Below are the highlights from the PLA Virtual Conference session by session that were shared by participants after each session in the evaluation form.
Some minor editing was done to remove some duplicate ideas, but the majority of the notes are in the words of attendees who participated in the virtual conference together.
Shortcuts to Greatness: Or Ten Things That Great Libraries Know and Maybe You Don’t
1) Interesting examples of things other libraries are doing to reach out to and involve the community.
2) Examples of visions statements that were interesting (I thought most of them were more like tag lines than vision statements).
3) I enjoyed reading the qualities of a leader – these slides could be interesting in the assessment of leadership within an organization. I also enjoyed the slides on job descriptions. different approach!
1. Connect to customers–affection, respect, heartfelt connection.
2. Look cool–facilities, website, people
3. Humor important.
-awesome handouts from this powerpoint.
-shake it up.
-look at vision!
Books: The Top 5 of the Top 5
Different classification of new books
1. New authors.
2. Trends in books.
3. Share your favorite books with patrons. Read widely and become very familiar with collection.
Advanced Black Belt Librarians: The Top Ten Security Issues in Public Libraries
-Try a periodic review at staff meetings on how to handle security issues.
-Try 30-30-30 as a way to increase awareness: for 30 days every 30 minutes, stop for 30 seconds and observe what’s going on in the library. When staff try this, it will raise their level of awareness of what is going on around them.
-Enforce rules based on customer behavior rather than customer appearance.
-It’s about communication not confrontation.
-Use a clip board for potential problems, security incident report, problem log.
-Staff should not enforce rules based on appearance. They should enforce rules based on behavior!
-keep procedures simple and hold people accountable to follow them.
-hire and train the right staff for the right public positions.
-bad guys will find the shortcomings in your policies.
-staff is paid to think: let them use common sense to handle the situation when they can.
-blackbeltlibrarians.com
-The conflict that often exists between policy and common sense.
-Consistency of policy and enforcement is important.
-Front line staff fear problems of their bend the rules if even for a practical exception.
-Have CLEAR procedures to go with the policies
-Keep a security log/incident sheet
-Use walkarounds as a deterrent.
-Constant awareness is necessary, especially with reduced staff
-Documentation can help catch problems before they happen
-Keep rules SIMPLE.
-Spin rules positively on signs
Adrift or Right on Target: Perspectives on Floating Collections
-Peer Driven Quality Improvement Team (PDQI) made the project work.
-Biggest benefit: Fewer copies needed because holds were directed to the audience who needed them.
-How you set up your ILS is key to getting delivery benefits. How is location considered in the holds queue?
-small collections of “no holds” items is okay. What would be wrong with a No-Holds policy on the NEW items for 3 months? That way those people with an immediate need to have the item could buy it at the bookstore and donate it to us?
-It should be a priority for new ILS selection that the system can differentiate between items with a hold list and items that are simply a delivery selection. -Systemwide uniform weeding policies are important!
-All collection management decisions are important in floating collections for long-term success.
-Can rules be set up to allow “floating” only to certain branches?
-Could upcounty float just to upcounty and downcounty float just to downcounty on collections like DVDs or things that package differently?
-”Weeding Branch” concept!
-A greater way to loan books and save on budget
-Specific Webreporter report assists in weeding and moving materials.
-Floating collections results in greater circulation of fewer copies.
-Libraries created a grid that helped determine the number of copies purchased and where they start.
-Still depend on library staff for unique library needs.
Cracking the Code: Beyond Dewey: Words Vs. Numbers
Forcing patrons to translate what is in their mind into Dewey is bad customer service.
Bookshelves should be on wheels!
Libraries using Words vs. Dewey numbers are more popular materials based
WorkThink Grid concept, translating BISAC to unique spine labeling
Libraries using Words for classification are doing so in conjunction with a physical move to a ‘community center’ design.
Signage/displays is the key to finding materials. Word-based systems can work. Need a user map.
Molly Moyer: Retired Bookseller/Librarian: Dewey is predictable, familiar, and “easy” for librarians. Bookstores arrange things very differently.
Focus on shelving, display, furniture, signage (fonts that are readable up close and far away and words that users use), and collection.
1. map of the library w/ the various sections labeled
2. put as few barriers as possible between book and patron
3. Shore’s point of library as a ‘third place’
- images on signage (numbers scare patrons)
- shelving by subject using WordThink
S.Y.A.S.S. Save Your After School Sanity
1. Vetting workshop presenters wasn’t done very well with this session. 2. There are still a lot of librarians out there who are perpetuating the stereotypical librarian. 3. Only one presenter had any truly sensible things to say on this panel, and she read everything. This was a really poor presentation.
1. some people don’t really like or understand teens 2. there seems to be a lack of creativity in looking at this issue 3. negative attitudes are going to beget negative behavior
-The presenters are scared of teens. -There are many bad ideas. -Sure, sometimes there are problems with behavior, but patrolling with a billy club won’t solve them.
Marketing as Conversation: How to Interact with Your Community Through Your Website
- Taking pictures of community events and posting on Flikr. – Library service is really all about connecting with people and building relationships.
You have a great chance of success if you can get everyone “on the bus”. Create an environment to facilitate conversation – places where patrons can comment, make suggestions, etc Combine social networking tools to feed off of each other – facebook ties into flickr ties into twitter ties into a blog, etc.
1.flickr can be an amazing tool for capturing both the library and the community and starting online conversations 2. twitter has more uses for the library than I initialy thought. I have an account;need to explore this more in general 3. for me it would be important to “leave space for others” since I tend to like to be the eager beaver librarian who tries to provide all the answers…let it be a conversation, a sharing
How to use social media to get out in the community, be engaged, listening and participating to market services. The need to continue to manage your organization’s online identity. Getting staff to understand that talking with customers via online social media tools is as necessary as talking with people on the phone or in person.
Ask now widget embedded link to a librarian/website. Post building expansion photos on Flickr This stuff takes time.
Inside the Author’s Studio-Seaman interviews Roach
Mary Roach is hilarious!! I’m definitely going to read her next book. She presents her information in a fun and engaging way.
The author is funny. The library has many of her books.
1. learned about Mary Roach and her books 2. her books help take intimidation out of science 3. someone actually has a job title: Curator of Cosmic Dust
LITA’s Top Technology Trends
Will be difficult for libraries to provide e-content due to publishers, copyright and cost.
Individuals can purchase econtent cheaper than libraries.
Lawsuits in the 80′s for libraries to checkout videos started the content wars.
Augmented reality was a new term for me.
Use QR codes to provide addtional content to your patrons.
The iPad will change the face of the eBook industry.
Libraries = Content + Community
Learned what augmented reality
Started thinking about new aspects of digital divide
Libraries can circulate physical formats of digital content.
Cross-Over Readers Advisory
New Readers’ Advisory Handbook – new title Types of books that appeal to teen boys What aspects of teen books appeal to adults
1. learned a lot more about epic fantasy, a genre that I’m interested in and needed to learn more about 2. overall list of book suggestions very helpful 3. I want to read more epic fantasy.
-Books with the Prince award are great cross-overs for adults. -Try a teen/adult reading group for something different. -Teen readers know when you are talking down to them. -Alex Awards for good reading lists for Teens -Try Sci Fi or Fantasy for reluctant readers. It can bring together various age groups.
If You Didn’t Work Here Would You Come Here?
sites.google.com/site/plaportland2010/
1. after hours important for drawing in people
2. e-mail list, blogs, social networking crucial
3. quality programming w/ that liberal arts twist…I liked many of Crosby’s ideas
-20-30 somethings are an important demographic that the library system needs to do more to attract.
-We can take better advantage of modern existing technologies like facebook and twitter to prmote the library among this demographic. Find out what programs would bring this group to the library. Existing book discussion groups are not addressing all demographics.
-Many great ideas for “out of the box” programming
-”Make yourself a missionary for the library”
-Market to group you want to attract Feedback on Twitter After hours are important
-Alcohol and after hours are two key components to attracting 20-30′somethings.
-20-30′somethings are an important demographic for civic support, they pay taxes and vote
-Use Google Alerts to keep track of social networking hits about you
-Ladies night out at the library (making candles, soaps, beauty products), library block parties, art shows, literary speed dating, Green environment resource campaign. These types of events help to join together people interested in specific topics to help form mini-communities for your library.
-Multonamah County uses a “Giant Library Card” in their advertisements/media for good photo opportunities.
-Program Idea: Meet the Past: Have people dress up as historical figures and have someone do interviews. Partner with public television topical areas.
-Offer after hours events, hosted by the library, not always in the library. Staff can plan and promote the event. Local press will cover innovative programs (like dating!) hosted at the library.
-Make yourself a missionary for your library everywhere you go. Marketing from the staff word of mouth makes all the difference.
-Get your staff liking your library Facebook posts and resharing it on their own personal pages.
