A friend and colleague Chrystie Hill recently presented Libraries Present and Future at at TEDxRainier 2011. Chrystie works with libraries around the world and shares her knowledge to help make libraries great places.
I love the concept of "participatory democracy and practice" in the Netherlands and the requirement that the community be a part of planning right from the start.
During my public focus groups, I've been asking a similar question to one Chrystie asks, "When everything is online, why come to the library?" It's a good question to get people to think even if they don't agree that everything will be online one day.
By he way, TED is a nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design.In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience.
11/09/2011
Collection Turnover Buzz
There's been a lot of buzz about several of the "new" topics presented in our latest "Creating a Thriving 21st Century Library" training session. We're excited because, if you don't already know it, Rob and I love to stir things up and get people thinking about the possibilities and future of libraries.
One of the topics we've had a ton of questions about is turnover reporting. Many of you have said that you aren't familiar with turnover analysis.
Turnover Rate = Circulation / Volumes Held
Turnover relates to the number of materials checked out to the size of the collection. It indicates how often each item in the collection was lent and therefore is relevant to use of the collection. Turnover analysis is a very effective way to analyze areas of your overall collection to keep a close eye on overall collection, genre, and format trends and shifts.
To make things easier, please feel free to use the Turnover Spreadsheet that I created. Note that you'll have to modify your collection names/types based on your library. Overall, it's pretty straightforward. Try doing this for 2010 and then do another at the end of the year for 2011.
Ideal turnover rate vary depending on the type of collection but, as a rule of thumb, any collections below a 2.0 are the ones you should concentrate on first and foremost. Anything below a 4.0 should also be closely analyzed.
Once you weed and re-think your collection based on the data, run a turnover report every 6 months or so. And, don't forget about re-thinking how your merchandise your collections too!
Click here for a complete PDF of the latest version of our workshop, Creating a Thriving 21st Century Library.
One of the topics we've had a ton of questions about is turnover reporting. Many of you have said that you aren't familiar with turnover analysis.
Turnover Rate = Circulation / Volumes Held
Turnover relates to the number of materials checked out to the size of the collection. It indicates how often each item in the collection was lent and therefore is relevant to use of the collection. Turnover analysis is a very effective way to analyze areas of your overall collection to keep a close eye on overall collection, genre, and format trends and shifts.
To make things easier, please feel free to use the Turnover Spreadsheet that I created. Note that you'll have to modify your collection names/types based on your library. Overall, it's pretty straightforward. Try doing this for 2010 and then do another at the end of the year for 2011.
Ideal turnover rate vary depending on the type of collection but, as a rule of thumb, any collections below a 2.0 are the ones you should concentrate on first and foremost. Anything below a 4.0 should also be closely analyzed.
Once you weed and re-think your collection based on the data, run a turnover report every 6 months or so. And, don't forget about re-thinking how your merchandise your collections too!
Click here for a complete PDF of the latest version of our workshop, Creating a Thriving 21st Century Library.
9/12/2011
Avoiding the Path to Obsolescence
This is a must read!
A client of mine just forwarded this article to me with the following message:
Avoiding the Path to Obsolescence: Riches-to-rags tales in retail business hold survival tips for libraries
It's so nice to hear others backing up the things I've been saying for years. Thanks Steven Smith and Carmelita Pickett.
A client of mine just forwarded this article to me with the following message:
OMG did you SEE this?? I was reading along, nodding my head, until I got to the “Space Matters” section at the end. It sounds just like what you told us in your report!! Then I really started nodding my head. I am sending this article to my trustees with their next meeting packet. WOW!
Avoiding the Path to Obsolescence: Riches-to-rags tales in retail business hold survival tips for libraries
It's so nice to hear others backing up the things I've been saying for years. Thanks Steven Smith and Carmelita Pickett.
7/05/2011
Top 10 Benefits of Tough Times
Just a quick follow-up to the ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans. For all of you who attended Cathy Hakala-Ausperk's and my Pre-conference, thanks so much for participating. We had a great time and hope you did too (and hopefully you took away a few inspirational ideas while you were at it).
So, here again are the top 10 benefits of tough times:
For more details, check out the PLA Blog and P. Sweeney's post.
Here too is the .pdf copy of the presentation as well as the quotes from the beginning of the day. If there's anything else don't hesitate to contact me.
Also, for any of you who attended or missed the panel presentation "Consulting From Both Sides of the Fence: Why Libraries Hire Consultants, and How Consultants Get Jobs ," feel free to contact me with questions.
So, here again are the top 10 benefits of tough times:
10. Refresh Your Organization
9. Developing Staff Skills
8. Make New Friends
7. Finally Write That Grant
6. Say It Better (Improve Communications)
5. Kill Mission Creep
4. Enjoy Spring Cleaning (Leaner Facilities)
3. Weed’em and Reap
2. Meet New Needs and Create New Users
1. Adjust Your Attitude
For more details, check out the PLA Blog and P. Sweeney's post.
Here too is the .pdf copy of the presentation as well as the quotes from the beginning of the day. If there's anything else don't hesitate to contact me.
Also, for any of you who attended or missed the panel presentation "Consulting From Both Sides of the Fence: Why Libraries Hire Consultants, and How Consultants Get Jobs ," feel free to contact me with questions.
6/13/2011
Consultants Giving Back at ALA on June 26
The "Consultants Giving Back" program returns to the American Library Association conference on Sunday, June 26. As part of this program I will be providing 1/2 or 1 hour consulting sessions between the hours of 1:30 and 5:30 pm at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside in the Magnolia Room.
My areas of expertise include:
- building and facilities consultation, whether re-envisioning existing facilities or planning a new building
- rethinking and rearranging space to be more effective, efficient and customer-friendly
- creating and engaging children's and teen area
- hiring and working with architects
- suggestions related to the overall planning process, etc.
Feel free to bring floor plans for specific input.
Please contact me ASAP at 585-739-7003 or kim@libraryexperience.com to schedule a session!
My areas of expertise include:
- building and facilities consultation, whether re-envisioning existing facilities or planning a new building
- rethinking and rearranging space to be more effective, efficient and customer-friendly
- creating and engaging children's and teen area
- hiring and working with architects
- suggestions related to the overall planning process, etc.
Feel free to bring floor plans for specific input.
Please contact me ASAP at 585-739-7003 or kim@libraryexperience.com to schedule a session!
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