Clear emphasis in the library hiring process is placed on developing strategies for finding the right candidate for your open position and improving interviewing skills. However, working to create a positive onboarding experience should not be overlooked. Ensuring your new hires have everything they need, and feel like a contributing part of your team as quickly as possible, has immense implications for returning to optimal operations in the wake of staffing changes.

A consistent onboarding experience impacts both the immediate and future needs of new hires, and this program will discuss how to meet these needs proactively. Through both lecture and guided roundtable discussions, presenters will focus on the key steps for creating a successful plan using their recent experiences of onboarding new library staff in different departments. The presenters will emphasize the importance of planning ahead, and leveraging resources innate to your institution, including actively engaging your entire staff in the onboarding process.

The interactive elements of this program aim to encourage attendees to start actively gathering ideas for what resources and information they should include in their own onboarding plans. Presenters will also be sharing sample onboarding documents they have created and successfully used in their library. Unlike standard onboarding checklists, these shared customizable documents prioritize flexibility and collaboration both between managers and other library staff, as well as between managers and new hires. Attendees will leave this program with the necessary tools to create your own onboarding plan that ensures all new librarians joining your staff feel welcome, supported, and inspired from day one.

This presentation will incorporate both a lecture format using PowerPoint slides, as well as interactive elements (guided roundtable discussion, audience polling, and time allotted for Q&A with the presenters) to facilitate direct information sharing and subsequent audience participation, and group brainstorming. The presenters will also make several sample documents from their own institution’s onboarding plans available to assist attendees in developing their own documents after the presentation.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

Managers, directors, and other staff tasked with onboarding new staff. This presentation will be especially relevant for new managers or those new to direct onboarding responsibilities, as well as more experienced managers coming from libraries that have not had to welcome new staff very recently.

TAKEAWAYS:

1. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the importance of the onboarding process through exploration of recent examples in an academic law library setting. New managers and experienced managers alike will learn the importance of proactively developing a custom onboarding plan that suits their needs and the needs of their institution.
2. Participants will learn how to design their own onboarding plan. The presenters will use examples from their recent experiences onboarding new library staff in different departments and break down the steps taken to develop a successful plan, including the creation of a dossier of documents to aid both managers and new hires through the onboarding process. 
3. Participants will identify additional support and resources across their institutions to enrich their onboarding plans. Through a combination of lecture and roundtable discussion, presenters will highlight suggested free resources, as well as encourage small group brainstorming to aid in creating a list of valuable resources to be incorporated into their draft plan.

SPEAKERS:

• Kristina Martinez, The Catholic University of America
• Carol Hassler, Wisconsin State Law Library

COORDINATOR:

• Emily Brahler, The Catholic University of America

AALL BODY OF KNOWLEDGE DOMAINS: Professionalism + Leadership At Every Level, Management + Business Acumen

CANCELLATION AND OTHER POLICIES:

No refunds will be given for any purchased AALL conference recording. This applies to non-AALL members only as the recordings are free for AALL members.

The opinions shared during this program represent the views of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL). Recording, capturing, or using AI tools to duplicate, transcribe, or otherwise reproduce an AALL program in any form is strictly prohibited without prior written consent from AALL. This includes, but is not limited to audio, video, or any other content shared. By accessing an AALL recording, you agree to adhere to this policy.