Kudos, Otranto

Wednesdays blog posting by Curtis Rogers is about an innovative outreach tactic from out own Otranto Regional Branch Library. They took door knob hangers trumpeting the services of CCPL out and canvassed the neighborhood. That's Holly and Joseline in action.
What a great idea!

Get a library card online!

April 14th marked the start of a new service here at Charleston County Public Library. Our web page says:
Library launches online registration as part of national celebration

With the new online service, county residents submit their registration online and are mailed a new Library Card. On their next visit to a library branch or the bookmobile, they simply show the card and a photo ID to activate the card. Once active, they open the world to the Library's collection of nearly 1.3 million books, DVDs, videos, CDs and audiocassettes plus more than a hundred databases and electronic services - many from home.

And, in honor of National Library Week, the first 40 new patrons who successfully register online will receive a $5 Barnes and Noble gift card. This special incentive is available through funds provided by the Friends of the Library.

With the introduction of online library card registration, the Charleston County Public Library joins a select group of library systems nationwide offering this new service in response to requests from patrons.

We've been talking about this for a while now, so please spread the word to your co-workers and friends.

Thinking library thoughts

In the not so old days, if you didn't attend a conference, you just missed out on some great presentations and energizing ideas. In the not so recent past you could link to a PowerPoint presentation and read the handouts.
In the happening right now days, you can read the blogs of people at the conferences and get the highlights of those same presentations. OK, it's not being there, but you still get some great ideas.
Like these, from David Lee King's blog, summarizing a talk by George Needham and Joan Frye Williams, entitled " Challenging the Assumptions of Legacy Librarianship." I've pulled two quotes from Daivds blog for today, but this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Assumption: libraries aren’t just about books anymore

reality: people think we’re about books
- this is not a bad thing - that’s great brand recognition
Why do people use the library? Studies show it’s mainly books…

If we have a brand, let’s use it.

And
Arrange the library by what people do there
- Do Your homework
- ask a question
- read new stuff

Zone staffing
- service points are wrong
- not just on desk - you’re responsible for a whole area.
- you’re responsible for the civlian’s successful experience - not just for specific transactions

What do you think?

Book oriented?

I'm a member of a ALA Central Libraries listserv. The moderator actively mines the Internet for library news and today's email linked to an article about a new central library design for Macau. They are striving to do many things with their new building. (Macau Daily Times, Wednesday, April 9, 2008)

...the Macau Government is seeking to draw on the professional experience and talent of local architects.
Underpinning the design of the new library will be the core values of –“cultural legacy”, “guided learning”, “intellectual development”, and “service to society”. It will be dedicated to enriching cultural resources, carrying out cultural education, passing on documentary information, creating a reading atmosphere, and positioning itself as Macau’s city classroom, citizen’s square and cultural centre.

While that was interesting, here's the sentence that grabbed me.
"The new library will endeavour to shift from institution-oriented to people-oriented and from book-oriented to reader-oriented."

What would a reader-oriented library look like to you?

The Four P's

I've read in more than one place recently about the presentation that Sandra Nelson, consultant and author of Strategic Planning for Results (ALA 2008) gave at PLA in March. Each time her points have resonated with me, so I thought I'd share them.

She said that libraries "rely far too much" on promotion and do not spend enough time on the 3 other P's: product, place, and price. Price you say? But, we're free. Ah...Are we? She went on to say that these P's are related to convenience. "What kind of hoops do I have to go through to check out a DVD, to sign up to use a computer, to get a meeting room?" she asked. "If it's too hard and takes too much time...they're not going to use it."

We've all witnessed this and have felt the same way in other areas of our own lives. What price are we asking? Are there things that you think we could make more convenient or less hard? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Show off CCPL for National Library Week

Need your help here! The State Library has issued a call for participation in the second year of capturing what librarians and libraries do, as part of National Library Week. Here's what Curtis Rogers said:

Librarians Help Celebrate National Library Week in South Carolina

During National Library Week 2008 on the days of April 14-16, South Carolina Library Staff members will take a wide range of photographs of librarians working, researching, teaching, and doing all that librarians do in a given day.

Library staff members from any type of library are encouraged to be creative in taking photos that capture the essence of South Carolina librarianship and are visually attractive. Winners will be recognized on the SC State Library's web site and during the 2008 SCLA Annual Conference in the fall in Greenville, October 22-24.

Photos must be submitted via Flickr.com and tagged with NLWdayinSC2008. There is no need for library staff members to pre-register to participate in the project. To participate in the contest, simply join the Flickr group, NLW - Day in the Life of SC Libraries at Flickr.CONTEST GUIDELINES

1) Only SC Library staff (from any type of library) may submit entries for the contest.

2) Entries must be submitted on April 14, 15, or 16, 2008. Entries must be submitted to the NLWdayinSC2008 Flickr group by simply posting them. You must first have a flickr.com account, and then join the group, www.flickr.com/groups/nlwdayinsc2008/. Each photo should also have the tag NLWdayinSC2008. You may use any additional tags and titles and descriptions that relate to the photo.

3) Each individual library staff member may submit up to three photos to the Flickr group. The three entries do not have to be spread among the three categories.

4) All individuals pictured in submitted photographs must sign a photo release. You may download a copy of the form at www.statelibrary.sc.gov/docs/national_library_week.pdf. Entries will not be valid until all signed photo releases are received by fax (803-734-8676) and must be submitted by 5pm April 16, 2008. Please be sure to identify the photo as best you can on the release so the release can be matched with the posted photo.

5) Winners from the photographic contest will be announced on Friday April 18, 2008 on the Flickr group page and via the SC State Library web site. Judging criteria will be based on composition, quality, subject, lighting, creativity, and the ability to capture of the spirit of SC librarianship. A total of four photos will be selected winners: One in each category and one overall. These 4 photos will be posted on the SC State Library web site and will be announced in a press release. Various honorable mentions will also be announced. Winners will also be recognized at the annual fall SCLA conference in Greenville, October 22-24, 2008.

I'd love to see lots of Charleston County Public Library shots there, so please remember to tag your photos either CCPL or Charleston County Public Library, so they can easily be found. We won an honorable mention last year. Let's see what we can get this year!