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Onboarding Program: Librarians

Welcome!
Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library Entrance, first f

In combination with an effective mentoring program, the Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library believes that a strong onboarding program is a necessary element for new librarian success. This guide supports the Onboarding Program for new librarians at Fitchburg State University. Here you will find an overview of the onboarding process, roles and responsibilities, best practice guidelines, tips, and tools to assist with a smooth and successful transition to Fitchburg State and the library. This guide is a work in progress - please feel free to suggest additional resources!

Program Goals & Objectives

The primary goals of the Library's Onboarding Program are to help new academic librarians integrate into the university and library as well as their own responsibilities. We recognize that each new librarian is unique. Therefore, this program is intended to provide consistency in introducing you to the information and training every new librarian needs while being adaptable to you as an individual. To that end, the onboarding program seeks to reduce stress for the new librarian by:

  • Ensuring that all the organizational actions that support new employee integration are performed on the administrative side
  • Focusing on the information the new librarian needs to know to get started, such as an introduction to the organizational structure, policies, and procedures
  • Providing an incremental timeline with activities and related resources to serve as a guideline in learning and assuming their full responsibilities

"New" librarians is an inclusive term that means everything from new librarians entering their first professional library position to experienced librarians who are new hires at Fitchburg State. 

Duration: The onboarding program is designed to encompass the new librarian's first year.

Program Guidelines

Onboarding Team Leads & Responsibilities

University's Human Resources Department - Responsible for ensuring that new employees receive all relevant policies/forms, benefits information and works with managers to create an engaging and informative onboarding experience for new employees.

Dean of the Library - Responsible for explaining departmental hierarchy and vision, covering supervisor expectations, job responsibilities, decision-making processes and procedures, meeting periodically to provide feedback and guidance, etc.

Library Program Area Chair - Responsible for coordinating with HR and other onboarding team members prior to arrival to insure preparation of the workspace, setting up accounts, creating the new librarian's onboarding agenda and orientation activites. Serve as an informational source connecting new librarian with the Library's Mentoring Program, covering MSCA union contractual questions and information about the evaluation process, setting up training/job shadowing as appropriate, meeting periodically to provide feedback and guidance, etc.

Library Administrative Assistant - Provide administrative support in setting up user accounts and OneCard office/building access permissions, access to supplies, office flow/procedures, etc.

Program Assessment

The Library Program Area Chair will distribute a short survey to all Onboarding Program participants at various times during the year to assess how things are going. Your participation is strongly encouraged so that we can gain a full picture of program needs. Please also feel free to contact the Library Program Area Chair at any time with any questions or need for support.