Keep Your Creativity

Thought-provoking piece.  Kids do all kinds of crazy, inventive, creative things.  But as adults, at work, we may think we are no longer creative.  Think again.

8 Ways to Unleash Your Creativity and Find Innovative Ideas (The Fast Track.)

 

Libraries Are Alive!

It’s no secret that I champion libraries.  It’s also no secret that some pundits say that libraries are dying.  So it is gratifying to come across the article Who Says Libraries are Going Extinct? in the Pacific Standard.  While acknowledging funding difficulties, and the rise of digital media, the article professes that “the best-kept secret about America’s libraries is that they are wildly, deeply, and incontrovertibly popular. They are as actively used as ever, if not more.”

While this is good news for us, and supported by the State of America’s Libraries Report 2013 (ALA), and the Pew Internet Report How Americans Value Public Libraries in Their Communities, it doesn’t mean that we can sit back on our laurels because all is well.  On the contrary, funding cuts are all too real, and libraries have not recovered from the hits they took during the “economic downturn.”  Rather, we should use the data and stories from the article and the reports cited in it to advocate for increased local, state, and federal financial support (not just lip service) for our libraries.

Sure, I’d Like to be More Creative

So, I’m not feeling particularly creative this week.  As a matter of fact, I’m feeling exhausted and wiped out.  But that’s because we sold our house and bought a condo and moved downtown about a week ago.  My life is one big string of days of unpacking boxes, bags, putting things away, arranging and rearranging furniture. . . . and sighing a lot.

But, in general, I do like to work on being creative.  So, I’ll try some of the things in the post How to Bump Up Creativity in Meetings (All Things Workplace) someday when my life gets a little more. . . normal.  Meanwhile, hope you enjoy!

Decency is My Favorite Quality

In the post 5 Key Qualities You Need On Your Team (from The Fast Track), my favorite quality is Decency.  What’s yours?

Naming Rights

If you are in the middle of a building project, or maybe if you are even contemplating one, you are no doubt looking at a wide variety of fundraising options.  One funding source that has been gaining in popularity is naming rights.  (And not just in libraries!  Look at the number of stadiums with naming rights deals.)

If you are looking at naming rights, whether for the entire library, or portions of it, I suggest you look at the article Naming Rights as Revenue Generators (from RUSA).  Perhaps you have experience with naming rights at your organization.  Please share in the comments!

iPads for Children in the Library!

Here’s a GREAT post on how Rapid City Public Libraries installed iPads for use by 2-10 year-olds. 

You will definitely learn from their experience, and want to try something like this in your library.  Let me know how it goes.

Don’t Be Afraid to Fail

I’ve known for a long time that you learn more from failing than from succeeding.  Based on that, I should be awfully smart, because I’ve failed a lot!

The Leading Blog post Why Failing is the Key to Success is an excellent look at this important point:

Failure is how we learn. The problem is, argues Megan McArdle, we’re forgetting that truth. We are becoming too risk-averse and that is bad for our children, for our personal lives, for our companies, and for our country.

So, do take a look at it.  I think you will be glad you did.  Don’t be afraid to fail.

Think Outside the Box!

Just ran across what sounds like an awesome opportunity to get some funding and assistance for doing some creative public programming in your community.  The deadline is fast approaching, so if interested you need to act soon.

Developed and funded by Redbox, and managed by OCLC in partnership with Project for Public Spaces, Outside the Box is an innovative program that brings people together for free, fun entertainment events in their local community. When people connect, communities benefit—and as trusted community anchors, public libraries are central to Outside the Box efforts. This year, up to 20 U.S. communities will participate in Outside the Box, with the local library driving community brainstorming and planning sessions and hosting events.

Read more at Outside the Box: Get Involved! Oh, and that deadline I mentioned?  May 15!

 

Projects that Succeed

While I am off dealing with other stuff this week, please enjoy the post 5 Steps to Project Management Nirvana from the Fast Track.  If there’s one thing we have in libraries, it’s lots of projects!

Add your own project management tips in the Comments below.

What’s Wrong With This Story?

Oh dear.  I have heard the theme of the blog post Kicked Out of the Library (from Pam Librarian) before.  I have to say, I find it sad.

I understand the need for quiet spaces in public libraries.  But I also understand the need to incorporate spaces that allow for collaboration.  It can be hard in small libraries.  But can it be done? You tell me.  Can exceptions be made?

Be sure you understand how and why the story ends the way it does, and what it means for libraries.

We packed up and spent the day at Me & Ollie’s cafe where we sat on couches around a coffee table near an outlet surrounded by the buzz of the cafe. A young woman was reading a book next to us. An older man was typing hurriedly on his laptop on the other side. People were having meetings, drinking coffee, and getting business done. We were welcomed by the staff. They made us tea. And we got our work done.