Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2000 16:02:13 -0500
From: Jean Marie Taylor <jmtaylor@VSLA.EDU>
Subject: Re: Staff performance: checkin rates (Donnice Cochenour)

Donnice,

I would be very interested in knowing how you determine the error rate of a
particular employee.

I work in a state-supported institution with similar requirements for
performance plans.

************************************************************
Jean Marie Taylor
Library of Virginia, Collection Management Services
Consultant, Digital Library Program
(804) 692-3764 (voice)         (804) 692-3771 (fax)
jmtaylor@vsla.edu              http://www.lva.lib.va.us

Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2000 14:51:16 -0700
From: Donnice Cochenour <dcocheno@MANTA.LIBRARY.COLOSTATE.EDU>
Subject: Re: Staff performance: checkin rates -- Donnice Cochenour

In October, I submitted a question regarding serials checkin rates
to evaluate staff performance.  I thank all of you who answered.

The consensus of opinions was that staff should not be required to
meet a stated piece/hour rate and that accuracy was much more
important that speed.  There were a couple of dissenting opinions
that gave evidence that having an established rate was worthwhile.

I thought you might like to know what's happening at my institution
and the decision we came to regarding checkin rates. Our serials
section has three full-time staff who are designated as checkin
clerks (they also claim, setup new titles, maintain serials records
for location changes, update summary holdings, close holdings for
cancelled/ceased titles, etc.) They each spend about 50% of their
time each day checking in new issues.

The full-time state classified employees are required by our state
legislature to move to a  "pay for performance" plan in Spring 2000
and must have stated performance objectives for all positions.  We
have developed the following guideline for the single task of serials
checkin (we are on III automated system):

A sustained rate of 30 pieces/hour with 3% or less errors is
considered fully competent. Below this would be rated as needs
improvement.  The rate above 30/hr for a "peak performer" has yet
to be determined.  We start this new evaluation process in May.

Cheers,
Donnice