At a meeting recently, there was talk about how we use technology to save time and supplies. By doing this we also seem to be getting farther away from our patrons. We send email notices, leave messages on answering machines and allow patrons to register for a library card online. It has been a long time since I knew the names of most of our patrons. There is an interesting article on this subject in the September 15, 2007, pg 37, Library Journal by Harold N. Boyer. He believes that the library should strive to be a "focal point for neighborhood interaction".
In my library, we are doing more programs for different segments of the community in an effort to bring more people into the library. Even if no one attends a program, the fact that we tried is good PR. Keeping our name out there in a positive way, is a good thing.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Monday, November 12, 2007
NYLA 2007 Last Day
Well, I finally made it to the last day of the conference. Of course, the first session I wanted to attend was at 8 am. It was Community Reads--Making Community Connections. My board has been thinking of doing this. I brought home lots of material on how other libraries managed their community reads. I then looked over the Poster Session. More info on community reads. I also picked up some material on the 3 Apples Award. We are working on this again this year. I went to the session on For Adults Only: Programming Tips and Tricks. Not much new but did get a list of helpful links. Then it was off to the Farewell Luncheon. The speaker was David Goldsmith who is a business forecaster. What will libraries be like in the future? He was very interesting. I wasn't able to stay for the whole speech so maybe someone else can fill me in.
Final thoughts -- I always learn something new. I came away feeling enthused, refreshed and inspired. I am ready to take on some new challenges and feel that I am better equipped to handle some old frustrations. Would I go to NYLA again? You bet.
Final thoughts -- I always learn something new. I came away feeling enthused, refreshed and inspired. I am ready to take on some new challenges and feel that I am better equipped to handle some old frustrations. Would I go to NYLA again? You bet.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
NYLA 2007 Day Three
Started off the day with the workshop on Intergenerational Projects. These were projects where children/teens partnered up with older adults for programs and activities. Handouts included information on the Veterans History Project. The teens in grades 8 and 12 interviewed WWII vets, videotaped their interviews and put together a booklet. Another library set up a program called "GrandPACTT-Grandparents and children using technology together". This was a 6 week program for both grandparents and their grandchildren. The grandparents learn parenting and literacy skills and how to use an educational software program while the children are in a separate room playing. Then there would be together time where the grandparents would teach the children how to use the software of the day. They also had things to do at home. A very comprehensive program.
Then came lunch. I decided to attend the RASS/LAMS noted author luncheon featuring Susan Cheever. It is always interesting to hear how an author decides what to write, how they hit on the idea for the book. She talked about how she came to write her current book American Bloomsbury: Louisa May Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Margaret Fuller, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Henry David Thoreau: Their Lives, Their Loves, Their Work.
After lunch I took another walk around the Trade Show picking up some more handouts. Then I thought I would go to the session on RSS, Blogs and Library Service. I picked up the handouts and realized it wasn't going to hit what I was interested in so I went to the session on Creative Communication : Using Web 2.0 as a Management Tool. This added on to the CE workshop I attended. I was now familiar with the terminology and was able to keep up with what was being said. This included info on sites that can be used to effectively share documents, photos. To see the slideshow and all LAMS presentations go to http://del.icio.us/LAMS_NYLA. As part of the presentation, they showed a video clip from YouTube called Introducing Le book. It is very funny. Another handout was How to create your own PBwiki in 5 minutes. I haven't tried this yet. One more thing on my to do list.
There were 2 programs I wanted to attend next, so I sent my husband, who likes to listen to mysteries, to the Build the BEST Mystery Fiction Collection session where he picked up the handouts. I went to the Guys Read session. The presenter was very enthusiastic. However, she was in a school setting so she had a more or less captive audience. In the public library, you have to figure out how to get the kids into the library. I have the handouts if you are interested. There is also a website http://www.guysread.com/ started by Jon Scieszka.
Awards and the passing of the gavel went off without a hitch at the Inaugural Dinner. Congratulations to Kay Zaharis on completing the Leadership Academy. Get Sally to tell you about her trip to the Basilica.
Then came lunch. I decided to attend the RASS/LAMS noted author luncheon featuring Susan Cheever. It is always interesting to hear how an author decides what to write, how they hit on the idea for the book. She talked about how she came to write her current book American Bloomsbury: Louisa May Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Margaret Fuller, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Henry David Thoreau: Their Lives, Their Loves, Their Work.
After lunch I took another walk around the Trade Show picking up some more handouts. Then I thought I would go to the session on RSS, Blogs and Library Service. I picked up the handouts and realized it wasn't going to hit what I was interested in so I went to the session on Creative Communication : Using Web 2.0 as a Management Tool. This added on to the CE workshop I attended. I was now familiar with the terminology and was able to keep up with what was being said. This included info on sites that can be used to effectively share documents, photos. To see the slideshow and all LAMS presentations go to http://del.icio.us/LAMS_NYLA. As part of the presentation, they showed a video clip from YouTube called Introducing Le book. It is very funny. Another handout was How to create your own PBwiki in 5 minutes. I haven't tried this yet. One more thing on my to do list.
There were 2 programs I wanted to attend next, so I sent my husband, who likes to listen to mysteries, to the Build the BEST Mystery Fiction Collection session where he picked up the handouts. I went to the Guys Read session. The presenter was very enthusiastic. However, she was in a school setting so she had a more or less captive audience. In the public library, you have to figure out how to get the kids into the library. I have the handouts if you are interested. There is also a website http://www.guysread.com/ started by Jon Scieszka.
Awards and the passing of the gavel went off without a hitch at the Inaugural Dinner. Congratulations to Kay Zaharis on completing the Leadership Academy. Get Sally to tell you about her trip to the Basilica.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
NYLA 2007 Day Two continued
The first afternoon session I attended was the Best of Reference. This is put on annually by the New York Public Library highlighting numerous reference books and the past few years, websites as well. This is a fun and informative session that is always packed.
The next program I went to was For the Love of Movies: FILM @ Your Library. Representatives from different libraries explained how they set up their film programs. There was also someone from Movie Licensing USA who explained about public performance rights. Just remember you need a license in order to show movies and do not include the title of the film in paid advertising. There were a number of handouts and info from Movie Licensing if anyone is interested.
The next program I went to was For the Love of Movies: FILM @ Your Library. Representatives from different libraries explained how they set up their film programs. There was also someone from Movie Licensing USA who explained about public performance rights. Just remember you need a license in order to show movies and do not include the title of the film in paid advertising. There were a number of handouts and info from Movie Licensing if anyone is interested.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
NYLA 2007 Day Two Trade Show
After the opening session featuring Congresswoman Patricia Schroeder, it was time to move onto the first round on the exhibit floor. Everyone has a system for going through the vendor exhibits. Before leaving home, some exhibitors sent out info to entice you to come to their booths. So if you remember to bring along the info you go to these sites. As you walk through the exhibits, you pick up not only the vendor's catalogs and info, but free promotional things like bags, pens, notepads, buttons, bookmarks, etc. One way to handle all this stuff, is to pick up everything then sort it once you get back to your room. Another way is to be discriminating and pick things up sparingly. Those bags can get awfully heavy. A lot of the vendors also want your information so they offer chances for a free book or cd or basket of things, etc. Make sure you have your business card so all you have to do is just drop it with all the others hoping to win something for free. The first day of the exhibits NYLA usually offers a lunch (not included in the package plan). In the past it was a box lunch. This year it was a buffet which was very nice. NYLA offers many exclusive trade show hours, so you have the opportunity to visit many of the vendors. Sometimes you might attend a session and then realize that there is a vendor that has more info on the subject. Alas, sometimes you realize this after the vendors have gone.
NYLA Conference
This is my first blog so be gentle. I attended the CE workshop on Social Networking Tools on Wednesday so of course I wanted to jump right in and get started. Rosie and I talked about setting up a blog to put down our thoughts and share the information we were gathering with our colleagues in FLLS. So I have sent out invitations to other NYLA attendees and hope that they will find the time to share their experiences. I have always found that I learn something at every conference or workshop I attend. Most of the time I do not have the opportunity to share this knowledge with others. Using this medium, perhaps others will be able to benefit from what I and the other attendees learned.
Not only did I learn about blogs, but we talked about Facebook.com, Skype.com for IM, webcams and phone calls, Twitter.com a microblog, and LibraryThing.com a site for cataloguing your books online enabling book discussions and posting reviews by users. Want to put pictures out there? You can use Flickr.com. We have all heard about YouTube.com for posting videos. Then there is Del.icio.us where you put all your bookmarks in one place.
The most important thing I learned is that you have to choose what will work for you. Choose the format that will fit into what you want to do. Posting a blog might not be the best way to communicate with your patrons. Just because something is available does not mean that you have to put it to use.
So that was day one for me.
Not only did I learn about blogs, but we talked about Facebook.com, Skype.com for IM, webcams and phone calls, Twitter.com a microblog, and LibraryThing.com a site for cataloguing your books online enabling book discussions and posting reviews by users. Want to put pictures out there? You can use Flickr.com. We have all heard about YouTube.com for posting videos. Then there is Del.icio.us where you put all your bookmarks in one place.
The most important thing I learned is that you have to choose what will work for you. Choose the format that will fit into what you want to do. Posting a blog might not be the best way to communicate with your patrons. Just because something is available does not mean that you have to put it to use.
So that was day one for me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)