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Introduction
The University of Auckland Library introduced the first staff development library position in New Zealand in 1994 ([23] The University of Auckland Library, 1997). The university has also had a strong culture of staff development with a number of groups providing development opportunities across the university. These include the Centre for Academic Development (CAD) and the Staff and Organisational Development Unit (SODU). In addition, the Library has over the years created many courses to up-skill staff. At times professional trainers have been brought in or staff sent on courses offered by organisations such as the Library and Information Association of New Zealand (LIANZA), AIMA and CAVAL.
Although there are many useful courses offered by various university groups, as well as the Library, there was a need to step back and realign with strategic objectives. Also, an overview of what opportunities were available and which training gaps required filling was needed. With a large body of approximately 240 staff, it was essential to ensure that the relevant training needs were being met and that staff had the essential skills to ensure they could deal with the challenges of constant change experienced in libraries. In 2007, in response to these needs, the university librarian set up a library staff development advisory group (LSDAG).
The group's frame of reference was:
- to promote and encourage professional and personal development of library staff;
- to identify library staff training and development needs, taking into account information from development reviews and advice from supervisors;
- to plan and implement an annual programme of staff training and development that is aligned with the library's strategic direction;
- to advise the university librarian on issues relating to staff training and development;
- to facilitate the sharing of learning from staff development opportunities among other library staff, including discussion of common problems and solutions in order to promote best practice; and
- to analyse and evaluate feedback from staff about training activities in order to identify quality programmes.
The university library's senior management team selected a small decision making group of five members with an interest, and some with expertise, in staff development. They represented positions from across the library system to provide various viewpoints.
This paper examines the approach taken by...