Transforming Library Space

Rob and I will be conducting a webinar titled Transforming Library Space: Rethinking how library spaces can be configured to enhance and expand community engagement on Wednesday, March 9, 2016 from 2:00 - 3:30 pm ET. Anyone can register. If you can't attend on the date, you still get the audio recording and handouts so you can share with a greater audience at your convenience. We hope you'll participate. South Central Regional Library Council has put a lot of effort into coordinating this. 

Here's the description:

While future-facing libraries are pushing boundaries, the public still perceives libraries as being primarily about books. As libraries of all types expand their focus, physical spaces are being transformed in ways we couldn’t have imagined even 10 years ago. Rethink how your library’s space might be configured to better engage your existing users as well as draw in new users. Learn how some key budget-friendly alterations to existing library space can refresh users’ perceptions and keep them coming back.

To register go to https://scrlc.org/events/view/5682

ALSC National Conference 2012

Boy, what a day in Indianapolis, IN!  This morning I presented "What's Hot in Children's Spaces" at the ALSC National Institute 2012 and I couldn't have asked for 1) a more gorgeous Saturday morning and 2) a more terrific audience.  I absolutely thrive on presentations where the audience asks questions and offers ideas based on their own experiences.  Thanks to all of you who participated!

So, as I promised, here is a copy of the presentation and a few of the bonus materials I mentioned, so you don't have to reinvent the wheel.  Again, don't hesitate to email or call if you need anything else.

Thanks again everyone!

What's Hot in Children's Spaces

Flip Through Shelving Spreadsheet

Collection Turnover Spreadsheet

Upcoming Presentations

Rob and I will be giving the keynote titled Public Libraries Survive and Thrive in the 21st Century this Friday, 5/20 at the Indiana District IV Library Conference. We'll also be doing a breakout session called Library Assessment in the Real World. We're looking forward to it.

Also, my friend and colleague Cathy Hakala-Ausperk and I will be presenting The Top 10 Benefits of Tough Times on Friday, June 24 (8:30 AM – 12:00 PM) at the ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans. We'd love to see you there. See PLA's website for more information and to register.

Midwinter 2011

Just a quick follow-up for those of you who attended "21 Ideas for 21st Century Libraries" in San Diego at Midwinter...

Feel free to contact me at kim@libraryexperience.com for a copy of the presentation if you want to share it with your staff, board members and/or community.

Also, many of you were interested in more information on FireSign, that great digital signage vendor that Rob and I spoke with at the conference. Please check them out. They're doing great things with wayfinding and digital signage as well as integration of their product with other products such as Evanced Solution's Events and Room Reserve software.

Libraries Rock in Indiana!

"Libraries Rock" was the theme of this year's 2010 Indiana Library Federation Annual Conference held this week in Indianapolis, IN. Rob and I were glad to be a part of it (and to be home)!

We presented our 21 Ideas for 21st Century Libraries CE session on Monday for over 50 people. We were pleased to see so many there to hear about new ideas and best practices--covering facilities, marketing, staffing, community collaborations, customer service, and technology--that will help libraries thrive in the 21st century. Our focus was on helping people learn how to manage and be a success in good times and in bad and how to incorporate innovative ideas in libraries of all sizes and budgets.

On Tuesday afternoon I did a mini session called What's Your Sign: Signage & Wayfinding in Libraries. I was amazed that we had a packed house -- over 65 people. Now, that's dedication, especially when it's late in the afternoon and we're talking about signage--typically, not the most exciting of topics ;-).

Just a quick reminder to everyone to download my Signage Planning Worksheet and to try out the "Beautiful>Ugly" graph developed by Aaron Schmidt. Read more on his blog Walking Paper. You can also print out a copy of the graph from the What's Your Sign presentation.

Also, here are some other helpful signage and wayfinding resources including some vendor information that was requested during the sessions:

Vinyl lettering resources (there are so many out there, but here are a few): Try Demco, Highsmith, Brodart. Also, FastSigns, Right on the Walls, Signazon, and many, many more...

Indiana-based pop-up banner companies: CustomBannerLab.com, Indy Displays, Matrix Imaging, and, once again, many, many more...

Libris Design's Wayfinding and Signage Document

San Jose Public Library's Signage Design Guidelines

Demco's Signage Planning

Don't forget to call if you need anything or have questions. Thanks everyone!

New York in Fall, More 21 Ideas, and Lawler Kang

Well, it proved to be another great New York Library Association (NYLA) conference this year. Saratoga Springs was beautiful (even with the rain). Rob and I were happy to see so many of our friends and colleagues at the exhibits and were extremely enthused by the turnout at our 21+ Ideas for 21st Century Libraries presentation.

We also had the pleasure to hear Lawler Kang speak at the Library Administration and Management Section luncheon. Check out his book Passion at Work: How to Find Work You Love and Live the Time of Your Life. Very inspirational.

Metropolitan Library System (IL)

I really enjoyed my time at the Metropolitan Library System talking about "Signage & Wayfinding" and "21 Ideas for 21st Century Libraries." Both workshops turned out to be great brainstorming sessions thanks to the participants. Thanks everyone!

So, without further delay, here are copies of the .pdfs of the presentations as well as the Signage Planning Worksheet. I apologize for the delay in posting this information. I had a few technical difficulties with my .pdf writer yesterday, but things seem to be functioning now.

What's Your Sign - Signage & Wayfinding in Public Libraries

21 Ideas for 21st Century Libraries

Sign Planning Worksheet

Also, just a reminder to try out the "Beautiful>Ugly" graph developed by Aaron Schmidt. It's a great tool. Read more on his blog Walking Paper. You can also print out a copy from the "What's Your Sign" presentation.

Don't forget about the other helpful signage and wayfinding resources including Libris Design's Wayfinding and Signage Document, San Jose Public Library's Signage Design Guidelines and Demco's Signage Planning.

Keep in touch.

LACONI Youth Services Conference, Illinois

I really enjoyed meeting everyone and sharing ideas at the LACONI Youth Services Conference. Thanks to Kathy Fredrickson for asking me and to the La Grange Public Library and its staff for hosting. It was a great day!

As we discussed, here's a copy of the presentation with the notes. Please don't hesitate to contact me with questions about any of the content or if you need additional information.

Don't forget to check out my Teen Spaces Flickr site and several of the other resources on this blog that I mentioned in the session.

I was really inspired by several of you who asked questions and came up to talk with me after the session. Best of luck on all your projects and keep thinking BIG for teens!

What's Hot in Teen Spaces @ FLA

I just arrived at the Florida Library Association conference in Orlando, FL last night. I'm very happy to be in Florida again and to be presenting at the 2010 conference.

For all of you attending my "What's Hot in Teen Spaces" presentation, below is a copy of the presentation as well as a few additional resources to supplement the handouts I gave you.

Thanks for attending and keep in touch.

What's Hot in Teen Spaces

The Need for Teen Space

The Asset Approach and Teen Space

Teen Spaces Guidelines

Digital Creativity Spaces Overview

Teen Spaces Bibliography
*Also check out Sandra Feinberg's and James Keller's article "Designing Space for Children and Teens" in the April 2010 edition of American Libraries.

Trustee Workshop: Ideas for 21st Century Libraries

It was good to be in New York again and to see many of my friends and colleagues. Rob and I were delighted to share our ideas and experiences with you and hope that it inspired all of you on some level. We look forward to more opportunities to assist the Pioneer libraries. Keep in touch!

Here as .pdf link to the presentation for those of you who are interested.

During our discussion about making your entire library friendly for all ages, I mentioned an article titled, "Teen Space an the Community's Living Room: Incorporating Teen Areas into Rural Libraries" by Lisa Wemett.

South Carolina State Library Teen Institute

I had the best time at the Teen Institute in Columbia, SC. What a great group of people who are so passionate about teen space and services.

Here are the .pdf versions of both PowerPoint presentations:
Teen Space
Beyond Teen Space

In addition, I wanted to remind the people who are interested in virtual space for teens to look at the handout in your packet by Miranda Doyle titled "Library Web Sites for Teens: Quick Tips." You'll also want to check out Miranda's book 101+ Great Ideas for Teen Library Web Sites. Don't forget about Denver Public Library's eVolver site. I also forgot to mention that I include several examples of good teen websites in the 2nd edition of Teen Spaces.

For those of you looking for wall system options check out:
Altos
Dirtt
KI

And, lastly, you can see the programs from Ann Arbor District Library at AXIS

Keep in touch everyone!

CLA 2008

What a great teen space training session in San Jose, CA. Thanks to all those who participated in the full day workshop.

Here are the links to the text only slides.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3


Congratulations again to the prize winners:

Grand Prize - Cafe Table and Scooper Stools from DEMCO
Megan Birdsong from Monta Vista High School

1st Prize - $100 DEMCO gift certificate
Cindy Miller from Long Beach Public Library

2nd Prize - $50 DEMCO gift certificate
Eno Schmidt from Cupertino Library

My Week In Missouri

What a great week in Missouri! Thanks to Marge Kudrna and the State of Missouri for asking me to train on the topic of Teen Third Space. It was a great adventure. I flew into Kansas City on Sunday, presented the first workshop on Monday in Carrollton, then moved onto Springfield for the Tuesday session, Farmington on Wednesday and, last but not least, St. Charles on Thursday. I had a terrific time! Thanks, Marge, for driving me around the state and for exposing me to Jack in the Box. :-) Thanks too to all the library hosts and hostesses, and to all the workshop participants. I enjoyed meeting everyone (and seeing several of you once again).

Here are the links to the text only versions of the PowerPoint presentations. Remember that all the photos of the model libraries aren't included here, but they will be available after November on the companion website for the 2nd edition of Teen Spaces.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3


Also, here is the list of creative program ideas we brainstormed. If any of you want to elaborate on your suggestions please post as comments. If you want to add a program to the list that I missed, please email me.

Missouri Libraries - Creative Programming Ideas that Work


And...the best for last...the winners of the grand prize drawing. Thanks again to DEMCO for all their generous donations.

Grand Prize - Cafe Table and Scooper Stools from DEMCO
Karen Sieber, St. Louis County Jamestown Bluffs Branch

1st Prize - 2 floor rocker chairs from DEMCO
Rebecca Crame, Marshall Senior High

2nd Prize - $150 DEMCO gift certificate and teen books from the State Library
Deanna Mercille, John A. Evans Middle School

3rd Prize - $50 gift certificate & lamp from DEMCO & books from the State Library
Cindy Rinker, Barry-Lawrence Regional Library, Mt. Vernon Branch

Congratulations everyone!!!!

Pioneer Library System (NY)

Thanks to everyone who attended the Teen Third Place workshop in Canandaigua, NY on October 2. What a fantastic group! It was great to be back in Western New York. I was just in time for a few beautiful fall days. I even had a moment to eat some Concord grapes and buy a grape pie. Two of my favorites that I can't get in Indiana.

I will be giving Ellen the text-only handouts soon, so stay tuned. For now, here are your responses to our talking points.

How are you involving teens?
- Hung signs asking them to write right on the sign what CDs they want us to buy
- Teens active in library programming can do their government class community service in library
- Teens who frequent library can come to “Lock-In” programming
- Opportunities for community service (a requirement to graduate)
- Song writing workshop
- Teens doing Murder Mystery for our Halloween Party
- Volunteer opportunities for teens
- Teens helped create and design the teen room (paint, move books...)
- Teens choose books to order from YALSA every month

What excellent customer service practices have you implemented?
- Started a regular gaming night for teens (battle about games vs. “literacy” and won)
- Installed Wi-fi laptop in Teen Corner strictly for teen use (excellent response-would like to add another)
- Talked up “Teen Friendly” attitude at library staff meeting
- Talk to the kids like they are “regular people”
- Know their names and material interests and get stuff for them

How are you effectively marketing to teens?
- Get to know them-learn their names - makes them feel welcome
- Teen surveys are available in Teen Corner for kids to fill out
- Shifting programs more to what teens are interested in
- More volunteering and added an anime club and book groups
- Attend programs in community and get to know their parents and siblings

What creative space ideas have you implemented?
- Moved the Graphic Novel collection to Teen Corner
- Received a sizeable memorial donation. Kim Bolan did a complete plan to create an inviting area
- Separated teen area from children’s and circulation desk (some privacy as a result)
- Eagle Scout Project for re-design/re-painting of Children and Teen Areas

Spring Teen Spaces Workshop

As promised, here is a copy of my full-day teen spaces workshop for Spring 2008. It includes text slides and vendor images. Due to permissions restrictions, all of the model library photos from the presentation will only be available on the companion website of the 2nd edition of my Teen Spaces book (due to be published by ALA Editions in late summer/early fall 2008).

Teen Spaces - Spring 2008

Kim's Presentation Schedule (January - June 2008)

January 2008
24th - Southwest Georgia RESA (Pelham, GA) - Teen Spaces

February 2008
28th - Seymour Public Library (Auburn, NY) - Customer Service Made Simple

March 2008
27th (10:30 a.m.) - PLA (Minneapolis, MN) - 21st Century Library Design
27th (4 p.m.) - PLA (Minneapolis, MN) - Technology Made Simple

April 2008
7th - Computers in Libraries Conference (Arlington, VA) - High Touch With Customer Care
21st - Lincoln Trail Libraries System (IL) - Teen Spaces
28th - Central Massachusetts Regional Library System - Teen Spaces

May 2008
5th - Prairie Area Library System (IL) - Teen Spaces

June 2008
28th and 29th (3 p.m.)- ALA (Anaheim, CA) - Q & A on the 2nd edition of Teen Spaces (due out in fall 2008) and Technology Made Simple

30th (1:30 p.m.) - ALA (Anaheim, CA) - YALSA President's Program - Between Home & School: The Teen Third Space

More to come...

Using Technology to Market to Young Adults

Thanks to everyone who attended "Using Technology to Market to Young Adults" with me and Michael Stephens at ALA in D.C. on Sunday. Below is a copy of my PowerPoint presentation as well as the great handout compiled by YALSA's Technology for Young Adults committee.

Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have questions.

And...don't forget to register for the drawing for free software. See my 6/15 posting below to enter.

Kim’s Presentation

YALSA's Technology for Teens Committee Handout

Look for more marketing ideas coming soon...

Great times in Massachusetts!

Thanks to all the wonderful people in Massachusetts for the warm welcome and wonderful stay during my week-long workshop tour. Special thanks to all the workshop participants, Carolyn Markuson, Rolf Erikson, Beth Gallaway, and Vickie Beene-Beavers.

As promised, here are copies of the notes from my teen spaces workshops as well as my alternative collection development for adults and teens.

SEMLS and Metrowest Presentations:
Young Adult Standards: Facilities (Teen Spaces, Cool Places Teen Spaces)
If You Buy It & Market It, They Will Come: Alternative Collections for Libraries

New England Educational Media Association (NEEMA) Presentation:
Teen Participation in Facilities Design
The Ideal Teen Environment: What Teens Need and Want

Beth Gallaway has also posted to the Metrowest blog - Metrowest News

2007 Presentations

Februrary 23, 2007 (Juneau, AK) Talking Without Jargon: Improving Library / IT Relations - Kim Bolan and Rob Cullin

February 24, 2007 (Juneau, AK) Putting Free Public Wi-Fi Into Action at Your Small or Medium Library - Kim Bolan and Rob Cullin

February 26 and 27, 2007 (Anchorage and Fairbanks, AK) Technology Troubleshooting & Customer Service Made Simple - Kim Bolan and Rob Cullin

March 27, 2007 (SEMLS - Lakeville, MA) Teen Spaces...Cool Spaces, 10 - 5

March 29, 2007 (Boston, MA) NEEMA Symposium - Make Room for Teens: Designing Library Spaces for the Net-Generation

March 30, 2007 (Norwood, MA) Teen Standards & Facilities Design: Teen Spaces, Cool Places, 9:30 - 1:30

March 30, 2007 (Norwood, MA) If You Buy It & Market It, They Will Come: Alternative Collections for Libraries (all ages), 2 - 4:30

June 24, 2007 (ALA Annual - Washington, DC) Using Technology to Market to Young Adults, 8-10am - Michael Stephens and Kimberly Bolan will discuss using newest technologies to market library service and programs to teens.

Fall Workshops

Look out Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin! I'm setting out on Sunday for two weeks of teen services workshops. I'm looking forward to meeting hundreds of new librarians, hearing about their experiences, and spreading the word about teen participation, space planning and design, "alternative" collections, technology, customer service and marketing. I'm even going to meet a few of the people behind two wonderful teen spaces:

• Julia Jorgensen, the Librarian at Cape Central High School (MO). This school is officially my favorite high school to date. Julia and the Cape Central administrators do fabulous things at their HS library. Active teen participation is their key ingredient! Julia says, “It’s about what the students want, not about what a middle-aged librarian wants.” Mike Cowan, Principal of Cape Central frequently hosts alumni tours of their campus. He beams with pride as his guests enter the student-designed, student-friendly facility declaring, “My friends, this is not your father’s library.”

• Peg Burington, Assistant Director/Young Adult Coordinator, Waupaca Area Public Library (WI). In 2002, Peg brought together a group of students that eventually became the Student Library Advisory Group, SLAG. This group was essential in creating The New Improved Best Cellar, a 1400 sq. ft. teen area, launched in March 2006. The first Best Cellar came to life in 1998.

Stop back to hear more about my adventures.