Compensation and Classification Study Announcement

The MLS has retained The Singer Group, Inc. to conduct a comprehensive Compensation and Classification Study.  The Singer Group is a Baltimore-based human resources consulting firm that has extensive experience performing compensation and classification studies for a broad range of clients in both the public and private sectors, including library systems nationwide and in Oklahoma. 

Our project will officially kick off on December 15 and 16.  During that visit, Paula Singer and Laura Francisco of The Singer Group will meet with many staff in a variety of open communications sessions with library leadership and communication sessions open to all employees. 

The Singer Group will first meet with the managers of the MLS.    These meetings take place:

• Wednesday, December 15, 9:15 am         Lee B. Brawner Room (Ad-Team & Members from X-Change)
• Wednesday, December 15, 1:00 pm         Friend’s Room (Library Managers & Members from X-Change)

The Singer Group will also conduct communications sessions open to all employees to introduce the project and answer your questions.  In addition, staff attending one of these sessions will be able to participate in a focus group to provide input to The Singer Group about your thoughts, ideas and concerns about compensation and classification at MLS.  We will hold sessions at the following times locations:

• Thursday, December 16, 8:30 am                   Downtown Library
• Thursday, December 16, 10:30 am                 Village Library
• Thursday, December 16, 12:45 pm                 Service Center

At these sessions, all employees will receive a Position Description Questionnaire (PDQ) from The Singer Group.  These questionnaires will be used to evaluate each of our positions and to ensure that positions are classified appropriately.  The information you will provide about your jobs in these questionnaires is crucial in not only understanding how the Library defines its positions, but also in accurately comparing our positions to those in other organizations.  I encourage you to take the opportunity to provide important information and clarification about your job. 

The Singer Group has recommended we form an Employee Project Review Committee to serve as liaisons during this study.  The Employee Project Review Committee is comprised of a cross-section of MLS staff.  They will function throughout the project by providing feedback and insight to The Singer Group.  They will also operate as a critical communications link with employees throughout the duration of the study.  At this time, we plan on holding four meetings with this group.  Members of the Project Review Committee are: 

• Debbie Robertus, Assistant Manager, Belle Isle
• Cheryll Jones, Associate Librarian, Southern Oaks
• Russell Pierce Maintenance Tech II, Maintenance
• Emily Williams, Young Adult Coordinator, Outreach
• Francie Pendelton, Administrative Assistant, Director’s office
• Brittany Barber, ILL Technician, ILL
• Buddy Johnson, Librarian, Downtown
• Chris Carroll, Dev Coordinator, Trusts, DVS
• Stuart Williamson, Researcher, Planning
• Pam Buchanan, IT Tech I, IT
• Candy Turner, Pub Computer Spec, MWC
• Shanelle Jackson, Circ Clerk, Village
• Kim Rickey, MSL Asst, MSL

Additional project steps include the evaluation of all of our positions as well as a comprehensive salary and benefits study and the development of an appropriate pay plan in consideration of feedback and input from all employees.  As the project progresses, this website will keep you informed of activities and findings. 

Finally, a project hotline has been established for all employees to have another avenue for communicating during this project.  The e-mail address for the hotline is [email protected].  Each e-mail will go directly to The Singer Group and will receive a direct response from a Singer Group staff member.  All e-mails will remain entirely confidential.  Please use the hotline to express any concerns or questions you may have. 

Your input and participation are critical for the success of this project, which is important for you and the Library as a whole.  All recommendations will be developed based on findings from the data collected during the project.  No one will lose current pay or lose their job as a result of this study.  The MLS anticipates having findings and recommendations to review in April, 2011 and funding permitting, those findings and recommendations will be presented to the Library Commission as part of the preliminary budget for FY2011-12.