FOLIO: Facilitated Online Learning as an Interactive Opportunity

Moving into Supervision (Moves)

About MOVES...

Welcome to the Moves web pages. MOVES was an online interactive course funded by the National Library for Health that was delivered by email and Web pages as part of the FOLIO Programme. It has been designed to help new information professionals or those working in paraprofessional roles to gain an understanding and appreciation for key principles and methods of effective supervision of staff in any type of library or information service.

The MOVES course ended on the 13th of October 2006. To keep track of the course so far, see the MOVES archive. To see an outline of upcoming course materials and exercises, see the MOVES course timetable.

MOVES Course Materials...

Key materials:

• The portfolio template for the course is available to download: please select either the Groupportfolio.doc or the Self-directed version depending on which route you are following.
• Portfolio Submission Instructions
• Assessment criteria for the portfolio: your portfolio will be assessed by either the Group-supported criteria or the Self-directed criteria depending on which route you are following.
• Evaluation forms can be accessed at: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/surveys.cgi?A=hp&LMGT1=E-FOLIO

Course materials:

Briefings:

• Personal qualities briefing
• Recruitment and selection briefing
• Orientation presentation

Stories:

• Part 1: Personal qualities
• Part 2: Orientation
• Part 3: Delegation and Monitoring
• Part 4: Developing Staff Potential

Guest lecture:

Barbara Allan's guest lecture on motivating staff. Slides and recorded commentary.

Other materials:

• Supervision Scenarios Quiz
• Managing Time and Workload Conversation Briefing
• Managing Supervision Challenges
• Course Summary
• Supervision Scenarios Quiz Answers

Course aim...

This course aims to help new information professionals or those working in paraprofessional roles to gain an understanding and appreciation for key principles and methods of effective supervision of staff in any type of library or information service.

Course objectives...

By the end of this course participants will be able to:

• Understand the characteristics of effective supervision as it specifically relates to library and information services.
• Identify and utilise specific techniques when supervising the performance and personal development of staff within their own library or information context.
• Describe the main processes required for interviewing, the setting of  performance goals setting and evaluating staff performance,
• Develop personal strategies to enable them to plan effectively, manage time, direct, train and motivate staff.
• Engage with fellow participants in discussing issues connected with the supervision of library and information service staff.

Useful references

For more information about supervisory skills for library and information staff, see the following references:

• Allan B (Forthcoming). Supervising and Leading Teams in ILS December 2006; 192pp; hardback; 1-85604-587-0; London: Facet Publishing
• Bailey MJ (1986) The Special Librarian As a Supervisor or Middle Manager. Paperback. Special Libraries Assn,, 2nd edition
• Bailey MJ (1981) Supervisory and Middle Managers in Libraries. Hardcover. Scarecrow Press.
• Broadwell MM (1986). Moving Up to Supervision (Series: Wiley Series in Training & Development) (Paperback). Wiley.
• Erkkila, J and MacKay P (1990). Practical Supervision: The First Line of Management. Journal of Library Administration 12 (1): 103-115.
• Estabrook, L, Mason L, and Suelflow S (1992). Managing the Work of Support Staff. Library Trends 41 (2): 231-49.
• Giesecke, J (ed) (1997) Practical Help for New Supervisors. Third Edition. ALA Editions, American Library Association, 155 North Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL 60606-1719 (ALA Order No. 3467-6-2068). 117p
• Giesecke J & McNeil B (2005). Fundamentals Of Library Supervision (ALA Fundamentals Series) (Paperback). Americian Library Association.
• Gordon RS (2005). The Accidental Library Manager. Medford, NJ : Information Today.
• Rogers, SL (1993). Out of Theory and into Practice: Supervising Library Employees. Journal of Academic Librarianship. 19 (3): 154-57.