I read a lot of
materials regarding library space, libraries 2.0 (and beyond) and how to keep
libraries relevant. But it seems like much of the literature is geared toward
other librarians, which is totally fine and helpful, but at times feels like
preaching to the choir.
Maybe I am not making
sense.
Below are two random
thoughts.
If I was a library
director manager person, I would make short and long term plans to bring
excitement to the branch or branches.
The idea would be to
chalk up as many checks in the win column a week, month, and year.
There would be a lot of
misses I am sure, but if you are really unsure something will work tell the
higher-ups that it is a "pilot," program or event. A talk I went to
once called it a "safe word," in reference to trying something new.
Also, even though I don't particularly care for meetings I think debriefs are
good after events take place because then everyone involved can provide their
perspective. Being a community member would be important too. I would be on
committees and I would want to get to know the local politicos and key business
folks too. Also, anyone else who could be considered harder to see or identify.
Everyone deserves to be part of the conversation. And really it is library for
crying out loud. The only all-inclusive place left in any community.
I am a sole librarian at
the college I work for and I sometimes wonder what it would be like to work
with other academic librarians side by side. It is hard for me to be the expert
on all things the school I work for covers. It would be nice to be able to have
someone to bounce ideas off of and to collaborate with on academic endeavors.
With that being said, there are many librarians in the school system I work for
and a few of us got together and did a presentation, which is now going to be a
chapter in a book. Yes, the book is geared toward librarians, but the material
is library manager specific.
Information literacy is
my gig. My mission is to help the students become better researchers. I know
that many K-12 schools don't have librarians anymore and that their research is
done either at home via the interwebs, or at their local public branch.
Maybe there should be a
librarian reality show, or George Clooney should narrate a documentary about
librarians who are really bitchin' and do cool things.
Some of the masses have
forgotten about libraries. How to be noticed again?
