How to Make Your Library Great

Goodness, can it really be almost a month since this blog has seen any action? It has been a busy spring with the 13 state librarian town meetings and final RLC planning.

We are counting down to the conference. Please be sure to complete the Gates preassessment survey before you arrive at Grand Traverse Resort:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=140052549858

You will also want to check out How to Make Your Library Great and other articles in the April issue of the Making Places newsletter from the Project for Public Spaces.

Register, Register, Register

I checked with Deb yesterday and found that there are about 300 people registered for the Rural Conference. I am happy to see so many have registered, but there is still time for you procrastinators. Send in your registration today, you can't find a better bargain anywhere, no registration costs. Even the local "1/4 dollar General" or TJMaxx can beat that price.

The agenda for the conference is great with some programs for all interests. Best of all it's time to get together with old friends and make new friends.

See you at the Casino, I am planning on doubling my state aid money for next year.

Conference Activities

Rural Libraries Conference:
The deadline to register for the Rural Libraries conference is extended to April 13th. Registration is free. Be sure to complete and return a registration form so we have a chair for you to sit on and delicious meals to eat!

As you prepare to attend the conference, you may want to make sure you have some good walking shoes and your jaw is exercised. The hospitality/local arrangements committee has activities planned that will keep you walking, talking, laughing and smiling. Dress is casual and comfortable.

Passport to prizes:
To encourage networking and sharing, all conference attendants will receive a Passport. Each attendee will start off with one sticker in their passport. Throughout the conference, attendees will have numerous opportunities to earn stickers. The stickers earned will be used as currency to bid on gift baskets that will be auctioned off during the closing luncheon on Wednesday.

Dessert reception:
The conference starts will a “bang” on Monday and includes guest speakers Michael Stephens and Jenny Levine at the opening luncheon. After dinner, with keynote speaker Maureen Burns, there will be a dessert reception at which the State Librarian, Nancy Robertson, will make remarks. Then, an ice cream social, author fair, and musical entertainment will take place. The author fair will have numerous local authors who will sign and sell books.

Baskets:
Gift baskets will be given away at several events during the conference. Baskets will come from two sources: donations from libraries and donations from companies. The donated library baskets should be handed over to the committee during registration. “Special” gift baskets will be auctioned off during the closing luncheon on Wednesday.

Libraries are encouraged to donate baskets for the conference. Baskets typically follow themes. In the past, there have been scrapbooking baskets, massage item baskets, and baskets filled with local items from the town supplying the basket. If you have questions regarding the baskets, contact Holly Mercer.

Meal Mixer:
To encourage networking and sharing, the hospitality/local arrangements committee will be sponsoring a seating arrangement mixer during lunch on Tuesday. Prior to lunch, tables will be marked with a color. As conference attendees enter the banquet room, they will be handed a slip of colored paper that corresponds to a color at a table. You are encouraged to eat at the table that matches your color. Those that do will earn passport stickers.

Shop and Swap:
You are encouraged to bring material from your library to share with others. There will be 6 categories:
Promotion of Programs (Flyers, etc.)
Bookmarks
Children’s craft idea
Library newsletter or brochure
Annual report
Building project survival tips

The “Shop and Swap” items should be given to hospitality/local arrangement committee members during registration (Committee members will be sporting a Home Depot aprons during the conference). The “Shop and Swap” items will be set up on Tuesday during the morning break. All items will be made available for attendees to look at and take.

The committee will select the top ten items from each category. Conference attendees will then vote for a winner in each category on Tuesday night at 7:00. Category winners will receive a certificate.

Book discussion:
There will be a book discussion on Tuesday at 8:00. Librarians wishing to attend the book discussion are encouraged to read one of Joe Dereske’s Miss Zukas mystery books before attending the book discussion. In April, a list of discussion questions will be available to assist in the smooth flow of dialogue during the discussion. Jo herself plans to drop in for the discussion and promises that she “takes criticism well!”

Register today as you don’t want to miss this free and exciting conference!

Registration form: http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-17451_18668-142226--,00.html

LibrarianSpace - Library 2.0 on Ning

This is very cool - a social networking site for those of us who are into library 2.0! You can create a profile, join discussions, and "friend" others (like MySpace if you are on that).

Marian - I expect you to friend me, OK? I'm 02092DEB on Library 2.o.

-Deb

P.S. my personal call number is 020.92 DEB and yes, I know that isn't a proper application of the Cutter-Sanborn Author Table!!

Great TV Ad

We at Lake Neverwuz Library are always looking for ways to advertise the library. Check out this site and see a neat TV ad for a library. http://youtube.com/watch?v=rQZk0CKgkIg

Remember to register for the Rural Libraries Conference coming this May 7,8 and 9. See you at the Grand Traverse Resort.

Marian T.

policy & practice - wifi service

From John Blyberg's blog:

Headline: Alaskan Library lets down Patron

When I moved to Lansing last summer, I (gasp) cruised for wifi before Comcast could connect me at home. I now have a wireless network at home and assume that my service gets borrowed on occasion.

For those of you offering wireless service to your customers: what do you think? does your Internet policy address after hours access?

Busy Day in Libraryland

Energizing and exhausting at the same time! This video was created for library staff in service day at the St. Joseph County Public Library in South Bend, Indiana.

Watch closely and you'll see one of our keynote speakers, Michael Stephens.

26 days till Spring

As I look over the 25 foot snow drifts in the library parking lot here in Lake Neverwuz I am happy to hear that Spring will arrive in 26 days, which means that we will have only 7 more weeks of snow and ice. In May we usually have the last of the snow melt and that will coincide with this year's Rural Libraries Conference. Yes, May 7-9 at Grand Traverse Resort we will all be together again. Don't miss our reunion by forgetting register or reserving a room. The Gates Foundation is a paying for the registration, which includes the meals, so your library has to pay for the cost of the hotel. What a deal!!

I am anxious to get there so you can all see the results of my Extreme Makeover. You know when one gets past 30 parts of us start to go "south". Well I took some of my DDA beautification fund and used it to do a tuck here and there. It's all part of the let's bring Lake Neverwuz into the 21st century, a program sponsored by our Downtown Development Authority (DDA). I also received some grants for our staff and you just wouldn't believe the changes including the increase in male usage of the library.

I also thought we should have a cell phone at the library. Our only problem is that the cell phone reception is very poor unless you cross into the next county. VeryHorizon,ATTTT, Sprinter is working on getting a tower in town, they first tried putting a tower on the bookmobile but found that reception was only good around the bookmobile and because it changed location so often you were easily cut off during a conversation, this proved to be very problematic when the mayor was talking with the Governor concerning the 50% cut in state aid. Their conversation was cut off just when he said______.

We do get USF discount for the phone. Our schools have 98 of the 100 students qualify for the reduced lunch program so our discount is 99.99999% so the phone only costs us 39cents a month, and with the kind of service we get that's about what it's worth.

Enough about us, register for the conference so we can get together at the bar and talk about services and about the librarians who are not attending the conference.

Marian

Rural Libraries In Focus - WebJunction

In Focus Webinar: Social Software and the Rural Library

Each month the Rural Library Sustainability Project is presenting an hour-long webinar focused on a particular topic of importance to the work of sustaining Rural and Small libraries. Join us next on February 28, 10:00 AM PST/1:00 PM EST for Social Software and the Rural Library: Blogs, Wikis, IM, and more! How are these tools being used in libraries? What is the potential? What might the future hold?

http://webjunction.org/do/Navigation?category=13496 for more information and to register.

MeL ReMix is here!!!

Click on the logo to check out the new look and functionality!

MeL features subject pathfinders and a new section — MeL Michigana — for images from Michigan’s past.

Brave new world!

Is Lake Neverwuz a candidate?

FYI from MLA....

2007 Spring Workshop - Library Extreme Marketing Makeover: Real Stories, Real Problems, Real Solutions

The Marketing & Public Relations Roundtable Board invites libraries to apply to have their materials or toughest marketing problems receive an Extreme Makeover by our board members and other marketing professionals within the library and marketing/public relations professions. Two libraries will be chosen based on answers to the questions in the application. At the workshop, marketing experts will present the before and after results to the group. Attendees will then have an opportunity to get their own marketing questions answered and materials assessed by our expert panel.

Marian - there may be something in this for marketing your wedding services...

Fun? Anyone?

Never fear, we will have fun at RLC! The web page has been updated with information on keynote speakers and hints at the activities the hospitality committee is planning for us in the evenings.

The Gates curriculum will not be a boring, Ferris Beuller "anyone? something d-o-o economics?" type lecture. I promise. You will be networking, brainstorming, and rarin' to go by the end of the conference.

I've also heard that the coop directors will be hosting a party room I mean "hospitality suite" at GTR. That crazy band of 13! Marian - are you in on this? I've never asked about Lake Neverwuz's coop affiliation...

Keep warm, everyone!

A Funny Thing Happened at the Library

The general public thinks that we work in a very dull place and that nothing happens funny in libraries. Well I'm here to tell you that plenty happens and when the temperature dips as it has this week a few funny stories will get the blood flowing and help you through the cold. Here are a few jokes to lighten your day.

Chickens in Libraries A chicken walks into the library. It goes up to the circulation desk and says: "book, bok, bok, boook". The librarian hands the chicken a book. It tucks it under his wing and runs out. A while later, the chicken runs back in, throws the first book into the return bin and goes back to the librarian saying: "book, bok, bok, bok, boook". Again the librarian gives it a book, and the chicken runs out. The librarian shakes her head. Within a few minutes, the chicken is back, returns the book and starts all over again: "boook, book, bok bok boook". The librarian gives him yet a third book, but this time as the chicken is running out the door, she follows it. The chicken runs down the street, through the park and down to the riverbank. There, sitting on a lily pad is a big, green frog. The chicken holds up the book and shows it to the frog, saying: "Book, bok, bok, boook". The frog blinks, and croaks: "read-it, read-it, read-it".

Light Bulb Jokes:1. How many academic librarians does it take to change a light bulb? Just five. One changes the light bulb while the other four form a committee and write a letter of protest to the Dean, because after all, changing light bulbs IS NOT professional work!
2. How many catalogers does it take to screw in a light bulb? Just one, but they have to wait to see how LC does it first.
3. How many cataloguers does it take to change a lightbulb? Only one provided it is in AACR2.
4. How many reference librarians does it take to change a light-bulb? (with a perky smile) "Well, I don't know right off-hand, but I know where we can look it up!"
5. How many library system managers does it take to change a lightbulb? All of them as the manual was lost in the last move (or flood).
6. How many library managers does it take to change a lightbulb? At least one committee and a light bulb strategy focus meeting and plan.
7. How many library technicians does it take to change a lightbulb? Seven. One to follow approved procedure, and six to review the procedure. (8 if you count the librarian they all report to)

What happens when you cross a librarian and a lawyer?A: You get all the information you want, but you can't understand it.

Why did the librarian slip and fall on the library floor?Because she was in the non-friction section.

A young boy refused to do his homework, and his father was trying to convince him to do it. He said to his son: "When Abe Lincoln was your age, he was studying books by the light of the fireplace."
The son replied: "Well, when Lincoln was your age, he was President!"

Did you hear about the schoolgirl who was so excited about a book she found in the library called How to Hug?It turned out to be volume eight of an encyclopedia.

A kindergarten teacher asked the children just before she escorted them to the library, "And why is it necessary to be quiet in the Library?"Annie replied, "Because people are sleeping."

What did the detective do when he didn't believe the librarian's story?A. He booked her!

When a goose goes to the library, what books does she look for?A. Peoplebumps books!

If you travel to Eastern Europe, why won't you find any books in Prague's public library?A. They're all "Czech"ed out!

What building has the most stories?A. The library, of course!

Where does a librarian sleep?A. Between the covers.

Jim said, "My dog tried to eat my library book."" What did you do?" asked the librarian." I took the words right out of his mouth."

Once a blonde went to the library to get a book. A few days later, she returns and says to librarian at the counter, "This book was very boring. It had too many characters and too many numbers, so i would like to return it." The librarian says to the other librarian, "So here is the person who took our phone book!"

Fire Destroys Bush Presidential LibraryWASHINGTON (Reuters) - A tragic fire on Monday destroyed the personal library of President George W. Bush. Both of his books have been lost.

For more library humor join me at the Grand Traverse Resort May 7-9 we can share stories about library patrons and have a great time. Remember registration is taken care of with the Gates Foundation grant, we won't make fun of Bill or Melinda, so contact the Grand Traverse Resort and book your room. Don't forget to nominate a librarian or trustee from a rural library even someone who has been to every and I mean every rural conference.

Back from Seattle

I recently attended the ALA Midwinter Conference in Seattle, Washington and my head is still spinning. I toured the new Seattle Public Library and was amazed at what I saw. This building is glass enclosed, with the various levels in the building kind of floating inside. The colors were vivid with the conference level painted automobile red, floor, walls and ceiling. As usual I picked up a number of ideas that I will implement at Lake Neverwuz. They have four hundred computers available for the public to use. It makes our 10 Apple IIe's and the Commodore Lab look sick. The Seattle Public Library has been so popular that the library has even been rented out for a wedding. At Lake Neverwuz we are taking that a step further. Our staff is being trained as wedding planners. We are a one stop shopping place as long as you have a library card. We help with the proposal, planning for the wedding and the food and assist with selection of gowns and tux. We've had so many pe0ple coming in to the library to find out about weddings that we came up with this new service. Jack, the maintenance man, drapes the library in toile and lights, Tussy, does the bouquets, (we get the flowers from the local funeral home and save a bunch), we have a special collection of previously owned wedding dresses. One dress was never worn, the groom ran off with the maid of honor the night before the wedding. We have made arrangements with the local churches for ministers to preside and even have our own Elvis. John from the Friends does an Elvis impersonation and this helps the Friends raise some extra cash. We have been working to get a Melville Dewey to also perform weddings but this guy has been so busy at ribbon cuttings for new libraries that it may be months before we can get him. Prior to the weddings we hold classes on etiquette, planning the honeymoon and a special "Prozac can be your friend"for our bridezillas. It's been very popular. I was hoping to do a session at the Rural Conference but Deb wasn't sure this would fly with the committee.

Oh well, I think the programs Deb has lined up for us are exceptional. Please remember to nominate deserving people for the various awards, sometimes the people you see everyday are deserving of an award, or even the people who write blogs. Make your reservation today for the Rural Libraries Conference.

Nomination deadline extended to 2/16/2007

Don't miss out! Nominate a colleague, trustee or Friend for a RLC Award. Visit http://michigan.gov/ldds and scroll down a bit for full details.

The nomination deadline is now Friday, February 16, 2007.

Deb

P.S. Has anyone nominated Marian yet? You know she's a bit touchy on the subject, being the Susan Lucci of libraryland...

Happy Y2K7

Remember Y2K and the disasters that were to occur when the clock struck twelve. Here it is Y2K7 and the only disasters that have occurred is a reduction in state aid, I've got more wrinkles and weigh in at 2K. Christmas in Lake Neverwuz is always a delight. The library celebrates the 12 volumes of Christmas. Each day before December 25 we feature a special book which culminates in the book entitled "The twelve step process to loose fat". Because there are so many other holidays that occur during the same time period we devote a room at the library for each celebration. It works out well except we have a difficult time celebrate "boxing day" for years we have tried to get Mike Tyson or Levander Holifield to make an appearance, but their always too busy. Maybe next year I can get our cooperative director and the director of our largest library in the cooperative to go a few rounds.

This year there was no snow so many of our decorations did not have the same festive look that they have had in the past. Our Friends group was disappointed that we couldn't get the snowmobile delivery of books going this year. No snow, No go.

Story hour at the library was great. Santa brought one of his reindeer who can play jingle bells by shaking his antelars to the music. It was fantastic. I was dressed in my Mrs. Santa outfit. I sewed it myself using the choicest of fabrics and trims. The ermine trim was one I "bagged" last year. For the craft we did gingerbread library buildings. The best one was little Frankie L. Wright's version of the Chicago Public Library. The other craft was very popular, "10 year old fruitcake and what to do with it" The oldest fruit cake brought in for the program was 37 years old and the lady had made it into the cutest bird house.

Well that's all from Lake Neverwuz for now. Remember to register for the conference May 7-9. Registration opened December 22. There is no registration fee but you must make your reservations with the Grand Traverse Resort. Please remember there are no beds allowed in the Casino. Happy New Year.

Marian T. Librarian

Registration is now open!

Visit www.michigan.gov/ldds and follow the RLC link to register.

Remember, there is no registration fee for the 2007 conference. However, it is critical that you complete and return a registration form. Critical if you want to eat and have a chair to sit on, that is!

Merry Christmas, everyone! When I next post, we will be (gulp) in the conference year... four months and counting!

Deb

Top Ten Reasons to go to Lake Neverwuz

Top 10 reasons to support libraries: When I saw this post on the blog I decided to compare the reasons to our beloved Lake Neverwuz District, County, Township, Village Library. Here goes:
Libraries:
Serve everyone: Our new international library card is very popular. For 100 lyre, 10,000 francs, or160 yen you can purchase a library card from Lake Neverwuz. So far we only sold 3 cards but Canada is only 175 miles away and is certainly an untapped market.
Are places of opportunity. We've had fourteen couples meet here at the library and get married. Last year our story hour attendance took a major jump.
Are great places for kids. This is farm country so don't call our youngsters kids, for obvious reasons. Our library offers youngsters a vast array of services, YouTube, DVD's, CD's, Learn a Test, Tutor.com, Tattoo World, Pimp your Ride, and comic books, day care, snowmobiles in the winter and special lake excursions in the summer.
Bring you the world. Our Commodores and Apple II e's in the computer lab give our users access to info as far away as Wisconsin.
Help us lead better lives. Our community has grown and people have told us that they moved here because of the library and the great services we offer. Our quickie divorce and remarry program has brought many a midwesterner here instead of Reno and Las Vegas. Our board chair dresses as Garrison Keilor and performs as many marriages as Elvis does in Nevada.
Build better communities. Our build a house program uses the skills of our Friends group to build houses for the needy and near needy of our community. We think this is a model program and are thinking of going national, maybe through ALA.
Promote literacy. Here's where we excell. We an't never turnd away nobody. Our goal is to educate everone so dat they can read good.
Are essential to education. When the schools close for the summer we have all the teachers come and work at the summer reading program. Its part of their contract.
Attract businesses. We've helped Neverwuz Ink (tatto parlor) get started. We helped the DDA get sidewalks into the downtown area so we no longer have to walk on pallets to get to stores downtown. This has helped business, and the old pallets will be used for a craft during the summer reading program.
Are a great value. For every dollar spent to support the library we have calculated that it adds $17.32 back into the economy of the community. How we did this calculation is a mystery, but I'm sure its accurate.

Spread the word! Tell us your stories at the upcoming Rural Libraries Conference in May of 2007. Happy Holidays.

Marian.

Small is Powerful

Check out this toolkit from ALA - Winning Support for Your Rural Library. Topics include strategy, message, and tools.

Imagine what would happen if each of us said at least one of the things on this list to at least one person every day? Talk about word of mouth marketing!

10 reasons to support libraries

Libraries. . .

Serve everyone.
Are places of opportunity.
Are great places for kids.
Bring you the world.
Help us lead better lives.
Build better communities.
Promote literacy.
Are essential to education.
Attract businesses.
Are a great value.

Spread the word!

We Need more Librarians!!

I am hoping that the rural conference scheduled for next spring will have sessions on PR and also on the topic of the impending shortage of librarians. The staff at Lake Neverwuz District, Village, Township, County Public Library have developed a recruiting film which I believe every library should use to entice people to become librarians. Check out this site and see what can be done with an 8 mm camera and a little acting talent. www.youtube.com/watch?v=smrrZpbvI20

See you all at the Rural Librarians Conference, where the librarians are smart, the book talks center on the books of the 50's and noise is okay, as long as we don't use our "outside voices"

Happy Holidays.