Author Archives: cbecker53

Fun Way to Look at Listening–

I’ve written about the importance of listening a few times (here and here).  A good manager must be a good listener, and as a matter of fact, we should all strive to be good listeners in all our relationships. I … Continue reading

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How Libraries Count[ed] in the 2012 Election

Voter education Voter registration Photo ID library cards Polling place Lease space to Comedy Central! Read all about it here:  How Libraries Count in the 2012 Election (American Libraries).

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Coaching–Not Just for Sports

A good manager must also be a good coach.  Coaching involves identifying an employee’s skills and capabilities, and helping them to use them, which contributes to their ability to perform independently.  It also involves identifying areas that need improvement.  It … Continue reading

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Dog Day Afternoon

Those of you that know me know I am a dog lover.   Here’s our baby Afton at about 2 months old.  And at the end of this post is our full-grown Afton taking a nap. But, because I love dogs, … Continue reading

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Is Your Boss a Jerk?

Libraries are nice places.  And by and large, librarians are nice people.  But we’re human.  So if you work in a library, it’s possible that you may have had a bad boss, or maybe even one who is a jerk.  … Continue reading

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Libraries as Part of Support Network

Yes, so we all know about dialing 911 in an emergency.  But how many know about 211—”an easy-to-remember three-digit phone number that brings people and services together”?  From their “About” page: The mission of 2-1-1 US is to ensure that … Continue reading

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Many Seek Shelter from Hurricane Sandy in Libraries

Just a short cute story about a raccoon that sought shelter from Hurricane Sandy in the atrium of Queens Library’s Baisley Park branch. “Since he is a wild animal, library officials say they assume he will shuffle off the way … Continue reading

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Telling the Story: Why is YOUR Library Essential?

Yes, the economy is tight.  Yes, funding bodies are telling libraries “we love libraries, but there’s just no more money.”  But, with the right blend of statistics, anecdotes, and persuasion, you can influence elected officials, who can, in turn find … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Customer Service, Funding, Library in Community, Promotion, Public Libraries, Public Speaking | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Making the Most of Your Meetings

If you work in a library, you know one thing we have a lot of (other than books and other library material), is MEETINGS.  If you don’t work in one, you may be surprised to learn how many meetings we … Continue reading

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NaBloPoMo. Plus an L

Apparently November is National Blog Posting Month.  And apparently, you’re supposed to blog every day for the month.  If you follow my blog, you know I have trouble posting every day—but I do try to post at least twice a … Continue reading

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