Points North Newsletters

September 2008

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Management Series Proves Beneficial To Participants The NNY Library Network sponsored a three-part Management Series over the summer. Part 1: "Traits of Effective Supervisors" was held June 10, 2008; Part 2: "Basic Practices: Motivating Employees, Delegating Work" was held July 8, 2008; and Part 3: "Performance Appraisals" was held August 12, 2008. The classes were taught by Linda McQuinn, The McQuinn Companies, Inc. Following Part 2, some of the participants talked about what they gained from the half-day program. Sue Herne of the Akwesasne Cultural Center commented on what instructor McQuinn had to say on how to have a positive outlook on being a manager. She said she had had a fear of what it truly meant to be a manager, because she didn’t want to be someone’s boss. But now she feels differently. "I learned how to keep someone motivated and fulfilled in their job," Ms. Herne said. "Be creative - help them to be the best they can. "I feel more comfortable," she said of managing others. "It’s about helping, not micro-managing. You need to give them respect and opportunity, and communicate better." Ms. Herne said her boss wants her to do more supervisor duties and encouraged her to take Parts 1 and 2 of the series. She was contemplating taking the third part as well. Connie Holberg of Jefferson Community College’s Melvil Dewey Library noted she is taking all three parts of the series in preparation of her roll as library director. "This puts things in perspective," she said of the class. "The importance of being a managing director is to be responsible for motivating the employees. It’s about listening to the employees - they are all different, that’s part of them. It’s about appreciating them for that. We benefit from being different - it makes for a stronger organization." Ms. Holberg said she appreciates being able to attend the classes at the NNY Library Network, and to work on professional growth. "It’s important to always continue in ways that benefit ourselves and the organizations we work in," she said. "We are lucky to have these opportunities in the library (through the NNYLN’s classes), it’s not always so in the other departments of the college." As part of the anonymous evaluation form participants are asked to fill out, the following comments were made as to how they plan on following up on what the learned: "Work with new and returning student assistants to develop confidence and trust." "I’ll assign a task and walk away - not look over their shoulder. If a job seems to be taking a long time, I’ll ask if there is a problem or situation I’m unaware of that is causing a delay." "Put ideas into practice." "Thank my staff for a job well done more often."

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