CORY CASTOE

In May of 2015 I became a Librarian Tech III at the Circulation department at the Max Chambers Library. As my schedule was from 5 pm to 2 am Sunday through Thursday, I was the de facto supervisor for the department, and really for the entire library after 9 pm. 

It was during this time that I learned many aspects of leadership, as I was expected to answer questions for not only my department but the other departments in the library as well, and resolve issues that came up in every department. My leadership was so effective that many staff and students in the library came to me for guidance rather than their own supervisors.  

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In October of 2016 I was promoted to Library Specialist of Stacks Management, and in that time I have supervised two staff positions and five student positions. These positions have been filled by numerous students and staff during my time. I've learned how to discipline through positive reinforcement and have established a rapport with my employees that allows them to speak openly and freely with me, giving them ownership in the department and creating the mindset of a stakeholder among my employees. 

I have striven to keep an open door policy and tried to institute democratic processes as much as I'm able to. I'm willing and able to make decisions and set procedures, but I want my employees to be involved in the process and to know that their opinions and their needs are important and matter to the department and the library.