Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Library Trend?
This NPR story describes a buzz level approaching ubiquitous love for libraries. I'd be all right with that!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Article on Oak Park Readers!
The article I wrote about my library's quarterly readers' party just appeared online. American Libraries did a bang up job. Should be in the August issue, on page 29. But you can read it here beforehand.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
ALA 2010: Who Inspired, What I Saw
Wow:
As a presenter in my first-ever out of town conference, I may have been more receptive. But this is the most productive conference I have ever attended. I met tons of interesting people (from shaking hands with authors to chatting with amazing colleagues in line), lucked out in that most presentations were useful and entertaining, saw some great folks (like Storycorps) on the exhibits floor, and I feel like I walk away a better librarian with plenty of ideas to share and implement.
I put these here so I can access them, but more so I can share them with others. Notes from all sessions can be found on posts throughout the following entries on this blog.
The first session I attended was Nancy Pearl interviewing Mary McDonagh Murphy about To Kill a Mockingbird’s anniversary and Murphy’s amazing-looking documentary, specifically.
Then I learned about cloud computing and open access.
I then sat in on the YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens roundtable. I walked 6 blocks in the 100 degree heat index to see this, was the only spectator there, and learned a lot, both about graphic novels for the collection and about how roundtables function.
Ended the day by seeing some old friends, one of which treated me to a tour of her place of employment, NPR. Absolute thrill of thrills.
That was Saturday. Here’s Sunday:
I began the day with a typical Stephen Abram lecture. In other words, my mind was blown wide open with the possibilities as well as the things we should stop doing. Brilliant lecture.
Then I headed over to the panel I was fortunate enough to be part of: Innovative Collection Centered Programs: Beyond the Book Group which I think I did all right in, with my presentation on Oak Park Readers. But my colleagues on the panel were just amazing.
After that, I was interviewed by a German doctoral candidate and another professor of LIS about my American Libraries article, "Those Who Can, Do. Those Who Can Do More, Volunteer." She was very complimentary. And I’ve learned: this article has legs (another doctor of library science bought me drinks, wondering if I'd be on a panel for NEXT year's ALA.) Flattering and exciting.
Sadly, this made me miss Will Shortz.
But I was able to sidle over to Are You a Programming Librarian? Which was an inspiring plug for yet another great collective of librarians: programminglibrarian.org
I got to see Roy Blount, Jr. talk about his Duck Soup making-of book Hail Hail Euphoria. Very amusing, enlightening, and I will read this tale about a film whose creation not many know anything about. Love them Marx Bros!
Then I haunted the amazing exhibits floor again (and again) and visited the bookmobiles, which though parked by the dumpster were very eye-opening, inspiring, entirely different from one antother with each library's personality shining through, and just plaincool to see.
Monday:
I have read in various places (such as this) that graphic novels are really getting their due. And at ALA, this is true. There was practically an entire track devoted to them. And on the exhibits floor, Art Spiegelman, Francoise Mouly, and Geoffrey Hayes all sat at a table waiting to talk to fans; great, down-to-earth folks whose hands I still can't believe I shook. Great Graphic Novels for Teens was a conversation happening over at something called the Pop-Top pavillion. Most of this stuff was covered at the roundtable I invaded Saturday afternoon.
Then I saw Salman Rushdie for just a few minutes. Presence of greatness and all that...he related a tale in his dulcet British tones that someone hipped him to the fact post-publication of his infamous book that Lord Byron referred to his contemporary poet laureate’s poetry as The Satanic Verses. This was a happy accident, as was my being able to grab a few moments and walk into this presentation.
Tuesday:
In bright red t-shirts, librarians stormed Capitol Hill to rally and demand more funding for libraries.
Lauren Myracle delivered an inspiring address to the gathered throng. Similarly, Vernon Ehlers represented Michigan and Jack Reed Rhode Island. See photos and watch a lengthy video here. Apparently it was the largest rally of its kind ever held. As the fellow with the youngest rallier on his shoulders (Ruby is 13 months), I can say it was fun. As a librarian, I can say it was truly moving and inspiring.
I put these notes here so I can access them, but more so I can share them with others. Notes from all of the sessions I attended can be found on posts throughout the following entries in the blog.
I put these here so I can access them, but more so I can share them with others. Notes from all sessions can be found on posts throughout the following entries on this blog.
The first session I attended was Nancy Pearl interviewing Mary McDonagh Murphy about To Kill a Mockingbird’s anniversary and Murphy’s amazing-looking documentary, specifically.
Then I learned about cloud computing and open access.
I then sat in on the YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens roundtable. I walked 6 blocks in the 100 degree heat index to see this, was the only spectator there, and learned a lot, both about graphic novels for the collection and about how roundtables function.
Ended the day by seeing some old friends, one of which treated me to a tour of her place of employment, NPR. Absolute thrill of thrills.
That was Saturday. Here’s Sunday:
I began the day with a typical Stephen Abram lecture. In other words, my mind was blown wide open with the possibilities as well as the things we should stop doing. Brilliant lecture.
Then I headed over to the panel I was fortunate enough to be part of: Innovative Collection Centered Programs: Beyond the Book Group which I think I did all right in, with my presentation on Oak Park Readers. But my colleagues on the panel were just amazing.
After that, I was interviewed by a German doctoral candidate and another professor of LIS about my American Libraries article, "Those Who Can, Do. Those Who Can Do More, Volunteer." She was very complimentary. And I’ve learned: this article has legs (another doctor of library science bought me drinks, wondering if I'd be on a panel for NEXT year's ALA.) Flattering and exciting.
Sadly, this made me miss Will Shortz.
But I was able to sidle over to Are You a Programming Librarian? Which was an inspiring plug for yet another great collective of librarians: programminglibrarian.org
I got to see Roy Blount, Jr. talk about his Duck Soup making-of book Hail Hail Euphoria. Very amusing, enlightening, and I will read this tale about a film whose creation not many know anything about. Love them Marx Bros!
Then I haunted the amazing exhibits floor again (and again) and visited the bookmobiles, which though parked by the dumpster were very eye-opening, inspiring, entirely different from one antother with each library's personality shining through, and just plaincool to see.
Monday:
I have read in various places (such as this) that graphic novels are really getting their due. And at ALA, this is true. There was practically an entire track devoted to them. And on the exhibits floor, Art Spiegelman, Francoise Mouly, and Geoffrey Hayes all sat at a table waiting to talk to fans; great, down-to-earth folks whose hands I still can't believe I shook. Great Graphic Novels for Teens was a conversation happening over at something called the Pop-Top pavillion. Most of this stuff was covered at the roundtable I invaded Saturday afternoon.
Then I saw Salman Rushdie for just a few minutes. Presence of greatness and all that...he related a tale in his dulcet British tones that someone hipped him to the fact post-publication of his infamous book that Lord Byron referred to his contemporary poet laureate’s poetry as The Satanic Verses. This was a happy accident, as was my being able to grab a few moments and walk into this presentation.
Tuesday:
Lauren Myracle delivered an inspiring address to the gathered throng. Similarly, Vernon Ehlers represented Michigan and Jack Reed Rhode Island. See photos and watch a lengthy video here. Apparently it was the largest rally of its kind ever held. As the fellow with the youngest rallier on his shoulders (Ruby is 13 months), I can say it was fun. As a librarian, I can say it was truly moving and inspiring.
I put these notes here so I can access them, but more so I can share them with others. Notes from all of the sessions I attended can be found on posts throughout the following entries in the blog.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Innovative Collection-Centered Programs: Beyond the Book Group
As I anticipated, this was an amazing program and one I would have attended, even if I wasn't on the panel. My notes aren't the greatest, since I was busy being nervous most of the time. In lieu of decent notes, an outline of my fine colleagues' programs can be found here. What follows is what little I was able to scribble about them while still looking like a calm, discrete panelist...
First
Trivia Night using library resources, presented by Vivienne Beckett, Scenic Regional Library, Union, MO.
A very cool program where Vivienne and her staff use actual library sources to drum up questions in this "pub quiz" style trivia night. Exceedingly popular and very similar to one that my library runs, otherwise there would be more notes here.
Second
Winter Reading Club; Book Bingo; Book Club Mixer, presented by Michelle Boisvenue-Fox, Kent District Library, Grand Rapids, MI.
Winter Reading Club
2700 registrants. Bingo card has 16 titles (originally more), inspiring patrons to read beyond "comfort genres."
Sticks slips in hold books.
Adult SRP
250 entrants/190 finished. Treasure hunts.
Bingo & Booktalks
Patrons don't need to read a book. Can sell new ones here. The game brings them in.
Book Club Mixer
Discover great titles for book groups. A circuit of tables fills the room: tables for: gentle reads, great books for book groups, local author, etc.
Each patron's name badge lists the best book they read in the last year. Many brought lists of recent reads.
A booklist was necessary for those that can't attend.
Third
Twilight Comparative Lit Camp. Available for college credit, group reads and discusses the Twilight series, Pride and Prejudice, Romeo & Juliet, and Wuthering Heights, presnted by
Cynthia Dudenhoffer, Smiley Memorial Library, Central Methodist University, Fayette, MO.
Blurring the line between public and academic, local PL is only open 3 days/week.
Twilight is a natural--so popular, it has its own barbies. 13 to 50's love the book.
Course
Literary analysis
Themes & ideas -- Is Bella a good role model?
Slumber party atmosphere run by a 23 year old chaperon/fan.
Tie them into classics.
Moms wanted to be part of it; added a day for them.
Activities
Create a thematic soundtrack to the book
Crafts: shrinkydinks, cupcakes, etc.
Cast different stars/each other for the movies.
Boys are next: Hunger Games?
Fourth
Oak Park Readers, an informal book discussion group where patrons can just drop in to chat about books in a social atmosphere, with no formal title selection, by
Alan Jacobson, Oak Park Public Library, Oak Park IL.
More information on Oak Park Readers can be found at http://www.oppl.org/opr
Fifth
Thrilling Tales: Storytime for Adults. A monthly lunchtime program where Wright and staff read short stories aloud, by
David Wright, Seattle Public Library, Seattle WA.
Twice a month, lunchtime program attracts 40-100 people. Seniors, workers, mothers, tourists.
Story is what we do. Storytime is pure & elemental.
How to...
Photocopy strories, lay out the season. October will be scary, Feb romantic, etc.
Read it, reread it, time it, mark it up (different colors for each character)
When performing, add no commentary. Use a microphone. Light at the podium, dark otherwise.
Call it a "grown-up" storytime. Not an "adult" storytime. Avoid xxx connotations!
Podcast it, tie it to local NPR station. Use public domain stories. Or don't worry, fair use seems to win the day as authors have told David they love being read.
Twilight Zones, Alfred Hitchcock Presents are the types of stories that are very successful, genre stories with a twist work best.
If you don't want to read the stories, tap your local theater troupe. Can have a small repertory group.
Guest readers, such as Nancy Pearl, have asked to perform.
Possibilities
Combined storytime and discussion called "The World's Easiest Book Group."
"Stories through History" where music, facts from the year the story was told are shared.
"Stories Around the World," 80 stories from 80 countries.
Vampires, family, ESL/Bilingual.
Do as annual festival--one community/one book.
Short story + film made from it.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens: Comics & Graphic Novels Advisory Roundtable
Uninvited, but not unwelcome, I sat in on this meeting where the 2011 nominations were discussed. Score! I walked away with their list of nominations. I was the only spectator.
Each of 29 books was discussed and commented upon; all had cards on whether to comment, vote yes or no, and “spoiler ahead.” Passionate discussion ensued. Each nominee discussed his or her nomination, a vote was tallied, and then it was decided whether the book made the list, did not, or was tabled for midwinter. This was called a “Straw Poll.”
Appeal (who the book was for) was considered over literary quality. For example, Amelia Earhart: This Broad Ocean was considered for reluctant readers but also thought to be too young for the list, even though the panel unanimously liked the book.
Uniqueness also seemed to be a factor.
Even when a nominee’s chosen book was lambasted, there was good, mature discussion; no hard feelings.
I walk away with a reading list: Chew, Calamity Jack, etc.
This is a panel I would join.
Each of 29 books was discussed and commented upon; all had cards on whether to comment, vote yes or no, and “spoiler ahead.” Passionate discussion ensued. Each nominee discussed his or her nomination, a vote was tallied, and then it was decided whether the book made the list, did not, or was tabled for midwinter. This was called a “Straw Poll.”
Appeal (who the book was for) was considered over literary quality. For example, Amelia Earhart: This Broad Ocean was considered for reluctant readers but also thought to be too young for the list, even though the panel unanimously liked the book.
Uniqueness also seemed to be a factor.
Even when a nominee’s chosen book was lambasted, there was good, mature discussion; no hard feelings.
I walk away with a reading list: Chew, Calamity Jack, etc.
This is a panel I would join.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Are You A Programming Librarian
Made possible by IMLS (not this), programminglibrarian.org is a central resource for librarians: toolkit, magazine, resource library. They want us to help in its development. What do we want/need?
Angie Hanshaw
Editor/designer for Programming Librarian.
Lots through the website. Monthly newsletter. Facebook.
1.) Learn: through library section about copyrights, grant funding, traveling exhibitions, events & celebration calendar, programs (authors, discussions, etc.)
2.) Share: comment on the blog. Forum exists; info from today's breakout sessions will be put here.
3.) The brainstormer. Search curated content by keyword. Generate ideas, examples. Create proposals.
4.) PDF designer, interactive tool allows to create promotional materials.
Sonia Feigenbaum
Deputy Director, Division of Public Programs
Ntl Endowment for the Humanities
Old Post Office Pavillion
1100 Pennsylvania Ave, NW Room 426
W, DC 20506
sfeigenbaum@neh.gov www.neh.gov
--Loves libraries, wants to make sure the humanities will always remain part of programs.
Hosted By Hundreds of Libraries
Many get additional programming grants by accepting these.
The Great Experiment: George Washington and the American Republic (1997, 1999)
Forever Free: Abraham Lincoln's Journey to Emancipation (2002)
Frankenstein: Penetrating the Secrets of Nature (2001)
Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World
Pride and Passion: The African American Baseball Exhibition
Soul of a People: Voices from the Writers' Project
Upcoming
Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women
30 libraries, $2500, 5 programs, lead scholar, collaboration, planning workshop, deadline 7/30/2010 for programs Spring-Fall 2011.
Heather Paulson, Mother-Daughter Book Club
Librarian, lit scholar, contributor to site.
No programming course, this is learned on the job.
Tale of Despereaux, upper-elementary, discussion failed, a no-show despite lots of work.
Succeeded after talking to mother who wanted to do a mother-daughter book group. Families choose books. A friend could be bought. Women's History Month's Understood Betsy attracted 12 of 15 registrants. 16-20 for future. Father-son is next.
-engage with community per interests. Talk about it. Buy in from patrons necessary to create successful program. Tie it into what's going on. Adapting from failure is crucial.
Henry Fortunato, Kansas City Public Library
200+ Special Events a year. Checks sign-ups hourly. Intellectual, engagement in the world of the mind.
Why Do We Do It?
-Almost addictive. An incredible high.
-Cultural center
What Does the Job Entail?-Drinking. with Sara Paretsky and AJ Jacobs
-Their grant allows them to do so much more than other libraries may be capable of.
What Continues to Be Engaging About it?
-Validation from public media. Kansas City Star drives the news judgment in the city.
Recognize Value
-Vital to making people recognize & appreciate how important the library is to their community. Happy people at the library is proof.
Develop Themes and Series
-Find out what local greats are doing, work with them: "Can We Improve Urban Schools." "Meet the Past. Reenactors will create a talk show, brought back from the dead, moderator pretends hew's Johnny Carson. This airs on PBS channel. Second Sundays with KC Columnists--free of fees, they come and talk about current events, draws 100 people. Local authors/professors will do it for free to promote book or maybe $250. Cards are cheap to print. Low cost, high yield.
-Can be 2 programs at once even with similar appeal.
Find Local Connections to Broader Issues
Focus on Quality Graphic Design and Packaging
Graphic design and packaging can be done in-house by trained GD professionals. Thousands of college GD students would love to work in a non-academic environment to add to their portfolio. Contact dept. chair and they'll be happy to work with you. Don't tell them what to do. Tell them the goal. They will work on the typeface, color, etc. Tell them where you want to go; let them take you there.
Develop Partnerships with Other Institutions
Cooperation works; competition does not. Split expenses, share audiences, cross-pollinate, looks good to grant providers. Partnering with local TV station on film festival, for example.
Build on Your Success
10,000 names on email list used for blasts and other things.
Promote, Promote, Promote
Every Sunday afternoon, send the upcoming week's events to email blast. Get on TV, public library, newspapers. Get "In your face." A great product to sell.
Once You Start, You Can't Stop
Create a need in the marketplace. 2007, 145 programs; 2008 244; 2009 224.
Breakout with Henry Fortunato
Calendars, 22 cents/unit for 15,000. $5,000/month. Postcard with less events would cost less. Packaging makes something look like it's worth doing. Grab people on book tours, partner with independent bookstore who likes the library. Communication goes both ways to bookstore. Make the author topical; 50 yr anniv. of JFK & Nixon debates. JFK Library sold debates for $40. Showing them sequentially. Last surviving newsman of era coming out to comment. Could just as easily be a local Poli Sci professor. Get a grant, offer a hotel night, flight, etc!
Programming will start slow. 25 people at first for a big city is not good. 100 is now his make or break on whether he'll do an adult event again. 20 people is fine for a book discussion group, more would be too many.
There is a programming staff--2 MLS, another on his way, a few others (they are under "public affairs" which is outreach, public affairs, programs, website, exhibits, grants, crisis mgmt, etc.)--who suggests ideas. But they implement. Librarians and bookstore staff also suggest.
YA & Children's does their own with separate program budget. The dept. packages them, so it looks like it's from the same library.
There sis a Madness to this! Could be constraining. Follow your gut; if it sounds bad, it probably will be bad. Even if it's free. Evaluations are not done. Data may be misleading...
Angie Hanshaw
Editor/designer for Programming Librarian.
Lots through the website. Monthly newsletter. Facebook.
1.) Learn: through library section about copyrights, grant funding, traveling exhibitions, events & celebration calendar, programs (authors, discussions, etc.)
2.) Share: comment on the blog. Forum exists; info from today's breakout sessions will be put here.
3.) The brainstormer. Search curated content by keyword. Generate ideas, examples. Create proposals.
4.) PDF designer, interactive tool allows to create promotional materials.
Sonia Feigenbaum
Deputy Director, Division of Public Programs
Ntl Endowment for the Humanities
Old Post Office Pavillion
1100 Pennsylvania Ave, NW Room 426
W, DC 20506
sfeigenbaum@neh.gov www.neh.gov
--Loves libraries, wants to make sure the humanities will always remain part of programs.
Hosted By Hundreds of Libraries
Many get additional programming grants by accepting these.
The Great Experiment: George Washington and the American Republic (1997, 1999)
Forever Free: Abraham Lincoln's Journey to Emancipation (2002)
Frankenstein: Penetrating the Secrets of Nature (2001)
Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World
Pride and Passion: The African American Baseball Exhibition
Soul of a People: Voices from the Writers' Project
Upcoming
Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women
30 libraries, $2500, 5 programs, lead scholar, collaboration, planning workshop, deadline 7/30/2010 for programs Spring-Fall 2011.
Heather Paulson, Mother-Daughter Book Club
Librarian, lit scholar, contributor to site.
No programming course, this is learned on the job.
Tale of Despereaux, upper-elementary, discussion failed, a no-show despite lots of work.
Succeeded after talking to mother who wanted to do a mother-daughter book group. Families choose books. A friend could be bought. Women's History Month's Understood Betsy attracted 12 of 15 registrants. 16-20 for future. Father-son is next.
-engage with community per interests. Talk about it. Buy in from patrons necessary to create successful program. Tie it into what's going on. Adapting from failure is crucial.
Henry Fortunato, Kansas City Public Library
200+ Special Events a year. Checks sign-ups hourly. Intellectual, engagement in the world of the mind.
Why Do We Do It?
-Almost addictive. An incredible high.
-Cultural center
What Does the Job Entail?-Drinking. with Sara Paretsky and AJ Jacobs
-Their grant allows them to do so much more than other libraries may be capable of.
What Continues to Be Engaging About it?
-Validation from public media. Kansas City Star drives the news judgment in the city.
Recognize Value
-Vital to making people recognize & appreciate how important the library is to their community. Happy people at the library is proof.
Develop Themes and Series
-Find out what local greats are doing, work with them: "Can We Improve Urban Schools." "Meet the Past. Reenactors will create a talk show, brought back from the dead, moderator pretends hew's Johnny Carson. This airs on PBS channel. Second Sundays with KC Columnists--free of fees, they come and talk about current events, draws 100 people. Local authors/professors will do it for free to promote book or maybe $250. Cards are cheap to print. Low cost, high yield.
-Can be 2 programs at once even with similar appeal.
Find Local Connections to Broader Issues
Focus on Quality Graphic Design and Packaging
Graphic design and packaging can be done in-house by trained GD professionals. Thousands of college GD students would love to work in a non-academic environment to add to their portfolio. Contact dept. chair and they'll be happy to work with you. Don't tell them what to do. Tell them the goal. They will work on the typeface, color, etc. Tell them where you want to go; let them take you there.
Develop Partnerships with Other Institutions
Cooperation works; competition does not. Split expenses, share audiences, cross-pollinate, looks good to grant providers. Partnering with local TV station on film festival, for example.
Build on Your Success
10,000 names on email list used for blasts and other things.
Promote, Promote, Promote
Every Sunday afternoon, send the upcoming week's events to email blast. Get on TV, public library, newspapers. Get "In your face." A great product to sell.
Once You Start, You Can't Stop
Create a need in the marketplace. 2007, 145 programs; 2008 244; 2009 224.
Breakout with Henry Fortunato
Calendars, 22 cents/unit for 15,000. $5,000/month. Postcard with less events would cost less. Packaging makes something look like it's worth doing. Grab people on book tours, partner with independent bookstore who likes the library. Communication goes both ways to bookstore. Make the author topical; 50 yr anniv. of JFK & Nixon debates. JFK Library sold debates for $40. Showing them sequentially. Last surviving newsman of era coming out to comment. Could just as easily be a local Poli Sci professor. Get a grant, offer a hotel night, flight, etc!
Programming will start slow. 25 people at first for a big city is not good. 100 is now his make or break on whether he'll do an adult event again. 20 people is fine for a book discussion group, more would be too many.
There is a programming staff--2 MLS, another on his way, a few others (they are under "public affairs" which is outreach, public affairs, programs, website, exhibits, grants, crisis mgmt, etc.)--who suggests ideas. But they implement. Librarians and bookstore staff also suggest.
YA & Children's does their own with separate program budget. The dept. packages them, so it looks like it's from the same library.
There sis a Madness to this! Could be constraining. Follow your gut; if it sounds bad, it probably will be bad. Even if it's free. Evaluations are not done. Data may be misleading...
PR Forum with Stephen Abram
Began with a list of available grants and programs from the Campaign for American Libraries like ilovemylibrarian and Step up to the Plate.
PR Forum: Next Practices in Communication @ Your Library
(slides soon available here.)
Stephen Abram
Focusing, defending, making sure we'll survive & thrive, now easy to communicate with people. Brochures & bookmarks vs. what we are able to do now, via Twitter Facebook, etc.
They need specialists in information during the information age. Just like how they needed engineers during teh industrial age. We need to promote this. Shutting down school libraries in CA led to a 30% drop in grades. Every dollar iinvested in public libraries is $6.50 returned (really $20.) Need to get this message out, sell ourselves, services, what we're doing, the social bloom we cause, the difference we make both in finding information and helping kids continue to read.
People form their opinions of a librarian when they are 8.
People need to know to come to us for life-changing answers. Google answers as many questions in 30 min as all librarians do together in 20 years.
Need to promote messages besides "we've got books." Our competitive advantage is our people; we need a page describing our experts: geneology, medical, facebook page, goodreads, history, RA, etc. Need to be more extroverted about it.
Need to not be anonymous. Is our doctor anonymous?
Is our Library an Event? People Make This!
Our circ clerks elicit comments, greet people. Pass along a bookmark on how to use Goodreads, etc.
Need to describe the experience (storytime) versus the books. No one hugs Google, librarians get them. How about a stroytime how-to where we teach them how to get Goodnight Moon across?
The People We See Aren't Our Only Patrons
Patrons aren't "one size." We see the people who need our help the most. The majority of use comes through "virtual branch." Very different users.
Inertia is the Problem
Don't study to death; death is not our original goal. We form committees rather than learning by doing. We already do this with face-out collections.
Selection is Our Forte
You pick what "sells" per your patrons and region; not just what's big on Amazon at the moment. Gardening books that work in our climate, etc. No one wants to see our inventory management system. 50% of all OPAC use comes from Amazon first. Bibliocomments, LibraryThing, GoodReads can change this. We need to create a local experience that matters; where people can start sharing things. We know our users, they sign in, create a community.
We Let Everybody Have What They Want
We care about everybody as an individual; helping people learn, self-actualize.
"The dark ages began with closing a library." Lots of quotes like this.
New Thinking
We have access to 18 million journals vs. the 100 of the old days!
18 PR Tools for Libraries from 2007
YouTube -- No 2 search engine next to Google.
Second Life -- How relevant is this to users? Maybe not any more. Too soon to tell.
MySpace -- Facebook is taking over.
Facebook -- Get here, use this.
Flickr
Podcasts/iTunes
Wikipedia -- No 1 influencer of what Google finds. Make sure it's right.
Ning -- Social network, doesn't charge educational organizations.
WebEx/LiveMeeting -- Costs $85/yr. Extends our reach. We can heal frustration long distance. Information literacy, storytelling, footnotes. How to do these things.
Twitter -- The no. 1 job-finding tool in the US, Sears puts up a bunch. Multiple Twitter accounts per area of expertise!
Blogging
Tagging, Scanning, RSS
Search Engine Optimization Free Gale App helps patrons find nearest library, information on them. How do you break a person's fingers, hit their phone...
LinkedIn/Plaxo We should all be in LinkedIn. Free, takes no time to write a profile.
SurveytMonkey/Zoomerang Ask what users are actually using, so we can respond to that need. Especially virtual users.
Mozes, NowPublic, MyBlogLog all useless.
Connect People with Your Library
Learning at Your Library
7 different ways. Gene sets also determine this--musicians, politicians, etc. all absorb information effectively in different ways. Why we're influencing politicians in-person Tuesday. Most learn experientially, from surgeons to mechanics. Auditory beats text. Visual is huge.
Understand Why They Read
What psych impact do they get from working with us, recommendations, etc. We need to data mine circulation records beyond the top 20. Bestsellers are bought, not neccessarily borrowed.
Social Glue
We train moms to tell stories; the best place to learn. A real benefit. Helps moms not go batshit by meeting people as well.
What is More Important for Value-Based Funding?
What Tugs at the Heartstrings:
6% annual increase in circ......100% incr in ILL....500% in website hits......1000% in database results
OR 50% increases in customer satisfaction. How do we mine the well of users? What stories can we tell? How do we collect them? We need to blog stories about people preventing suicide, preventing cancer, improving lives VERSUS plain, boring stats. Videos of people who didn't make it through highschool whose lives would be damaged without us. We can make these videos viral!
7 Tricks You Can Do Right Away
1.) What are our top reference questions?
2.) Promote your staff. FB, Tweets, Web pages, photos. None of the truly "private" things. Connect genealogy librarian to genealogy professional, etc.
3.) Do a signage audit and walk through (watch out for "no.") Use a newbie to get an outside perspective. "Check your skateboard at the desk" vs. "No skateboards!" Make sure librarians are facing out as people approach.
4.) Get some widgets (Hint: API.) WHat would you like to do today? Top 20 reference questions? Consumer product reviews.
5.) Work with GIS. Geotag search engine optimization. Look at geographic information systems. Map and put information on it. Find out where most intense use happens. Can be surprising. Trailer park in Washington, DC.
6.) Go beyond statistics: Google Analytics, etc.
What we (Gale) Never Knew Before:
27% of users under 18. 59% are female. 29% are college students. 5% professors, 6% teachers. On any given day, 35% of users are there for the first time. 29% found products via the library website. 59% found what they were looking for on 1st search. 72% trusted the content more than what they found on Google. 81% still use Google.
Gale(tm) Driving User to the Library Swallowing the Information World!
Encyclopedia.com, HighBeam, WorldCat, iPhone App (then Drone, Blackberry, etc.), Questia, Geo-IP Measures, Etc. Watch for more.
PR Forum: Next Practices in Communication @ Your Library
(slides soon available here.)
Stephen Abram
Focusing, defending, making sure we'll survive & thrive, now easy to communicate with people. Brochures & bookmarks vs. what we are able to do now, via Twitter Facebook, etc.
They need specialists in information during the information age. Just like how they needed engineers during teh industrial age. We need to promote this. Shutting down school libraries in CA led to a 30% drop in grades. Every dollar iinvested in public libraries is $6.50 returned (really $20.) Need to get this message out, sell ourselves, services, what we're doing, the social bloom we cause, the difference we make both in finding information and helping kids continue to read.
People form their opinions of a librarian when they are 8.
People need to know to come to us for life-changing answers. Google answers as many questions in 30 min as all librarians do together in 20 years.
Need to promote messages besides "we've got books." Our competitive advantage is our people; we need a page describing our experts: geneology, medical, facebook page, goodreads, history, RA, etc. Need to be more extroverted about it.
Need to not be anonymous. Is our doctor anonymous?
Is our Library an Event? People Make This!
Our circ clerks elicit comments, greet people. Pass along a bookmark on how to use Goodreads, etc.
Need to describe the experience (storytime) versus the books. No one hugs Google, librarians get them. How about a stroytime how-to where we teach them how to get Goodnight Moon across?
The People We See Aren't Our Only Patrons
Patrons aren't "one size." We see the people who need our help the most. The majority of use comes through "virtual branch." Very different users.
Inertia is the Problem
Don't study to death; death is not our original goal. We form committees rather than learning by doing. We already do this with face-out collections.
Selection is Our Forte
You pick what "sells" per your patrons and region; not just what's big on Amazon at the moment. Gardening books that work in our climate, etc. No one wants to see our inventory management system. 50% of all OPAC use comes from Amazon first. Bibliocomments, LibraryThing, GoodReads can change this. We need to create a local experience that matters; where people can start sharing things. We know our users, they sign in, create a community.
We Let Everybody Have What They Want
We care about everybody as an individual; helping people learn, self-actualize.
"The dark ages began with closing a library." Lots of quotes like this.
New Thinking
We have access to 18 million journals vs. the 100 of the old days!
18 PR Tools for Libraries from 2007
YouTube -- No 2 search engine next to Google.
Second Life -- How relevant is this to users? Maybe not any more. Too soon to tell.
MySpace -- Facebook is taking over.
Facebook -- Get here, use this.
Flickr
Podcasts/iTunes
Wikipedia -- No 1 influencer of what Google finds. Make sure it's right.
Ning -- Social network, doesn't charge educational organizations.
WebEx/LiveMeeting -- Costs $85/yr. Extends our reach. We can heal frustration long distance. Information literacy, storytelling, footnotes. How to do these things.
Twitter -- The no. 1 job-finding tool in the US, Sears puts up a bunch. Multiple Twitter accounts per area of expertise!
Blogging
Tagging, Scanning, RSS
Search Engine Optimization Free Gale App helps patrons find nearest library, information on them. How do you break a person's fingers, hit their phone...
LinkedIn/Plaxo We should all be in LinkedIn. Free, takes no time to write a profile.
SurveytMonkey/Zoomerang Ask what users are actually using, so we can respond to that need. Especially virtual users.
Mozes, NowPublic, MyBlogLog all useless.
Connect People with Your Library
Learning at Your Library
7 different ways. Gene sets also determine this--musicians, politicians, etc. all absorb information effectively in different ways. Why we're influencing politicians in-person Tuesday. Most learn experientially, from surgeons to mechanics. Auditory beats text. Visual is huge.
Understand Why They Read
What psych impact do they get from working with us, recommendations, etc. We need to data mine circulation records beyond the top 20. Bestsellers are bought, not neccessarily borrowed.
Social Glue
We train moms to tell stories; the best place to learn. A real benefit. Helps moms not go batshit by meeting people as well.
What is More Important for Value-Based Funding?
What Tugs at the Heartstrings:
6% annual increase in circ......100% incr in ILL....500% in website hits......1000% in database results
OR 50% increases in customer satisfaction. How do we mine the well of users? What stories can we tell? How do we collect them? We need to blog stories about people preventing suicide, preventing cancer, improving lives VERSUS plain, boring stats. Videos of people who didn't make it through highschool whose lives would be damaged without us. We can make these videos viral!
7 Tricks You Can Do Right Away
1.) What are our top reference questions?
2.) Promote your staff. FB, Tweets, Web pages, photos. None of the truly "private" things. Connect genealogy librarian to genealogy professional, etc.
3.) Do a signage audit and walk through (watch out for "no.") Use a newbie to get an outside perspective. "Check your skateboard at the desk" vs. "No skateboards!" Make sure librarians are facing out as people approach.
4.) Get some widgets (Hint: API.) WHat would you like to do today? Top 20 reference questions? Consumer product reviews.
5.) Work with GIS. Geotag search engine optimization. Look at geographic information systems. Map and put information on it. Find out where most intense use happens. Can be surprising. Trailer park in Washington, DC.
6.) Go beyond statistics: Google Analytics, etc.
What we (Gale) Never Knew Before:
27% of users under 18. 59% are female. 29% are college students. 5% professors, 6% teachers. On any given day, 35% of users are there for the first time. 29% found products via the library website. 59% found what they were looking for on 1st search. 72% trusted the content more than what they found on Google. 81% still use Google.
Gale(tm) Driving User to the Library Swallowing the Information World!
Encyclopedia.com, HighBeam, WorldCat, iPhone App (then Drone, Blackberry, etc.), Questia, Geo-IP Measures, Etc. Watch for more.
7.) Develop a STORY collection strategy.
Read The Springboard.
Success is NOT About Things
We need to be socially-connected to our user population. Sustainably connect yourself with everyone you know. The number 1 place people go for information is friends and colleagues. We need to connect to these people or we will be disconnected.
News Should Be Top on the Website
Weather should be on the front page.
Clients are Buying "Dream Deck"
They are not buying your hammer and boards, they are buying the deck of their dreams. Help them build it. What feeling do we want them to have when they come in to read the paper, market something that connects to their dreams. Help immigrants get citizenship. We can do amazing things.
This Month is the Tipping Point
Internet has now progressed to its infancy. We are about to enter real change. The kind of change grandparents saw. 20 yrs brought phone, interstate, etc. No whining. We must be flexible, change in phases, take risks. Why it's the most exciting time to be in libraries.
Google Books Settlement
Libraries can compete. Need to teach people to research, not forage. We will soon be at paragraph-level rather than article-level. Think beyond the book. Promote specialists! We will be drowning in information! Google Editions opens next week: 14000 publishers, 20000 books open source, works on most readers. 2 million books. $1.99 each! SEO! SMO!
We need to battle special interest groups who propagate racist, sexist info and make it the 1st hit.
GEO-IP
Can have an instant message sent to user walking through the door: "Welcome to the most awesome and innovative library in the world."
Top 10 Ways to Drive People to the Library Using Social Media
1. Find the influencers
2. Connect with the influencers
3. Motivate the influencers
4. Build Buzz and Interest
5. Kodak moments
6. Flip camera crazy
7. Tweet and be tweeted
8. Emails -- they still work, for older people.
9. Survey
10. Measure and refine
PROVIDE TESTIMONIALS
Transmogrifying Containers
Get ebook readers. We should all have them to know how they work. Most books that matter to us will be on readers in the next 5 years. Not ready for libraries yet. If we don't participate, Google and Amazon will control. 2002 ($5.7m) 2010 ($9.1.) It's a giant mess. We should play with some of it.
Broadband
Google has been lobbying to get white space between 2-13. Google wants over-air broadband connectivity.
We Compete
The cloud: printing, software, storage. $199 printers can print to an email address. LA is all cloud vs. Microsoft.
Yahoo!/Bing, iPhone, Facebook Migration
Only Google and Bing are search engines.
Devices
iPads, Kobo, Kindles, eDGe, and Mobile. Steve Jobs can't tell us what to read and what to say. Offensive to our value system. We need to be more vical about our value system.
Mobile
Dominant device in North America this year. We're 7 yrs behind the rest of the world, even Namibia. We need to play with the devices on our lunch hours. Text, use apps.
Experience
1. Google 2. Bing 3. Us. WERE products and place (Philadelphia Free Library) THEN intentional experience (reference, etc.) NOW Designed Experience (differentiate based on patron-based design--auto worker learns this way...building self-esteem and confidence) WILL BE Experience on Demand (People co-create on platforms WE provide.) How do we build with them?! Medline tells you how you're going to die as well as prevention and curing. We want to help navigate these things. Questions to ask your physician. Context is king, NOT content.
Database of Intentions...?
The core of our profession is conversation. Talented human beings with decades of excellent experience that need to reframe that. New techies coming in need to help as they get helped with the patina of experience.
Future
Choose between achieving a dynamic future and dwelling in a nostalgic past--well within our power.
Chips in people. Credit card size phones that only use touch screens.
Tell stories, have conversations, create relationships (even ones we're not comfortable with.) Connect with social life so we are the center of the social life of information. More touchpoints than bookmarks & brochures. Permission Marketing. 90% of users will use in the next 90 days. Upgrade every user. Offer this to people. They choose their privacy level, trust us, and can always unfriend us.
Self Check #405 (image.)
Trans-literacy Move Beyond Reading & PC Skills...?
Great website: Wyoming Libraries (maybe prototype? Not findable, looked like cowboy stuff.)
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