"The Libraries Yes! campaign is one of the most innovative approaches I’ve encountered in place-based advocacy. Using a strategy that emphasized geosocial check-ins and recommendations on Facebook Places, Yelp, Foursquare, and Google Places, the Libraries Yes! campaign built a targeted list of engaged supporters for a library ballot measure in just seven weeks. What is more, the measure passed by over 4:1 on May 15, 2012. The secret behind their success: good old fashioned organizing combined with a geosocial online strategy." -- spotted by @nancyquinn 
"Advocates argue that libraries continue to serve crucial civic and social functions, and their tenacious faith is reinforced by a flurry of recent street-level library activity."
Author shares her experiences with a library-building project in Lusaka, Zambia. "The library we funded is so much more than “just” a library it is also a literacy and literacy education program for the teachers, children and parents associated with this school. Room to Read trains the teachers and a parent representative on how to manage the library and how to catalog books and operate a check-out system. The program funds a literacy teacher who integrates library time into the school day for all children. The kids can come to school early or stay late just to read." -@wandermom 
It took three years of careful planning, but German librarians have – very neatly – signed a pact to race to each other's aid in the event of a book-related disaster.
What a great opportunity for public libraries to partner with play advocates, like those who met in Wales, and become advocates for "children's access to public space, and to create places that they trust”.
"Ready for some slam poetry? To mark National Poetry Month, Caponi Art Park, in collaboration with the School of Environmental Studies and the Dakota County Library system will host a poetry workshop and spoken word poetry reading on Sunday, May 13." -- spotted by Library as Incubator @IArtLibraries 
"Middle Country Public Library's Centereach, New York, branch. The occasion was the annual opening of the 5,000-square-foot Nature Explorium, the first library-based "nature explore classroom" in the country. The opening was held in conjunction with the National Grid Foundation, a supporter of nature literacy, outdoor programming, and library-based activities and services." Although written from the perspective of school libraries, much in this post can be used for public libraries also. 1. Stop selling stuff: "A library vision based on enriching the lives of our patrons and tending to patron's needs on 'what's important to them'... 2. Enrich lives: "By aiming to enrich the lives of our patrons, connecting with them at a personal level and interacting in a sincere and personal way, may well enrich lives as well as enrich their library experience." 3. Hire for smiles: "Consider the different atmosphere created in our libraries when library staff are smiling, happy and jovial. " [...] "Technical know-how, solving all problems or always locating sought after resources are not the only needs that should be attended to when staff and students visit. Just think about all those ‘chats’ had with fellow teachers and the dividends the warmth of that interaction has engendered!" 4. Celebrate diversity: "With the essential support of librarians, library technicians, library assistants and a range of volunteers working hand in hand with teacher librarians, we present our patrons with a very diverse range of talent, knowledge and skill." 5. Unleash inner genius: "Knowing there is something to be gained by visiting the library, will encourage patrons to visit more often." 6.Empower employees: "Spending time chatting with library patrons in a meaningful way on topics of mutual interest is a way of connecting and creating relationships. [...] Heads of libraries need to empower their library staff to know that such chatter is not a waste of time, but is really creating buying power for building a positive image of the library and its staff." 7. Sell the benefit: " There’s no doubt that whenever library staff help one individual, others are observing and either gaining from what they are observing or end up seeking you out later for their own personal attention." 8. Follow the steps of service. 10. Appeal to the buying brain: "Clear, uncluttered libraries with visible and well organized signage are appealing and contribute to creaing great libraries." 
"The grant was also used to get basic technology, including three computer stations and wireless service, that can be used in the art library. While the public can now use the library, its books cannot be checked out. 
Broward County Library FL using QR codes to promote and access OverDrive and Freegal Music -- spotted by @johnfoleyjr 
"This event is a great example of how social media can be leveraged by libraries and organizations. It’s a tool for listening to your community, responding to your users, promoting relevant services that meet their needs, telling stories, and demonstrating value." 
http://dysartjones.com/2012/04/meet-lili-library-live-on-tour/
Revising a story from April 13th, a new video has been added showing the car's first debut.
"This is LiLi – Library Live and On Tour! A “mobile initiative’ LiLi is a 2012 Nissan Cube, designed to deliver the library to people by “shattering stereotypes and misconceptions about library services. LiLi is an adult literacy initiative “targeting folks aged 19+”, first by getting their attention, then prompting conversations, making friends and then offering services. LiLi, “the coolest little library car you’ll ever see” features: *undercarriage glow (oh yeah!!) *the back opens to reveal a mounted 40″ plasma digital display screen (used for online scavenger hunts & demos) *external sound system, with wireless mic *built-in bookshelf with giveaway books *2 laptop computers with 3G connectivity *2 Kobos & a Sony eReader *an iPad2 & a Blackberry Playbook *an Xbox Kinec *and, of course, the car horn that plays OOOGA!" "Congrats to Smitty, to Fraser Valley Regional Library [British Columbia], and to all those who have created LiLi. I hope she’s coming to a neighbourhood near you soon!" -Rebecca Jones American Libraries Magazine highlights gardening programs being offered in American libraries, including Bridgman Public Library (MI) which has a community garden where clients can rent plots and get support from library staff. |
"This is just to say that I love my town’s public library, not only because of its beauty and helpfulness, but also because of its embracing of technology." -- @jenschiffer 
Steering committee looking into improving community engagement include Toronto Public Library staff.
"The National Library will be home to the world's first green library for kids in 2013, when the kids section of the National Library is transformed into an eco-landscape. Dubbed "My Tree House", the new library section is designed with environmental sustainability in mind, from its design and infrastructure. It is modelled after an enchanted forest, with spaces for hands-on learning." 
Review of teen space in library by one of its clients.
"The Children's Interactive Library project was an untraditional interdisciplinary research and innovation project exploring the children's library of the future. The objective was to create spaces for children in the library that offer new experiences, learning, events, sense impressions and physical activity. And at the same time acknowledging the library'sunique capacity of being the place where cildren come in order to aquire information and knowledge." - spotted by Andrea Flemming @aflemming ("More inspiration from Danish #libraries") http://bit.ly/K0ovWM 
"Leave it to Dublin to promote literacy with street art!" 
A 2012 ALA Presidential Citation for Innovative International Library Projects. In their press release, the ALA said: "Urban Office, a creative work environment in the middle of the city that offers temporary office space that can be used not only for business purposes, but also to educate and combat marginalization. [...] Urban Office meets the needs of laptop citizens by providing them with comfortable workspaces, technology, and community." ![[Scottish] Libraries still key to communities | SocialLibrary | Scoop.it](http://img.scoop.it/sAshWcjKSTn8NTqZsOQfJTl72eJkfbmt4t8yenImKBVaiQDB_Rd1H6kmuBWtceBJ)
"The Carnegie UK Trust said public library services and library buildings must be viewed separately. Martyn Evans, chief executive of the trust, said: "It's clear that people in Scotland still love their libraries, but library services need to develop innovative ways of attracting visitors and providing a new range of relevant services, along with a re-think about how the buildings are used as community hubs. "Libraries need to be able to demonstrate the impact they have on a wide range of social indicators such as health and wellbeing, employment, and digital inclusion." 
"Another library in my consortium figured out how to display the total cost of a patron's items on their checkout receipt, and since we never let a good idea go to waste, we adopted it in my library, too. Basically, it's a little macro that pulls the cost figure from each item's record, adds them all up, and provides a total. We present it in kind of a cutesy context, but the intent is to show people how much they save by using the library. Check it out" --spotted by Brian Herzog, Swiss Army Librarian 
Mesa County Libraries CO ("Dream it. Discover it. Do it") offers 30 minute lectures on various technology topics, including an overview of free online classes, selling through eBay, reading recommendation sites and free software. -- spotted in Tame The Web @mstephens7 
TYIN Tegnestue Architects, CASE Studio and local people from the Min Buri Old Market Community area in Bangkok turned an old market building into a stunning social Library. --spotted by @valeriekhoo in INHABITAT.COM "Fortunately, there are examples of libraries creating new and valuable services that may just serve as a template for fresh, more community- responsive services than the current “free bookstore” long-term gamble we’re making." Aaron Schmidt expands on his comments about ebooks distracting libraries on TWIL #67 (http://vimeo.com/40007644?goback=%2Egmp_3933248%2Egde_3933248_member_106457679/) |
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