What is a corporate library for and how to create it

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Instructions for those who want to organize the books scattered around the office, instill in employees a culture of reading and make learning and development a natural process.

Why does the company need a library

The corporate library makes reading accessible to everyone

An employee doesn't have to buy a book and go through the agony of choice. The library has already collected what is useful and useful in work.

Corporate library - the first step to the training system

In our company, each employee has an individual development plan. It says what goals he should achieve in a month and a quarter. Books are one of the tools to achieve them, along with internal training and mentoring.

Corporate Library Accelerates Knowledge Acquisition

If a company is focused on growth and development, you simply have to quickly accumulate, master and transfer knowledge. Regular reading of books creates an atmosphere in which continuous learning and self-education is a natural process.

Where to begin

1. Assemble the first shelf

Most likely, it will turn out spontaneously. Tell your employees about it, track their reaction. Suggest some new products that will definitely interest the most active workers.

It all started for us when we began to collect handouts from the trainings held in the company in the HR department's office. Over time, there were more and more people who came to get materials and asked for additional literature. We realized that it was time to build our own library.

2. Appoint a person responsible for the project - the curator of the library

We have appointed an employee of the HR department. Of course, this is not his main activity, but if one specialist manages the books, then over time he becomes a real expert and can pick up a book for any employee for any purpose.

3. Identify the main headings of the library

As a rule, they correspond to the line of business of the company. Collect feedback, find out what books are missing, listen to the opinions of employees. At first, our library only had books on internet marketing. Over time, there were more and more publications on management, process management, self-development and design.

4. Allocate a budget for purchasing books

It is important to take into account that some books cost 300 rubles, and some, for example on programming or English-language on management, - up to 1, 5-2 thousand, excluding delivery.

The list of new products for purchase is formed by the employees themselves: they tell the curator how this or that book will help them and their colleagues in their work. And then the curator prioritizes procurement within the budget.

5. Organize storage space for books

We hand out all the books; a separate room for the reading room is not required. Therefore, compact shelves are located along the wall in the HR office and do not interfere with work. The advantage of such an organization is that the curator, a specialist in personnel training and development, in his free time with the library, does his own thing together with colleagues from HR.

How to automate the process

1. Enter the accounting of books, even if the library is small

The curator should keep track of how long the book is with the employee and send a reminder: "Do not forget to turn in the book." In a small company, mailing lists with a request to leave feedback can also be sent manually, the main thing is to carry out this work systematically. At first, our library existed only offline. It was necessary to come, select a book, and the library employee (curator) made a mark in Excel.

2. Be prepared for library growth and system complexity

In 2011, the library got a technological shell - an analogue of an electronic catalog with an accounting system. We have created a new section on the corporate portal - a system with which we automated the process of ordering and tracking books, tied it to the database of all publications. As soon as a new instance arrives at the library, it is assigned an identifier and entered into the registry and database. Then the book appears on the main page of the corporate portal in the new products section. E-books, which we buy if the paper books are too expensive or rare, also go there.

3. Arrange a queue for books

If there is an electronic catalog on the portal, employees can view the list of books, read reviews and order the desired copy. When an employee clicks on the "I want to read" button, he receives a notification whether the book is available or will have to wait.

Free - the curator receives a letter that the book should be sent to an employee in one of the offices. No - the employee enters the electronic queue and waits for the book to become available.

You can organize the queue for workbooks in Excel or Google Sheets, but it will be more difficult. In a small company, employees themselves can agree on who to give the book to after reading. The main thing is that the curator is informed about the change of the reader. You can enter a waiting list for the most popular books, where employees themselves will enter names and cross them out before handing in the book.

4. Order additional copies of popular books

If there is a constantly long queue for a book (not only in the first months after ordering it), our curator receives a notification. If there is a large number of positive reviews, if the book is really useful, additional copies are ordered.

How to keep the library running efficiently

The library itself is not enough. All employees should know about it, see constant updates, understand what colleagues are reading, and exchange experiences.

1. Organize a feedback system

As soon as the employee returns the book, he receives a letter of thanks and a request for feedback. Feedback from people with a similar information field allows others to understand how useful this book is to them. You can ask questions to the author of the review, clarify details or discuss an already read publication.

2. Discuss the books you read

In the absence of a corporate electronic platform, introduce a rule to meet regularly and discuss the books you have read. Specific editions can be indicated in the employee development plan or recommended for a particular department.

3. Share library news

We have a special section for information in our monthly news digest. There are published novelties, collections of the most popular literature or reviews of the best books according to one of the employees. Sometimes personal selections of employees end up in a corporate blog.

4. Design your library racks

So that I would like to look through the books and talk with the curator. Place the most relevant headings at eye level - especially for those who have entered the HR office on their own business, so that a person probably does not pass by popular publications. Place bright little things on the shelves: attract attention, let the employee stay longer, leaf through and select a book.

5. Consider the risks

Books are often delayed, even if given at least a month to read. Reminders should be sent to both specialists and top management. If standard notifications do not work, then the curator of the library writes messages in person after a couple of months. Sometimes books are torn, less often employees lose them. This means that the popular book will have to be ordered out of turn.

If nothing is missed, the library, its effect and the results achieved will be like a snowball: on the one hand, the company invests in training, creates an environment for the development of employees, on the other hand, employees invest time and energy in self-development, strive for something new and set an example. other colleagues.