Consulting and involving young people

Customer service

Library provision for children and young people

Library provision for teenagers

Marketing and promotion

Partnership working

Planning, evaluation
and advocacy

Reader development

Reading activity workshops

School class visits

Social inclusion

Stock selection and promotion

e mail Jerry Hurst

Telephone:
+44 (0)20 8364 6166

Mobile:
+44 (0)7950 408347

Supporting work with readers and learners of all ages, interests and abilities

High quality and affordable staff training for Public Library Services, Schools, School Library Services, Education Services, Museums, Galleries, Archives, Youth Services and other agencies.

During 2009, 100% of clients rated training or consultancy as 'excellent' or 'very good'

During 2009, almost 85% of participants rated training as 'excellent' or 'very good'

For more information on areas of training, please select from the options on the left of this page.

To see what clients have said about Jerry's staff training and consultancy, click here.

To see what participants have said about Jerry's training, click here.

To find out about Jerry's consultancy work, click here.

If you need further information, or would like to discuss your training or consultancy requirements, please e mail jerry@jerryhurst.co.uk or telephone +44(0)20 8364 6166.

Very timely training!
Get your message across. Create a network of support. Raise the profile of your service. Increase your service uptake!
Singing from the rooftops: an introduction to effective advocacy, marketing and promotion.
How to attract more funding, resources, status and support, and achieve a higher profile within your community. This training day equips you with tried-and-tested techniques to strengthen your market position, create appropriate service offers and effectively put your case to potential advocacy targets. The session is available for public libraries, school libraries, museums, galleries and archives.

'The training was brilliant, so relevant to how we promote our service and how we can do this much, much better. All of the approaches we discussed were readily do-able. Everyone recognised this was the case and was enthused by it. The day was relaxed, friendly and approachable, the feedback from all those who attended was positive. There was not a negative comment amongst them. We were all absolutely delighted. One of the comments on the evaluations was "This course today has made me feel proud to be a librarian." The training was also affordable and great value, we will definitely be arranging more!'
Annie Thompson, Libraries, Information and Archives, Dumfries & Galloway Council.

“Singing from the Rooftops” was excellent for the following reasons;
a) it delivered what was outlined in advance
b) it incorporated some specific information from the region
c) it inspired participants to go away and perform differently
d) it was challenging and focused
e) feedback from participants was all positive

The day was exactly what I was hoping for. Jerry was authoritative without being threatening and kept us on track and attentive.

Jerry’s training courses are excellent. They get everyone engaged and participating. People go away inspired, with the back-up of thorough hand-outs for when the initial enthusiasm has worn off.'
Jane Mathieson, Regional Reader Development Co-ordinator, Time To Read (North-West Libraries Reader Development Partnership).

Very timely training!
Equip staff with essential techniques for positive engagement with customers at a time of rapidly changing roles for both staff and service.
Creating a customer-centred service: a practical approach. The practical essentials of customer care, customer focus and customer service, for front-line staff and managers. Jerry has an established track record of delivering high quality staff training in this field, including large-scale programmes for North East Region Libraries, Cumbria Libraries and Reading Libraries. This training addresses the rapidly changing roles of library, museum, archive or gallery staff as they become more focused upon, for instance, self-service and creative interaction with customers.

'Jerry delivered regional training for frontline library staff, to cover changing staff roles and challenges in giving excellent customer service. He was very flexible over the three days and remained within the remit of the training brief whilst adapting the sessions as he went along.

Jerry's training is relaxed and informal. He achieved exactly the style we wanted – encouraging people to speak up and challenging current thinking. Jerry encouraged open discussion rather than heads down and writing from the groups.

Organising regional training can be quite daunting but Jerry was very responsive and ‘can do’ from the start – I found that I didn’t need to worry about the content of the course as he understood the challenges already and his library background gave him a depth of knowledge / understanding.

Jerry is knowledgeable and passionate about the subjects he covers in his training – this came across through his observations and humour. I enjoyed working with Jerry and would certainly seek out his expertise again.' Jayne Halliday, Senior Library Manager, Hartlepool Libraries, on behalf of North East Region Libraries Workforce Development Group (Darlington, Durham, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Northumberland, North Tyneside, Redcar, South Tyneside and Stockton).

New training, in response to client demand...

Managing behaviour: making positive connections with young people. This training, for public library, museum, archive or gallery staff, equips participants with confidence in tried-and-tested practical techniques for positive personal engagement with young people. 'Attending the course has changed staff attitudes and effected a more positive approach to working with young people. Your unique presentation style was much appreciated by participants. There were lots of new ideas which were practical and realistic for staff to implement in their day to day roles. You were enthusiastic, positive and persuasive and we appreciated your passion, excitement, humour and flexibility.' Neil Davies, Deputy Head of Libraries, London Borough of Brent.

Reading making connections. A practical, introductory day for public library staff, foster carers and residential care staff, exploring the essentials of partnership working. 'The feedback from staff was very positive and they engaged with and enjoyed the training very much. It was highly interactive and activity based. Very good, lots of practical ideas and a good survey of different approaches and different kinds of material available. Very enjoyable, relaxed and entertaining – messages were put across very well.' Matt Ferguson, Tales of the City Project Leader, Edinburgh Libraries.

101 ways to a vibrant, inspiring and creative Primary [or Secondary] School Library. The School Library can play a central role in increasing attainment and supporting a wide range of academic, personal, social and emotional learning outcomes. If you are looking to develop the School Library in support of key school priorities, including personalised learning, pupil voice, transition, creativity and the Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) agenda, then this is an invaluable training opportunity. 'This was one of the best training days we have delivered in North Lanarkshire. This is down to Jerry and his approach. It was as close as you can get to a perfect training day; one that has already had impact, as we have seen how staff have begun to adopt approaches talked about during the day.' Russell Brown, Children's and Young People's Library Service Manager, North Lanarkshire Education & Learning Services.

Beyond Behaviour Management: effective engagement for learning in the Secondary School Library. This training option enables Secondary School Library Staff to develop awareness, knowledge and skills to engage positively or more positively with students, within the school's behaviour policies and protocols. 'Thank you once again for running another successful course for us. I liked the comment from one of the delegates that this was 'the best course I have ever been on.' Lynn Downey, Librarian, Kent School Library Advisory Team.

Thinking and Learning: study skills and student support in the Secondary [or Primary] School Library. This training explores ways to help students develop effective thinking and learning skills and to support learners through purposeful library activity. 'Jerry is extremely knowledgeable but does not present materials in a dictatorial or threatening way. Delegates were empowered to use the course in a way they felt comfortable with. Thanks for a great day!' Karen Horsfield, Manager, Resources for Learning, Somerset.

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Jerry provides on-site staff training in the following broad areas. Within each area are specific training options which are adaptable to the client's specific requirements.

The content, level, approach and intended learning outcomes are always designed to reflect the client's brief. Jerry is also happy to create new courses. This approach ensures that outcomes for participants are closely aligned with local service and staff development priorities.

Training is of consistently high quality and is affordable, with special rates for multiple bookings. If you need further information, or would like to discuss your training or consultancy requirements, please e mail jerry@jerryhurst.co.uk or telephone +44(0)20 8364 6166.

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Here is just one example of a successful programme of staff training, which in this instance was delivered as part of an integrated package of consultancy and training:

Merseyside Libraries making a difference
Throughout 2007-2009, Jerry delivered a very effective programme of consultancy and training for Merseyside Libraries (Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St. Helens, Sefton, Warrington and Wirral). Working closely with the programme steering group and with frontline staff, Jerry created and delivered an extensive package of consultancy and training in support of staff development and strategic planning and evaluation. He provided a practical toolkit and delivered twelve training days designed to engage a critical mass of staff at all levels in:

• reflecting on what we do and why
• reflecting on how we do things: including who does what… planning, delivery and evaluation is not the exclusive domain of managers
• recognising success… all of us, every day
• using evidence of success… in every library, locally, across the authority, across the region…
• contributing to the development and promotion of the service

This approach is very flexible and is adaptable to Archives, Museums, Galleries, Community Development, Leisure, Arts and Sports.

What staff said:
At the end of training sessions, 30% of participants evaluated the training as 'excellent'' and 59% evaluated it as 'very good'.

Before training, only 16% of participants felt they were either 'clear' or 'very clear' about this area of our work. After training, 86% of participants felt they were either 'clear' or 'very clear'. This is a 70% improvement.

Before training, only 10% of participants felt they were either equipped or very equipped to deliver / develop this area of our work. After training, 71% of participants felt they were either equipped or very equipped. This is a 61% improvement.

What the client said (Peter Marchant, Head of Libraries, Knowsley Council, on behalf of the steering group):
'To what extent did the training meet our requirements? Excellent. From earlier work with Knowsley, around the subject of staff interactions with children & young people, I knew from the comments of front-line staff involved that Jerry is a first-rate trainer, delivering exceptional, motivational training.'

The training was extremely well received, with very high levels of positive feedback...

• 'I now have loads of ideas…in order to evaluate the needs of the community and act accordingly.'
• '…a very interesting day that has delivered practical and useful information that I can use in my daily planning …Jerry was inspirational and motivational.'
• ' We have never focused on the outcome in the past – this will change!'
• ' A very intensive day, but well worth it.'
• ' …it will help focus backroom activities as well as front line work.'

The evaluation forms also indicated a real commitment to carry this work forward in the workplace. One actually refers to 'the passion of library staff' – something perhaps not generally recognised, least of all by librarians themselves.

I would be happy to be contacted further on this subject, if required.'
Peter Marchant, Head of Libraries, Knowsley Council.

For the complete client evaluation of this programme go to Clients' Comments.