The Practical Librarian

The Naked Library

2013-05-20T19:51:00.001-04:00

“There are eight million stories in the naked city, this is one of them.”

The Naked City (1948) was an academy award winning film depicting a cop solving a murder. Generally, both the film and the television series that followed showed the seedy underbelly of New York City. Think of it as a kind of Law and Order for its day. Libraries, too, have a seedy underbelly. Civilians rarely understand the variety of patrons that wander through the door. I am not even talking about the rude customer stories. Everyone has rude patrons. What I want to hear is the weird stuff.

In my own career I have had my share of stories. Here are a few samples:

The patron that needed to get in touch with Larry King in order to share the cure for AIDS
The patron wanting information on certain algorithms so he could decipher the government codes stuck inside the television signal
The patron that wanted information on invisible people
The patron that needed a photo of Jesus

Whenever I hear librarians talk about what they won’t do or won’t tolerate, I am immediately suspicious. Everyone has preferences. I like business reference and reader’s advisory. I am not as comfortable with gardening or music oriented questions. (Confession: I had to Google One Direction the other day and my first thought was driving directions.) This doesn’t mean I get to dodge hard questions. I did have to endure some mocking from co-workers. I responded by asking them if they knew Steely Dan or the Edgar Winter Group.

Library service at the core is about saying yes to the crazy, outside the box questions. The library is probably the only place in the entire world where any question is worth asking. Embracing odd questions and those that ask them, is how you develop as a researcher. Remember, the path less traveled is probably more interesting anyway.

Embrace your naked library and all the eight million stories.

Mary

How to be the "new guy" at your library

2013-05-06T11:23:00.000-04:00

Congratulations, you got the job. Now what?
Even if you are experienced in your profession or lowly intern, being the new person is difficult. I have changed jobs in my life more times than I can tell you. Regardless of your position, everyone has to learn all the unwritten rules, culture and personalities of everyone. Hopefully, you have a sense of your supervisor from from your interview, but here are some strategies to get you through that learning curve quicker.

Ask specifics about dress code.
Libraries, particularly, have such a wide range of dress codes, it is difficult to pin this down. Don't assume that how they dressed for your interview is the norm. Even if they don't have a specific code or can't articulate it, always dress "up" initially. Shoes should be appropriate, flip flops are ALWAYS wrong. One manager told me she appreciated that someone thought about this and asked.

Refrain from judgments on rules/policy.
Even if you think the rule is crazy/stupid and utterly ridiculous, hang back from overt criticism. If you think it is utterly insane, ask for clarification with a manager. Don't complain to co-workers or mutter "this is so stupid". (Even if it is.) File your objections away until you know more.

Manage your training.
This means you need to take charge of your training as you would any project. I have heard many managers complain that they show a procedure time again, and yet the trainee doesn't seem to really try. I have had employees ask me to help them with a patron on the copy machine or computer etc. Of course I will, but I want you to follow up on how that process/procedure works. Don't assume since I have "handled it", you are off the hook for learning.

Know how you learn best.
Personally, I have to do something many times before I am comfortable. Others work from step by step instructions or reading a manual. Often there is no structured training or the training is terrible. Develop a strategy to work around inadequate training. Strategies to try: shadowing an employee, taking notes, making lists of issues to clarify and making cheat sheets. Libraries can be chaotic. This makes it difficult to learn, but on the other hand, you are seldom bored.

Follow up
Ask for feedback about areas you need to re-learn or practice. Listen carefully and don't panic or be defensive if your trainer has issues.

Build up goodwill
Don't be the person who needs time off or favors until you have been there awhile. Build up your reputation by volunteering for duties or shifts no one else wants. Offer up help or do a favor for others.

Being the new person is difficult, but give yourself a break. You will be tired (learning is hard work). Most managers know that it might take awhile for you to get on top of things.

Good luck to all the newbies out there!
Mary

DIY Tech Training

2013-04-24T15:41:00.000-04:00

One of the common complaints I hear from supervisors (not just in library work) is the lack of initiative when it comes to expanding your skill set. It is particularly tough for librarians as resources are not there for more training or conferences.Unfortunately, this does not relieve you of your responsibility to stay "on top" of the profession. Technology is tough. So, how do you do reasonable tech training with no money and limited time?

Start Small
You can start anywhere. Just start. How about using Excel more efficiently? HTML? Pick one thing you think might be interesting. Do not worry if it doesn't automatically turn into something you can use right away at your job.That doesn't always happen.

Let's use the Excel example. I am pretty good with Excel for my job but I am probably am not taking full advantage of all the possibilities of the software. Learning all of Excel would be overwhelming so just pick one thing. It can be anything. Just jump in with a question. "How do I make a Pivot Table?" Stick to just Pivot Tables and don't try to understand the entire world of Excel.

Reading a manual is hard for me when learning something for the first time. I like manuals after I get the basic idea for reinforcement. (Each person learns differently. Use what works for you.). Since I need a demo, I go right to YouTube for a demo. I play it a bunch of times and then try it on my own. Lather, rinse, repeat until you have this down solid. Depending on your topic, the time spent can usually be done in 10 minute bites.

Where to Find Training
Most examples of anything technology can be found somewhere in the library or on the Internet. The places I have been haunting in my quest:

YouTube - My favorite since it requires very little effort.
Code Academy - http://www.codecademy.com Courses include fundamentals, PHP, Python, Ruby and others
Microsoft offers some free courses on Office. If you are really rusty, you would probably like a refresher.
Udacity offers a beginning computer science
Coursera offers a variety of science and technology classes.

Finally, talk to other librarians on what they have used to learn new technology or upgrade skills, Everyone has a unique perspective. Tap into your librarian network.

Commit to technology training even if you have no support or management in your library thinks its a waste of time.

Mary

Collection Analysis: Median vs Average

2013-04-08T10:38:00.000-04:00

There is more to understanding a collection age beyond average and thanks to Emma, who made a comment on my last collection analysis post, I thought it would also help to discuss median age in a collection. My experience has been that often "average" and "median" are used interchangeably (which is so very wrong!). Median age of a collection really has some serious power in helping librarians talk about collection age.

First, let us get clear on the difference is between median age and average age of a collection. (Again, as I have done in previous posts, the best way to get a handle on the process is to use a small set of numbers until you feel comfortable.) The average is the sum of all the dates in the set divided by the number of items in the set. (If you are using Excel, it will be the @average function)

Here is the example of some publication dates:

		Year Published
Book	A	1975
Book	B	1980
Book	C	1980
Book	D	1980
Book	E	1982
Book	F	1982
Book	G	2010
Book	H	2010
Book	I	2013
Book	J	2013

Calculating the average is done by adding all the years published is: 19,925. Then dividing by the 10 books in the set, the average age is 1992.5.

The Median age is similar to average in that it can indicate an overall age of the collection, but it actually gives us more information by considering the distribution of that range. Taking the same 10 books, the oldest in the collection is 1975 and the newest is 2013. Median is calculated by examining the middle point of the range. In our example, the median age is 1982. Of course, the wonderful Excel will also help you calculate this with the @median function. You can find this under formulas tab in the statistical functions group.

In our little example, you can already see the dramatic difference in the resulting statistics. Average indicates an age around 1993 and the median is 1982. So what does this statistic mean? It means that most of the books are older and not just slightly older, but REALLY old. Remember 1982 is the middle of the age range.

The difference between median and average is pretty significant in this small set. Over a large set of data this can be very helpful in getting sense of the age. As with average, it is unfair to include items that are in special collections such as a geneaology or local history collection. Archival material should be excluded in such a context. Like average, using this statistic on the overall library collection. Distinct collections or subjects benefit from this statistic, especially where currency is an issue. (Think legal, medical etc.) I like using it with the teen fiction collection, where I really want the latest and greatest. Practice and compare the median and average ages of your particular collection.

Statistics and analysis of your collection should be a regular part of your management and decisions. Boards, directors and other assorted folks in the money part of the collection equation will appreaciate this analysis. It shows consideration and care in your collection.

Mary

Reader's Advisory Strategies

2013-03-29T10:28:00.001-04:00

Reader's Advisory is one of my favorite parts of library service. Knowing this, you would think I am a high volume reader. This is NOT true. I don't think I read books much more than the average person. I have some favorite authors and I am addicted to my Google Reader. (We can talk about the retirement of Google Reader another time, suffice it to say, I am bitter and feel betrayed.)

Good advisory comes from the reference interview and discussion with the patron. It has nothing to do with being able to recall thousands of books at the drop of a hat. Engage your patron and share your own ideas. Think less about specifics and listen to your patron and their problems. Listen for themes that might trigger some book/movie idea.Here are some sample clues from my own reference interviews that have helped me pitch ideas:

"I had a horrible week at work and I think my boss is crazy!"

Of course ask follow up questions. What happened? How long has it been this way? Is this normal job frustration or is it something serious? Engage and share. Looking for light or are we talking something more serious? Now start searching: Here are some keywords to get you going. workplace fiction, bad managers, toxic work environments,careers, stress, co-workers.

"My kids are driving me crazy!"

Again think out of the box. Does this parent want to escape with a romance or something serious? Are the kids teens or babies? Maybe something from the nonfiction section. You can also suggest some parenting books but that is almost too obvious. Make sure you listen.

Lots of general day to day chit-chat about co-workers, kids, in-laws, friends, spouses can lead you directly toward some reading suggestions. Also think outside of just books. Think movies, music, library programs/classes. Read Holly Hibner's Library Blog for more ideas on Multi Type Advisory. Holly is also a music geek and also has a series of posts on Music advisory that are really worth reading especially if you don't have music training.

Each conversation we have with a patron is our opportunity to pitch a book, movie, program. Listen and engage and the rest will come!

Mary

Update! This wonderful article popped up on my Twitter feed and I couldn't agree more with this article by Shelley Ann Clarke Learning to Read over at Wonk-o-Mance.

Value of Library Institutional Knowledge

2013-02-08T12:02:00.000-05:00

Everyone knows that labor cost is a huge concern to library managers (and civilian managers too!). More than one library director has faced cuts and looked at the hourly rate on the more experienced staff and thought about cutting costs by replacing the more experienced bodies with newbies, interns, part timers and even volunteers. I get it. It looks awesome on a spreadsheet, but managers, you are shooting yourself in the foot by failing to recognize the value of what is called "institutional knowledge".

Institutional knowledge is all that stuff experienced staff people know that can't always be quantified, but does translate into real cost savings. I have seen time and time again those situations where those experienced librarians just know more and it really translates into efficiency. For example, a librarian I know working in children's section with a newbie could simply "recall" titles, authors and other library information at the drop of a hat. If we translate that into "savings". This librarian served more customers and delivered more "outcomes" in an hour compared to the newbie librarian. Of course the newbie is going to have to "look up" more stuff, find a person that knows that particular policy or rule. That's how we learn our jobs. Long term experienced librarians are worth a higher salary. These experienced people contribute to the long term success of the library by training (even if it isn't formal) new people, smoothing over problems and maintaining critical relationships with customers.

Managers and boards that trade high experience/higher cost employees with low experience/low cost are going to end up paying more in the end. And I mean a LOT more. Think of those up coming millages, or fund raising times in libraries. Long term, experienced staff can increase a community's investment in a library. Think about those teens that came to programs with the library and now are growing up with families of their own. Seniors (who are way more likely to pay attention to library tax issues) have a relationship with the library, and more specifically, a librarian, for decades.The value of long term relationships with the community is essential for long term success.

Mary

Another Baby Step in Collection Analysis

2013-01-03T21:22:00.002-05:00

As we discussed in my post Using Excel in Collection Analysis, go slow and work a small data set into the ground until you feel comfortable. While you are in "learning mode", use enough data to fit comfortably on the screen, so you can "see" everything at once. For this example, I am using 20 random records from my Juvenile Fiction collection and I am going to focus on evaluating age.

Average is a term thrown around a lot in data analysis. Calculating average is adding up all the dates and then dividing by the number of titles. In other words a couple of really old books can skew the average. So, for library and collection purposes, you need to look deeper. As you can see in my sample data set, the average age of this group of items is 1990.3 or for our purposes 1990. That seems really old, given we are starting 2013. I am now going to re-order the spreadsheet to organize the 20 records in Date Published order (oldest to newest).

In this particular group, 3 of the titles are almost 50 years old and another is a whopping 71 years old. I can feel the panic as everyone collectively gasp: "you can't weed these classics just because they are old!". Before everyone collectively panics and writes to tell me I am a no-good, censoring book burner, hell bent on destroying classics, relax!* The purpose of this sheet is to flag your attention to the collection. When I say "flag" your attention, that means investigate further. It doesn't mean weed.

For this set, I am going to pull the items highlighted in RED as my oldest examples and the first thing I am going to do is check on condition. For Juvenile fiction, I expect paperbacks to hold up about 5 years and hardbacks will last maybe 10 years, if people are gentle. Your mileage may vary.

Average age discussions are best used in the context of sections of the library. When you go through sections of the library and use pieces of the collection, it is easier to catch those needing attention. I particularly like using the average age when dealing with nonfiction areas of legal, business and medical.

Again, I want to remind everyone, what I consider hanging onto in my tiny library in Michigan, is not going to be the same as what goes on in your library. To give you an idea what I did for the above "red" titles, I weeded the Ghostly Tales and bought new editions of the others.

Now go forth and play with the average of your collections and see what pops out!

Mary

* People have already written that shortly after Holly and I started Awful Library Books.

Using Excel With Collection Data - A Baby Step

2012-12-03T12:08:00.003-05:00

I am not even going begin to explain the million reasons that I haven't posted something on this blog for almost 6 months. Suffice to say it was mostly distractions, nothing to say and then the habit of not writing. Now Holly and I are in the process of doing a new edition of Making a Collection Count.As we go through the chapters and start really re-thinking the content and updating this book, I really wanted to make the idea of using statistics more palatable to those folks who avoid math at all costs. I used to be the queen of math avoidance. As I got older, went to business school and started working in libraries, I realized that I am actually more mathematically inclined or maybe more comfortable with with data, than my fellow library people.

Aside from budgets, there are lots of ways numerical literacy helps in managing a collection. What I am talking about is really thinking in terms of expressing library functions and trends with hard data. Modern technology makes this much easier than back in the 1970s when I was trying to pass algebra. Calculators and my personal favorite, Excel, can make analysis of library collections an absolute dream.
So how do you get over your aversion to analysis in library science? Use a small example of something you love and work it to death. Start with a small piece of a shelf list of a particular collection. Practice with excel in organizing this spreadsheet in various configurations.

Here is a screen shot of what I am talking about. This is a list of 19 records of Juv Fiction "A" in my collection. (I use Sirsi Dynix Symphony through our consortium. I downloaded a shelf list from Director's Station which can provide all sorts of downloadable data sets.) I only have a handful of records, but really with Excel, size doesn't matter! Practice with a tiny set to work out kinks and figure out Excel functions. When you get more confident, use a bigger data set.

First, you should maybe try some basic analysis to learn what your collection can tell you. Try calculating an average "age" (publication age) of this sample. Use the @average function over the range of dates. Sort your data set by number of circulations. Sort your data by date last checked out. Just a simple couple of Excel functions will begin to give you a start on some great collection analysis.

Of course a couple of hundred words and a screen shot is hardly a breakthrough, but often when I am talking to people they are paralyzed about starting somewhere. Think of this a first baby step into collection analysis.
Not sure where to get a data set? Talk to anyone in charge of your ILS and ask if you can have a report or shelf list downloaded. Jump in and start poking around a shelf list.

Mary
PS Of course if you find something in your wonderful data pile worthy of a mention on Awful Library Books, by all means SEND IT IN!

Interview Prep for Libraries

2012-08-26T16:36:00.003-04:00

Library interviews have been the topic of choice among many of my collegues lately. I have had a few friends go on very complex interviews in the last few weeks. My fellow Awful Library Books and speaking partner, Holly, was recently tasked with hiring a new part-time librarian. Everyone from experienced librarians and newbies have asked me for "inside" secrets. I do have general advice but I can hardly speak to every situation. The most I can say is preparation is key. Don't you love vague advice?
One of the more fascinating things I have experienced on the interviewer side of the table is the shear number of people who don't do basic preparation. Really. To me, preparation isn't just what you say to the library in question, it is what do you KNOW about that particular library. Remember we are all in the research business, so do some basic prep work before you even send them a resume. Because I am a fan of checklists, I suggest everyone create a basic library research checklist and at a minimum, you should be aware of the following:

Library Website
When looking at a library's website don't click wildly around. Look closely at the front page. What is the feeling you get when you look at the home page? How is the navigation set up? Contact information readily available? Note design features, dead links, last updates. Even if you are hiring into the adult section, check out the kids and vice versa. Make a list of services and programs.
In many ways, this is the front door of the digital library. Do they spout rules and notices or is there actual content? Are web pages updated on a regular basis? Are they careless? Are they about form over substance? Does anything raise any red flags about management and staffing?

Library Social Media
Make sure you check all the big names like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest. Is the content boring? Do they even have a presence? Like the web page, social media should give you a sense of library personality. Are they fun? Do they communicate with the public or provide feedback?

In Person Visit (if possible)
Visit the library and spy on the reference desk. Are staff friendly or rude? Does staff grumble in view of the public? Do patrons look happy?

General Google/News search (search the community as well as the library itself)
Of course we are all looking out for trouble. You need to be aware of potential minefields of politics and community issues.

Staff or Board Members
This is what I call the gossip factor. Call on all on your network contacts and ask if anyone knows anything about library X. Use friends of friends, relatives or anyone even remotely connected. I have found that there is usually less than 6 degrees of separation in library work. Ultimately, this is almost always one of the best tools for getting the lay of the land and the best reason why networking is critical.

Go make yourself an interview checklist and use your research skills to their fullest!

Mary

I have also written about interviewing in a previous post: Library Interviewing Ideas and Holly has also written about this. Click here to read her tips.

Simple and Cheap Programs for Kids

2012-07-18T17:07:00.000-04:00

I am always on the look out for a simple program for kids. I need programs that require minimal preparation and effort. I also have practically no budget for any real big programs, so I have to use what I have on hand or can scrounge and do the "show" myself. I do my best to keep costs low (about 25 cents a kid) and my programs range in size from 10 or 12 children to as many as 50. Trying to estimate number of participants is difficult, so I usually prepare for a worst case scenario and use leftovers for a craft open house/anything goes program.

Toddler Disco

Babies are a difficult group to "program". They really can't sit still for very long or do a meaningful craft. Toddler disco is simply a selection of music (I included some grown-up music too!) and I let the kids dance and use noise makers. (This can mean anything that makes a noise. If you can bang on it or shake it, it works.) I created a playlist using library music. I decorated our room with Christmas lights and used a bubble machine which gave the room a nice look. The first time I did this, I went almost a half hour and felt that was about 5 minutes too long for the under 3s. Next time we will do a shorter version.

Bugs

I have a slight bug phobia, but since my director likes bugs, we did bugs.This program involved a simple lesson plan on the difference between arachnids and insects. I used pictures and books to present a quick lesson and then added a craft. You can also do insect themed stories. Of course you should adjust for your unique audience.

In case you couldn't tell, the craft pictured below is an ant, complete with a head, thorax and abdomen. Craft needs a bit of construction paper, plastic spoons, googly eyes and pipe cleaners.

Punch holes in the paper and twist pipe cleaner through the holes. I use a bit of tape to "nail" down anything loose. For the antennae, use a small piece of pipe cleaner and attach with tape. The most expensive part of this craft was the black plastic spoons. I ended up have to buy forks and knives too. (Now I need to think of something with black forks and knives. Stay tuned)

Dinosaurs

Like the bugs, I needed to use materials on hand. For the program we did a discussion on the kinds of dinosaurs and read a dinosaur story.

The craft required crayons, paper plates, fasteners (also known as "brads" - I looked that up!) and of course googly eyes. (If you group is very young, eliminate the brads and the googly eyes and use tape instead.)

Use one half of paper plate as the "body". Cut a tail and neck from the remaining part of the plate and use the leftover bits for the legs. Use markers or crayons to color and then punch holes and push brads through to give the dino some movement.

And just so we don't forget to include adults and teens....

Blind Date With a Book

I heard about this idea from a fellow librarian at a conference and used it as a part of the summer reading program for both the adults and teens. I am amazed at the popularity and the feedback so far. I have had to replenish this display several times over and we have only been at it for 4 weeks. All I did was select some nonfiction titles that were quite "generic". I used some popular science, pets, gardening, biography and some miscellaneous topics that would appeal to both genders, as well as either a teen or adult. Wrap up the titles in plain paper (noting barcodes for record keeping purposes) Participants had to take a book at random and wait to unwrap at home. Since we used a receipt printer, I would tell the patrons to not look at the receipt and to give the book "a chance".

None of the above activities take a lot of time or effort and the feedback from parents and kids has been positive. I hope all of you share your easy program ideas. I am always on the lookout for something new.

Mary

Long Term Value and the Real Cost of Short Term Thinking

2012-06-05T16:50:00.001-04:00

Anyone who has worked with me for more than a few minutes has heard my rants on costs and ROI (Return on Investment). Everything I purchase or do for my library has me spinning into mini ROI calculations. Sample obsessive calculations:

Program cost over number of participants (Watch my blood pressure if I have to attempt to divide by zero!)
Item cost + Cost of processing + Cost of selection time over number of circulations.
Number of circs I can squeeze before a board book is completely disgusting.
Item cost vs how much work it is to order said item (I am defining work in this context to the following: bad website, poor invoicing detail, annoying sales/customer service, etc.)

I think most people will agree with this type of thinking even if they don't embrace it to the fullest OCD level possible.

However, there is another side to this tale of ROI that we often ignore. The bean counting mentality is essential in running any entity but the danger is when this mentality over steps into the mission of the organization. One of my middle manager cohorts, not in the library business, has seen this first hand. The frightening nature of a business downturn usually drives the accounting people into a frenzy of cutting "waste". In times of crisis, there is a "let's pull together and work extra hard" mentality that is usually good for business. It forces us to re-evaluate, prioritize, revisit our mission. All excellent management objectives for any institution, including libraries.

Yet for all this cost cutting my manager friend has noticed a disturbing trend. As business started slowly recovering, there was still a call for "do more with less". Projects that were not critical were tossed to the back burner, employee training and professional development was still on hold. Staff vacancies were not back filled. Simple requests for minimal resources were met with delays and calls for mountains of paperwork to justify. Staff morale was on the decline and key personnel were considering job changes for greener pastures.Yes, the short term ROI was being met, but long-term damage was on the horizon for this company. This kind of loss won't always appear so readily in an balance sheet or revenue statement.

Libraries can take a lesson from the idea of ROI, but like all business entities, looking only at the short run is damaging to a library's mission and ultimate success as an institution. As in all things in life and libraries, balance is the key. Although I will preach the gospel of ROI to librarians for cost containment, analyzing trends and being objective in your decisions, you cannot forget our larger mission and the art involved in a library's success.

Mary

As I was writing about this topic, the Twitter hive mind led me to the Feral Librarian and her discussion of short term metrics for long term success in academic libraries and archives. I just love when the hive mind of librarians dovetails with my thoughts. Thank you, Chris!

Job Seekers at the Library: Why are we hesitating?

2012-05-28T14:35:00.000-04:00

In two separate instances, I have overheard librarians have a discussion on either putting limits on helping people with job searching or flat out refusing to help people other than with a cursory, "here's the computer" or "here are the resume books". Once again, I am floored at these librarians' attitude.The library is the best and often the only resource for people and I feel like many times we are cutting them off at the pass while they are at their most vulnerable. In my career in library service, I would bet, conservatively, I have helped someone with job searching nearly every day so I am going to speak on this subject with some bit of authority.

Most job seekers are looking for an objective opinion.
They are not generally looking for the keys to the universe. Of course in all reference transactions, there are the crazy time suckers. Certainly this category is not immune, but generally these are folks who are trying to get perspective or some fresh eyes or ideas on their particular situation. One teen told me it feels weird to look at yourself from an outsider's position and create some kind of resume.

Job seekers are often "stuck" or don't know where to start.
Consider women who have been out of the job market for a while or a person changing careers. They might not know the first steps of getting a job. Often the librarian can be the coach and offer suggestions, websites, books, etc for those just starting the process. Skill assessment too can be a part of this discussion. Guiding job seekers to technology and skill upgrades can be life changing. In my own career, I had babies during the transition from DOS to Windows. It was such a shock and I felt like I was behind by decades.

Job seekers can become quickly demoralized.
This is apparent during any economic crisis. Lack of jobs or the idea of 500 applicants to every position is overwhelming and depressing. Keeping a positive attitude and providing support to patrons is also our job. By simply acknowledging the difficulty to your patrons might be enough for that person to realize they are not alone.

So the take away from my little speech is that everyone has something to offer the job seeker. To limit yourself by policy or in practice, you are making yourself less valuable to your public. That attitude translates into less support for libraries. Oh and by the way, if what you just read sounds like it applies in other areas of reference service you are most correct. Remember, we are there to serve the customer to the best of our ability and resources.

Mary

Holly also has written about offering resume advice. Read it here.
Michigan People: MEL has a TON of stuff for the job seeker, career changer and entrepreneur. Don't forget this valuable service.

Nothing I Say is Original

2012-04-24T11:21:00.003-04:00

There are times when I have so much to talk about there is not enough time to write it down. This isn't one of those times. During PLA12 I was in heaven. Every day I met new librarians to talk with and share ideas. Of course a good chunk of ideas are pie in the sky, but I think we all have to dream big. Not everything needs to have an immediate payoff or takeaway. Some things can sit and stew and eventually pop into your brain as an idea.

I started thinking about this while reading about issues of plagiarism. Several people on my twitter feed have pointed me to interesting articles. (Click here to read The Book Lantern and Smart Bitches Trashy Books discussion of the latest plagiarism scandal.) I will admit to being mildly fascinated by the gossip of the blogging world, I wondered if I would be one of those people that would be so desperate to take another's idea.

In a real sense, none of us are original. The difference is that we credit who gives us the ideas or a germ of an idea to make into something.I have never pulled something out of thin air and said it is mine. Even if I do have a moment of brilliance (I can't remember if I have had any lately) I was usually sitting next to or near my writing partner and cohort in all things library,Holly Hibner. She is brilliant at giving a fleeting idea structure and purpose and making it into something worthwhile. In reality, I can't call it my idea because it was just library jibber-jabber until Holly gave it legs.

The best example of collaboration and ideas that work is my library's baby chick hatching project. Marj, our computer tech (actually a computer whisperer) says that she has someone that can get us the hookup on hatching eggs. We are now in our second year and the chicks have now achieved cult status in our town. (We gave them a twitter feed this year and they have a Tumblr.) A patron said he heard there were "hot chicks at the library". The next thing is massive laughs, ideas and programs that came out of a simple comment of "would you like to hatch some eggs at the library?"

Writers and others: Is it so difficult to share credit with those who helped you articulate an idea or shape a story?

Mary

Just to make sure I am giving credit where credit is due, Marj has done the heavy lifting with our chick project. She actually has cleaned out the chicken box and kept the chicks warm. I will admit I haven't volunteered to clean out the chick box yet. If you want to see other chick related pictures and videos, please head over to the Lyon Township Public Library Website at http://www.lyon.lib.mi.us/

PLA Notes

2012-03-26T18:58:00.002-04:00

Finally gotten around to re-reading my notes from PLA12. This conference is always one of my favorites and I would encourage anyone in public library service to make PLA a priority in professional development. I enjoyed nearly every program presentation at PLA this year and now think it is high time to share a few highlights.

Commando Diplomacy: Building Skills and Tolerance for Having Difficult Conversations and Making Real Progress by Amy Hartmann and Meg Delaney from Toledo-Lucas County Public Library.

Presented Thursday March 15, 2012

I was attracted to this program by the title and that it didn’t require any audience participation weirdness. (I don’t like sharing feelings or role playing and I don’t want to watch others do this either.) I think this should have been required when I started working in libraries. I was pleased that the idea of managing “up” as well as “down” was discussed. I know much of this seems obvious as I write it up, but I did feel energized.

Quick Overview

Depersonalize. QTIP: Quit Taking It Personally

Co-workers are not always fully aware of each other’s responsibilities and issues. Think of the adage “walk a mile in my shoes”.

Take the long view. The other person is probably not going anywhere anytime soon. What do you ultimately want to achieve?

Treat problem co-workers as difficult patrons. Focus on here and now and realize you cannot control others, only your own behavior.

Find a mentor/co-worker that will be a sounding board and give you a reality check.

Perhaps my favorite, and if you are a new librarian looking for a clear way to manage “up” try this strategy in a one on one setting. Use this in making your agenda.

Share your critical needs (1 or 2 points only!)
Share what is new.
Give updates on continuing projects/issues.
Ask “how can I help you?”
Discuss your own ideas for professional development.

These are great tips, especially for newbies in librarianship looking to get some control over their own career. Veteran librarians, these are good reminders for you to stay focused on your long term objectives.

Mary

3 Strategies for better Customer Service during Tax Season

2012-02-04T18:24:00.000-05:00

I know most everyone will think I need my head examined for saying this, but I love tax time at the library. Without fail, I can usually convert a non-library user to library supporter, while helping hand out tax forms. I consider it my big opportunity to sell library service to everyone, especially the elusive non-library user. This is a glorious opportunity to engage patrons on so many levels. Best of all, you don't need an insane amount of time and resources to look sharp and sell the library. Here are three simple strategies to get more out of tax season so you make the library look good and help patrons.

1. Presentation is Everything!
Organize your forms and set up for tax time. Don't use too much signage as it usually doesn't work anyway. Make sure that the forms are located close enough inside the building that patrons are at least forced to come inside and see what is going on. (Think about the supermarket: milk and bread are always deep inside forcing customers to pass by other things to buy) When people ask where the tax forms are located, be ready with cheerful help. A big mistake I have seen in more than a few libraries is a certain attitude that shuts down any further communication. I have even seen huge signs that say "Don't ask for Tax Help". Although professional librarians and attorneys know what this means, everyday patrons now feel that they can't even ask a follow up question.

2. Arm yourself for basic reference.
I use the most current Publication 17 for individuals. Most of the time by using the index you can help folks navigate most common questions. In my experience, most questions posed by patrons can be found using Publication 17. Create a quick referral guide for local tax services in your area. Your local senior center, accounting society might have access to free tax preparation assistance. Don't forget to include any city or state referrals as your area dictates. Don't simply refer patrons to IRS.gov as it is cumbersome. Remember, patrons asking tax questions at the library are probably uncomfortable with technology or are afraid of contacting the IRS. Senior citizens, especially, will want help from live people whenever possible. Create a mantra of how you speak about taxes using phrases like "each tax situation is unique". Treat tax questions as you would medical or other sensitive reference and avoid blanket statements.

3. Engage!
Start that conversation about taxes. Offer to make copies or print out information as much as possible. Share that common burden about paperwork. The more harried the person, offer up something fun like DVD suggestion or a trashy novel to take the edge off tax time. Help your patron see beyond the burden of taxes. I often talk about how my father goes to the post office before midnight on April 15 because he doesn't want the government to get his money one minute before it is necessary.

Much of our frustration about taxes is not really the patron's fault. My gripe is that the government (regardless of my order) will send only instructions and then maybe three weeks later, the forms. Or how the state of Michigan doesn't send forms to the libraries until the last minute so they can encourage people to e-file. Yes, my job is to be the bearer of bad news and one more frustration that is now piling up on the average patron. Remember the patron in front of you hasn't heard the explanation you have given a hundred times in the last hour. So take a deep breath and go get yourself a library supporter.

Mary

Click here for IRS information about free tax preparation.
Consumer Reports link on Tax Help
AARP Tax Assistance

Pondering Fiction Ideas

2012-01-14T11:25:00.002-05:00

My rut is still with me these days, but less bothersome than before. A few items have popped up on Twittter and my Google reader that have provoked some actual thought and distracted me from my pity party of winter blues. So join me as I ponder the library universe.

My Genre Issues with Fiction
Both Holly and I have been working on assembling titles for lists on read-a-likes as well as trying to stay ahead in order to speak intelligently about new titles. This always sparks our long standing discussion on genres. How do we as librarians decide what is and is not a particular genre? The next part of that discussion is what does the PUBLIC use as a definition of a particular genre? I am sometimes frustrated by the genre labels. Do the labels we assign hinder or help patrons? (Yes, I have had a well-meaning patron come up to me and say: "Library X has this John Grisham book in the mystery section and here it is in the general fiction section. Is this a mistake?")
In my perfect library, I am not sure I would have books separated by genre at all. Of course in my perfect library there would be enough librarians to provide perfect library reader advisory so no patron would feel the least bit frustrated. My takeaway from this discussion (and I never tire of it especially with other librarians) is understanding what our first impressions do for us as reader. Think about this when looking at everything from where something is shelved to what the cover art indicates.

Fiction Deal Breakers
One of my new favorite sites, Book Riot (@bookriot on Twitter), just posted an article on the Friday Forum: What Won't You Believe. This article just resonated with me and I started thinking about all the times I put down a book because they said something that didn't match up, make sense or simply got some easily checked facts wrong. I am remembering a particular piece of fiction that had a character in New York call her brother in Grand Rapids, Michigan. No big deal. Except that the author went on about her inconvenience at him being on Central Standard Time. (Grand Rapids is on Eastern time, same as New York). This tirade went on for about two paragraphs. I was cringing the whole time and could not get beyond this mistake. I might have been able to pull through if the narrative or characters had been compelling, but I couldn't manage. (Note to authors: just check on all the little details. Call the city you are writing about and get those details. On my reference desk I will happily verify pronunciations/spellings, discuss the cities and local culture.)

It isn't just the fiction writers either. Reference librarians from Metro Detroit would have happily explained to Steve Perry and Journey about the geographic faux pas about "South Detroit" in Don't Stop Believing.

So, what are your reading "deal breakers"?

Mary

Getting out of a rut

2012-01-09T16:18:00.001-05:00

One of the problems in my career is staying fresh about library service. Often you get into ruts, feel unloved and probably underpaid and under-appreciated. I am lucky enough to have people in my life who have no problem saying "snap out of it" and then hand me some candy. Since not everyone has this available, here are some of my tried and true strategies for getting out of a rut and getting back to what you love. One of the first posts I drafted for Practical Librarian was about staying fresh by getting out there in library land. (Click here to read that post.) Today, I would like to suggest some strategies for those bad days when everything and everyone seems stupid.

Mental/Physical Health
Consider your energy level and ask yourself if you could be in the throws of burnout or depression. You might need a health checkup. Consider some days off or a serious break to help you get back on track. Taking charge of your health can be a mood boost by itself. Walk outside for a few minutes and grab some fresh air. Even in the coldest weather, I have been known to walk outside and "check" the parking lot or building to get a break and some fresh air.

Weed Something
Grant it, this works for the weeding type people more than those "resistant". Cleaning up the collection and doing routine maintenance can give you a mental boost knowing that you have organized even a small section. Out with the old and moldy can seem oddly refreshing.

Collect Content
Create a reading list, a read-a-like list, a pathfinder, list of websites etc. My webmaster is always wanting more stuff for our Facebook or Twitter feed. Consider some favorites that are light in nature and fun for everyone. Maybe you aren't the only one who can use a mood boost. Remember collection development is not just flipping through a Booklist. Think of articles on the web, funny videos, quizzes and contests and start sharing.

Shelf Read
This also works with certain library types. You can organize and straighten up shelves as well as walk around the library. Good for the stacks, good for security and good for patrons. You will also feel accomplished.

These are my strategies and they might not necessarily work for you but it is important to return to your personal list of freshness strategies. They don't have to be big plans but sometimes just taking 10 minutes to walk, think or breathe can do wonders for your attitude.

Mary

Good Manager/Bad Manager

2011-11-19T15:31:00.000-05:00

There have been lots of transitions going on with many of my associates and friends both in library land and those in "regular" jobs. The rough economy tends to reveal the best in managers and the worst. It is easy to have great performance with healthy budgets and motivated people. However, add a depressed economy, reduced resources and both the best and worst will be revealed. I have been privileged to work with some exceptional managers (and some horrible ones) over my long career both in and out of libraries. From my first job in detasseling corn to my current position as a librarian, good managers share traits regardless of the industry or economic situation.

Expectations
I know what the the manager wants as well as how it fits with what the organization needs. These managers have a clear set of priorities both for me individually and for the organization.

Trust My Judgement
In a world working with people, if I make a call on how to deal with a particular issue my boss will back me up. This is particularly important in public library service. Often crazy patrons, unexpected problems present unique situations. In situations where immediate action is required, I want to know that my boss has my back. Monday morning quarterbacking or 20/20 hindsight is not helpful.

Expects Feedback
The best managers ask for my opinion, consider it and then make the decision. Notice I said "expects". Silence or dodging an issue is usually not an option. Discussion and dissenting opinions are encouraged so that ultimately the best decision will be made.

Always Thinking about the Future
The best managers are thinking ahead--the next millage, the next person to hire, the next project. Even if there is little hope, no money they are always generating ideas. They also collect people. Regardless of the size of the organization or industry, my favorite managers are always collecting names of people for the "someday" jobs or assembling "dream teams".

So are you working with one of the good ones? For job seekers and employees you can help yourself by understanding what the boss wants or needs. More importantly, try and understand who you are and be honest. Understand your own personality, hot button issues and skills. Self awareness is key in dealing with the employer/employee relationship. Ultimately you will need to find where you belong and that as an employee you will have to conform to the organization more so than the organization conforming to you. It is a challenge and it takes work to make a career.

So the take away from this is to know thyself and especially thyself as a worker. Take charge of your own career development by reading, reaching out to other librarians and focusing on the core of what you love about librarianship.

Mary

I have mentioned before that my personal favorite manager/employee blog is Evil HR Lady. If you are in job flux, you should be reading her work regularly. Someone needs to book her for a library conference. We all would benefit.

Circulation: Measure of Library Performance or Just Another Number?

2011-11-18T15:19:00.001-05:00

Most of what I talk about at conferences is related to collection management and the use of statistics, benchmarks. I like that numbers really don't really lie. Collection metrics really can help us get rid of some of the emotional aspects of decision making, and focus on the true picture. Of course, everyone looks to circulation numbers as the first indicator of popularity or interest. Yes, I do think circulation numbers are interesting, but they are not the whole story and they certainly cannot be considered without a time factor or within a benchmark.

So just what is a "circulation" number?

Truth be told, circ numbers bother me. Maybe because many librarians put so much faith in them and use them a bit too liberally in describing library functions. Depending on your ILS, a circulation indicates that a particular item has been "checked out" by a patron. Does it count browsing or use within the library? (Think of a traditional reference collection). What about in cooperative situations where Library A loans the book to Library B's patron. How do those numbers figure into the picture? Taking this one step further, how does your ILS count a particular "circulation"? Does it count in-houses use differently? How about ILLs? How about renewals?

Having 10,000 circulations a week or month doesn't really tell us much. How many different patrons were served? How many utilize self checkout or need staff assistance? Do loan periods affect the circulation rates? How about when we compare to other libraries? Is a circ number at one library the same at another? Inquiring minds want to know!

On an individual item level, a circ number can indicate how times an item has been checked out. Again, this is only helpful with some context. How many times an item has been checked out is only helpful if you know when those checkouts occurred. If the item has 100 total checkouts, but hasn't been touched in five years, maybe its time for weeding.

Yes, circulation numbers are one indicator of a library's function, the danger is assuming that circulation numbers indicate a general level of performance. As electronic information now a big aspect of library services, where do these items fall in the statistical picture? Although the public might think we just "check out" books to people, library service is much more. What we need is a comprehensive discussion of library performance standards and some metrics to match!

Mary

MLA Recap

2011-10-31T10:32:00.000-04:00

Holly Hibner and I just returned from Kalamazoo, Michigan after attending the Michigan Library Association Annual Conference. Highlights included an opening address from Sarah Houghton, the Librarian in Black. and the closing address was by Jessamyn West from Librarian.net. I urge you to visit the web links for some cool information and inspiring words.

Programming is one of my weaker skills. Coming up with a cool idea regardless of the target group is a frustration that dogs me constantly. I was so pleased to attend Kathryn Bergeron's wonderful program on reaching out to Young Professionals. Kathryn is the Systems Librarian at Baldwin Public Library in Birmingham, MI and has successfully implemented some programs and collections specifically targeting this elusive demographic. Without me trying to duplicate her work here, go to her website and click on her presentation notes.

Another highlight of my conference experience was a tour of the Kalamazoo Public Library. The beautiful interior was inspiring and I also appreciated a look behind the scenes. Librarians, if you can't make it to conferences, one of the best things you can do to keep you fresh, is tour other libraries. Ideas, displays and chatting with staff can be an easy alternative to a conference.

I also reconnected with many librarians I hadn't talked to in a long while. It was great to catch up. I find it refreshing to nerd out and talk to other librarians that are just as excited about the profession.(Reminder: you don't always need a conference to make this happen either) When you are struggling with budgets, boards, and direction in your career, a good chat with fellow librarians who have also "been there and done that" can help you get back on track to success.

Although I still have "issues" with conferences now and then (spotty wi-fi service, long lines at a bathroom, course descriptions that have nothing to do with the presentation) I am always able to find someone who will share ideas and talk about library service. So count me in for next year in Dearborn.

Mary

Blogging for Beginners

2011-10-16T16:26:00.000-04:00

This has been a fun Fall practicing with some new people on program ideas. (Thanks Marj, Holly H and Holly T for the ideas!) Today we are going to talk about Blogging and Websites with some of our patrons.There are a couple ideas that I want to make sure I am communicating to those people new to blogging.

Write in your authentic voice. I still think of blogging as a a personal conversation that the entire world can participate. Be true to yourself.

Understand what your blog is about. Mine is about librarianship with a big emphasis on work life, collection development and quality and reference service. My other blog is about Awful Library Books and other than a few detours, I keep that stuff on that blog.

Write often. I wish I was better at taking my own advice so do as I say not as I do! Time gets away from me and I don't post as often as I should. I often suggest to people that you carry around a notebook (or something!) that will allow you to jot down ideas for blog posts.

Be sure to understand your company's policy on social media. Many careers have been ruined by comments, blog posts, Twitter remarks, Facebook posts that employers did not appreciate. Be sensitive to who is reading your blog.

Think about design, I am terrible at the artistic stuff, but I can recognize when a website or blog is "too busy" or overloaded with bells and whistles. Add things to your site as you need them and make them easy to understand or find.

Don't be long winded. Blog posts should be short and sweet. You can always write a part two or three in a separate post. In the world of blogging, less is more.

Above all don't be mean spirited in your blog. Be passionate, be strong, have an opinion, but keep anger in check. When you write angrily, no one will see the reason, just the anger. Besides that kind of stuff makes you look crazy and ultimately no one will take you seriously. If you think you might be dangerously close to being "too" angry, have someone read your post before you publish.

Happy Blogging everyone!
Mary

Herding Cats or Time Management for Librarians

2011-09-19T09:37:00.000-04:00

I used to make fun of a couple of librarians that used to live and die by the calendar. They carried them around like babies and they were incapable of functioning without consulting the calendar. Sadly, the time has come where I now have to admit they were right. It has been a year in my new position as a youth services librarian and the calendar is now my hated enemy or best friend. Sorry, there is no middle ground here.

I have decided that my love hate relationship is a combination of two factors in my life: working at a smaller library and the move to youth services from adult. Smaller libraries live in a constant state of anxiety with regards to scheduling. Our staff is not deep. All it takes is a sick employee converging with another employees car problem and the next thing you know we have to close. Luckily this has not happened but we have come close.

The move to youth services is another calendar driving event that is also different from my personal experience in adult services. Now I have to think about meeting room availability, school schedules, traffic, and a million other little details. Good programming requires forward thinking months in advance. In my previous job, I thought in usually 2 month increments. Thinking out programming 6-12 months was beyond comprehension. Now I am convinced that super librarians think years out with respect to programming.

This past year time management has been a difficult issue for me and ended up causing me quite a few bumps. Thank God other staff warned and pestered me about deadlines and possible issues that might come up especially with respect to summer reading. Where I was focusing on specific program offerings, I should have been paying attention to the life cycle of our library all the time. Getting a big picture overview of the summer and of the year would have made for more efficient use of resources as well as better program choices.

So now that I am assessing my year as a youth librarian a couple of things have become absolutely clear.

You will flourish or die based on your relationship with a calendar.
This means that you have to pay attention in all aspects of the library and your community that might possibly intersect with your programming. Examples include building staff schedules, school calendars, other area or community programming, ALA promotions (which I always forget), interesting holidays and even not so interesting holidays.

Summer Reading planning begins right after you finish the last day of summer reading.
At the very least, there should be on-going notes about what worked and didn't work to apply for next year.
Even if you have no theme or plans, at least start setting aside times and ideas regardless how "complete" the idea or program, into the calendar to save space and resources.

Do not attend a meeting or any event without a calendar in hand.
Don't leave home without it! Get in the habit of having your calendar everywhere you are. You never know when an issue will rise or schedules will collide.

I am still not a good time management person. I am easily distracted and conversely can become totally engrossed in an idea. The difficulty is always assigning the right amount of time or attention to the right things. Hopefully, acknowledgement is the first step! Let me get back to you in a year and see if I get better with this calendar business. In the meantime, don't touch my calendar or I will be forced to kill you.

Mary

Brand Management for Librarians (Part III)

2011-08-27T20:10:00.000-04:00

In my previous post on Brand Management, I talked about the complainers who are going to professionally shoot themselves in the foot with complaining or negative behavior. So how do you go about putting a positive spin on your brand and promote yourself?

Identify what you care about.
First re-frame the discussion from complaints to objective "issues". For me personally, I have hot button issues that I feel compelled to write and talk about. Obviously, collection quality is a big issue. Notice how it wasn't just Awful Library Books or weeding but the larger issue of scope, mission and purpose of a collection. Customer service and front line reference desk service is also a big issue for me. This dovetails with my other love of all things reader advisory. Anytime I have a few minutes with any librarian and they start talking about these things, I am there! Truthfully, I love all things about library service and I have a feeling many of us in the profession also feel that way. Pick your favorites and start thinking about those issues, not just in your local situation but on the grand scale of libraries of all types. If you feel yourself swinging toward negative, dissect the problem issue and stay objective.

Start a blog.
Keep it professional and limited in scope. Don't blog about your vacation or personal stuff unless you can relate it to a library topic. Your library blog should reflect who you are as a librarian. Avoid dull or academic-sounding writing. Be relevant and brief when possible. Don't publish right away. Let it "steep" at least overnight in your brain. Ask questions and invite discussion wherever you can. (Another pro tip: don't blog when you are overly angry, frustrated, irritated with work or family and for God's sake, don't blog when you have been drinking.)

Find like-minded librarians
This is not as hard as it sounds. Search library topics or look for folks that write and talk about what you care about and begin a dialogue. This can be as simple as attend a presentation, follow someone on Twitter or comment on a blog post. Begin to converse and ask questions. This is especially important if you are in a small library or if your library culture isn't conducive to professional development or discussion. I have been lucky to have always worked with folks that think about library service as much as I do, but I know that isn't always the case. If you feel alone in your interest, this can be a great way to feel less isolated in your interests.

Attend professional conferences as much as possible
I know that in the climate of budget chaos that we are all experiencing that this is not always a viable financial option. Even if your current library doesn't support professional development on any level, make the effort to participate, even at your own cost. It is difficult to manage professional development but it is essential for a long term career. You can't afford to be left behind.

Ultimately, you need to be positive and optimistic. Seek out others for support and don't be a whiner about the obvious stuff: crazy people, the poor salaries,stupid meetings, insane bosses or poor working conditions. This is not new for those of us who have been in libraries for more than five minutes. I know I want to read blogs and attend conferences that will help me solve real problems.

Mary

Librarians: You are not a teen anymore!

2011-08-06T10:17:00.000-04:00

Getting Awful Library Books organized and listening in on the comments has been one of the most interesting and instructive aspects of running the blog. Whenever we feature youth materials I can always count on some deep feelings to surface about weeding someone's childhood memories. Generally comments usually run something like this:

"That book should never be weeded. He/she is an important author and when I was a teenager/child that book made me think/feel ...."

I usually love when our blog entertains these discussions in the comments. I learn a lot about some authors and maybe the right audience for a title and a lot of other good stuff that might make me think about that title or subject for the future. The danger for librarians is when collection decisions are made for emotional reasons. Over and over I have seen this blind spot develop when librarians are faced with having to weed something they care deeply about. No amount of circ data or staff or community pressure can sway someone that has set this in their mind.

Our recent discussion of the 80s teen fiction was illuminating for me on several levels. Ignoring the author names for a moment, or the quality of writing, I thought the covers looked dated and wouldn't be attractive to the current crop of teens I serve regardless of how great the material inside. What is the point if I can't get a teen to even open the book?

Nearly every librarian I know has a soft spot for something from his or her younger years that they loved. They feel so strongly that this book would be great that they forget in many cases that was 10, 20 or 30 or more years ago. Do some books stand the test of time? You bet. Is this title you are considering one of those titles? I doubt it! Mark Twain, Jane Austen and Charles Dickens don't show up every day. Because you loved this book at age 15 does not necessarily mean that a teen today will embrace the same title. No this is not a hard and fast rule, but I have seen serious junk stay on the shelves of children and teen sections simply because the librarian loved it as a child.

These blind spots can be rough. I remember an intervention (yes, we got to that point) we had to do with one co-worker who would not let go of her Sweet Valley High books (not the new and improved but the 80s paperbacks) because they were her favorites as a teenager. Unfortunately, we needed the space and the circ data was not supporting her emotional need to hang on to these titles. (Watch for a future post on weeding interventions, yes I have done them!)

I know I sound like a broken record on this topic, but no two libraries serve the same patrons, or have the exact same objectives for their collections. Who is the audience? Who are the choices for? Are they in the right location for people to find? Maybe Sweet Valley High still had a place in a library but maybe those book lovers are shopping in the adult section.

Mary
PS If you were a SVH fan I hope you are grabbing on the new title for adults called Sweet Valley High Confidential.

Summer Reading Newbie

2011-07-22T11:09:00.000-04:00

Even though I have been involved with summer reading since I started working in libraries, this was my first summer as a youth librarian and technically "in charge" of summer reading at our tiny library. I thought as July starts to fade, it would be a good time for a bit of self-assessment of the programming and administration of Summer Reading. I would like to clearly state that I have no idea what I am doing and completely made stuff up as I went along or stole ideas/concepts from more talented librarians out there in library land. I also had a first rate director that talked me out my tree and support staff that completely pitched in and helped without being asked. I almost can't wait until next summer! (Since it is still July, I will keep that at "almost")

Keep the registration process as simple as possible.
I know everyone agrees with that statement in principle, but have you really thought about this? I made a full sheet of paper for my registration and made the font large and made lines big enough for even the sloppiest writer. Children who are just learning to write need more space than a small index card. Yes, that is more paper and probably more difficult to file, but kids like being able to register themselves and write their name.
I also only collected registration information that we absolutely needed, such as contact information and school. If you need information by all means ask for it, but really evaluate your information needs before you ask.

Keep the game simple.
This means that if you can't explain your summer reading program in one sentence, it is too complicated. My game is every time a child reads for 10 minutes, he or she can check off a box and hand it in. Done. I also don't care what a child reads. I actually heard of a librarian who didn't want to count graphic novels since it really wasn't "reading".

Describe programs thoroughly.
This one bit me in the rear end over and over this summer. Granted, there are always questions but I could have done better with program descriptions. One my more exciting programs (or so I thought) was a Skype story time with an author friend of mine in England. I set up the screen in our meeting room and had my friend read her books and talk to the kids about England. I got very few takers because I didn't explain the technology. Parents thought they had to have a computer and hookup from home. It was a good program that suffered because I didn't explain it well enough.
In couple of other programs, I didn't explain the intended audience well enough or describe the starting and ending times clearly. Even though it was for children, some programs were better suited to elementary and some are better for toddlers and preschoolers. After a few older kids rolled the eyes at my story time (totally geared to toddlers and babies) I realized my mistake. Lesson learned.

Finally, I realized it is important to have an overall objective for your summer reading program. Yes, I want kids to read, but I also want them to enjoy the library if they are NOT enthusiastic readers. Learning and reading is different for everyone. I want everyone to come to the library and try things out or learn something new.

Mary