Changes; Hispanic Heritage Month; Apron Kits
Last month our friend Sarah Willeford facilitated an assessment of SWILSA's services, in which several librarians gave us ideas for how we might improve and add to our services. I will be making recommendations to my Board in October based on that assessment but we will begin implementing some of them before then.
On of the "themes" of the comments was "online is great, but don't lose the in-person," and I'd like to share my thoughts about that with you. First of all, we absolutely agree, and always have. We would never give up face-to-face consulting visits and workshops, they are too valuable to providing the best service we can, and you seem to appreciate them, as well. The online capabilities simply make it possible for us to have *more* instances of contact with you, both for consulting and for workshops. Because of the size and geography of the SW LSA it isn't possible for me to just run out to any library one afternoon, at short notice--it would take me most of an afternoon to reach some of the libraries. That is something I've never been happy about because I know those libraries in the more eastern part of the Area feel more isolated. Since we can't do anything about that geography or distance we've tried to find other ways to keep contact in between visits. One library in the east keeps in contact pretty regularly with instant messaging--she can see when I'm in the office because I'm logged on to instant messaging and she can just "pop in" with a question (or a piece of good news, which we like to hear about, too!) Several libraries use instant messaging, some like the phone or e-mail....we want to keep in touch in any and all ways that are convenient and comfortable for you.
One of the suggestions in the assessment was that I visit each library twice each month. That made me chuckle, after I picked my chin up off the floor, because of course that's physically impossible. In fairness to the "assessors" they were asked what they would like if time and money were no object so, point taken; in fact, we've never even considered replacing face to face with online. I always visit libraries who call and ask me to visit, or if you have an issue that you've talked to me about which I think can be helped with longer, face-to-face discussion I will offer to visit. If you're feeling a particular need to visit or want me to come out for any reason, just give me a call--or an e-mail, or an instant message.
Soon we'll be implementing another service, or rather additional method of delivery, for our consulting service. Ust as we have begun delivering CE online, we're going to start doing some consulting "visits"--virtual visits--online, for those libraries that wish to and feel comfortable with that. We've always done consulting by phone and by e-mail, and more recently by instant messaging, and I'm working on setting up regular online "visits" in the Wimba classroom. It's a chance for another connection with you, for 30 minutes or an hour or whatever, on a regular basis. We have audio and video and text available in the classroom, as well as desktop sharing, and while it's not the same as in-person, it's as close as we can get, in between in-person visits. A colleague mentioned the other day that she iss thinking about "office" hours in their Wimba classroom and that seems like a good idea, though figuring out a scheduled for either of these will be a challenge, as schedules are so irregular. But we'll be planning it out, trying it our, and making adjustments as we need to.
Also as a result of the assessment (and discussion at other CE) we're planning some more face-to-face and online workshops, in addition to those already on the schedule, and trying to work out a regular schedule of visits. More on that after I talk with the board. --Karen
LInks from today's podcast:
Pura Belpre Award winners
SWILSA Displays and Events page
SWILSA Youth Services Page
Apron kits
