The purpose for our thesis was to create an onboarding guide for our employer Pieksämäki City Library, which is a part of Lumme-libraries and Poleeni, the Pieksämäki Cultural Center. The aim of our practice-based thesis was to prepare an onboarding guide to help new recruits to get to know the library and its operations. There has not been an onboarding guide for some time in Pieksämäki City Library. It will become more and more important to have an orientation guide as many employees will retire in near future and there will be a need for orienting new personnel.

The theory part consists of information about orientation processes, mentoring, work-counselling, preceptorship and development discussions that are associated with orienting. Furthermore, laws direct orienting and which is covered briefly. Literature and internet material are the main source for the theory, but our own knowledge and experience on Pieksämäki municipality and City Library are also included.

General information of Poleeni, Pieksämäki Cultural Center, its spaces, personnel, practices, library’s cooperation partners and practical knowledge of the routines in the library are included to the onboarding guide. Maps of the library premises, personnel contact information and follow up form are enclosed in the end of the orienting guide. This guide can be adjusted to other libraries and Poleeni, Pieksämäki Cultural Center. In the onboarding situation it is not enough to have just the guide but the guide works as an aid and supports ones memory.

When making this thesis and onboarding guide we understood how important it is to have a thorough, orientation for the benefit of both the new and the current workforce. Onboarding is a big part of well being and management. A well organized orientation affects to the image of the employer and is a competitive factor in the recruiting process.