Staffing Policies

The Rimbey Municipal Library will endeavor to have two staff members working during peak hours of operation.
 
If a staff member cannot show up for a scheduled shift, they are to notify the Library Manager as early as possible.  Every effort will be made to find a replacement to cover the shift.   If the Library Manager is not available, the employee should try to find a replacement.  If it appears that the employee will be missing several shifts and no Rimbey Municipal Library staff are available as replacements, the Library Manager needs to be notified as soon as possible, even if she is on vacation or sick leave.  If it is impossible to reach the Library Manager, the Library Board Chairperson is to be notified.
 
An employee’s health and safety must always take priority over attending work.  Employees are not expected to come to work if they are ill or if road and weather conditions make it dangerous or impossible to travel.

Employee Code of Conduct

Every employee is expected to act in a professional, responsible, and courteous manner at all times. Clearly, such behaviour fosters a positive and productive working environment.  Conversely, inappropriate or unprofessional behaviour is disruptive and unproductive.

It is impossible to identify all standards of conduct that are unacceptable.  The expectation is for employees to act in a professional and courteous manner. We expect that employees will use common sense and good judgment in achieving this goal. However, the Library Board and manager, and not that of any individual employee, is the benchmark for what is acceptable and what is not. An employee’s conduct is not made acceptable solely because the employee believes it to be. Nor may an employee excuse his or her conduct because this guideline does not specifically prohibit the objectionable conduct. The library expects that employees recognize that inappropriate conduct, from rudeness to theft, is unacceptable. The decision as to what is inappropriate is left in the library management’s hands and sole discretion.

Dress Code

Library employees are expected to dress in business casual clothes.  Jeans are acceptable as long as they are in good repair and worn with a top that makes them appear more professional.  (T-shirts with slogans are unacceptable)  Also unacceptable are: spaghetti strap shirts, gym clothes, rumpled or ripped clothing, (micro) miniskirts, short shorts, underwear as outerwear, inappropriately revealing attire such as bare midriffs, and flip-flops.

Personal Phone Calls

Personal cell phones need to be turned off during business hours.  Employees can be contacted at the library through the business phone.  All personal calls should be taken in the office.  If an employee is with a patron or facilitating a program, a message will be taken for them.  If the call is identified as an emergency the employee will be interrupted.  If long distance calls need to be made, employees can take a break and use their cell phone in the office.

Use of Alcohol and Drugs

While the library recognizes the social aspects of having a drink of alcohol with a meal, at no time should an employee be impaired while at work.  Also, it is inappropriate to consume alcohol before facilitating children’s programming.  If too much alcohol has been consumed the night before, it is preferable for the employee not to come to work than to come to work while suffering the effects of over-indulgence. Employees shall not attend work while under the influence of illegal drugs.  Employees shall not attend work while under the effect of prescription drugs if those drugs in any way inhibit their performance. 

Working While Ill

An employee’s health must always take priority over attending work.  If an employee has a virus or other infection that is contagious, he or she is encouraged to not come to work.  If an employee cannot, for any reason, attend work the library manager is to be notified as soon as possible.

Hiring

All positions are to be advertised in the local newspaper.
 
A formal letter of application is required.
 
A hiring committee consisting of two board members, the Library Manager and board chair will review applications and select candidates for interview.  A formal interview will take place by the board hiring committee.
 
Skills required:
Computer literacy is necessary.
Candidate must demonstrate organizational skills and the ability to work within a budget.
Candidate must be able to interact positively with public.
Exceptional communication skills are required.
Preference will be given to candidates with library experience and/or applicants with training in library science or library related courses.

Summer Student

The Library Manager and Library Assistant will interview the student.   Children of the board or other staff members are not eligible.