Professional Development and Travel
Professional Development and Travel (updated January 2025)
All library staff are expected to stay up-to-date with necessary job proficiencies and continuously improve upon the skills and knowledge needed for success. There are multiple ways to participate in professional development opportunities and grow skills, including offerings in LinkedIn Learning, online workshops and lectures, professional readings, and travel to relevant professional conferences and workshops. Please note that due to budget constraints, the library's professional development budget is not to be used to cover individual membership fees in professional organizations. We do participate in several group memberships in professional organizations that provide a multitude of free or reduced-cost professional development opportunities.
Team members are provided a generous professional development and travel budget at the beginning of each fiscal year. Professional librarians are earmarked ~2K each year; hourly staff and fellows are earmarked ~$500 each year, with additional funding provided on an as-needed basis to support strategic initiatives as approved. Please note that these funds are not an entitlement, rather the earmarking helps us with planning on the total budget front. Some folks will be under the earmarking; depending on the total budget, there may be room for additional funding as warranted.
During annual reviews (and throughout the year as training needs arise), team members should work closely with their team leaders to identify professional development offerings in relevant areas and discuss a plan of action. Team leaders must approve all professional development budget requests, in consultation with the library director, before making any arrangements. Once your team leader has approved, please complete this form; Lisa will review the formal request to ensure projected costs are within budget and follow up with you and your team leader with confirmation. Following your actual travel (if applicable), please confirm all actual amounts to the Assistant Director of Finance & Operations.
When traveling to a major conference, team members are highly encouraged to submit a conference proposal and share the good work that we are doing here at E. H. Little Library! The leadership you demonstrate can benefit the entire profession.
The Center for Teaching & Learning also offers professional development funds, on a very limited basis, for relevant strategic opportunities beyond what the library's budget provides. When considering applying for additional funds from the CTL, team members should discuss the possibility/feasibility of additional travel with their team leaders, in consultation with the library director, before submitting the CTL request.
When looking at potential training opportunities, please keep in mind the timing of the academic year, alignment with job roles and strategic priorities, budget constraints, and the feasibility of how many colleagues can realistically be "out of office" without impacting upon library service. In cases where it is not feasible to travel, colleagues are highly encouraged to take advantage of remote options.
The library follows college guidelines. Please remain good stewards of College resources while traveling and follow these guidelines carefully. When utilizing a Purchasing Card (“P-Card”) for travel please follow Business Services acceptable P-card usage guidelines.
Current spending guidelines per campus policy:
Meals - Spending guidelines
When attending conferences and meetings, employees should take advantage of meals covered by the registration fee.
Employees must document the business purpose for each meal charged to the college as well as the names of other individuals attending the meal.
Costs to purchase or reload store brand cards (such as Starbucks, Panera, etc.) are not allowable.
Generally, meals and gratuities should not exceed the following:
Domestic Travel- Meal expenses should be reasonable based on the travel destination. P-cards should be used to purchase meals. Typical meal allowances by city may be found at: GSA Domestic Per Diems. Please retain your receipts for P-card submissions. *Please note that between-meal snacks are not billable to the college, so plan your travel accordingly please.