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Staff Management Forum (SMF)

The Library's Staff Management Forum (SMF) is designed to support Library managers to develop in all aspects of staff management.

The forum provides regular opportunities for managers to develop their management skills and to share their expertise and experiences with each other. In addition, SMF aims to encourage greater consistency in our approach to management across the Library.

Membership

  1. All staff with line management responsibility are automatically members of SMF.
  2. SMF membership is included in the induction process for new managers, to ensure understanding of the purpose of the group and that colleagues are added to the SMF mailing list and Teams space.
  3. Managers should ensure that any changes which require staff to join or leave SMF are emailed to Deborah.Morrissey@manchester.ac.uk.

Full details of the purpose , governance, activities and expectations of members can be found in the SMF Terms of Reference.

2026 events schedule

The SMF Planning Group is liaising with Library and University colleagues to confirm events and activities for the year ahead. SMF members will receive invitations to all events via Outlook, and more details are shared via the SMF Teams space. The initial schedule below will be updated with full details once confirmed: 

  • Regular, informal, peer-support sessions on the following dates:
    • 18 February , Rylands event space. Focus: Effective 1:1s.
    • 16 April, Main Library Red 3.1. Focus: Long-term sickness and reasonable adjustments (TBC).
    • 30 June, Rylands event space - focus TBC .
    • 13 August, Main Library Red 3.1 - focus TBC.
    • 14 October, Rylands event space - focus TBC.
  • Workshop: Psychological safety, to be led by Katy Woolfenden, Sarah Rayner and Library People Partner Sam Hollowood in March/April, TBC.
  • Event: Workload/prioritisation/strategy; May/June, TBC.
  • Workshop/event: Continuous improvement, to be led by the Projects and Business Analysis Team in July, TBC.
  • Workshop/event: Reflective practice; August, TBC.

The Library aims to run three SMF events per year, plus an end of year celebration, reflection and planning session around Christmas. Events are usually delivered by SMF members, or invited speakers. We’re keen to provide activities which address recognised and emerging needs for Library managers, so if you have any suggestions for future events, please contact the SMF Planning Group (please see below for details).

The SMF Teams space is provided to facilitate peer support and knowledge-sharing between managers throughout the year. 

SMF Planning Group

The SMF Planning Group plans and facilitates events, activities and peer support for SMF members throughout the year. We love to hear ideas, suggestions and feedback to factor into our planning – please contact any member of the Planning Group to share your thoughts: 

Useful links