Continuing-education classes and seminars are great ways to encourage employee growth. Unfortunately, with budgetary restraints, these are not always feasible options. Another less expensive way you can help your employees gain more knowledge in their specialized fields is to establish a resource library someplace in your workplace.

A resource library can be as big as a large room with a table and chairs or as small as a bookshelf in your office. It really depends on the space you have to allot to it. But the most important elements of a resource library are the resource materials. Consider stocking your resource library shelves with the following resources:

• Trade books
• Magazines, journals and periodicals
• How-to newsletters

You don’t have to spend a fortune on a resource library. See if your company will sponsor a subscription to a few publications and keep those on display. Then, encourage employees to donate materials they don’t reference anymore. Other employees will no doubt find the materials useful. Also, keep your eye out for library book sales and garage sales where you can find plenty of books at a low rate. Just check the publishing date to make sure they are current.

Filed under: Management Minute