How to Build a Training Resource Library
By Jennifer Blanchard | HRTools.com Business Writer
If you want to upgrade your employees’ skills while growing your competitive advantage, you should consider creating a training resource library at your company.
A training resource library is basically an area where employees can go to get training, learn new skills and reference topics that relate to their jobs. This can be done online or by simply having an area of your office dedicated to training.
Steps to Building a Training Resource Library
- Do Your Research—Before you begin building your training resource library, first take some time to consider what your employees want to learn. What do they want to know more about? What type of information and resources will make them more successful at their jobs?
- Ask Your Employees—It’s always a good idea to ask your employees what they want to learn. Maybe there is a skill or resource they are lacking and you aren’t aware of it. Talking to your employees will help you determine exactly what your training resource library needs.
- Pull Together Your Resources—Once you know what your employees want and need, you can pull together your resources. Find books and magazines on the topics employees want to learn about and put them into the resource library. Locate videos, Webinars and podcasts. Install a computer in the training area that has different online programs employees can take whenever they want to (or you can subscribe to an online training service that employees can access from their desk computers).
There are tons of places you can find training materials.
- Let Employees Know the Resource Center is Available—Since you asked them for feedback on what they wanted in the training resource area, you want to make sure you inform them that the training area is “open for business.” You also want to make sure you inform prospective employees that your company supports on-going training, which is a great recruitment tool.
- Evaluate—You want to make sure you evaluate your training resources at least once a year to make sure nothing is outdated. It’s also a good idea to review new training programs, books, magazines, Webinars, podcasts—anything that will help employees—once a year. This will keep your employees on top of industry trends, news and information.
A training resource center is a way to offer your employees on-going education they can complete when it’s most convenient for them.
<p>If you want to upgrade your employees’ skills while growing your competitive advantage, you should consider creating a training resource library at your company. </p>