Managing Across Generations with Mary-Jo Romaniuk and Cheryl Stenström

EI Program Calendar On-line Course Six weeks. January 28 - March 7, 2008 Member: $149.00 Non-Member: $194.00 Canada has one of the most pronounced baby booms in the world and like many workplaces, generational differences are evident in the library. With a significant percentage of the library workforce turning an eye towards retirement, and a growing concern about attracting and retaining a skilled cohort of upcoming leaders, savvy managers are asking themselves how they can balance a multitude of expectations while making the most of talented and skilled staff members of all ages. The Benefits Participants will gain an understanding of theory and skills needed to examine and implement effective management techniques in a multi-generational workplace. They will learn about current research in this area; why generations have such an effect on workplace attitudes and expectations; the importance of retention and motivation; overcoming different working styles; communication as it applies to various age groups; and change and leadership as an overarching theme. Throughout the course, participants will learn though active discussion, assess their own workplaces, practice skills through short exercises and discover relevant articles. Who Should Participate This course is designed for both paraprofessionals and professional librarians who are in management positions, or who are looking to move into one. Also anyone who would like to explore the issues around managing a changing workplace is encouraged to participate. Key Topics You Will Explore understanding generational differences creating an environment that respects generational differences generational differences in the library specifically, including accountability and communication sustaining the workforce assessing performance and managing change leadership Method of Instruction Each week, you'll receive an e-mail with the lesson for that week, plus practice exercises that will help you work through the week's sources and reinforce your learning. A Web-based bulletin board will enable you and other participants to ask questions of the instructor and to provide on-line feedback about problems incurred. This course is the right one for you if you enjoy interacting on-line with other participants and the instructors to share knowledge and experiences, as participants will be asked to contribute actively to the bulletin board discussion by sharing questions and comments. The course will include a teleconference call with you and your fellow participants, hosted by the instructors, to give advice and clarify the learning experience. The Presenters: Mary-Jo Romaniuk is the Associate Vice-Provost (Learning Services) at the University of Alberta. She has responsibility for the resource planning and financial management, strategic planning, communication, marketing, fund development as well as research and innovation functions for the portfolio which includes not only the Library but also the Bookstore, the University Press, Archives and Museum and Collection Services. She also has responsibility for the Rights Management and Copyright Administration Office, and Printing Services. For the last ten years she has worked closely with the Chief Librarian and Vice-Provost on library related initiatives, and other strategic undertakings. Mary-Jo has a background in accounting and is completing an Executive MLIS at San Jose State University. In 2007 she became a Fellow of the Frye Leadership Institute. Recently she has published several articles on leadership, management and generational differences. She has been a guest lecturer at the University of Alberta, School of Library Studies, and presenter at various regional, national and international library, university and other related conferences. She is an active member of the provincial library association and a member of the Canadian Library Association and the American Library Association. Cheryl Stenström is the CEO of the South Shore Regional Library in Nova Scotia. During the past seven years, she's developed and delivered online and face-to-face sessions in BC and Nova Scotia on such diverse topics as on-line safety and identity theft, Web development, legal information searching, services for patrons with print disabilities, and public library management. As a consultant, has provided advice and support to public libraries on management, board and technology issues, reference database training, and services to persons with disabilities. She also teaches in BC's Community Library Training Program and San Jose's State University's MLIS program. She is currently a member of the Canadian Library Association's Executive Council. Developed for the Education Institute by Darlene Fichter’s Northern Lights Internet Solutions, Inc. in Saskatoon