Category Archives: Public libraries

Staff Picks

Posted on September 7, 2015 by

It was my turn to put together a staff picks display for my library. I have to say that it was much harder than I anticipated. It was hard in a good way–it made me think. When you put a … Continue reading →

Posted in Library Director, Management, Public libraries | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Digitizing Our Treasures

Posted on November 4, 2014 by

Many in the library world will by now have read The Aspen Institute’s Report, Rising to the Challenge: Re-envisioning Public Libraries, and if you haven’t, you should.  It is thoughtfully prepared and presented, and it makes an important point about … Continue reading →

Posted in Collection Development, Disappearing print, Public libraries | Tagged , | Leave a comment

What management doesn’t get about Youth Services

Posted on August 19, 2014 by

Cutting edge libraries these days are changing up the way they do things. Management teams look at the traditional ways that libraries are set up, with an Adult Services Department and a Youth Services Department and a Technical Services Department … Continue reading →

Posted in Child Development, customer service, Management, Public libraries, Uncategorized, Youth Services | 1 Comment

Hospitality

Posted on June 29, 2014 by

There are people I have worked with over the years who seemed to me to be the definition of hospitable. They will bake dozens of batches of Christmas cookies to give away. They will organize a potluck and make sure … Continue reading →

Posted in customer service, Public libraries, Uncategorized | Tagged | 2 Comments

Mission first

Posted on April 27, 2014 by

To me, the best thing about working in a public library is that the work matters. It changes lives. It sparks interests that will lead both children and adults in new and wonderful directions. It makes it possible for people … Continue reading →

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Not an expert in library marketing but…

Posted on March 30, 2014 by

I am a children’s librarian and a library administrator, not a library marketing expert. Yet even I can tell you that: On March 30, after a long and brutal winter, on a day in which my neighbor said that if … Continue reading →

Posted in Library marketing, Management, Public libraries, Reading Incentive Programs, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

What I Have Learned in Dog Training

Posted on March 23, 2014 by

Maybe everybody does this. I am always trying to relate something I learn from one area in my life to the other areas of my life. The thing I’ve been doing lately that has been one big learning experience is … Continue reading →

Posted in Child Development, Parents, Public libraries, storytime, Youth Services | 2 Comments

The Modern Public Library

Posted on February 22, 2014 by

When I first started working at my library, it was at a temporary site while the old building was being extensively remodeled. A few months later it opened for a thrilled community. Another nearby library was also under construction using … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction, Public libraries, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Battle of the Books

Posted on February 9, 2014 by

34 years is a long time. That is how long my library has collaborated with our area schools to run a Battle of the Books competition. 34 years! Last night we celebrated  with an awards ceremony for the winning team … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood reading, Children's books, Programs, Public libraries, Reading Incentive Programs, Uncategorized, Youth Services | Leave a comment

Youth Services Showing the Way

Posted on November 16, 2013 by

At my library, and perhaps yours too, we are looking at our services and our staff and trying to figure out what changes we should make to adapt to the changing roles of libraries. It will not surprise anyone that … Continue reading →

Posted in customer service, Management, Public libraries, Youth Services | Tagged , , | 1 Comment