Two new timely courses have been added to the WebJunction Illinois Course Catalog. Remember, these courses are available anytime, anywhere and are free to registered users of WJIL. Enroll by visiting the WJIL Course Catalog and clicking on LE@D as the Featured Course Provider.

Financial Management in Tough Times (LE@D)

You’ve just been told that your budget is being cut by 10% next year. Or perhaps you must submit a budget showing a 20% or even 30% reduction in the upcoming fiscal year.

• What services do you cut?
• Can the budget be cut without laying off staff?
• What is the long-term result of budget cuts?
• What about outsourcing?

Is it possible to improve library service to the community while cutting the budget?

Budget cuts can be beneficial to a library and a community. We must examine what our libraries do and how effectively/efficiently we do it. It’s time to responsibly make the right decisions and make the necessary changes to negatively affect the minimal number of people in our community. And, in the process, we may find that our informed decisions have actually IMPROVED library services!

Supervision without Micromanagement (LE@D)

Why is effective library supervision so hard, even for the smart, nice, and experienced library employee? Library supervision in itself is hard because:

• Humans are not books to be processed
• Being the boss does not mean you have earned the trust and respect of the staff
• Supervision requires a different set of skills
• People who do it well make it look easy

Whether you are a supervisor in waiting or an experienced library manager, this course will illustrate the techniques, courtesies, and responsibilities necessary for you to improve your library’s productivity and workplace relations.