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?
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?
posted by cynthialb at 10:00 AM
2 Comments:
It is an interesting time to be in the library business... there are so many different things in this post I could comment on, but I'm just going to *try* and keep it on one big thing: "you're responsible for the civilian's successful experience - not just for specific transactions."
Ultimately, I think the bottom line is for staff who work with public to be willing and flexible enough (whether at a staff desk or roving) to actively engage patrons and to fill their information needs with just the right amount of information or product that conveniently meets their needs. Public library reference staff in general are not 'special' or 'corporate librarians' doing 'grunt work library research', but are in many ways public instructors, guides, and stewards of citizen tax dollars and yes even researchers at time, but in the broadest of terms or at times tasked with routine and repetitive duties explaining where the bathroom is or helping people use the copier and so on...
Initially, I wanted to talk about pet peeves... Closing announcements that don't inform patrons when the library will re-open the following day (we are not inviting patrons back, but rather saying leave now -- which we need to do practically, but not rolling out the welcome mat so to speak for tomorrow is a mistake in my opinion).
As for centerally locating staff at service points in narrowly or broadly defined departments, I have my own thoughts on that. As an opinion in general terms, anything that puts up barriers to engaging patrons in dialog or detracting staff from remaining approachable is a negative -- whether that means keeping service desks or tossing out the desk is really not the issues it is enhancing the patron experience within our limited resources and time is the key. If we can't pull off a service or task at one desk or service point well, it is best to get the patron to a place where it can be done well whether dividing or consolidating tasks or cross training I don't think this is something that is coverable in a comment like this.
Keep in mind it is always easier to take shots at the top when your sitting on the bottom... As it is sometimes, it takes guts to do "risky" things in the public library realm and not make waves until doing things along with the masses occurs.
Thoughtful reply!
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