Tag Archives: library

Outcomes based training for libraries

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Yesterday I went to a very interesting training sponsored by UALC:  Outcomes based measurement by Julie Todaro. She did a great job. There were many people there (maybe 100) from academic libraries in Utah. It was kind of fun to catch up with some of my old “cronies” from when I used to work at Primary. I miss all of those people a lot and wish I did more to connect with them. They always felt like friends to me (and still do).

It reminded me of the time I spent one week in DC doing OBE with the IMLS. I enjoyed that training as well. I went with Rose Frost and Juan Lee. It was a lot of fun.  Rose and I got split up on the metro one night. She went one way and I went another but we finally both got back to the hotel in one piece. Actully the IMLS training was very well done and really taught me alot on the topic. It was one week vs one day, and was so good. Much more in depth, actually.

This fall I plan to teach long range planning training to public library directors in Utah. I will use what I learned from Todaro, what I learned in DC, and what I learned from Sandra Nelson for the training. It will be based on the Planning for Results by Sandra Nelson.  It all has to do with good, meaningful reporting of what people want to accomplish in their libraries. I’ll have the training schedule up pretty soon, probably in 3 locations in Utah, and hope to get Craig Neilson and maybe others from USL to help out on the instruction. People have been calling me and emailing me about when it will start so I know there;s high interest among Utah library directors. When it’s posted you can register online at http://library.utah.gov/workshops

Tools of engagement

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As Clay Shirky said in his 2008 keynote at  Web 2.0 Expo,  media is a triathalon: people like to consume, produce, and share it. Media that is targeted at you but doesn’t include you may not be worth watching. We might ask ourselves, in what ways are we engaging our audiences? How well do libraries help their customers to be a part of the picture?

Some ways that librarians can include others:

Make your website interactive with blogs, twitter, feeds from library-esq resources, etc. Some of the things we have tried may already be old school. What’s coming down the tube next? It’s pretty fun to at least watch and wonder.
Start projects that the public can have fun with.

free 2 succeedHere’s one really fine example.  The Bay Area libraries are having a Free 2 Succeed campaign. One library has a Free 2 Succeed job center and career information center.   There’s a Free 2 (fill in the blank) decal that people can download from their website and stick on a t-shirt or whatever else.   There’s a Free 2 contest where patrons can win prizes for telling what the library has done to make them free 2 move about the community.  There’s a video on the Free 2 website that highlights people in the community and what they are free 2 do.  Fun stuff.

Kanab City Library celebrates 10 years in its new building

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Kanab City Library was filled with fond memories and tributes to Marolynn Watson at their Tenth Anniversary Open House on May 16th 2009. The Library Board and staff had gone all out to show off many highlights of the past ten years. There were displays showing library accomplishments and artifacts of the library in days of old. The library first started  in 1915.

Marolynn Watson was the Library Director from 1980 to 2002. She got the funding and all of the approvals for the current library building. She was described as a “bulldog,” fighting hard for the community and the library. She received a special gift: a plaque to be put up on the entryway pillar. She and her son Rob flew in for the occasion.

Dicki Robinson, Library Director, gave a rousing speech about the library and Marolynn’s part in it. Rob Watson paid tribute to his mother and told many of the things she did to improve literacy in the community during her tenure as Director. Gail Glauser, Library Board Chair, presented the library a plaque that will be mounted in the front foyer.

Sheila Bernstein completed the day by playing “Impossible Dream.” A great time was had by all.

UPLIFT Grant: The Economics of Consortia class

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Joanne Taylor received an UPLIFT Professional Development grant in 2009. One class she attended through the grant was Economics of Information.  Here are her thoughts on just one piece of the puzzle:

The Economics of Consortia

“Libraries have long engaged in cooperative ventures.  Government documents and interlibrary loans are two of the older and better-recognized cooperative arrangements among libraries.  Cooperation among libraries offers participating libraries broader collections of resources to meet many and varied user information needs and often at lower cost to participating libraries.  Where it would not be feasible for all libraries to house the many materials that each of their users might seek; through cooperation there is created a much broader collection that all participants may access.  The concept of sharing resources has recently expanded as electronic resources and the Internet now make broad information access possible at many levels.  On-line catalogs have made it possible for information seekers to view the collections of many libraries using computers from most locations.  Electronic media provide full-text books and journal articles, again for information seekers living and seeking from computers at almost any location.  These information opportunities have lead to the development of more extensive and creative collaboration among libraries.  Further, digitization is opening the possibility for information seekers world-wide to see replications of objects, including books and manuscripts, that have long been protected in secure archival libraries and previously only accessible to limited numbers of scholars. These new media have created opportunities for cooperation among libraries and even expanding circles of cooperation among consortia.  Resource sharing may well expand as current economic conditions constrict library budgets. One might anticipate that further emphasis will be placed on consortial relationships where participants may provide broader access to resources at lower cost.”

I really do appreciate how the State Library has offered this support.  Thanks for all you do.

Joanne Taylor

What are Friends for?

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Friends of the Library training is coming June 23 & 24 here in Utah. Register: http://library.utah.gov/workshops

When I think of Friends of the Library I think of collaboration. What are Friends of the Library groups for?

  • Public, academic. school, and special libraries. No one’s too obscure or too high powered to have Friends.
  • Supporting and benefiting the library community
  • Service
  • Connecting with others in the business world
  • Public relations
  • Advocacy
  • Community involvement
  • Literacy promotion, especially in school Friends groups
  • Fund raising

What can they sponsor?

  • Film festival
  • Storytelling contest
  • Book sales
  • Booth at the County Fair
  • Teachers’ tea
  • Bring shut-ins to the library during National Library week to meet the staff and the mayor
  • Special anniversary programs
  • More computers in the library
  • Job Fair at the library
  • Outreach program at the senior center
  • Provide funding for special library projects
  • Hospital book cart
  • Puppets, toys, and games for children
  • Promote literacy and reading
  • “Books for babies” kits
  • Making a new teen area in the library
  • Any activity that would benefit the library community

Free online training in May for librarians

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May 13,  10-11 am Mountain Time:  Leading in Difficult Times (SirsiDynix Institute)

As a library system director I get asked for advice regularly, but in the last few months the requests have been growing louder. How do I control the fear, what is leadership in tough times all about, why is inaction not an option this time around? Join Kitty Pope as she walks through the process and the message which is all about hope and courage.  Register:  http://www.sirsidynixinstitute.com/seminar_page.php?sid=112

May 13, 12-1 pm Mountain Time: Push, Pull, Delight: My Library, My Collection, My Expert (Library Journal Webinar)

Push, Pull, Delight features a panel of collection, outreach and marketing experts who will discuss methods being used in their libraries to deepen and extend services and collections to patrons with ever growing expectations, and information appetites. Register:  http://www.libraryjournal.com/webcasts/48747/Webcasts.html

May 13, 12-1 pm Mountain Time: Spanish Language Outreach Success Stories (WebJunction Webinar)

Join three Montana librarians for a one-hour free webinar featuring real-world examples of successful outreach. Amy Ling (North Valley Public Library), Marie Habener (Dillon Public Library) and Molly Ledermann (Missoula Public Library) will present the work they have done to sustain the momentum of WebJunction’s Spanish Language Outreach project, and discuss their ongoing strategies to assess community needs, make their libraries more welcoming, develop programming, and foster connections with Spanish-speaking communities. Montana librarians became involved with Spanish Language Outreach through participation in workshops in seven Montana communities. Since then, they have used the MTSLO blog to showcase those who continue to provide outreach activities, services and programs for Spanish Speakers in their communities. Register: http://evanced.info/webjunction/evanced/eventcalendar.asp

May 15, 12-1 pm Mountain Time:  ALA Connections Salon: Education and Recruitment (OPAL)

Join us for an informal conversation about educating and recruiting library workers for the 21st century. Register:  http://www.opal-online.org/progschrono.htm

May 15, 2-3 pm Mountain Time: Introduction to Markup Languages (BCR)

Did you know that the term “markup” has actually been around for centuries? It is historically a publishing term, where early original manuscripts were “marked up” in preparation for printing. What does markup mean in this present technical age? Come decode the coding of markup languages like SGML, HTML, CSS, and XML. More importantly, learn about their impact on library and patron services. No “techie” experience required! Register:

http://www.bcr.org/training/schedule/programdetail.php?programid=353

May 27, 1-2 pm Mountain Time: Hazardous Substances Data Bank, Haz-Map, and WISER (National Library of Medicine)

Hazardous Substances Data Bank, Haz-Map, and WISER. The National Network of Libraries of Medicine, MidContinental Region is presenting a new series of online classes. Once a month in 2009, liaisons will present information and exercises on various databases from the National Library of Medicine in an hour-long web conference. All classes are free and no registration is required. You will simply need 1) a computer with Internet access and 2) a phone (the system will call you – free of charge).   To join the webinar, go to: https://webmeeting.nih.gov/mcrupdate/ on the day of the program.

Web in a box value

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This has been a super value to our library as we did not have a website until this project. We would not have had the money to hire a professional or even have our technician spend the time on creating one for us. This is something that we have control over and can update on our schedule- not have to wait for someone else or have to meet a deadline that doesn’t fit. We have had many comments from patrons on the value of our site. It is a great step in keeping up with the times. We are so grateful for the ability to do the work on our website ourselves and for the great service it is to the community.
Juliene Parrish
Richmond Public Library