• GENERAL LIBRARY SERVICES AND CARD-HOLDER PRIVILEGES
• General Services
• Card Applications
• Circulation Policy
• Unattended Children Policy
• Abuse of Library Policy and Restriction of Privileges
• COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT POLICY
• PROGRAMS
• GIFTS, BEQUESTS, MEMORIALS
• PHYSICAL FACILITIES
• PERSONNEL
• PUBLIC INTERNET AND COMPUTER ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY
• EMERGENCY AND SAFETY POLICY
• LIBRARY BILL OF RIGHTS

All library staff members are considered employees of the City of Seward, and thus fall under the regulations set forth in the City of Seward, Nebraska Personnel Manual.  This manual should be referred to for most personnel issues and takes precedence if anything in this policy is contradictory.  Library employees qualify for all applicable city benefits, including insurance coverage, paid vacation, sick, and holiday leave, and retirement.  Although the Library Board governs all other aspects of library operation, the City Administrator shall have supervisory authority over all employees of the library, including the Library Director. 

1. Library Director
   
   
   1. The City Administrator, working closely with the Library Board, advertises for, interviews, and recommends to the Mayor and City Council the best candidate(s) for the Library Director position.  In order to maintain state library accreditation, every effort should be made to hire a state certified or certifiable person.
   2. Official evaluation of the Library Director is the responsibility of the City Administrator, who supervises the performance management target system for all City Department heads, though the Library Board may choose to conduct informal evaluations from time to time.
      
      
2. Library Staff
   
   
   1. The Library Director, working closely with the City Administrator, advertises for, interviews, and recommends to the City Administrator and Mayor the best candidate(s) for library employment.  In order to maintain state library accreditation, the Assistant Library Director, the Library Assistant II, and designated Library Assistant I personnel must be or work to become state certified. 
      
   2. Evaluation of library staff is the responsibility of the Library Director, who oversees the performance management target system currently used by all city departments.
      
      
3. Job Descriptions
   
   
   1. Job descriptions outlining accountability, essential and additional duties and responsibilities, skills and abilities, and experience and education are available for each library position.
   2. To keep them current and relevant, job descriptions should be reviewed annually by the appropriate staff members and the Library Director.
      
      
4. Work Schedules
   
   
   1. Because the library is open daytime, evening, and weekend hours, most staff members are required to work at least some hours outside of the traditional work day.
   2. Staff schedules are generally created three times a year:  January-April; May-August, and September-December.  Every effort is made to accommodate staff requests, but ultimately the schedule is determined by the Library Director.
   3. If a staff member requires time off and a substitute is needed, that staff member shall be responsible for contacting others to cover the necessary hours.  The Library Director is only contacted if no substitute can be identified.  All changes to the staff schedule must be recorded following standard procedures.
   4. Requests for vacation time shall be awarded on a first come-first served basis and may not be granted when too many employees are scheduled to be gone, or during busy times of the year.
      
      
5. Staff and Board Development
   
   
   1. Professional Events
      
      
      1. Library staff and Board members who are state certified must participate in approved continuing education events to maintain their certification. 
         
      2. The library encourages the attendance of all staff and trustees at professional meetings, conferences, and conventions.  Employees will be compensated for time spent attending approved events.
         
      3. As per City policy, library funds will pay travel, registration and other allowed expenses for staff and trustees who attend approved library meetings, conferences, or conventions.
         
         
   2. Dues
      
      
      1. The library shall cover the cost of dues to the Nebraska Library Association for full-time library employees and board members.
      2. The Library Director may join regional and national professional associations with dues paid from the library budget.
         
         
   3. Tuition Reimbursement
      
      
      1. Under current city policy library staff may request reimbursement for expenses of applicable college classes.
      2. Requests for reimbursement should be submitted to the Library Director at least one week prior to the May Library Board meeting for inclusion in the budget request for the following year.
         
         
   4. Staff Meetings
      
      
      1. Regular staff meetings are held once or twice each month.
      2. Library employees are encouraged, but not required, to attend each staff meeting.  All employees are compensated for time spent at staff meetings.
      3. Minutes of staff meetings are kept for review by those unable to attend and to document procedural decisions made.