Reference, Instruction, and Outreach (RIO)

During this RIO discussion, we talked about what onboarding and training procedures libraries can implement to help new and early career librarians be successful in their positions. What foundations do they need the most (customer service, readers advisory, reference, programming, etc.) when starting in a library? Do new librarians need other types of support to be successful?

It was noted that there are different training needs and procedures for professional staff versus no professionals such as student workers. Most meeting participants noted that they had training manuals (sometimes extensive) for the nonprofessional staff, but little to nothing for the professional (librarian) staff.  

It was agreed that most libraries need a 'succession document' of some kind to help new staff who may have no other staff who can train them in their position.

Much discussion was about the value of peer input in new staff's learning. Some used Moodle online, some used LibAnswers. It was suggested that CDLC examine the possibility of starting a mentorship program.

Some examples of elements from one training manual: library policies, library procedures, consortium/professional association information, customer service, readers advisory, reference, public computers/digital literacy, collection development/management, programming, ILL, Outreach/community engagement, professional development sources (webjunction, etc).