I attended the New England Library Association Annual Conference in Boxborough on Tuesday.
It was a very long drive to Boxborough, twice the distance of my usual very long drive--but what a difference. No traffic, beautiful foliage, huge cranberry bogs. Eminem on the CD player.
Coffee in the cup. Practically perfection.
I really enjoyed my first session of the day-Trends in Reference. I particularly enjoyed
Pingshen Chen from Worcester. Worcester has 150 computers and small staff . Just a little about Worcester Public Library:
Staff of 80
2 Branches
In one day at the Main Library:
3129 people walk through the doors
101,611 hits on the Website
127 new cards
1,102 reference questions
4,046 circulation
Yikes
The librarian spoke of three trends
I. People need Librarians help more than ever
II. Reference Librarian reinventing themselves to make a wide range of new reference services available to meet users' current expectations.
III. Reference services have a bright but challenging future
Reference questions have changed and cannot be handled in the traditional ways.
Knowing the collection is not sufficient to meet users' needs.
The librarian spoke about the divide that occurs between the technology rich and technology poor. She spoke about the responsibility of the library to bridge that gap.
Libraries need to have many computers and the staff needs to be able to perform all the tasks
that the public may need assistance with. Her staff evens helps with filling out application forms
for patrons who may not have the skills themselves.
She feels that libraries must step up to help with all the emerging technologies--that is the direction that libraries must go in to secure their place in the future.
Librarians must use Web 2.0 technology and social network tools to connect with users and inform them of new services.
If she's right--I sure need a lot of training!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Bite-Sized Marketing
Bite Sized Marketing:
Realistic Solutions for the Overworked Librarian
Nancy Dowd, Director of Marketing for the New Jersey State Library was the speaker for this informative session. She asked the audience of librarians what "the biggest marketing problems were". Some answers were: Time, money/budget, resources, lack of time to plan, reaching non-users, cut backs, identifying marketing and target market needs.
Here are Nancy's key points in marketing for the library:
Find out what the patron's want!
Have to have "big picture marketing". Need to have conversations with the patrons. How can you attain this? Look for feedback. Reach people via twitter, or other social media channels.
On Cut Backs/Importance of the Library:
Have to "knock your mayors ideas about the library off the table". Libraries have to make sure the mayor and local officials know how important libraries are. Libraries have to convince the city they are "transforming lives". One way of doing this is to have patrons fill out cards as they leave a library program stating something like: "If you enjoyed the program please thank the people who funded us". It's also a good way for patrons to support the library. This information can be passed on to the mayor. Often "patrons don't know how to support the library". This is one good way they can help.
Branding
Branding basics: Logs, colors, fonts -- important to keep it cohesive.Important for all staff to follow the style guidelines when creating flyers, posters, etc. FYI: WPL logo color - Maroon, Logo- "window to the world logo in Black and Maroon, also a version in Black. Font family used in the copy of the WPL and Friends brochures is Gill Sans. WPL and Friends LogoType is Friz Quadrata.
Also the BRAND is how people see you. Every libray "has a different soul" according to Nancy Dowd. Does the staff know what that is? Needs to have a conversation about this among staff members so it's clear what staff is thinking and what the message is. One exercise we had was to pick three things your library is about. For example: preservation, life long learning, advancing knowledge.The web site should reflect the new direction the library is taking. Lets patrons become "insiders".
Library Image
The image people who do not frequent a library have of the library is often based on the last time they were in a library, this may have been decades ago. We have to help update and change their image of the library. How to do this? Every week there needs to be articles in the paper about events and what we do/offer. Promote "what we can do for you" the patron. Libraries: "we have more than books".
Other image/idea suggestions:
We offer solutions: Presentations, Workshops, on-line Templates, Data Resources, Expertise for college students - we make sense of info. Skills/self learners can learn at the library. How do we reach patrons and keep them informed? Take away bookmark/email info with programing info. What's going on in your community? Tie in with the library. Go to all businesses in town leave behind library coupons.How else do you reach the community? Examples: give library cards out at diff. locations. ?the train station. Vending machine for books and DVDs (they were advertising these at the exhibits. They are 18K. The vendor said libraries are buying them and are placing them at the community senior centers (!). Reaching teens - do this with social media (i.e. Twitter, Facebook, You Tube etc...) Also can reach teens through their parents. Offer a teen film festival, create a blog for teens with the condition that is is seen and approved by administration. Partnership with small businesses and the community. Find out what's missing in the community. Have a tourist info center at the library or at the chamber of commerce that includes the library.
Define what's missing in the community and deliver. Use effective communication outlets to reach the people and offer what they want. We are transforming lives! It's a whole new mind set.
Posted By Doreen B.
Realistic Solutions for the Overworked Librarian
Nancy Dowd, Director of Marketing for the New Jersey State Library was the speaker for this informative session. She asked the audience of librarians what "the biggest marketing problems were". Some answers were: Time, money/budget, resources, lack of time to plan, reaching non-users, cut backs, identifying marketing and target market needs.
Here are Nancy's key points in marketing for the library:
Find out what the patron's want!
Have to have "big picture marketing". Need to have conversations with the patrons. How can you attain this? Look for feedback. Reach people via twitter, or other social media channels.
On Cut Backs/Importance of the Library:
Have to "knock your mayors ideas about the library off the table". Libraries have to make sure the mayor and local officials know how important libraries are. Libraries have to convince the city they are "transforming lives". One way of doing this is to have patrons fill out cards as they leave a library program stating something like: "If you enjoyed the program please thank the people who funded us". It's also a good way for patrons to support the library. This information can be passed on to the mayor. Often "patrons don't know how to support the library". This is one good way they can help.
Branding
Branding basics: Logs, colors, fonts -- important to keep it cohesive.Important for all staff to follow the style guidelines when creating flyers, posters, etc. FYI: WPL logo color - Maroon, Logo- "window to the world logo in Black and Maroon, also a version in Black. Font family used in the copy of the WPL and Friends brochures is Gill Sans. WPL and Friends LogoType is Friz Quadrata.
Also the BRAND is how people see you. Every libray "has a different soul" according to Nancy Dowd. Does the staff know what that is? Needs to have a conversation about this among staff members so it's clear what staff is thinking and what the message is. One exercise we had was to pick three things your library is about. For example: preservation, life long learning, advancing knowledge.The web site should reflect the new direction the library is taking. Lets patrons become "insiders".
Library Image
The image people who do not frequent a library have of the library is often based on the last time they were in a library, this may have been decades ago. We have to help update and change their image of the library. How to do this? Every week there needs to be articles in the paper about events and what we do/offer. Promote "what we can do for you" the patron. Libraries: "we have more than books".
Other image/idea suggestions:
We offer solutions: Presentations, Workshops, on-line Templates, Data Resources, Expertise for college students - we make sense of info. Skills/self learners can learn at the library. How do we reach patrons and keep them informed? Take away bookmark/email info with programing info. What's going on in your community? Tie in with the library. Go to all businesses in town leave behind library coupons.How else do you reach the community? Examples: give library cards out at diff. locations. ?the train station. Vending machine for books and DVDs (they were advertising these at the exhibits. They are 18K. The vendor said libraries are buying them and are placing them at the community senior centers (!). Reaching teens - do this with social media (i.e. Twitter, Facebook, You Tube etc...) Also can reach teens through their parents. Offer a teen film festival, create a blog for teens with the condition that is is seen and approved by administration. Partnership with small businesses and the community. Find out what's missing in the community. Have a tourist info center at the library or at the chamber of commerce that includes the library.
Define what's missing in the community and deliver. Use effective communication outlets to reach the people and offer what they want. We are transforming lives! It's a whole new mind set.
Posted By Doreen B.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Readers Advisory update
http://www.stockton.lib.ca.us/readadvi.htm
http://www.wakegov.com/libraries/reading/default.htm
Sorry about the missing links in the earlier posts.
Louise
http://www.wakegov.com/libraries/reading/default.htm
Sorry about the missing links in the earlier posts.
Louise
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Bite sized marketing
Nancy Dowd spoke about "bite sized marketing" for libraries
See her marketing blog here.
http://themwordblog.blogspot.com/
L.G.
See her marketing blog here.
http://themwordblog.blogspot.com/
L.G.
Reader's Advisory 101
Check out this cool site
Useful reader's advisory websites
www.colapublib.org/services/advisory/index.ph4
Readers Robot
Try this
Have fun with these!
Louise
Useful reader's advisory websites
www.colapublib.org/services/advisory/index.ph4
Readers Robot
Try this
Have fun with these!
Louise
Building and Leading High Performance Teams
Kenya Rutland
www.kjrconsulting.com
GRPI Model
Okay guys,
If you were to figure what is the most important factor for teams:
Process
Interpersonal
Goals
Roles
And, if you knew that one was 80%
one was 16%
one was 3%
one was 1%
which would you think was one, two, three and four?
Think of a high performing team that you were a member of
Why do you think it performed well?
(Could be a sports team, a job, a club, anything)
Create a list of characteristics that you observed/remember about the team
Kenya is a great, dynamic speaker.
He recommends reading: The Five Dysfunctions of a team
Look at this you tube
Ta ta for now!
Louise
www.kjrconsulting.com
GRPI Model
Okay guys,
If you were to figure what is the most important factor for teams:
Process
Interpersonal
Goals
Roles
And, if you knew that one was 80%
one was 16%
one was 3%
one was 1%
which would you think was one, two, three and four?
Think of a high performing team that you were a member of
Why do you think it performed well?
(Could be a sports team, a job, a club, anything)
Create a list of characteristics that you observed/remember about the team
Kenya is a great, dynamic speaker.
He recommends reading: The Five Dysfunctions of a team
Look at this you tube
Ta ta for now!
Louise
State of the States
Okay everybody,
Here is the highlight from this presentation. Vote No on Question Three! It will have a very negative impact on us. We in the public libraries will suffer if Question Three is passed and the sales tax is reduced from 6 1/2 % to 3%. There would be an across the board 28% reduction (discretionary) READ painful as in bleeding as in we don't want it.
Rob Meier from the Mass Board of Library Commissioners was the person speaking about the state of the State of Massachusetts.
He reminded us that we have lost about 38% of our funding which meant, as we all know, that we went from six regional library systems to one.
The number of staff in the regional system has been reduced by about one half. The two regional locations are Waltham and Waitely.
I won't go into Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Vermont except to say that many of the states are working on mapping and Broadband projects and that they have suffered severe cuts as well.
We need to remind everybody and anybody of the importance of libraries!
Louise
Here is the highlight from this presentation. Vote No on Question Three! It will have a very negative impact on us. We in the public libraries will suffer if Question Three is passed and the sales tax is reduced from 6 1/2 % to 3%. There would be an across the board 28% reduction (discretionary) READ painful as in bleeding as in we don't want it.
Rob Meier from the Mass Board of Library Commissioners was the person speaking about the state of the State of Massachusetts.
He reminded us that we have lost about 38% of our funding which meant, as we all know, that we went from six regional library systems to one.
The number of staff in the regional system has been reduced by about one half. The two regional locations are Waltham and Waitely.
I won't go into Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Vermont except to say that many of the states are working on mapping and Broadband projects and that they have suffered severe cuts as well.
We need to remind everybody and anybody of the importance of libraries!
Louise
Louise Goes To NELA
Hi there Fellow Waltham Staffers,
On Sunday, October 17th, Dave and I headed to the Beautiful Holiday Inn in Breathtaking Boxborough for the New England Library Association Conference. Well, we were in good shape because Dave found us a lovely coffee place in Acton called Sweet Bites. I recommend this place with four stars. Excellent coffee, bagels and lovely cupcakes!
The first program that we attended was Job Interview Strategies with Bertha Chandler from the Cambridge Public Library, Karen Valley from Walker Memorial Library in Westbrook, Maine and Michael Somers from Bridgewater MA State College offering perspectives on what they look for in an interview.
Although neither Dave nor I are interviewing for positions at this time, we have both worked with Bertha and wanted to see her in action. Also, it is interesting to see the contrast between public and academic libraries.
Not to mention that we at the Waltham Public Library see so many people who are looking for jobs.
Interviewing Tips from Bertha:
Practice! Practice! Practice! Role Play! Practice!
Get a book, go to a web page, go over the questions and talk out loud to a mirror, to a friend.
Dress professionally-you want to show how you will represent this library. First impressions do matter.
Be prepared for more than one interviewer
Leave your cell phone in your car
Practice professional courtesy at all times--everyone will have something to say about you after you leave
Sell yourself
Focus on the 'value added' you can bring to the library where you are interviewing
Be prepared for behavioral questions
Tell us about a time when...Describe a situation when
If asked, focus on a shortcoming/weakness where you have shown improvement
If you have visited prior to the interview, looked at the web page, done some other homework, include this in your responses--and do this homework, it demonstrates your interest in the position
Don't be negative about an employer, colleague or situation
Waiting to hear? Send an email query--keep it positive!
Say: I remain very interested in this position, not, I have not yet heard from you.
Go to the library or the bookstore and read interview books; go to the web and search 'interviews' or 'library interviews' You will find a wealth of material to help you prepare for your next interview.
Interestingly, Karen Valley says that some candidates bring portfolios.
Michael Somers says that in academic libraries it can be acceptable to have a fourteen page resume!
Bertha and Karen said that one to two pages is the most that you want your resume to be.
Cover letters should not merely echo a job description. They should really explain your interest in the job.
This was interesting stuff and can be useful for us to be aware of simply because the job market is apparently flooded right now. Bertha often receives literally hundreds of applications for a library assistant job. Karen and Michael agreed that they get lots of applications for positions. Therefore, the successful candidate really needs to stand out.
Over and out on this one!
On Sunday, October 17th, Dave and I headed to the Beautiful Holiday Inn in Breathtaking Boxborough for the New England Library Association Conference. Well, we were in good shape because Dave found us a lovely coffee place in Acton called Sweet Bites. I recommend this place with four stars. Excellent coffee, bagels and lovely cupcakes!
The first program that we attended was Job Interview Strategies with Bertha Chandler from the Cambridge Public Library, Karen Valley from Walker Memorial Library in Westbrook, Maine and Michael Somers from Bridgewater MA State College offering perspectives on what they look for in an interview.
Although neither Dave nor I are interviewing for positions at this time, we have both worked with Bertha and wanted to see her in action. Also, it is interesting to see the contrast between public and academic libraries.
Not to mention that we at the Waltham Public Library see so many people who are looking for jobs.
Interviewing Tips from Bertha:
Practice! Practice! Practice! Role Play! Practice!
Get a book, go to a web page, go over the questions and talk out loud to a mirror, to a friend.
Dress professionally-you want to show how you will represent this library. First impressions do matter.
Be prepared for more than one interviewer
Leave your cell phone in your car
Practice professional courtesy at all times--everyone will have something to say about you after you leave
Sell yourself
Focus on the 'value added' you can bring to the library where you are interviewing
Be prepared for behavioral questions
Tell us about a time when...Describe a situation when
If asked, focus on a shortcoming/weakness where you have shown improvement
If you have visited prior to the interview, looked at the web page, done some other homework, include this in your responses--and do this homework, it demonstrates your interest in the position
Don't be negative about an employer, colleague or situation
Waiting to hear? Send an email query--keep it positive!
Say: I remain very interested in this position, not, I have not yet heard from you.
Go to the library or the bookstore and read interview books; go to the web and search 'interviews' or 'library interviews' You will find a wealth of material to help you prepare for your next interview.
Interestingly, Karen Valley says that some candidates bring portfolios.
Michael Somers says that in academic libraries it can be acceptable to have a fourteen page resume!
Bertha and Karen said that one to two pages is the most that you want your resume to be.
Cover letters should not merely echo a job description. They should really explain your interest in the job.
This was interesting stuff and can be useful for us to be aware of simply because the job market is apparently flooded right now. Bertha often receives literally hundreds of applications for a library assistant job. Karen and Michael agreed that they get lots of applications for positions. Therefore, the successful candidate really needs to stand out.
Over and out on this one!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Laura's NELA Part 2
Greetings from the reference desk at the library. I have returned from Boxboro and the New England Library Association Conference and am hoping that tonight will be the Yankees' last stand in the 2010 post season. As I write this, they are currently beating the Texas Rangers 6-2 in the My Tuesday at the NELA conference was different, yet productive. I was joined by Louise (who attended all three days, including Sunday), Marialice, Pat O., and Doreen. I also met up with two of my former co-workers, India and Kristina. Kristina is another head of reference so I always like to ask her advice. India is an assistant director and a former children's librarian so I always like discussing children's literature with her.
In the exhibit hall, Doreen, Kristina and I witnessed a demonstration of the Barnes and Noble e-reader (The Nook). The Nook is one of the popular e-readers currently on the market and is compatible with the e-books available on Overdrive. It does have wifi access (or 3G depending on which version one purchases). Users can borrow and lend e-books as well as subscribe to certain magazines and newspapers. There is no touch screen on the actual reading screen, as users control everything from a control panel on the bottom. There is also no back light. Users can buy books from Barnes and Noble.com as well as other online e-book sellers. E-readers are very popular but I think they still have a ways to go. It will be interesting to see which will become the preferred choice out of all of the options, right now. Pricing, format, adaptability, and usability will certainly play roles in these decisions. I've often said that this reminds me a lot of the Beta vs. VHS competition from my childhood. How many of you still had Beta VCRs twenty years ago?
Marilyn Johnson, author of This Book is Overdue: How Librarian and Cybrarians Can Save Us All, was the lunchtime speaker. Johnson, a former Life magazine writer, became intrigued with librarians after reading some juicy librarian obituaries as research for her other book, The Dead Beat: lost souls, lucky stiffs, and the perverse pleasures of obituaries. It was wonderful to hear someone speak out so glowingly about librarians and libraries.
As for the workshops, I attended: Bite Sized Marketing; Padding Her Own Canoe (Louisa May Alcott); and Collaborative Outreach (Information Literacy).
I have to admit that this started out rather auspiciously for me in that I knocked over a woman's water. (Luckily she is not a coffee drinker as it was shortly after 8 in the morning). Luckily for me, she was a very good sport about it. The attendees were split into various groups depending on how marketing they did (or did not) for their respective libraries. Members of our little group (which included Louise and Doreen) agreed that some of the hindrances to good marketing were time and money. Other groups agreed with these assertions, and also added dealing with the media, competing for patrons' time with other departments, lacking staff trained in PR, and reaching interested groups. Nancy discussed different ways to look at marketing. Think of marketing as a (two way) conversation, for example. Or think about marketing as establishing partnerships or knowing your customers (patrons). She also mentioned branding, and whether or not certain public libraries have brands. Would our slogan, "Window to the World" along with the image of the front window be considered our brand? She mentioned the successful marketing campaign of UPS as a model. She talked about libraries creating areas such as small business centers which really only use services already provided by the library. (Using the database Reference USA as part of the small business center, for example). She also talked about marketing ideas that other libraries were doing, notably book vending machines in subway stations, or the Pi Day celebration in honor of Albert Einstein at the Princeton (New Jersey) Public Library.
As an English major and a librarian who has worked with children, teens, and adults, I have always been fascinated with Louisa May Alcott. In addition to Little Women, I have read many of her other novels, including, An Old Fashioned Girl and Eight Cousins. I also read her account of being a nurse in the Civil War, Hospital Sketches.
Ms. Adams discussed the history of the Alcott family and how Louisa May Alcott came to be a writer more financially successful than several of her male counterparts. The Alcott family was actually quite ahead of their time. They supported women's rights, end of slavery, and lived as vegans, for a time. The family was friendly with notable transcendentalists, such as Ralph Waldo Emerson. (Young Louisa actually had a crush on him and serenaded him from a tree, an act for which she was later embarrassed). Unlike Jo March, Louisa May never married, and there was no indication in the talk on whether not Fritz Bhaer was based on anyone. Laurie was based on two young men, including a childhood friend, but he apparently did not marry into the March family. Louisa's sisters, Anna, Elizabeth (aka "Lizzy" and "Beth") and Abba May were the models for the remaining March sisters, Meg, Beth, and Amy, respectively. I have always wondered why Elizabeth's name was not changed and asked about that. Ms. Adams said that Little Women had been written shortly after Elizabeth Alcott's death and that Louisa wanted Beth March to be a true tribute to her sister. She mentioned that Beth was the most like her real life counterpart. I found this interesting since I always thought that Amy March was an unappealing character, yet from the talk, it sounded as if Louisa actually had a very close relationship with May, Amy's real life counterpart. (Louisa even raised May's child after May died). This very interesting talk makes me want to re-read some of her stories, as well as read a biography and re-visit Orchard House. (and our children's room has passes!)
I am always interested on hearing how librarians can do more to promote information literacy. For some reason, this is a topic that seems to be covered very heavily in academic libraries, but not as much in public libraries. This workshop did focus on an academic library and how information literacy was taught to nursing students and dental hygienists, as well as to those who suffered from Type II Diabetes. However, there was enough information to make it relevant to public libraries. A couple of lines that Brenda said which I really liked were, (paraphrasing) Librarians should be educators and not just keeper of books, and that there is a lot of information out there and that it's librarians' jobs to help users figure it all out. She also mentioned how many college students think that library tours and library instruction is reserved for English majors. Her goal is to promote the library as a place for everyone, including science related majors. After working with her patrons in the three areas, they assessed using a variety of tools, including tests (before and after library instruction) and surveys.
NELA has been uploading some of the handouts and Power Point Presentation from the workshops. They haven't finished yet, but you can continue to check http://nela2.org/conference/2010/program/
And that was my time at NELA 2010. Unfortunately, it looks as if New York has held on for the win so the ALCS moves to Arlington, Texas.
In the exhibit hall, Doreen, Kristina and I witnessed a demonstration of the Barnes and Noble e-reader (The Nook). The Nook is one of the popular e-readers currently on the market and is compatible with the e-books available on Overdrive. It does have wifi access (or 3G depending on which version one purchases). Users can borrow and lend e-books as well as subscribe to certain magazines and newspapers. There is no touch screen on the actual reading screen, as users control everything from a control panel on the bottom. There is also no back light. Users can buy books from Barnes and Noble.com as well as other online e-book sellers. E-readers are very popular but I think they still have a ways to go. It will be interesting to see which will become the preferred choice out of all of the options, right now. Pricing, format, adaptability, and usability will certainly play roles in these decisions. I've often said that this reminds me a lot of the Beta vs. VHS competition from my childhood. How many of you still had Beta VCRs twenty years ago?
Marilyn Johnson, author of This Book is Overdue: How Librarian and Cybrarians Can Save Us All, was the lunchtime speaker. Johnson, a former Life magazine writer, became intrigued with librarians after reading some juicy librarian obituaries as research for her other book, The Dead Beat: lost souls, lucky stiffs, and the perverse pleasures of obituaries. It was wonderful to hear someone speak out so glowingly about librarians and libraries.
As for the workshops, I attended: Bite Sized Marketing; Padding Her Own Canoe (Louisa May Alcott); and Collaborative Outreach (Information Literacy).
- Bite Sized Marketing
I have to admit that this started out rather auspiciously for me in that I knocked over a woman's water. (Luckily she is not a coffee drinker as it was shortly after 8 in the morning). Luckily for me, she was a very good sport about it. The attendees were split into various groups depending on how marketing they did (or did not) for their respective libraries. Members of our little group (which included Louise and Doreen) agreed that some of the hindrances to good marketing were time and money. Other groups agreed with these assertions, and also added dealing with the media, competing for patrons' time with other departments, lacking staff trained in PR, and reaching interested groups. Nancy discussed different ways to look at marketing. Think of marketing as a (two way) conversation, for example. Or think about marketing as establishing partnerships or knowing your customers (patrons). She also mentioned branding, and whether or not certain public libraries have brands. Would our slogan, "Window to the World" along with the image of the front window be considered our brand? She mentioned the successful marketing campaign of UPS as a model. She talked about libraries creating areas such as small business centers which really only use services already provided by the library. (Using the database Reference USA as part of the small business center, for example). She also talked about marketing ideas that other libraries were doing, notably book vending machines in subway stations, or the Pi Day celebration in honor of Albert Einstein at the Princeton (New Jersey) Public Library.
- Padding Her Own Canoe (Louisa May Alcott)
As an English major and a librarian who has worked with children, teens, and adults, I have always been fascinated with Louisa May Alcott. In addition to Little Women, I have read many of her other novels, including, An Old Fashioned Girl and Eight Cousins. I also read her account of being a nurse in the Civil War, Hospital Sketches.
Ms. Adams discussed the history of the Alcott family and how Louisa May Alcott came to be a writer more financially successful than several of her male counterparts. The Alcott family was actually quite ahead of their time. They supported women's rights, end of slavery, and lived as vegans, for a time. The family was friendly with notable transcendentalists, such as Ralph Waldo Emerson. (Young Louisa actually had a crush on him and serenaded him from a tree, an act for which she was later embarrassed). Unlike Jo March, Louisa May never married, and there was no indication in the talk on whether not Fritz Bhaer was based on anyone. Laurie was based on two young men, including a childhood friend, but he apparently did not marry into the March family. Louisa's sisters, Anna, Elizabeth (aka "Lizzy" and "Beth") and Abba May were the models for the remaining March sisters, Meg, Beth, and Amy, respectively. I have always wondered why Elizabeth's name was not changed and asked about that. Ms. Adams said that Little Women had been written shortly after Elizabeth Alcott's death and that Louisa wanted Beth March to be a true tribute to her sister. She mentioned that Beth was the most like her real life counterpart. I found this interesting since I always thought that Amy March was an unappealing character, yet from the talk, it sounded as if Louisa actually had a very close relationship with May, Amy's real life counterpart. (Louisa even raised May's child after May died). This very interesting talk makes me want to re-read some of her stories, as well as read a biography and re-visit Orchard House. (and our children's room has passes!)
- Collaboration and Outreach: Information Literacy Partnerships
I am always interested on hearing how librarians can do more to promote information literacy. For some reason, this is a topic that seems to be covered very heavily in academic libraries, but not as much in public libraries. This workshop did focus on an academic library and how information literacy was taught to nursing students and dental hygienists, as well as to those who suffered from Type II Diabetes. However, there was enough information to make it relevant to public libraries. A couple of lines that Brenda said which I really liked were, (paraphrasing) Librarians should be educators and not just keeper of books, and that there is a lot of information out there and that it's librarians' jobs to help users figure it all out. She also mentioned how many college students think that library tours and library instruction is reserved for English majors. Her goal is to promote the library as a place for everyone, including science related majors. After working with her patrons in the three areas, they assessed using a variety of tools, including tests (before and after library instruction) and surveys.
NELA has been uploading some of the handouts and Power Point Presentation from the workshops. They haven't finished yet, but you can continue to check http://nela2.org/conference/2010/program/
And that was my time at NELA 2010. Unfortunately, it looks as if New York has held on for the win so the ALCS moves to Arlington, Texas.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Laura's NELA part 1
Greetings from the Holiday Inn at Boxboro. I am here, enjoying the second and third days of the New England Library Association (NELA) Conference. I came in last night (Sunday) after working a shift at the Robbins Library in Arlington and am very much enjoying myself here. (And am happy to report that the Yankees are losing game 3 of the ALCS. However, it is only the top of the seventh inning, and as we baseball fans know, anything can happen, but as this blog is not about baseball or the American League Champion Series, I will digress from discussing my feelings on the hated Yankees. I do have to warn you that there will be a score update at the end of this post)
So, anyway, the NELA conference. As I said here, I arrived last night and am rooming with my former co-worker, Linda. I also was lucky to run into some other former co-workers, today, Holly and Dina. Holly, who is attending her first library conference, is the winner of the line of the day for saying, "I feel like I'm home. I am with people who are just like me." This reflects, perfectly, my feelings when I am with my fellow librarians. I also had the pleasure of running into our Kate and Louise. (The three of us converged at a reader's advisory workshop). Louise, in fact, is a member of the conference committee and has worked tirelessly to make this a great conference. I also ran into Steve, our former sub who designed our current web site, as well some fellow Minuteman folk and some of my former cohorts from my days as an active Massachusetts Library Association (MLA) member. After dinner, I had the pleasure of not only socializing with Linda, but also my friend, April, and two woman from a public library in Maine. We discussed ways in which to advocate for our profession.
Today, I attended several workshops, including: Trends, Trends, Trends (Innovations in Technical Services), Reaching out to Foster Teens, Luncheon with YA author Janet Taylor Lisle, Reader's Advisory 101, and Serving Transgender Patrons. I also went to dinner and was serenaded by the sounds of Dewey and the Decibels.
This was very interesting and was one of the few workshops that I have ever attended that was geared toward both academic and public librarians. There was a lot covered in this workshop, but in a nutshell, everything is changing in libraries and therefore everything is changing in cataloging. The content, for instance, is changing. There is still physical content, but yet there is also a lot of electronic content. At one point, librarians tried to keep up with that and catalog the Internet. Realistically, librarians realized over time, that this could not happen. Libraries are using more electronic content. Interestingly, the libraries don't necessarily own this content, but rather distribute it. (with the help of vendors, of course). As libraries move in this direction, it is important that they re-forge their missions and also realize that the traditional catalog rules may be in conflict with what the users need and/or want. The speakers also stressed that librarians need to do less, that it is not necessary to do the work of 20 librarians. They also said that it's important to stress to patrons when budget cuts occur. The speakers said that public libraries, especially, tend to shield patrons from user cuts by using other measures. Sometimes it's okay for users (or members as many prefer to be called) to stand in line, in order to understand the amount of work that librarians are forced to do. They also said that self check out can help in this. The speakers stressed that cataloging rules should not come before user (patron, member) needs. The Darien Library in Darien,CT is a good example of a library whose catalog is taking user wants and needs into account (http://www.darienlibrary.org/catalog). They also discussed Penn Tags (http://tags.library.upenn.edu/).
I really enjoyed this workshop as I know that we have foster teens who do use our library and I would like to serve them better. Jessica spoke about her experiences working at the public libraries in Oakland, California and Boston , MA. She stressed outreach and mentioned several organizations, such as the Home for Little Wanderers. (Waltham House is affiliated with them). Some of the outreach activities included sending fliers to foster group homes, waiving fines for patrons in the situation, and offering relevant programs such as job readiness. (Those living in the foster care system, for instance, usually age out at 18 and are forced to become independent. In many cases, they may not have the appropriate skills to do so, and so a job readiness program would be very beneficial). Jessica also suggested cooperating with local school systems and doing displays for National Foster Care Month in May. She also suggested subscribing to Represent magazine which is written especially for youth in the foster care system. Other organizations that she mentioned include: The Casey Family Programs and The National Foster Parents Associations
I'm afraid that I was a little late for this, as it conflicted with Janet Taylor Lisle's talk, but luckily I was able to catch the majority of this. One of the hardest, yet most fun part of the job is helping patrons with reader's advisory questions. The reason most of us became librarians is because of our love of reading and the need to share that with others. However, it is sometimes very hard to answer, "Can you recommend a good book to read?" The Raleigh Branch of the Wake County Public Library in North Carolina is very dedicated to books and reading. They run several book genre book clubs, including Classics, African-American, Non-Fiction, 2nd and 3rd Grade, 4th and 5th Grade, Teens, and Science Fiction. All of these are staff run, with the exception of Science Fiction. (Even that has a staff liaison). There is also a book blog which is updated five times a week. Clare emphasized the importance of conducting programs that are book and reader's advisory related. She also suggested being lenient in regards to fines, and to think of library rules as guidelines in order to create a more user friendly environment. She also cited Nancy Pearl (aka, the model for the Librarian Action Figure) who goes to the stacks every day and writes down titles that look interesting. A lively discussion followed in which Clare and the audience members suggested genres for those who read non-fiction such as the travel memoirs, troubled life (what I like to call the Dysfunctional Family Memoir), Politicians, economics, disasters, and true crime. She stressed that those who identify themselves as fiction readers can read non-fiction and vice versa.
This was on par with the workshop about working with foster teens, in that it was not only very interesting but also very relevant and important. Gunner started the presentation by asking, "What are transgender" and "Why are you seeing many in public libraries?" Gunner gave many statistics about transgender, including that 47% have been fired due to to being transgendered and that others have reported harassment at work. A large percentage are homeless and another percentage live on less than $10,000 a year. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, many criminals view transgendered people (especially women of color) as "disposable". He then discussed the difference between one's sex and gender, and how one know's one's gender identity. He then asked, "Do transgender patrons experience service access differently from non-transgender clients?" For instance, are they judged? Are they disrespected in the incorrect use of pronouns or names? Do staff use homo/transphobic language? It is important to use a patron's preferred name or pronoun, and to provide relevant and inclusive materials/resources. What is library card policy regarding legal names?
One theme that I experienced throughout this day is that public libraries are community centers, whether it's for specific communities, or for providing specific needs or services. Just something to keep in mind!
Thanks for reading about my day at NELA. I'm not sure how coherent this entry was, as it's pretty late at night. I'll be back tomorrow with more updates.
On a very happy note, I see that Texas has beat New York 8-0 in game 3 of the ALCS. This means that the Yankees are losing 2 games to 1 in the series and only need to lose 2 more times in order to avoid the World Series. Lovely!
So, anyway, the NELA conference. As I said here, I arrived last night and am rooming with my former co-worker, Linda. I also was lucky to run into some other former co-workers, today, Holly and Dina. Holly, who is attending her first library conference, is the winner of the line of the day for saying, "I feel like I'm home. I am with people who are just like me." This reflects, perfectly, my feelings when I am with my fellow librarians. I also had the pleasure of running into our Kate and Louise. (The three of us converged at a reader's advisory workshop). Louise, in fact, is a member of the conference committee and has worked tirelessly to make this a great conference. I also ran into Steve, our former sub who designed our current web site, as well some fellow Minuteman folk and some of my former cohorts from my days as an active Massachusetts Library Association (MLA) member. After dinner, I had the pleasure of not only socializing with Linda, but also my friend, April, and two woman from a public library in Maine. We discussed ways in which to advocate for our profession.
Today, I attended several workshops, including: Trends, Trends, Trends (Innovations in Technical Services), Reaching out to Foster Teens, Luncheon with YA author Janet Taylor Lisle, Reader's Advisory 101, and Serving Transgender Patrons. I also went to dinner and was serenaded by the sounds of Dewey and the Decibels.
- Trends, Trends, Trends: Innovations in Technical Services, Collections and More
This was very interesting and was one of the few workshops that I have ever attended that was geared toward both academic and public librarians. There was a lot covered in this workshop, but in a nutshell, everything is changing in libraries and therefore everything is changing in cataloging. The content, for instance, is changing. There is still physical content, but yet there is also a lot of electronic content. At one point, librarians tried to keep up with that and catalog the Internet. Realistically, librarians realized over time, that this could not happen. Libraries are using more electronic content. Interestingly, the libraries don't necessarily own this content, but rather distribute it. (with the help of vendors, of course). As libraries move in this direction, it is important that they re-forge their missions and also realize that the traditional catalog rules may be in conflict with what the users need and/or want. The speakers also stressed that librarians need to do less, that it is not necessary to do the work of 20 librarians. They also said that it's important to stress to patrons when budget cuts occur. The speakers said that public libraries, especially, tend to shield patrons from user cuts by using other measures. Sometimes it's okay for users (or members as many prefer to be called) to stand in line, in order to understand the amount of work that librarians are forced to do. They also said that self check out can help in this. The speakers stressed that cataloging rules should not come before user (patron, member) needs. The Darien Library in Darien,CT is a good example of a library whose catalog is taking user wants and needs into account (http://www.darienlibrary.org/catalog). They also discussed Penn Tags (http://tags.library.upenn.edu/).
- Reaching out to Foster Teens
I really enjoyed this workshop as I know that we have foster teens who do use our library and I would like to serve them better. Jessica spoke about her experiences working at the public libraries in Oakland, California and Boston , MA. She stressed outreach and mentioned several organizations, such as the Home for Little Wanderers. (Waltham House is affiliated with them). Some of the outreach activities included sending fliers to foster group homes, waiving fines for patrons in the situation, and offering relevant programs such as job readiness. (Those living in the foster care system, for instance, usually age out at 18 and are forced to become independent. In many cases, they may not have the appropriate skills to do so, and so a job readiness program would be very beneficial). Jessica also suggested cooperating with local school systems and doing displays for National Foster Care Month in May. She also suggested subscribing to Represent magazine which is written especially for youth in the foster care system. Other organizations that she mentioned include: The Casey Family Programs and The National Foster Parents Associations
- NERTCL Luncheon with Janet Taylor Lisle
Reader's Advisory 101
I'm afraid that I was a little late for this, as it conflicted with Janet Taylor Lisle's talk, but luckily I was able to catch the majority of this. One of the hardest, yet most fun part of the job is helping patrons with reader's advisory questions. The reason most of us became librarians is because of our love of reading and the need to share that with others. However, it is sometimes very hard to answer, "Can you recommend a good book to read?" The Raleigh Branch of the Wake County Public Library in North Carolina is very dedicated to books and reading. They run several book genre book clubs, including Classics, African-American, Non-Fiction, 2nd and 3rd Grade, 4th and 5th Grade, Teens, and Science Fiction. All of these are staff run, with the exception of Science Fiction. (Even that has a staff liaison). There is also a book blog which is updated five times a week. Clare emphasized the importance of conducting programs that are book and reader's advisory related. She also suggested being lenient in regards to fines, and to think of library rules as guidelines in order to create a more user friendly environment. She also cited Nancy Pearl (aka, the model for the Librarian Action Figure) who goes to the stacks every day and writes down titles that look interesting. A lively discussion followed in which Clare and the audience members suggested genres for those who read non-fiction such as the travel memoirs, troubled life (what I like to call the Dysfunctional Family Memoir), Politicians, economics, disasters, and true crime. She stressed that those who identify themselves as fiction readers can read non-fiction and vice versa.
- Serving Transgender Patrons
This was on par with the workshop about working with foster teens, in that it was not only very interesting but also very relevant and important. Gunner started the presentation by asking, "What are transgender" and "Why are you seeing many in public libraries?" Gunner gave many statistics about transgender, including that 47% have been fired due to to being transgendered and that others have reported harassment at work. A large percentage are homeless and another percentage live on less than $10,000 a year. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, many criminals view transgendered people (especially women of color) as "disposable". He then discussed the difference between one's sex and gender, and how one know's one's gender identity. He then asked, "Do transgender patrons experience service access differently from non-transgender clients?" For instance, are they judged? Are they disrespected in the incorrect use of pronouns or names? Do staff use homo/transphobic language? It is important to use a patron's preferred name or pronoun, and to provide relevant and inclusive materials/resources. What is library card policy regarding legal names?
One theme that I experienced throughout this day is that public libraries are community centers, whether it's for specific communities, or for providing specific needs or services. Just something to keep in mind!
Thanks for reading about my day at NELA. I'm not sure how coherent this entry was, as it's pretty late at night. I'll be back tomorrow with more updates.
On a very happy note, I see that Texas has beat New York 8-0 in game 3 of the ALCS. This means that the Yankees are losing 2 games to 1 in the series and only need to lose 2 more times in order to avoid the World Series. Lovely!
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