Teamwork Goes Undercover

Using a parody of reality TV as its framework, this entertaining training video illustrates what might happen if a top library administrator (donning various ridiculous disguises) went undercover in his or her own institution to discover what's working right—and occasionally wrong—in terms of teamwork strategies. The agent in this case is “library director Stephen Bookman,” who interacts with various library employees at training sessions and in meetings, occasionally pushing to gauge their reactions. The program covers five general topics: running a successful meeting, valuing all staff, giving constructive criticism, working together, and setting goals. Bookman discovers that his colleagues can handle a variety of duties and spur-of-the-moment challenges with aplomb, but he also spots a staffer who ducked out on offering assistance to a patron and he presents a positive way to take corrective action. While the core concepts in each of the vignettes are good, the campy-on-purpose production would have benefited from tighter editing. Still, this should be an effective staff discussion starter. Recommended. Aud: P. (C. Block)