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 week.  And all my posts are at least loosely tied to libraries.

So, during November, it will be National Library Blog Posting Month for me.  And I’m off to try to find something to blog about.  In the meantime, here’s a great post from The M Word: Marketing Libraries about Hurricane Sandy, how libraries are helping the relief effort, and how those interested can help libraries hit by Sandy.

 

Hurricane Sandy & Marblehead [Front Street 8] (Photo credit: Brian Birke)

Diversity is the Spice of Libraries

A recent Public Libraries article ties in with my last post. “Meeting the Needs of Diverse Communities” offers suggestions and examples for addressing the challenges of serving the ever more diverse communities that libraries serve.

I always say, “Can’t we all just get along?”  I believe understanding and accepting those who are not like us is the first step.  And I believe libraries can play a huge role in that step.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“R-E-S-P-E-C-T!” Sing it, Aretha!

Several things prompt me to write this post:

• The upcoming election, all the campaign ads and press touting candidates, and the lack of respect from candidates toward their opponents.
• Learning about a series of programs at the Hedberg Public Library in Janesville, WI about Common Threads: Our Community Tapestry.  From their brochure: “The program series invites you to contemplate and investigate the threads that weave us together and the importance of civility and compassion in our daily lives. . . .   By creating meaningful relationships with those we meet, we celebrate how we are more alike than different and that the fabrics of our lives are woven together to enrich us all.”
• Peter Yarrow spoke and sang to attendees of the Wisconsin Library Association (WLA) conference on Friday.  Not only does he (still) speak about peace, love, and understanding, but he has founded the organization Operation Respect, “a non-profit organization working to assure each child and youth a respectful, safe and compassionate climate of learning where their academic, social and emotional development can take place free of bullying, ridicule and violence.”
• Jennifer Livingston, a TV news anchor in LaCrosse Wisconsin, also spoke briefly at the WLA Conference.  You may have heard about her on-air editorial about bullying.

I have long felt that finding ways to understand and respect everyone, despite our differences, will help communities, countries, even the world, to flourish.  There are many kinds of differences—religion, sexual preference, disabilities, political party, body type. . . I could go on and on.   Libraries can play a role in helping people become more enlightened and respectful, by sponsoring programs like the one at Hedberg in Janesville, by having a balanced collection, by hiring a diverse workforce, and by treating everyone with respect and caring.

I wonder if Aretha is available to come sing about Respect?

Aretha Franklin @ Trump Taj Mahal Casino (Photo credit: Nastassia Davis [www.nastassiadavis.com])

The Benefits of Art

So here’s an interesting fundraising idea:  “The Library Lovers’ Art Auction.”

I dearly wish libraries did not have to resort to fundraisers.  And when they do, that the funds raised could be for capital campaigns, for buildings, and for “frills.”  Public libraries, in particular, in my opinion, should be funded by taxes.   But I know that more and more libraries are having to raise their own funds, and having to do more of it.  According to this article, the Lancaster (PA) Public Library has to generate more than 60% of its operating income itself.

So, read about their Art Auction, and see what you think.  Is it something you’d like to try?  Is it something you would like to adapt to your situation?  Does it give you other ideas fundraiser ideas?

Auction-13 (Photo credit: Tulane Public Relations)

Are You Now, Or Have You Ever Been. . .

Are you, or have you ever been, a bad boss?  Many of us have been, at one time or another, especially when first starting out.  But here’s the good news: It doesn’t have to be that way.  You can change.

There is a lot of literature about being a good boss, a good manager, a good leader.  But here’s a brief, interesting, to-the-point take on it:  Confessions of a Bad Boss, and 5 Ways to Become Better.  Post your thoughts, comments, and additions on the post in the Comments below.

Friends (Photo credit: nataliej)

Greetings!

Welcome (Photo credit: Cherry Crimson)

I recently learned that the Mount Laurel Library (NJ) has had staff positions called “Greeter” since 2005 or so.  If I heard about this at the time, I’d forgotten until Retiring Guy drew my attention to it.

How great is that?  To hire people whose job is to greet the public!  And, it looks like from the Greeter Guidelines they also do what I call “ready reference”: assist customers with finding items, help with photocopiers, refer reference questions to other staff, etc.

Upon further exploration, I find that Mount Laurel has undertaken a project they call “Trading Spaces: Reinventing the Library Environment,” and the Greeters initiative seems to be a part of that.  The original Trading Spaces project was a creation of the South Jersey Regional Library Cooperative (SJRLC) and the New Jersey State Library. The goal of the project was to “reinvent a library environment through use of retail merchandising practices. The project was a three-way split from the State Library, SJRLC, and the Mount Laurel Library.   In addition, the Mount Laurel Library redirected local funds for new collections and services to support the project.”  (from “Trading Spaces:  Anatomy of a Successful Project“)

So the greeters are part of a larger plan to incorporate retail merchandising practices into their library operations.  From a customer service standpoint, this makes great sense to me.  After all, the customers (or patrons, or library users, or whatever you want to call them) are, or should be, the main focus of a library.  Do you ever walk into a library (or another type of business, for that matter), and walk around trying to be noticed in order to get the service you need?  Not at Mount Laurel, apparently.  Good for you, Mount Laurel!

More about Mount Laurel, New Jersey:

• Mount Laurel official website
• Mount Laurel Township, New Jersey (Wikipedia)

More About Trading Spaces:

• Trading Spaces Resources
• Trading Spaces Toolkit (see “Greeter Training” for info specific to Greeters)

Planning: Your Map to the Future

Does your library have a strategic plan?  Many of you are probably saying “Well, no. . .  I know we probably should, but I don’t have time.  We have enough to do just keeping the doors open and waiting on customers.  Maybe someday when I have more help, or things slow down, or [fill in the blank].”

I wish I could convince you that you DO have time, or you must take (or make) the time to craft a strategic plan.  I like to think of a strategic plan as a road map for your library, or for that matter, for any organization.  You wouldn’t set out on a journey without a map.  Well, I take that back—you might, but then you might get lost, or wander aimlessly, or have to rely on the advice or directions, or perhaps even the whim of others.  The same thing happens to a library without a strategic plan.

Without a plan, you and your library are at the mercy of public pressure and public officials.  But WITH a plan, you know where you are going.  You can tell everyone where you are going.  You can tell everyone what resources you need in order to get there, and what progress you are making toward getting there.  And, moving away from the map analogy, you can demonstrate to taxpayers that you are making the best possible use of their money.

Take a look at some libraries’ road maps:

• Seattle Public Library
• Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County
• Waukesha Public Library (WI)
• DeKalb County Public Library (GA)

Breaking up Doesn’t Have to Be So Hard to Do

I recently blogged about the hiring process.  Today’s post takes a look at one of the opposite ends of the spectrum.  No, not firing, but that moment when a valued employee moves to a new position.   Actually, if you do a good job hiring, chances are your good employee will move on. . . someday.  It may be sad, but it is to be expected.  And really, despite what you may think (and what many people may think about themselves), nobody is completely irreplaceable.  That is, every good employee brings different talents to the table.

So when one of your best employees informs you they are resigning, shouldn’t your response be “Congratulations!  I’m so happy for you!  We’ll miss you!”?  After all, it is a good reflection on you—you had the good sense to see their potential, hire them, and help them grow into the amazing professional they are.   In other words, “if you love someone, set them free.”  But in many cases, bosses/managers are so upset, or disappointed, or perhaps even angry to lose a prized employee, that they actually appear to “punish” the departing employee.

Have you ever had this happen to you?  Have you ever been guilty of treating an employee this way?  My advice to you is. . . don’t.   And read “If You Love Someone, Let them Go.”  Breaking up may be hard to do—But it doesn’t have to be.

Photo © 2009 Alain Pickard,  Flickr.   http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/

A Perfect Marriage: Libraries and Voter Info

It’s October 10, and the fact that Election Day is November 6 is much on my mind.

One of the most important things libraries can do is inform citizens about their important right and duty: voting.   There are many ways that libraries can perform this function, but today I decided to focus on the voter information public libraries share on their websites.

Here’s what two libraries are doing:

• Dallas Public Library Voter Information
• Cedarburg Public Library (WI)

Does voting information appear on your library’s web presence?

ballot box (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“Getting to Know You. . . ”

 

Here’s some simple tips from Leadership Freak about gaining influence over those you lead.

• Be humble.
• Know yourself and acknowledge your weaknesses.
• “The surprising truth is humble leaders gain influence because they know, understand, and appreciate others.”
• Leadership is influence.

Read and enjoy.  And learn!

Follow Me (Photo credit: sgmillionxu2000)