cc image used courtesy of Leo Reynolds on flickr

My personally selected top 10 from the links I shared on Twitter from 1/22/2010 thru 1/28/2010

1. “Your Brain Can’t Handle Your Facebook Friends” – great article from Mashable using Dunbar’s Number to explain why you can’t keep up with more than 150 Facebook Friends. I’m guess that applies to Twitter as well.
2. Social Technology & an Innovative Intranet can Increase Employee Productivity give stats & examples, reminds me I need to finish my follow up post to Control is an Illusion You Need to Let Go
3. “from social media to social action: when awareness isn’t enough.” – remember while social media helps create awareness of issues, awareness does not equal action. No retweeting or sharing on Facebook does not count as action, despite what all the women who posted their bra color might think.
4. you buy wine, kids get books, its win win for everybody, even if its bad wine you can give it as gifts – nuf said
5. iPad is iBad for freedom – from Free Software Foundation – a must read if you care about DRM & open source & open access. While you’re at it read these: 8 Things That Suck About the iPad and The Problem with the Apple iPad like how I snuck 2 extra links in there?
6. Programme Transliteracy Conference 9 Feb 2010 - I am so sad I wasn’t able to find funding to attend this, I’ll be following closely online.
7. The Seth Godin Uber Echo Disaster! – I know I blogged about the echo chamber earlier this week, but I hope you’re still thinking about it.
8. The Relevance Economy: Why mattering matters. – an interesting read on the relevance of things, it is all relative.
9. google voice for iphone – RT @kenleyneufeld: Just tested and it works perfectly. Here’s a better link direct from god. – google voice is finally on the iphone
10. @curiouschild have you seen this? - monkeys are involved and my infatuation with Monkeys is well documented.

Similar Posts:

• Top Ten Links Week 5
• Top Ten Links Week 14
• Top Ten Links Week 12

Yesterday I attended a MaintainIT webinar – Using MaintainIT Resources for Technology Training, where they shared some useful information and links.  One of the sites was Infopeople, a nonprofit that archives their presentations and handouts and makes them available under a Creative Commons license!

As I was exploring I came across materials for a previous workshop - Stress Management in the Library Workplace.  There are a lot of workshops listed but since my post – Library usage will go up during a recession – management are you really prepared? is still getting a lot of hits, I thought I’d share this one specifically. You can download the PowerPoint presentation, some exercise and these handouts:

• The “Bakers Dozen” – How to Reduce Stress
• Relieving Stress through Exercise
• Stress Relief through Nutrition
• Stress Relief and Sleeping Habits – 10 Tips for Better Sleep
• Symptoms of Stress and Causes of Stress
• Seven Quick Tips for Time Management

Similar Posts:

• Library Usage Will Go Up During a Recession – Management Are You Really Prepared?
• Your Inbox Is Not a To-do List
• Managers – The Message You’re Sending About Time is Affecting Customer Service

I’ve seen many news articles and video lately about usage of libraries increasing during a recession. I’ve personally noticed my library seems busier.  While many have celebrated the increase of use and the public attention we so rightly deserve, we also need to consider the down side.  Our funding might be cut, the public is less likely to approve bonds or tax levies to increase services, in some cases staff may be laid off.  Libraries are masters of doing more with less and we are really going to need that skill now.

The other side of recession is that is causes stress.  Patrons are likely to be less happy about paying their fines and, in general, be a little more on edge.  Staff are aware of the news and what is happening, even those who feel secure in their jobs, have family and friends who have been affected.

So why am I asking management if they are ready?  All of this stress means an increase in irritable, angry, demanding, stressed out patrons who are rubbing up against your irritable, angry, tired, stressed out staff.  See where I’m going with this?

The one thing you can do is try to decrease the stress level of your staff.  Happy library staff makes everything run just a little smoother (not to mention they are healthier and less likely to call in sick).  So given the hard times how can you do this? You probably don’t have the funds to hire a masseur to be on call in the break room. I found a great many articles on workplace morale, some things kept popping up :

• make sure staff feel appreciated
• encourage open communication
• training (almost any it seems)
• provide clear goals and expectations
• encouraging a sense of team
• empowering staff
• be flexible with time and schedules.
• And  there is always the fish books

These are great general principles for all workplaces.  Oddly enough I couldn’t find any article or recommendations that were specific to libraries.  I can think of a few library specifc ones and a few general ones:

• ensure employees get break time away from a service desk
• make sure they have a clean, comfortable place to take that break
• make sure staff feel supported by management in customer issues
• empower employees to waive fines or make other concessions that will smooth patron interactions
• cross train staff so they are comfortable working all service desks and understand what each point of serivce does
• pay attention – just being aware of employee attitudes will allow you to intervene to boost morale faster and more appropriately when/if need
• be ready – have a plan, know how will you boost morale overall and on a case by case basis
• take action – don’t wait to see the need before you put your plan into place

What suggests do you have?  If you’re a manager what steps have you taken with your staff? If you’re staff what things could management do to boost morale?

Further reading:

• Libraries Are Used More in Recession
• The library – a recession sanctuary
• The Public Library Renaissance
• Library usage increases with the recession
• Library usage up in wake of recession
• Obama Warns of Severe Consequences Without Stimulus Package
• Foster Success for People: Two Musts for Employee Motivation and Positive Morale
• Eight Leader Behaviors That Increase Motivation, Morale, and Performance…And One That Won’t
• Downturn in economy increasing stress in the workplace
• Top Ten Ways to Retain Your Great Employee

Similar Posts:

• Stress Management in the Library Workplace
• Libraries looking to save money? Consider telecommuting!
• We are del.icio.us!