Library Trustees–an Important Asset

I believe that it is true that members of a public library board, sometimes called trustees, can be the very best tool that library has.  I also believe it is imperative to educate them so that they can be as effective as possible.  In matters of advocating for the library, and its budget, I was once told that “testimony from a trustee is better than from a librarian, and testimony from a Friend is better than a trustee.”  The point being that the municipal boards that approve your budgets tend to think that a librarian wants more money for the library to make the librarian’s life better/easier; but a trustee is a taxpayer elected to look out for the municipality, its citizens, and make wise choices about spending tax money (and in fact, helping to determine how much to levy on the taxpayers.)

The post “Trust in Your Trustees” by Will Manley makes the same point (and others), more eloquently than I can.  In the example he gives, the board asks for money for 3 new positions, and is awarded enough for FIVE.  This is obviously (and sadly!) not something that is likely to happen in the current economic environment—but the point is still a valid one.

So educate your trustees.  And then trust in them.  Good luck.

Trust (Photo credit: thorinside)

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 recently found the site OnlineMBA, which includes short videos in a section called “One Minute MBA.”  And this is where I found Let Your Ears Do the Talking, a fun look at the importance of listening for managers.  Take a look at this illustrated list of 4 ways to improve your listening skills on the job.

Ear (Photo credit: Menage a Moi)

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).

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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 involves both learning opportunities as well as recognition for performance.

There was recently a great post over at All Things Workplace on Seven Tips for Better Coaching.  Check it out.

A good coach is “Sometime cheerleader, sometime nag; we all need someone to keep us on track.”

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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, what I really want to talk about is all the amazing programs are offering that include dogs.  LISNews recently published this post with links to some stories about

• libraries that offer “read to a dog,”
• academic settings that make therapy dogs available during exams and other stressful times,
• and more.

Here’s a few more links:

• Therapy Dogs’ Presence Steadily Grows in Libraries
• Library Dogs
• Dogs on Call:  R.E.A.D.

People love dogs.  Dogs love people.  Dogs are really good listeners.  If your library hasn’t gone to the dogs yet, maybe you should consider it.  And as promised, here’s my big baby taking a nap after we read a good book together:

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.  (It may even be possible that you yourself have been a bad boss.)

IF you do find yourself with a boss you think is a jerk, ask yourself some questions, and consider your options.  Be honest.  If indeed, the boss is a jerk to everyone you may have to change jobs (and yes, not so easy in this economy).  But if the boss is a jerk only to you, and if it is possible that you might have anything to do with that, consider what you can do to change that.  And keep in mind:

• Never let a jerk be your excuse for poor performance.
• Do your best for you.
• Never let a jerk be your excuse to be a jerk.
• Continue performing and lavish credit on everyone.

Photo © 2009 Kai Chan Vong,  Flickr.   http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

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 2-1-1 is Excellent, Everywhere and Always. The rapid growth of 2-1-1 during the first decade of development has transformed access to human services and this achievement needs to be both enhanced and sustained. The essence of 2-1-1 is in its simplicity:

• 2-1-1 is for everyone and can be remembered by everyone.
• 2-1-1 is free and confidential.
• 2-1-1 makes the entire human services sector at every level of government work more efficiently.
• 2-1-1 has proven itself time after time as an invaluable resource in the aftermath of a disaster.

Libraries should be part of the 211 service.  It is part of our mission of serving the community and its residents.  Read more about this over on Infoblog.

211 Logo from 211 homepage http://211us.org/

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 he came as soon as the weather improves. For now, staff and visitors alike are happy him as a guest, the library said.”

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

 

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 the money to support your library.   The key is to personalize the message to fit your library, and to use stories that will resonate with your local officials.

 

Over on The M Word, Nancy Dowd gives a great example of one such message.  Such messages really do work.  Even better, I think, would be having “Sue” come and tell the story herself.

 

Conversation by Patrick Bohnen (Photo credit: Kraemer Family Library)

 

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 have!

If your meetings lately have seemed to go on and on and nothing ever gets decided, consider this post from All Things Workplace:  Decide How to Decide.  Read the full post, but until you have time, here’s some of the content:

• Agree on how you’ll arrive at decisions before the meeting begins.
• Ask these two questions when you reach a decision point:
  • How many of you can live with and openly support this decision?
  • Who cannot–and why not? (If you don’t force the “why not?” question, you’re not going to get the discussion that could be all that you need to turn it around). Another way to word the “why?” questions is: “What would it take for you to live with and openly support this decision?”

I find this way of thinking helpful, and as is often the case, the answer is so simple.  What do you think?

Meeting (Photo credit: lhl)