Reaching out;; Book: "Blueprint for Your Library Marketing Plan"

News August 31, 2007 (mp3 file: 5.2 MB, 5:41 min.)
Reaching out; Banned Books Week; Book: "Blueprint for your library marketing plan"

A young, brand-new colleague and I were talking yesterday about many things, but quite a bit about community and libraries and making a difference.

There is so much to do in the library building that it’s a stretch to find time to reach out, yet taking the library out is an important part of belonging to the community---and of getting people to feel that the library is theirs. For those who can’t get to the building for one reason or another, or those who just don’t, for one reason or another, the library can still be a part of their lives. The library building, as “place” is important to a community; so, too, is the library as a concept, a service, an idea, really.

Libraries take programs to daycares, presentations to clubs and organizations, books to care centers. And it doesn’t always have to be the librarian who does those things—volunteers can help with that outreach.

It is also increasingly easy to reach out virtually, so the library is open and available 24/7. If you aren’t automated you can still show your patrons the new books, using Library Thing or a page on a website. (And you have 2 options for free webhosting now, plus the assistance to build and maintain a website.) If you don’t want to maintain a website you can do a blog—or, you can do a blog AND a website. You can do a book discussion online, or an author visit in a chat. In fact, earlier this week I talked to an author whose fifth book just came out and she’s building an online presence; she says she’d like to do an online chat with her readers. And I say, why not a library as the host for it? (If you think your library might be interested let me know and I’ll see what I can do about getting you connected, and setting up a simple—free—chat.)

You all do outreach. What do you do? Who does it? Please share your experiences and ideas in a comment on the blog. And keep reaching out! --Karen

Links from today's podcast:

Library Thing

Book reviewed by Marcia:

Blueprint for your library marketing plan: a guide to help you survive and thrive, by Patricia H. Fisher and Marseille M. Pride, ALA c2006

L2 Manifesto; Teen Read and Children's Book Weeks; "Programming for young children, birth to age 5"

News August 24, 2007 (mp3 file: 5.94 MB, 6:29 min.)
L2 Manifesto; Teen Read and Children's Book Weeks; "Programming for young children, birth to age 5"

“A Librarian's 2.0 Manifesto” from Laura Cohen's blog, Library 2.0: An Academic Librarian's Perspective, (and featured in American Libraries August 2007) offers 17 resolutions to help us as we approach the changes that L2.0 represents. For example, one resolution is:
"I will avoid requiring users to see things in librarians' terms but rather will shape services to reflect users' preferences and expectations.”

I was discussing the Manifesto with one of my trustees (via instant messaging, by the way) and we realized that it is a LOT, and sounds a little overwhelming if you are just beginning with Library 2.0's ideas. So, look for just one or two to think about and absorb--maybe one that worries you a little because it will be a challenge for you. Talk with your trustees about it.

I have my two chosen. I’ve been excited about L2.0 for some time, and "embrace" the concepts, as they say, and my board is very supportive but that doesn't mean that there aren't things that the Manifesto has to say to me.

A few more that I’d like to highlight:

“I will become an active participant in moving my library forward.”
Even the wording of this is very to part of SWILSA’s vision for librarians and trustees-- that you are “change agents, and active participants in positive movement toward the future.” So we're here to help you however we can.

“I will recognize that the universe of information culture is changing fast and that libraries need to respond positively to these changes to provide resources and services that users need and want.”
One of the goals of SWILSA’s strategic plan is: “Communities look to their libraries to take the lead in awareness and use of appropriate technologies to achieve enriched lives and economic vitality.”

Again, we’re here to help.

“I will take an experimental approach to change and be willing to make mistakes.”

As the SWILSA Board has discussed various projects that we’ve undertaken (and a couple of new ones coming up) we have noted that we think part of our function is to give you a chance to offer—or try--new things, with us assuming as much of the risk and cost as possible, so yours is reduced—the webhosting on the SWILSA server that we began several years ago, for example, or the ebooks project, or the upcoming downloadable audiobooks project.

In short, we’re here to help with any Library 2.0 ideas and activities you want to discuss or try out.

And remember this one: “I will enjoy the excitement and fun of positive change and will convey this to colleagues and users." Enjoy, and have fun. --Karen

Links from today's podcast:

• Laura Cohen's blog: Library 2.0: An Academic's Perspective
  
• Librarian's 2.0 Manifesto
• SWILSA's Youth Services webpage
• Children's Book Council

Book reviewed by Marcia:

Programming for young children: birth through age five, prepared by Carole D. Fiore. ALA, c1996.

Upcoming Continuing Education; Small things in sync make a difference; Weeding Library Collections

News August 17, 2007 (mp3 file: 7.43 MB, 7:55 min.)
Upcoming Continuing Education; Small things in sync make a difference; Weeding Library Collections.

With 2 Random Acts of Continuing Education under our belts we’re ready to tackle more subjects “on the fly;” we’ll be on the lookout for timely topics to discuss in the Wimba online classroom. (More than a third of you have been in the classroom now, and we’ve had some participants from around the state; we’re happy to see all of you trying the online learning experience.)

There are 2 “regular” workshops coming up in the Wimba classroom: the next monthly Computerside Chat is September 12, and the topic is RSS. (If you aren’t sure what that is, drop in on the Chat and learn what it is--how libraries can use it.)

Then, on September 13 we’ll be learning about PowerPoint presentations—sort of “the good, the bad, and the ugly.” PowerPoint presentations can be useful and good, or they can be counter-productive and, well, just plain awful. We’ll talk about best practices as well as the “how to.” And because you’ll be attending on your own computer you’ll be able to “practice” and start to develop a presentation during the workshop, on your own computer. Part I will be September 13, the date and specific topics for Part II will be determined by the participants in Part I. (Well, all right, I have an outline ready, just in case.)

Fall Subcenter meetings are scheduled for the first week in October. This fall they’ll be in Sidney (you’ll get to see the new library!), Guthrie Center, and Chariton. The meetings aren’t in the CE catalog yet but they soon will be. During these half-day subcenters we’ll be talking about libraries as destinations: you may have heard about “third place,” “library as place,” “libraries as destinations,” and they’ll all figure into our conversation about destination. If successful in cultivating the library as a destination, then the people of your community will be answering the question, “Where shall we go, what shall we do?” with ‘Let’s go to the Library!”

And we don’t have details or registration quite yet for this one, but you’ll want to mark your calendars for a workshop with Saroj Ghoting on March 3. If you missed her at Kids First—or if you saw her at Kids First and want more—you’ll want to attend this. Saroj, co- author of the book, Early literacy storytimes @ your library; partnering with caregivers for success, will be emphasizing story times for 0-3 year olds this time. Saroj has effective (and practical) methods for presenting story times that are helpful not only in the development of children’s readiness to learn, but also in helping parents and other caregivers to continue to nurture that development in the children they care for. And Saroj is a terrific, dynamic speaker.

The Library Service Areas are bringing Saroj back to Iowa as part of our Early Childhood Literacy Initiative, and she’ll be doing 3 workshops in the state. SWILSA is planning a second day of early childhood workshops the following day, March 4. Since the PLA conference in Minneapolis pre-empts Wings Youth this year we’ll be making these 2 days our Wings Youth. Stay tuned for more details, but mark your calendars!

We’ll be working with Michele at the State Library again to repeat our “Reader’s Advisory” course—later this fall, we hope! This course combines online, ICN, and self-paced modules, and it got rave reviews when we did it last year. Stay tuned for that one, too!

Northwest and Southwest LSAs are planning an Iowa Small Libraries Online Conference this winter—we’re lining up a terrific keynote speaker, and there will be breakout sessions on a variety of topics of interest to librarians in small communities. We’re pretty excited about this, and the opportunity for more librarians to attend a conference—this one online! --Karen

Tune in to the podcast for Sue's take on small things--in sync-- making a difference in libraries, and Marcia's review of "Weeding Library Collections."

Book reviewed by Marcia:
Weeding library collections: library weeding methods, 4th ed., by Stanley J. Slote. Libraries Unlimited, 1007.

Mentioned by Sue:
Divive secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, by Rebecca Wells
Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell

Early Childhood Literacy Initiative; Selecting books for preschoolers and toddlers

News August 10, 2007 (mp3 file: 3.16 MB, 3:27 min.)
Early Childhood Literacy and Libraries; Selecting books for preschoolers and toddlers.

As you probably know by now, the Library Service Areas are working on an early childhood literacy initiative this year, and right now we’re working out specific objectives and activities. Our overall goals are to have at 1000 more Iowa children better ready for school, and 500 parents better able to help their children to be ready to learn. We’re talking about storytime kits, workshops for you, collection development tools, grandparents’ fairs….We’re very excited about this initiative, and you can expect to hear and see much more about it.

Sue has been giving you information and ideas already, in her portion of the weekly podcasts, and here at SWILSA we’re already started on some storytime kits and resources, some items to help you get the word out to your community about the importance of Early Childhood Literacy—and there’s a library—or two—already interested in a Grandparents’ Fair.

On a related note: Wings Youth will be a bit different this year. The usual time, at the end of March, has been pre-empted by the PLA conference in Minneapolis. The LSAs are bringing in a national presenter on early childhood literacy, likely in March, so we’re thinking that we’ll just build around that workshop for Wings Youth this year. Stay tuned! --Karen

News & Views August 3, 2007

News August 3, 2007 (mp3 file; 5:13 min.)



Links from Today's Podcast

Storytime Crafts, Printables and Take-Home Materials

Sue's email

Book Reviewed by Marcia on Today's Podcast
Used Book Sales: Less Work & Better Profits by D. Keith Crotz