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1
What I Learned at PLA 2008: Part 3
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Okay, wrapping things up here (btw, these have not been in order of attendance):
A few key points from the “Need to Lead” program sponsored by the Urban Libraries Council and its Executive Leadership Initiative:
- ELI is based on action learning - learning is most effective when involved in a real-tim, actual project
- learning how to move their organizations forward
- important to take risks and learn from failures
- important to express one’s desire to become a leader or enter management
- 3 must-haves for leaders:
- passion for what they’re doing
- good judgment
- courage
- key: how do leaders deal with failure?
- self-realization is a key element of becoming a leader
- personal life and career-related
- knowing strengths and weaknesses
- keep your options open so you’re able to see all the opportunities for leadership, don’t think of just one department, one type of library, etc.
Okay, don’t have notes for two other programs I attended (monitored really), but here are some links. These two were probably the funniest, most entertaining presentations I went to, and both had some really good tips, too!
- Handling Upset Patrons: From the Irate to the Insane by the author of “Black Belt Librarians“
Also, wanted to mention that many of the handouts and slides from PLA 2008 are available online and the virtual conference includes a lot of good stuff, like virtual poster sessions and recorded versions of the most popular programs.
One more thing…the PLA blog has tons of great posts from a lot of people covering a lot of programs. If you didn’t get a chance to go to the conference in-person, or even if you did, it’s a great way to get a feel for what went on.
Apr
1
What I Learned at PLA 2008: Part 2
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More notes lessons, inspiration, ideas, questions from PLA 2008…
From George and Joan’s presentation, “It Ain’t Necessarily So: Challenging the Assumptions of Legacy Librarianship”
- librarians have never been the first or second choice to get information
- how does the library add value to an open information economy?
- enhanced discoverability - engines, not opacs, crawl-able databases, text/im microformats, digitization, captioning, contributions to non-library sites and sources
- important to go out and comment and participate on other blogs, not just your own library blog
- most people think of books when they think of libraries and that’s not a bad thing
- how can we leverage the books brand? capitalize on the image of books/reading lifestyle! (ex. gov arnold using the state librarian’s office ask a backdrop because he realizes it makes him look educated, intelligent, etc.)
- be a part of the ideas economy, not the information economy; become a books/reading lifestyle evangelist
- emphasis on abundance!
- demand-based resource allocation (i.e., more best sellers!); if they want it, there must be a reason so give it to them. this isn’t about dumbing down
- fast, convenient service delivery
- minimal rationing
- no victims - don’t disappoint people, be enthusiastic
- who provides worthwhile information? 78% said libraries and 93% google. what do you actually use? 20% said library websites.
- speed and convenience - most important factors
- set-up the library so it’s easy for civilians (non library people) to succeed on their own terms
- simplified wayfinding - less clutter, civilian terminology, situational directions, power paths and nodes (putting information at crossroads), layout by activity on not by collection
- zone staffing - responsibilities by area, not just a desk
- don’t make people feel stupid! insure success
- info at point of use
- minimal gate-keeping
- fewer, simpler rules
- presumption of innocence
- cut people some slack!
- don’t control, but enable!
- highlight and reinforce librarians’ status as professionals by:
- dispatched service
- librarians on-call
- tech staff on-call
- work to completion with each person
- so what do ref librarians do?
- prepackaged info, FAQs
- research
- “check your work”
- appointments
- learning specialists
- constituent specialists
- outreach
- many people have just about given up on privacy in today’s world, so how can we use the data we already collection (without being unethical)
- put a sign at the entrance areas so people know what’s happening at libraries today, this week
- stop making decisions based on fear of what the public will do if we stop controlling them
- what do people need, want; what are their priorities?
From “Changing Cultures: Experiences in Fostering Innovation from Within”
- important to create a risk-ready culture
- walk the walk, don’t tell me what you believe, show me
- organizational culture is like a snowball getting bigger and more packed; you can’t just come in and get rid of it or change it right away
- but you can do a little bit over time - evolutionary vs. revolutionary
- shining some sunshine on it and letting it melt a little
- creating a critical mass of change agents - leadership throughout the org and putting problem solving and decision making at the right level
- recognize and celebrate the people who take chances (cliff jumper award for people who tried something of their comfort zone, even if the idea failed)
- get rid of people who can’t or don’t want to change or evolve
Things learned from “Great Libraries for Dummies” by Greg Buss of Richmond Library in Canada:
- 4 major trends in customer service:
- the library as destination
- customer convenience is the first priority
- customer-based technology
- connecting with the community
- 10 things you must be doing to achieve excellence:
- be open 7 days a week
- create comfortable and appealing spaces (including food and drinks!)
- utilize the power of the customer
- merchandize with power walls for adults and kids
- walk the floor - librarians can be a lot more approachable
- provide web-based services to empower
- involve the community
- promote the library
- measure, compare, and adjust internally and externally
- fully utilize staff and board commitment
- consensus is not required and perhaps counter-productive
- identify the willing and work with them
- capture enthusiasm and energy
- focus on the customer
- the majority will follow
- 5 obvious, but difficult steps
- think like a customer
- determine core functions
- set priorities
- manage resources
- implement with urgency and enthusiasm
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