led Learning (live, online train-ing with instructor and learners interacting in real time) 33% 74%

Asynchronous Facilitator-Led Learning (instructor-led training where learners work on their own schedule with no real-time interaction)

33% 26%

Self-Paced Learning (learners access course at their own pace with no instructor involved) 74% 53%

Other formats 8% 5%

9

For respondents that offer e-learning: Does your institution offer blended learning (combining in-person and online learning) to staff, or do you plan to in the next two years?

<$1M Budget(39)

$1M + Budget (19)

Yes 38% 21%

No, but plan to in next 2 years 10% 32%

No, don’t plan to 31% 16%

Don’t know 18% 16%

No answer 3% 16%

10

Staff Training Options (continued)

Does your institution offer any kind of online learning, or e-learning, to staff, or do you plan to in the next two years?

<$1M Budget (136)

$1M + Budget (41)

Yes 29% 46%

No, but plan to in next two years 18% 29%

No, don’t plan to 36% 20%

Don’t know 16% 5%

No answer 1% 0%

*The term e-learning describes electronically delivered learning using tools like Web conferencing, Web-based tutorials, message boards, online assessments, and more.

8

Formal Training Plans

For respondents that have training plans: Are these training plans customized for individual employees?

All Budget Sizes (14)

Yes 43%

No 50%

No answer 7%

13Does your institution have formal, written training plans for library employees?

<$1M Budget (136)

$1M + Budget (41)

Yes 9% 5%

No, but we’re interested 41% 63%

No, not interested 39% 24%

Don’t know 8% 7%

No answer 3% 0%

12

For respondents that have training plans: Do performance evaluations take into account whether library employees have completed training specified in professional development plans?

All Budget Sizes (14)

Yes 71%

No 21%

No answer 7%

14

What are the top two training topics your library is interested in offering staff over the next two years?

<$1M Budget (136)

$1M + Budget (41)

Leadership/management/supervision 13% 32%

Information technology/computers/Web 2.0 technologies 74% 63%

Library standards and practices 30% 2%

Financial planning/budgeting/fundraising 7% 2%

Marketing/promoting library services 38% 39%

User services/quality/evaluation 38% 49%

No answer 5% 5%

11

Staff Training Options (continued)

For each training option your library offers for staff, how would you rate the effectiveness of that training option? Please use a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 means “Not at All Effective” and 5 means “Very Effective.”

Respondents with < $1M Budgets

Training Option

# of respondents

Not at all effective

1 2 3 4

Very effective

5

No answer

In-House Face-to-Face Training

75 0% 4% 33% 40% 23% 0%

In-House Online Training

20 0% 10% 40% 45% 5% 0%

Outside Face-to-Face Training

65 0% 3% 12% 55% 26% 3%

Outside Online Training

48 2% 6% 29% 40% 19% 4%

Conferences 97 0% 3% 29% 37% 28% 3%

Degree Program Reimbursement Option

10 0% 0% 10% 60% 30% 0%

15

Effectiveness of Training Options

Measuring Training Program Impact

Which of the following do you use to evaluate the success of your staff training programs?

<$1M Budget (136)

$1M + Budget (41)

(a) Staff retention rates 24% 20%

(b) Staff promotion within the library 10% 24%

(c) Staff morale/job satisfaction 54% 83%

(d) Staff performance ratings 40% 46%

(e) Staff attendance at training events 32% 66%

(f) Staff evaluation of trainings in which they participate 42% 85%

(g) Quality of library services measured by library patrons 43% 61%

Other attributes 5% 0%

No answer 13% 2%

17

For each training option your library offers, how would you rate the effectiveness of that training option? Please use a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 means “Not at All Effective” and 5 means “Very Effective.”

Respondents with $1M + Budgets

Training Option

# of respondents

Not at all effective

1 2 3 4

Very effective

5

No answer

In-House Face-to-Face Training

29 0% 3% 24% 41% 31% 0%

In-House Online Training

12 0% 17% 33% 42% 8% 0%

Outside Face-to-Face Training

29 0% 0% 14% 52% 34% 0%

Outside Online Training

20 0% 0% 40% 55% 5% 0%

Conferences 33 0% 0% 12% 64% 24% 0%

Degree Program Reimbursement Option

9 0% 11% 0% 56% 33% 0%

16

Effectiveness of Training Options (continued)

How would you rate your perception of the return on investment (ROI) of training dollars spent in terms of each of the following? Please use a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 means “Very Dissatisfied” and 5 means “Very Satisfied.”

<$1M Budget (136)

$1M + Budget (41)

Positive impact on skills learned

1 Very Dissatisfied 1% 0%

2 2% 2%

3 23% 27%

4 48% 46%

5 Very Satisfied 18% 22%

No answer 9% 2%

Positive impact on job satisfaction

1 Very Dissatisfied 1% 0%

2 2% 0%

3 25% 12%

4 43% 63%

5 Very Satisfied 19% 20%

No answer 10% 5%

Positive impact on library services

1 Very Dissatisfied 1% 0%

2 2% 0%

3 20% 17%

4 45% 49%

5 Very Satisfied 23% 29%

No answer 10% 5%

18

Measuring Training Program Impact (continued)

For More InformationCheck out www.WebJunction.org/stafftraining for more information on courses, resources and discussions around supporting training and development in your library. Please send any questions/comments to einstitute@webjunction.org.

Additional ResourcesE-Learning’s Next Wave is an article from WebJunction published in Library Journal showing that libraries are at a tipping point when it comes to e-learning, but collaboration on course development will be critical to making online learning all it can be.

Trends in E-Learning for Library Staff presents a summary of research WebJunction commissioned in 2005 on how library organizations are pursuing e-learning for staff training.

The Blended Learning Guide is full of tips and tools for combining online learning with face-to-face instruction. Learn how libraries are making staff training interactive, collaborative, and fun with blended learning!

This five-part series on Building Success for E-Learners by Jennifer Hoffman of InSync Training shows how trainers can make the e-learning experience valuable for learners.

WebJunction’s Sustaining Public Access Computing: Technology and Management Competencies defines the skills and knowledge for managers/directors, frontline staff, and system administrators—all of those library workers who provide patrons with a great experience on the library’s public computers.

In WebJunction’s E-Learning Glossary you’ll find definitions for commonly used terminology in the field of e-learning.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical photocopying or otherwise, without prior written permission of the copyright holder.

Third-party product, service, business and other proprietary names are trademarks and/or service marks of their respective owners.