Geri Feucht at the Horicon Public Library in WI is considering a multi-pronged approach including chocolate and roses for those who like them on her small staff, thank you cards from the library board, signage throughout the library and a message to the local paper about NLWD.

Design a brochure of staff book and A/V picks for National Library Week. Teresa Hathaway of the Hanscomb AFB Library in MA is calling hers “Library Unsung Heroes” and using the brochure to introduce the "library workers" to our customers. She will introduce them by function title and tell a little about what they do and what they like to read. Tuesday is their story time day so it works out nice as a day to unveil the brochures. The kids and their parents will help with the presentations of the brochure, flowers and maybe some refreshments.

Arrange for technical services and other less public staff to be more visible, like the Technical Services Appreciation Day, shared by Bill Benson at the Wright Patterson AFB Technical Library in OH.

Denise Sharp shared an economical approach, which is downloading electronic thank you cards and sending them to coworkers - we have to appreciate one another, also! And a pizza party is always welcome.

Linda Patterson of Multnomah County Public Library in OR reminds us of our role in the first and last impressions our customers form of the library so we must monitor the ratio of "strokes to pokes" that are distributed to staff. A kind word can make a big difference in how a staff member feels about the work and how a customer is then treated. Much of NLWD is focused on extrinsic rewards, but what must not be forgotten are the intrinsic values that motivate each person.

Christine Hage of the Clinton-Macomb Public Library in MI has been employed at several libraries with recognition programs. One had a "Going the Extra Mile" award where employees nominated one another for going beyond the call of duty. Winners received $10 gift certificate from a local business. This library also had an Employee of the Month program where the awardee got a prime parking space for the month. At her current employer, they give cash bonuses for taking on extra jobs. The library also has a wonderful fitness facility for staff.

Ginger Smith at Eastside Jr/Sr H.S. in Butler, IN, suggests buying the staff members their newest favorite book; buying them lunch; baking and bringing in their favorite snack/treat; having cake and punch for the worker w/the number of candles on the cake for the number of years they have worked at the library; buying them a dictionary or gift certificates to their favorite fast food or restaurant.

Linda Patterson says Multnomah County Library has been known to designate Queen for the Day, complete with crown and feather boa - a personalized recognition that delighted the "queen."

The library also has a heart-shaped box where staff members write one another notes and the recognitions are read at the beginning of staff meetings.

Other ideas:

Ask Staff to bring in extra note and greeting cards from home, so when there's a momentous occasion, they have on hand ways to acknowledge the event.

Include recognitions in personnel files.

Post patron compliments on a public bulletin board.

Organize a staff photo album or recipe book

Invite members of staff out individually for coffee or tea to get to know them.

Solicit and use ideas from staff.

Surprise a co-worker by taking a desk hour

Supply post-it notes/flipchart /guest sign in book/nicely decorated box with note paper beside it in each section of the library to invite customers to write “I appreciate the staff because…”

Make a poster with staff first names and a description of their work (Wall of Fame).

Create humorous awards for the staff.

Decorate the library (and the staff) with colorful buttons/balloons/ribbons.

Give staff time off/schedule flexibility

Solicit gift certificates and movie passes from local businesses

Quantify and publicize the work done by individuals and/or departments: "Mary Jones answered 127 reference questions” (within a certain time period).

Post heartwarming stories about staff hobbies and achievements.