Rebranding is an important tool for any business, including libraries. An organization’s brand is its public face and you want to make sure it is looking vibrant! Is your library undertaking a rebranding campaign? Here are some considerations which may help ensure a smooth rebranding effort:

• Encourage feedback from everyone with a vested interest in your library before hiring a firm or undertaking any major moves. Staff, patrons, the library board, local schools, community centers – any group that would benefit from the re-branding should be consulted and included. This can be done via social media, meetings at the library, surveys, or other outreach methods, and should be publicized in any language that has a presence in your community.
• Examine your library’s mission and vision statements to ensure that during each step of the process you are staying true to those.
• Consider finances. How much or how little are you willing to spend to make this happen?
• Look at other library rebranding efforts. What worked, what didn’t? Talk to librarians who have been through the process.
• Is there a staff member or a group of staff members that could act as an advisory committee for the branding effort? This will improve staff buy-in and ensure that staff members are being heard.
• Ensure that once the library embarks on the initiative, you continue to accept input from key groups and that you make the initiative as transparent as possible to avoid seeming secretive or unengaged. Have regular meetings and invite the public. Share progress via social media. Keep your community updated and involved.
• Work with the press (including local bloggers) to ensure the message about the rebranding initiative is presented as clearly as possible.
• Realize that you will not be able to think of everything ahead of time to create a perfect process, but be open to adaptation throughout.

References

1. http://seattlereviewofbooks.com/notes/2015/10/21/public-response-to-spl-survey-sharply-against-city-librarian-marcellus-turners-rebranding-plan/
2. http://www.spl.org/about-the-library/2015-proposed-rebrand/message-from-the-city-librarian-regarding-the-proposed-rebranding

The post Ensuring a Smooth Rebranding Effort first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

As with many ideas, this is not wholly original, as people have already had the opportunity to get married in the New York Public Library. The NYPL has a webpage dedicated strictly for this activity. They also allow the library to be leased for filming, fashion events, corporate events, and others. My wife and I have friends that got married on the upstairs patio at the Boca Raton Public Library here in Florida. When we were looking for a space to get married in, my wife’s library came to mind, and we ended up getting married there with the permission of our previous library director John Callahan III. The fact that we are both librarians in the same system and having the ceremony in my wife’s branch made this unique opportunity all the more special. Her library is our county’s first certified green LEED building, and has a spacious meeting room near their opulent lobby.

We have heard for years how libraries need to stretch their legs, get out of the building, and truly engage with their communities. Along with allowing their facilities to be rented out for special occasions, it does not hurt to find new ways to generate revenue. Library rentals for weddings ideally will allow outreach opportunities that would not normally present themselves. Engaging potential new library card holders, and showing everyone that libraries are not just the shushing houses of old, can create positive political capital. How do you feel about libraries for weddings, or for other special occasions at a charge? I am interested to hear if any libraries out there are engaging in similar activities – not only for engagement, but to balance the budget and allow funding for unique projects. For your viewing pleasure, I have attached some photos of our library Steampunk-themed wedding. Enjoy!

The post Weddings and Other Special Events at YOUR Local Library first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Carson City Library is paying for the first year of this technology training through a Library Services Technology Act (LSTA) grant that runs through June 30, 2016. Students who complete the training will be prepared to enter the skilled workforce. The idea to create this unique learning environment developed through meetings with community leaders, the Governor’s office, and Nevada’s Working Capital initiative. The grant will cover the salary of two instructors at Western Nevada College (which is also partnering in this endeavor) along with a trainer at the library, Director Sena Loyd. Tammy Westergard, the library’s business manager, was very active in the creation of this project. She stated, “As a free and public institution, the library is uniquely accessible and can complement workforce training happening in the formal classroom. Fundamentally the library is delivering on the American promise of helping folks gain marketable skills.” Katherine DeRosear, executive director of the Manufacturing Skills Institute, was fundamental in the development of this initiative also, along with Ray Bacon of the Nevada Manufacturers Association.

The MT1 certification will cost $300, but the LSTA grant will cover this cost for some students through scholarships that the library will offer. Carson City Library’s venture will help the area fill the need for trained workers, as Tesla is building their battery plant nearby. Some of the skills that will be attained through the MT1 certificate program include valuable STEM skills. The complete partnership includes Carson City School District along with previously mentioned Carson City Library, WNC, MSI, and Carson City itself. This partnership, formally named Nevada’s Working Capitol, includes 3 powerful components:

1. The public library as a central location that leverages its technology and special programs to expose patrons to design and experimentation, fostering focused but informal STEM learning and exposure to 3D printing.
2. The public library as an access point for patrons to gain additional practice with specialized engineering software (SolidWorks), particularly helpful to existing manufacturers who want more educational opportunities for employees that are not necessarily for college credit, but rather practice-based and off the clock.
3. The public library as a learning forum for patrons to participate in formal training opportunities at the library, linked from the library to WNC, that directly lead to MT1 certification.

This program as stated is the first of its kind in the United States, and illustrates the power of collaboration. Multiple organizations came together to recognize that if Tesla was coming to Carson City then Carson City needed to find ways to train workers for the battery factory. Setting egos aside, the city library, local college, library board of trustees, and governor’s office set in motion a commitment to their citizens to provide necessary training when it was needed. Their goal was to be able to provide middle-class jobs – not service jobs – and the education essential to perform these jobs. The hope is that this will demonstrate that positive partnerships and the learning environment of the library can create vital resources for the community. Carson City Library is confident that if they are successful in the first year of this program that funding in future years will be easier to come by. The potential for success will ideally prompt other libraries around the United States to create similar training programs for their communities.

Sources:

http://www.nevadaappeal.com/news/15199805-113/carson-city-library-first-in-nation-to-offer-manufacturing-training

http://www.carsoncitylibrary.org/announcements/nevadas-working-capital

http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2015/03/library-services/nevada-library-to-offer-manufacturing-certification/

The post Carson City Library to Offer Manufacturing Certification first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

The iPads will come with specific preloaded apps such as Mango Languages, Hoopla, and Overdrive. Along with these apps are music, games, video editing applications, and educational resources. The iPad check out service is intended to coincide with the already successful Free Library of Philadelphia Computer Labs and Hot Spots spread amongst neighborhoods in Philly.

A search on Google revealed that a number of colleges and universities in the United States have been loaning out iPads to their students for some time. This includes both private schools such as Briar Cliff University, and public universities like the University of South Carolina and the University of South Florida. With the cost involved it is understandable that there are relatively few public libraries that allow their patrons to check out iPads. There is also the concern of the safety of the devices that would need to be addressed before more public libraries adopt a similar program. One hopes that a project like this meets with great success, and thus influences other public libraries to not only partner with their local colleges, but also take a chance on their patrons.

Further resources on iPad checkouts for your library:

http://crln.acrl.org/content/72/4/212.full

http://www.macprofessionals.com/new-library-ipad-checkout-solution/

The post iPad Check-Out at the Library first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Here is some background on Salt Lake City Public Library’s 24/7 proposal. The idea of remaining open all night came out of a discussion with Jason Mathis of the Salt Lake City Downtown Alliance; Bill Evans, former director of government relations for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; and Bruce Bastian, one of the founders of WordPerfect software. The three of them were concerned with Salt Lake City’s teenage homeless problem, and inquired if it was feasible for the library to provide space for the teens at night. SLCPL Executive Director John Spears did not want to open the library up at night for only the homeless teens, but instead suggested keeping the library open at night for everyone. When queried , the library board was receptive to a formal assessment of this possibility as well.

For those of us working in public libraries we may be thinking that this 24/7 proposal seems like a potential logistical nightmare, but Spears has clearly put a lot of thought into it. He aims to keep only the bottom two floors open at night, while utilizing runners to fetch items from floors three to six. Security will also be on hand to alleviate concerns over drug use, prostitution, and patrons camping out.  He hopes to use a grant to fund this initiative, and the grant will pay for a permanent set of staff to work the night shifts. The period of the grant as proposed is for two years. After that time has elapsed, the program will be evaluated to see if it will be made permanent.

As expected, there are some concerns from the community. These concerns are primarily about security, the homeless, and alcohol/drug use. Anybody who has ever worked in an urban library knows something about each of these issues. One way to alleviate these concerns is Spears’ desire to fund the two year grant solely with private and corporate donations—no public money will be involved. Regardless, these are still some serious considerations to factor in. Along with. . . Who will really use the library at these hours? Will it be the desired late shift workers, night owls, hipsters, and college students? Or will it instead be a haven for those with nowhere else to go and those looking for trouble? We keep hearing how libraries need to adapt or risk becoming obsolete, but is there really a demand for our urban libraries to be open 24/7? I suspect the majority of patrons who will take advantage of this new implementation will be the displaced, and those looking for a last minute movie rental. For now, this is getting the library some publicity, and creating many conversations in the media. We will all have to stay tuned to see what happens.

Until then, what do you think? Would a 24/7 schedule help serve your community?

The post Up All Night at the Public Library first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Julie Todaro

PLOnline: This year there are two candidates who are petition candidates. This presents an interesting wrinkle for the election. As one of the non-petition candidates, how does that make you feel? Do you think that this will add an important aspect to the election, or will it instead be a distraction?

Julie Todaro: WHAT a great question and I am going to answer with what (I hope) is some clarity for what I see as confusion. I can also give you my stock answers for questions I am getting (especially at Midwinter) and tell you how *I* felt and still feel.

When you get the (first) “call” from ALA, you are NOT asked to run for ALA president. I have gotten the call twice before in my career and it has always been very clear that the caller is asking me if I would CONSIDER having my name vetted to run for ALA president.” During this first call this past year, I asked “what my deadline was for making my decision” and was asked to refrain from sharing or announcing anything (to avoid the confusion of multiple POSSIBLE candidates, etc.)

If you decide you want to be considered as a candidate, you complete an online resume statement and state “why” you would like to be considered as a candidate. If you are chosen by the ALA nominating committee to run for ALA President-elect you get a call but – at that time – you may not get the name of your opponent as all parties under consideration may not have been notified and – again – told to keep it confidential. Then, when the two candidates are “lined up,” you then get a call saying who you are running against and that you can talk about it and then you get a series of very helpful emails and letters outlining – in great detail – very specific instructions and dates for turning in bios and “Statements of Purpose” and headshots to be used for press releases, content for American Libraries and the ballot statement.

So, it’s America….and any election may include petition candidates. ALA’s petition process is an easy one and I have been told that – typically – petition candidates announce after ALA announces the nominating committee’s candidates with their first press release. Frankly, I have always assumed that people see the lineup and say “We need expanded choices.” or “I can do better than that!!” and then circulate the petition, get their supporting names/signatures and “throw their hat in the ring.”

This past year, the petition candidates announced prior to the ALA nominating committee’s announcement, so I can only assume that they did NOT know who ALA’s candidates are. There are also TWO choosing to join in the race – as everyone knows – which is very unusual.

So with that clarity, here is the confusion I heard throughout Midwinter (typically after I my presentations and in the halls)

“Now …WHICH one are you?  An ALA candidate or a petition candidate?”

“What is the difference?”

“Does it make a difference?”

“Why are there so many of you?”

“Do you know why the petition candidates running?”

….and my favorite…

“Who should I vote for ….an ALA nominating committee candidate or a petition candidate?”

So I will clear up the confusion…”I am an ALA nominating committee candidate;” “There is no difference in status, we are all running;” “It doesn’t make a difference, we are all running;” “I don’t know why there are so many;” “The petition candidates have platforms and statements of purpose that explain why they are running” and “You should vote for me.”

What I feel is that there is confusion over this year’s election and any confusion is a distraction. That is, once you get past the “how did this happen” usually petition candidates “are there” because they have identified problems with the nominating committee’s candidates AND they present these problems with the other candidates in their statements of purpose and in their campaign materials.

I don’t see that happening; however, and while it certainly may be happening (and they have every right to do so) all four of us (whose names all begin with “J” if you didn’t notice already) appear to be running on our resumes, accomplishments, and hopes and vision for ALA and the profession in general. Clearly we credential ourselves with (see below) why we want people to vote for us and some of this is clearly a comparison with other candidates, but in general, voters have to do their own homework and should assess all candidates and decide for themselves who would be the best leader for the Association. I find this a positive part of this election and it has been challenging to articulate – in the myriad of questions answered and presentations made – why I – on my own merits – should be ALA president.

PLOnline: In your best elevator speech mode, tell me why ALA members should vote for you over the other 3 candidates?

Julie Todaro: The ALA President must speak for all members of the Association. This is an enormous responsibility that takes place throughout their tenure in planned events as well as in question and answer sessions, testimony, media activities, and hundreds of other contacts where the profession and professionals from all types and sizes of libraries are being lauded, explained, or defended for their roles and responsibilities, activities, stances, vision and values.

I have the knowledge and experience to represent the breadth and depth of the membership in local, state, national and international arenas. I am asking for your vote for ALA President.

James LaRue

PLOnline: This year there are 2 candidates who are petition candidates. This presents an interesting wrinkle for the election. As one of the non-petition candidates, how does that make you feel? Do you think that this will add an important aspect to the election, or will it instead be a distraction?

James LaRue:  All else being equal, the odds of my victory went from 50% to 25%!  This is not how you want things to start. But seriously, I had a chance to meet and listen to all of the candidates myself, and I have a couple of observations. First, I like them all. Every one of us brings something unique to the table. Second, I spent a few weeks interviewing 8 previous ALA presidents, and decided that ALA membership has done a good job of choosing its leaders. All of them have been thoughtful, passionate, and intentional.

With four candidates, ALA members have some clear and distinct choices for the direction of our association. I hope that means a greater engagement in the election itself, and a greater turnout. Is 50% unreasonable?

PLOnline: In your best elevator speech mode, tell me why ALA members should vote for you over the other 3 candidates?

My pitch: We’re at a tipping point for libraries in the United States. My platform has three planks:

• We need to move from gatekeeper to gardener. The explosion of digital publishing is a tremendous opportunity for librarians to shift from the passive last link in the content distribution chain to a more active, engaged role as co-creators and publishers. Specifically, that means the development of larger, shared digital content infrastructure run by libraries, along the Douglas County Libraries Model.
• We need to step up from embedded librarians to community leaders. By “community” I don’t mean just the public. I mean school, university, and any host institution. How? By identifying leaders within those communities, conducting in-depth interviews of them, distilling the needs and aspirations of our community, picking a high profile, high impact project that makes a difference, then delivering and talking about it. I would build on the theme of turning outward and building communities.
• Finally, we need to move from book deserts to book abundance. A book desert is a home with fewer than 25 books in it. New research tells us that getting 500 books in the home of a child between the ages of 0-5 is as good as having two parents with Master’s Degrees. That one difference – book abundance – could eliminate the need for half the social programs in our nation. We know this. Teachers know this. Decision makers in our larger communities do not. We need to tell them in ways that are sticky.

So why vote for me? I am unique among the candidates in that the bulk of my work has been talking to non-librarians. Librarians don’t have to persuade ourselves of our importance. Rather, we have to demonstrate, precisely and strategically, that we can make our communities great. Then get them talking about our value as a vital social asset and partner. I know how to do that.

Joseph Janes is running as a petition candidate in the election.

PLOnline: What went into your decision making process that made you decide to run for President via a petition?

Joseph Janes: I’ve been approached a number of times over the last several years by the nominating committee, including last year, though in many cases the timing just wasn’t right.  This year all the pieces fell into place for me, personally and professionally; both my husband and my colleagues at the UW Information School are incredibly supportive, so it felt like the right time to move forward and run.

PLOnline: In your best elevator speech mode, tell us why ALA members should vote for you over the other 3 candidates?

Joseph Janes: I think I offer two particular sets of gifts.  First, I’m a great storyteller and can effectively share the great stories of libraries, librarians, and librarianship with the wider world.  I would be eager to do as much as I can to shine a brighter light on the work we do, the value we bring, the challenges we face, and in particular that we are beyond “nice to have around” – we are critical infrastructure in all the communities and clienteles we serve.  Secondly, I would love to help lead us all in thinking through how we persevere and thrive in the emerging information landscape, how to find the right mixture of tradition and innovation to move forward and do an even better job in serving our communities.

JP Porcaro is also running as a petition candidate. We did not receive a response from Porcaro, by the deadline. The questions emailed to him were identical to those emailed to Joseph Janes. 

This candid interview with 3 of the 4 potential ALA presidential candidates should help all of us make a more informed decision when voting later this month. I would like to thank each candidate for their honest answers and wish them all the best of luck. The fact that so many qualified and passionate librarians are willing to serve ALA shows the importance of this professional organization. We certainly have a bright future in this profession. To learn more directly from the candidates about their positions, here is a link to the ALA Midwinter Meeting Presidential Candidates Forum. For more information about the ALA Elections go here. Happy voting!

The post An Interview with the 2015 ALA Presidential Candidates first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

First, I have a problem with using the phrase “rock star librarian.” This is another one of those empty phrases that gets thrown around, but has no real meaning or pertinence. What defines a rock star librarian? Somebody who actually got noticed for a cool program that brought in a fresh group of patrons to their library? Someone who can deliver a solid presentation at a conference and get the majority of the attendees to leave more motivated to than they were before? This all reminds me a bit of high school with the cool kids versus the outcasts. Do we really need to label people in our profession? Or maybe we should just judge people based on their performance and not whether they appeared in Library Journal or another major library-related publication.

I read pretty much every issue of Library Journal, American Libraries, Public Libraries, etc. and pay attention to library trends through social media as much as I can. Each publication has an audience they are trying to reach and there is also competition amongst them. Therefore, some of the articles may feel sensationalized since they are trying to get your attention. American media in general has become pretty sensationalized. As a result, some members of the library profession have also found unique ways to get publicity for either themselves, or for their libraries. This makes perfectly good sense to me since if nobody is paying attention to what you are doing in today’s competitive tax environment; you are going to lose out.

Personally, I understand why some of these famous librarians exist. Who wants to get paid what we get paid with an advanced degree and not get some recognition for it? Yes, I know we are here to serve the community, but doing just that can burn you out. Also, who wants to keep watching the budgets for police, fire, roads, etc. continue to be increased while the budgets for most libraries and schools decrease? Just like King Kong beating his chest for attention, we have to find a way to not only engage our communities, but also the glazed over eyes of the dead weight that permeates our profession. I say let the rankings continue, let the beauty contests go on all night. If this is what it takes to get people to take our profession seriously and motivates the smart and ambitious to come up with bigger and better ideas to make libraries matter, then go for it. There are always going to be a few rotten apples that ruin it for those who actually deserve recognition, but that should not be enough to derail the entire idea that some truly deserve their moment on the stage.

Reference

http://bossladywrites.com/how-did-we-get-here-the-rise-and-hopeful-fall-of-rockstar-librarians/

The post Keep on Rocking first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

A Change.org petition made the rounds on the Internet to make Commissioner Barbara J. Jordan aware of the number of supporters for keeping the libraries open. At one point in 2013 it appeared that 22 of the branches out of 49 would be closed. 169 library employees were also to lose their jobs under Mayor Carlos Gimenez’ proposed budget. At this time grass root efforts really kicked in and large protests arose. Unfortunately, even though the libraries were not shuttered at that point, the budget issues reappeared in 2014.

Undaunted and refusing to give up, the advocacy efforts to save Miami-Dade Public Libraries continued into 2014. President of the Friends of the Miami-Dade Public Library John Quick wrote an editorial in the Huffington Post as the situation gained national attention. Yale Professor Carlos Eire wrote a letter to the Miami Herald entitled Libraries Save Lives. In this letter, Eire states that one of the branches of the system was a refuge for him in the 1960s. Like many of us who loved libraries as kids, he still remembers details of the building vividly. Almost every effort improves when prominent people step forward to vouch for it and this editorial ultimately persuaded Mayor Gimenez and other County officials to rethink the library budget situation.

For now, the advocacy efforts for Miami-Dade Public Library have had a successful conclusion. The library is more important than ever in this community, as witnessed by this recent article wich shows that many kids need the library for homework since they lack Internet access at home. Many readers of this blog are already drinking the library Kool-Aid, but it is still important to bear in mind that not everyone gets why libraries matter. Utilizing advocacy efforts to your advantage can save your library, but ultimately it is more important to be on the offensive showing your community the importance of your institution at all times. Major brands such as Nike, Coca-Cola, and Taco Bell know this and never stop repeating their consumer message. Now is the time to create your own catchy library jingle.

The post Miami-Dade Public Library Advocacy Efforts Succeed – Will Yours? first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Recently I came across a reference book in my library on American innovators called They Made America by Harold Evans. This book details the big idea people that truly changed the American way of life. Important inventors and innovators ranging from historical figures like Eli Whitney, Levi Strauss, Henry Ford, and Walt Disney to current innovators like Larry Page and Sergey Brin the founders of Google, are each given a chapter. What do all of these people have in common? An idea (or two) and the passion and energy to act on it! Librarianship is a field that is still seeing almost constant change and lends itself to people with ideas who are not afraid of challenging the way things have always been done.

When I worked at the Delray Beach Public Library, I sat across the room from an underutilized computer lab. Ten computers in a quiet and ideal environment just glaring at me, almost begging me to be used. These underutilized resources irked me, and I was even more frustrated when patrons pointed at the lab when all the public internet computers were being used and asked, “Why can’t we use the computers in there?”. I had no good answer besides the fact that we only ever used the lab for our computer classes. I was beyond fortunate to have the opportunity as a member of the Sunshine State Library Leadership Institute to use this lab as my culminating project and turn the space into the Empowerment Zone – a career, eGov, and education resource that in a year would allow over 100 patrons a month to use the space and computers.

Next year, I would like to challenge everyone in our profession to try to smash the status quo. As mentioned previously, giving up takes little effort, but trying to find a way around a road block can be an important challenge. On March 21^st, the anniversary of the founding of Twitter (facilitator of change throughout the world), I propose #SmashTheStatusQuoDay, where every library professional attempts to create or reimagine an idea, or just plain blow up the status quo in a way that is beneficial to their library and profession. You can tweet about it, or mention it on Facebook and other social media platforms. The challenge is positive change for you and your organization. Good luck and remember that there are plenty of resources out there, including Public Libraries Online, to help you formulate your plan of attack!

The post Smash the Status Quo! Rejuvenating Your Library first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

My library system (Palm Beach County Library System) has two programs scheduled for September called Be Scam Smart. Tasha Carter, Director of the Division of Consumer Services under the Florida Department of Financial Services, will be leading an informative workshop for seniors, their families, and caregivers. The 90-minute workshop is part of Operation S.A.F.E. (Stop Adult Financial Exploitation) and will cover how to spot a scam, outsmart the scam artists, avoid identity theft, and more. Libraries are a valuable resource for patrons on many topics, and assisting senior citizens with keeping their finances and identity safe, is another opportunity for libraries to step up in our communities.

I encourage you to visit the FTC website and order their free folder with six articles and six bookmarks that you can display at your library. The materials are available in English and Spanish. It is possible to order more as needed. Maybe you do not have the time or resources to conduct a program, but you can link your library website (or blog) to the informational video that is also on their page. If your library has conducted a similar program, or you plan to conduct one, please reply in the comments section below with anything you feel is valuable to report to other library professionals. I believe we can all agree that it is unfortunate that rip-off artists exist, but it would also be unfortunate not to take advantage of these free resources to educate our local citizens.

The post Pass It On at Libraries to Help Seniors Avoid Scams first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

In 2000, the foundation began working with Global Libraries in order to assist transitioning and developing countries. The foundation has collaborated with over 13,000 public libraries in almost 20 countries. It is interesting to note that the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) declined to comment on this story for Library Journal. Is there resentment, or just acceptance from IFLA? The director of WebJunction believes that each library’s vision should come from within, and not from a grant funding foundation. Yet it is hard to argue that the $1 million given to the American Library Association (ALA) a few years ago for advocacy efforts cannot help ALA assist libraries create their vision. It is grand to state that we librarians can do this on our own, but in my experience, a little funding never hurt anything. Not to mention the positive press brought when funding does occur. Whose name is bigger than Bill Gates when it comes to technology and money?

It would be rewarding to have the libraries that were impacted by the Gates Foundation testify to what the support provided. Having a narrative of the positives could certainly coerce other potential library donors to support public library funding. The foundation claims it will exit the field with poise, and will carefully consider their impact upon exiting. Staff will be either reassigned, or eliminated, from the Global Libraries program in early to mid-2015. This is another area of impact, yet unrealized. It appears that the library world will have to wait and see what all of these changes will bring, unless other major donors step up to fill in the funding gaps. Monitoring the bandwidth at my public library, and other public libraries I have worked at, I find the foundation’s statement that libraries in the U.S. are set technology wise to be a bit naïve.

The post The Gates Foundation and Global Libraries first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

The FLA Annual Conference typically kicks off with an opening session featuring the keynote speaker. The Conference Planning Committee came up with the excellent idea of having the poster sessions inside the auditorium immediately before the opening session. This allowed those who had invested their time and energy in creating posters the opportunity to showcase them to a captive audience. Some of the takeaways from the poster sessions were the study on floating library collections by the Palm Beach County Library System. Three librarians conducted in depth research of libraries that had created floating collections and presented the pros and cons. One library created a comic book inspired poster session to publicize their successful comic-con, complete with a life size Chewbacca stand! Other displays showcased the creative uses of library space, library teen zones, and SEFLIN’s User Experience project.

Another new highlight this year was having engaging games during the opening of the exhibit hall. These games allowed attendees to not only have fun, but also mingle with each other and the vendors. The exhibit hall is a huge draw at each year’s conference and it was important for our committee to create a balance between work and play. One of the subcommittees created an Instagram bingo game that created competition amongst the tech savvy crowd. Flashy prizes such as a tablet and gift cards were given to the victors. Photos from this competition can be located on Instagram under #FLACon2014. A scavenger hunt ran simultaneously to ensure that those who did not use Instagram could still participate. We received many positive comments from both participants and vendors for both of these games.

There is also much meat at a conference and this year there was no shortage of engaging presentations. Areas of interest ranged from Authors & Books to Outreach & Programming and of course plenty on Technology. By far the majority of presenters were unpaid for their presentations and came on their own accord to give back to the profession. The new Executive Director of FLA Martina Brawer met with attendees on the first day to get to know the members and interact with them. The conference ended with an engaging talk by J. Jeff Kober from Disney on the Wonderful World of Customer Service. Audience members were moved not only by his inspiring stories on excellent customer service at Disney, but also by having to stand up often to participate in his presentation!  Participants came away with countless tools to improve their attention to detail, from the opening speaker who taught us to look at the entire picture while examining art, dealing with “Tough Talks in Tough Times”, crafting an inspiring vision to lead, and of course improving themselves and their libraries for excellence!

The post Experiences at FLA 2014 first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Some relevant questions crop up concerning readers’ advisory (RA). What sources did librarians use before the internet and search engines dominated the landscape? Can an algorithm and clever computer code recommend books more efficiently than us cutting edge librarians? What does it say that even the New York Public Library is using Bookish as their featured recommendation engine? Public librarians would be wise to position themselves as human recommendation engines by keeping current with reading trends, and using online search tools to remain relevant for RA and to keep patrons coming back.

As a librarian who primarily reads non-fiction and can be a bit too busy for some current bestselling 400-plus page books (I’m looking at you Stephen King, George R.R. Martin, and R.I.P. Tom Clancy). I admit to having some difficulty assisting certain patrons at times. Recently an elderly patron asked me for something uplifting to read and she related to me that her son had just passed away. She became rather emotional in telling me that she did not want to read anything dark, violent, or too realistic, but since those genres are very prevalent, it was time to put on my RA thinking cap. Fortunately our library system subscribes to NoveList Plus and I was able to locate several books for her to check out based on her past reads. However, would Bookish, or other online search options, be able to provide the human aspect for a search like librarians can?

I spent a lot of time in the 90s and the early 2000s record shopping and looking for great music to listen to. My friends and I spent a lot of time driving around and we were not big fans of radio. CMJ magazine was very popular as the internet had not grown enough yet to really compete with print magazines. CMJ had a cool feature at the end of each band blurb that they called “Recommended If You Like.” While not always accurate, this feature led me to a lot of new music that I had not yet discovered. This was the precursor to Bookish, whatshouldireadnext.com, and other similar book recommendation services. The bands that made the biggest impression on me though, where those that record store clerks recommended to me, or that I would listen to at the listening stations after having found out about them from a friend or an article. “Recommended If You Like” did not replace the clerks, or completely simplify my search, but worked as part of a discovery system. We librarians need to make sure that we are part of our customer’s discovery system, to enhance their search experience, and as an opportunity to highlight all we do as librarians.

The post Your Role in Reader’s Advisory first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

The article cites several anonymous sources who claim GED study guides, graphic novels, and nursing exam books are among the most prominent items checked out and not returned. While it is important for this situation to be reported, perhaps these books are not all outright stolen. Many books were simply checked out and maybe not returned when they were due. Life situations can lead to books not being returned, such as patrons moving away, Hurricane Sandy, cultural circumstances, and many other plausible explanations. What can be done to have these books returned to the library as intended would be a thesis for a vital study.

One anonymous female librarian quoted by the New York Daily News theorizes that the theft is due to cuts in staffing, which means fewer eyes to keep a lookout for potential pilfering. In fiscal 2010, over 70,000 books went missing as well. Staff at the Brooklyn Public Library has been reduced steadily over the past 5 years, and this certainly affects other aspects of library services besides stolen and unreturned items. However, the more important issue that continues to arise is what can be done to combat this variety of thievery? RFID tags can elicit an audible beep when materials exit without being properly checked out. Many libraries also now use collection agencies to recoup fines and unreturned items. This has been somewhat controversial, but the lesson is clear – if it is not yours, you should return it.

I have discussed with fellow professionals that Walmart, Target, or any other major retailer would not sit idly by and when 70,000 of anything— whether it is pencils, shirts, or candy bars— get taken. Those of us working in libraries owe our patrons and the taxpayers a certain level of responsibility for the books in our libraries. The concept of libraries is based on lending, not on taking. The possibility exists that libraries may need to change their policies not just to loan certain books, but donate them to members of the community in need.

Nevertheless, until this is an actual policy it will not look good to continually report so many items missing from the shelves. Libraries need to evolve and adapt, just like businesses do. Adopting loss prevention techniques from experts in the field could also be part of the conversation. The most alarming thing to me is that the catalog continues to reduce in size at the Brooklyn Public Library. Without raising the budget, or finding other ways to fund these losses, many important resources will be gone for good. This is a great opportunity for libraries to get creative and find effective solutions in order to protect our collections for future generations.

The post The Book Thieves first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

I grew up just outside of Detroit in two places. Up until 4th grade I lived in Canton, where I played soccer, went to a local school, and my parents took me to the massive brick Canton Public Library. From 4th grade until graduation from high school, I spent much time in the Southfield Public Library on Evergreen Road at the Civic Center complex. The 3-story library I visited as a kid is not the library that the city uses today—which I have to admit, is a bit disappointing since I can no longer visit for a trip down nostalgia lane. I vividly remember climbing the wide concrete steps up to the entranceway and seeing the circulation desk directly inside of the front doors. To the right were the winding stairs that led to the upstairs children’s room. On the main floor were the fiction books, paperbacks, a very small YA area, and the magazines. To this day, I could take you directly to my favorite authors at the time, like Tom Clancy and Stephen King.

Long wide stairs led down to the bottom floor, which housed the non-fiction section, study rooms, microfilm, and the reference librarians. I would have never imagined one day becoming one of those reference librarians, yet they certainly helped me with many of my school research projects. Before the 1990s, a major part of the lower level was occupied by the massive card catalog. I do not remember the transition to the electronic version, but do recall mastering the use of the computer catalog to find books in the library. I also remember that even though this newer electronic catalog existed I would still ask the librarians for assistance finding materials from time to time.

I spent many hours down there looking at books on swamps and deserts, the War in Vietnam, national parks, art, pretty much anything that piqued my curiosity. My imagination could be fueled by the images, ideas, and vast amount of information housed in that enormous library. Childhood has a way of permanently shaping who you are as an adult, and it makes sense that I now dedicate so much time to libraries as both an employee and as an advocate. My wish is that every kid would have a library story to tell when they are older and that there would be a library available for every kid. Currently this does not seem as possible as it once was, but that just means we have to find new and better ways of defending libraries.

The post Lasting Library Memories first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

I can hear the patron now, even as I type this article. The deep breathing through the phone, the anticipation for the answer he needs now; as in five minutes ago, as in – why are you not responding yet?! And I feel the pull – the urge to use the old standby. To just Google it already! No need for those old school databases they taught you about in library school. The ones you swore you were going to use and master forever. The curmudgeonly caller has asked for a toll free number to an obscure company in North Carolina that manufactures carpet for RV trailers. I have already tried YP.com and struck out, knowing that getting to Reference USA will take several more clicks to be accessed through the library website. Yet, I held strong and eventually found the number through Reference USA instead of Google.

The addiction to Google is similar to what Kramer (on Seinfeld) had with his Kenny Roger’s chicken. He knows that neon sign blinking and buzzing keeps him up at night. Yet that chicken is too much for him and Newman to resist. All they have to do is walk right across the street and they will have almost instant satisfaction. Just like we know that Google is so quick and convenient, and right there at our fingertips.

Yet are they not storing our search data, and possibly selling it? They even assist the government by sometimes handing over user information. However, I quit Google for less philosophical reasons. I wanted – and needed – a New Year’s challenge. I certainly at times feel guilty for trying to hook the patrons on our electronic databases, when I know I am not using them enough myself. On January 1, 2014, I quit Google, and began a new love affair with my library’s databases.

To date I have found that my Google-less resolution has made me a better librarian by increasing my knowledge of our library’s databases. I have also been able to locate several new sources for information that are much more accurate. Along with that, I am now more invested in helping our patrons become familiar with the library website. Starting soon, I will be teaching library website training. My aim is to continue assisting patrons to be more self-sufficient while increasing traffic to our site. The databases I have found most useful so far are Reference USA, Gale Virtual Reference Library, NoveList Plus, and InfoTrac. It is still early in the year, but I am motivated to continue challenging myself as a public service librarian by strengthening old skills and learning new ones.

The post Stop Googling Around first appeared on Public Libraries Online.