Why?

Well, here’s a simple idea:  Ask “Why?”

“Don’t just stand there–do something.” “We need to change the organization.”

I’m big on doing stuff, too. But I’ve learned that being busy doesn’t necessarily lead to what I want to achieve. Why? Because I didn’t ask “why?” ”

“Why?” can come across as a threatening question. It gets at purpose and motive.

And let me tell you, the correct answer is NOT “because everyone else is.”

Question mark (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Snow!

The season’s first snowfall has had an interesting effect on me.  It has caused me to make lists and set priorities.

 

Snow balls (Photo credit: blmiers2)

 

List of Top Things To Do Now:

 

• Finish teaching two online courses
• Work on my volunteer duties as WLA Foundation President
• Prepare to teach series of webinars in the spring
• Prepare to teach online course in the spring
• Blog at least twice per week

List of Top Things To Do Soon:

• Clean out closets
• Donate clothes to Goodwill
• Clean out storage areas—dispose of items or donate to Goodwill, as necessary
• Make decisions about quilt batting. I have an old wool batt from my mother—she took apart an old quilt years ago and had the wool re-carded. It is just sitting in a closet until I have time to do something with it “someday.”
• Organize my files

What does the first snowfall inspire you to do?

 

Simply Stated

I am not really a writer.  It is not my best skill.  Most of what I post in this blog is “borrowed” from others.  They have great thoughts and ideas, and usually, they are great writers.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

One of my faults is wordiness.  I write long emails, and often long Facebook posts.  Twitter doesn’t always work well for me–I am often counting my characters and trying to figure out what I can abbreviate or reduce to internet shorthand (C U L8r, OMG, etc.)

So I am in awe of those who can say what they need to say in a few words.  (To be clear, I can use a just a few words, but then I am usually leaving out something important.)  Imagine my surprise and awe when reading A Tweet, a Blog Post, and a Profound Teaching.  The author, Jesse Lyn Stoner, explores boiling her blog posts down to their short, central messages.  Invariably, these are the length of tweets.

Can you do it?

Social Media to Your Rescue!

I heard a great presentation by two young librarians, Anna Haase Krueger (Ramsey County, MN) and Sara Bryce (LaCrosse, WI), recently.

It was not about using social media to connect with your customers or promote your library, but about how to use social media to create your own professional network.  We all do it to some extent, when we ask a question of our peers on Facebook for example, but their suggestions take this to a whole ‘nuther level.

While they focus primarily on youth services resources, you will get the idea and can take it from there.

Trust Me!

Much of what we do in libraries is done as a team.  Good teamwork is an essential element if you’re going to have a successful library.

 

And trust is an essential element if you’re going to have a successful team.

 

Trust your team, and foster their trust, by using these 8 tips.

 

Trust (Photo credit: thorinside)

 

Developing “Selfless” Leaders

I think this post from The Six Element covers this better than I ever could. Hope you enjoy.

Killer Marketing Messages

Here’s a great way to get your message about libraries in general, or your library in particular (using your library specifically is better, I think) out in a memorable way.

• Helped XXX children learn to read (number of children’s library cards or whatever number floats your boat)
• Helped XXX children learn to love books.
• Gave XXX of children a head start on life.
• There are XXX possible worlds to explore from this library (number of books).
• Introduced XXX people to a new world. (patron library cards)
• We have assisted in XXX job searches this year.

From Marketing Message – Public Libraries Helped 297.6 Million People in 2010 (Librarian by Day.)

Tell me, what statistics would you use in this way?

Kids at the library (Photo credit: mamamusings)

You are Never Too Old to Change

Here’s a great post on What Brain Science Can Teach Us About Leadership.

 

Studies in brain science have revealed that our prefrontal cortex provides thinking processes that allow us to override the primitive instincts that no longer serve us. It gives us the ability to make choices about our behavior – IF we are intentional.

Far too many leaders have used the excuse, “I’m too old to change. Others need to figure out how to adapt to my style.” That excuse doesn’t hold up anymore either. We now know that the human brain continues to grow and learn throughout our lives and that we are capable of changing at any point. You might not want to change, but you are never too old to change.

 

This is actually good news!  You have the ability to become aware of the effect of our actions and the ability to consciously consider our actions.

 

Thinking (Photo credit: @boetter)

 

Sure, I Can Manage That Project!

Projects.  We have LOTS of projects in libraries.  Sometimes you’ll be working on a project with people you supervise.  Sometimes you’ll be working with colleagues in your library.  Other times you’ll be working on projects with people in other parts of the community, or university, or in other libraries.

 

When you’re in charge of a project, you’re the Project Manager.  You may be saying “I am?!  I don’t know how to be a project manager!”  If you’ve been made the project manager by your supervisor, chances are he or she thinks you already possess the skills to be a project manager.  But maybe, you just need to learn on your own.  Maybe you’ve been involved in projects before, and can remember what that project leader did right or wrong—so you can use those lessons to help you.

 

And, you can read 7 Ways to Be a Better Project Manager When You Aren’t One.  Here’s a couple of those ways:

 

• Understand what the project is.
• Be compulsively organized.

 

But you want to know more, right?  So read the whole article!

 

Project Management (Photo credit: VFS Digital Design)

 

 

 

 

 

If you Build it, They May Not Come

“If you build it, they will come.”

Cover via Amazon

Well, that’s what they said in the 1989 movie, Field of Dreams.  But in libraries, just “building” your great library, collections, programs, and services isn’t enough.  They won’t just come.  “Libraries must reach out and tell people what they are doing and more importantly why the people in their communities should care about it.”

This post from WebJunction offers marketing strategy tips for your library, to help you ensure that once you build it, they will come! You need to keep telling your audiences over and over why they should care about the library, and why you should come.

The tips in this post are from Ned Potter, who also hosts the site Library Marketing Toolkit, which is also worth a look.  While you’re at it, don’t forget the M Word blog.

Good luck!  I hope they all come to your library!