We are All Winners: Training Silents to Millennials to Work as a Team

Abstract

ABSTRACT. In today's rapidly changing environment, technical services managers and supervisors are challenged to keep up with the latest advances in technology and standards. The serials department is always in a constant state of change, but often the personnel within the department either remains the same or decreases in number due to downsizing. As many department heads know, daily duties can change dramatically from year to year as we are asked to do more with less while embracing new technology and standards. This leads us to the question, what is the best method of teaching personnel how to use the upgraded and new software? How do you prepare your staff if the library purchases a new ILS (integrated library system) or they have to learn a new standard such as RDA (Resource Description and Access) that will affect cataloging? How do you get everyone to understand the new ERM (electronic resource management) system or an upgraded version of the library-integrated system with a new interface? In our workforce today,

Once you get them, how do you keep them? Millennial librarians at work

“…In addition to distinct behavioral characteristics and the concept of defining moments, birth year is a distinguishing generational feature, and agreement on a single time span is debated. Proposed time periods for the Millennial Generation include: 1979‐2000, 1980‐2000, 1980‐2001, 1981‐1999, 1981‐2000, 1982‐2000 and 1982‐2003 (Alsop, 2009, p. 5; Barnes, 2009, p. 59; Deeken et al , 2008, p. 214; Erickson, 2008, p. 5; Gordon, 2006, p. 5; Howe and Strauss, 2000, p. 41; Lancaster, 2003, p. 39; Martin, 2006, p. 8; Osif, 2003, p. 200; Partridge and Hallam, 2006, p. 406). It is generally believed that Millennials represent individuals born in the early 1980s until the early 2000s, and that a generation represents 20 years (Deeken et al , 2008, p. 212).…”

“…Proposed time periods for the Millennial Generation include: 1979‐2000, 1980‐2000, 1980‐2001, 1981‐1999, 1981‐2000, 1982‐2000 and 1982‐2003 (Alsop, 2009, p. 5; Barnes, 2009, p. 59; Deeken et al , 2008, p. 214; Erickson, 2008, p. 5; Gordon, 2006, p. 5; Howe and Strauss, 2000, p. 41; Lancaster, 2003, p. 39; Martin, 2006, p. 8; Osif, 2003, p. 200; Partridge and Hallam, 2006, p. 406). It is generally believed that Millennials represent individuals born in the early 1980s until the early 2000s, and that a generation represents 20 years (Deeken et al , 2008, p. 212). As the successor to Generation X, Millennials are also known as: Generation Y, NetGeneration, Generation XX, Generation 2000, trophy kids, echo boomers, boomer babies, adultolescents, boomerang kids, checklist kids, the Ritalin generation, KIPPERS (kids in parents' pockets eroding retirement savings), gamers, NextGen, N‐Gen, Nexters, the generation born with the chip, the TiVo generation, screenagers, nexters, gadget generation, digital generation and MySpace generation (Alsop, 2009, p. 9; Erickson, 2008, p. 7; Gordon, 2006, p. 5; Howe and Strauss, 2000, p. 6; Partridge and Hallam, 2006, p. 406).…”

Assessing Generational Preferences in Characteristics of an Admired Leader Among Career Library Professionals

“…For training, Boomers prefer interactive lectures and may interrupt teachers in the classroom when seeking greater clarity. They also tend to appreciate flexible schedules and opportunities to learn new skills (Nwosu, et al, 2016;Martin 2006;Deeken, Webb & Taffurelli, 2008).…”

“…Millennials prefer online training to classroom instruction. There is a body of research that suggests that because most Millennials grew up with more access to television than the preceding generations, they have short attention spans and need constant stimulation (Deeken, 2008). Managers are reminded that Millennials tend to value their personal lives more than their jobs and, unlike Boomers, they have no trouble letting their bosses know this (Graybill, 2014).…”