Wednesday, January 21
9 am: Look First: Creating Exceptional Patron Experiences
Erica Reynolds, Team Member
BiblioCommons
Shawnee, Kansas
Success in wowing people requires planning for the big picture and tiny details, considering all the senses, and considering the various reasons people visit or could visit the library—both online and in person—but all that requires that we look and listen before we act. Too often, we assume we know more than we do, and we skip the looking step. By taking time to observe and experience the library through patrons’ eyes, we can dramatically improve the experiences our patrons encounter. Learn simple, fun, and effective tools and low-budget tips that will improve the patron experience—for all ages, for big and small libraries, and for all budgets. No additional funds required.
9 am: Look First: Creating Exceptional Patron Experiences
Erica Reynolds, Team Member
BiblioCommons
Shawnee, Kansas
Success in wowing people requires planning for the big picture and tiny details, considering all the senses, and considering the various reasons people visit or could visit the library—both online and in person—but all that requires that we look and listen before we act. Too often, we assume we know more than we do, and we skip the looking step. By taking time to observe and experience the library through patrons’ eyes, we can dramatically improve the experiences our patrons encounter. Learn simple, fun, and effective tools and low-budget tips that will improve the patron experience—for all ages, for big and small libraries, and for all budgets. No additional funds required.
10:30 am: Creating Welcoming and Accessible Libraries for Children with Special Needs
Renee Grassi, Youth Department Director
Glen Ellyn Public Library
Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Whether large or small, rural or urban, all library communities serve children with special needs. Developing an awareness and sensitivity to children with special needs is crucial to providing top-notch inclusive service to families in our communities. Participants will learn how to perform a community needs assessment in their library communities, forge new partnerships with outside organizations, and be inspired by new and innovative programming ideas. This program will also provide positive strategies for disability etiquette, as well as present different approaches to reevaluating existing youth programs for an inclusive audience.
Renee Grassi, Youth Department Director
Glen Ellyn Public Library
Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Whether large or small, rural or urban, all library communities serve children with special needs. Developing an awareness and sensitivity to children with special needs is crucial to providing top-notch inclusive service to families in our communities. Participants will learn how to perform a community needs assessment in their library communities, forge new partnerships with outside organizations, and be inspired by new and innovative programming ideas. This program will also provide positive strategies for disability etiquette, as well as present different approaches to reevaluating existing youth programs for an inclusive audience.
1 pm: Tablet-Slinging Librarians: Using Tablets to Improve Customer Service
Leah Kulikowski, Assistant Branch Manager
Lexington Park Library
Lexington Park, Maryland
No matter a library’s size or budget, we are all looking for ways to increase staff efficiency and better serve our patrons. This webinar will focus on practical and creative ways to use tablet technology (including reference, circulation, payments, storytime music, program registrations, and more!) to stay on the leading edge of customer service.
Leah Kulikowski, Assistant Branch Manager
Lexington Park Library
Lexington Park, Maryland
No matter a library’s size or budget, we are all looking for ways to increase staff efficiency and better serve our patrons. This webinar will focus on practical and creative ways to use tablet technology (including reference, circulation, payments, storytime music, program registrations, and more!) to stay on the leading edge of customer service.
2:30 pm: Get Out to Get Them In: Marketing Outside the Library
Erin Shea, Supervisor
Ferguson Library
Stamford, Connecticut
To attract nonusers to the library, you'll first have to bring the library to them. Getting outside the four walls of your building is often the first step toward bringing new users in. This presentation will cover outreach ideas that are easy to implement in order to market your library's programs and services.
Erin Shea, Supervisor
Ferguson Library
Stamford, Connecticut
To attract nonusers to the library, you'll first have to bring the library to them. Getting outside the four walls of your building is often the first step toward bringing new users in. This presentation will cover outreach ideas that are easy to implement in order to market your library's programs and services.
4 pm: The Wrong Love: Real Conversations about Love in Libraries
Sarah Houghton, Director
San Rafael Public Library
San Rafael, California
Much is written about love and libraries. And no, this is not a presentation about love in the stacks or sexy times in the study room. Much of library marketing across the world is focused on reminding people that they love libraries, or soliciting them to say outright that they love their libraries and their librarians. I believe that we are having the wrong conversation. The conversation we should be having is how much “we in libraries love our communities.”
Nearly everyone who works in a library believes wholeheartedly in our mission. We love our communities and want to serve them to the best of our ability. Modern library messaging should be that “The Library Loves You,” not pleading for love from our communities. How do we shift the viewpoint to be less navel-gazing and insecure and more about sharing our commitment to our communities?
Sarah Houghton, Director
San Rafael Public Library
San Rafael, California
Much is written about love and libraries. And no, this is not a presentation about love in the stacks or sexy times in the study room. Much of library marketing across the world is focused on reminding people that they love libraries, or soliciting them to say outright that they love their libraries and their librarians. I believe that we are having the wrong conversation. The conversation we should be having is how much “we in libraries love our communities.”
Nearly everyone who works in a library believes wholeheartedly in our mission. We love our communities and want to serve them to the best of our ability. Modern library messaging should be that “The Library Loves You,” not pleading for love from our communities. How do we shift the viewpoint to be less navel-gazing and insecure and more about sharing our commitment to our communities?