Doing More with Less

Andrea Berstler, Executive DirectorWicomico Public Library

Marilyn Pontius, Branch ManagerWashington County Free Library

MLA/DLA Conference, May 2014

Scholarship from WMRL to attend ARSL Conference

About ARSL

• History

– 1982 - part of Clarion University

– 2007 – First Board meeting

– 2008 – First independent Conference

– 2013 – First Sold Out Conference

About ARSL

ARSL Vision

As the premier organization representing rural and small libraries, ARSL recognizes the uniqueness of small and rural libraries and is committed to providing an environment that encourages excellence within this community of practice, supporting their goals of service and speaking on behalf of this important constituency.

ARSL Mission

The Association for Rural & Small Libraries provides resources and support that empower those in small and rural libraries to deliver excellent service for their communities.

About ARSL• To organize a network of members

• To provide opportunities for the continuing education

• To provide mechanisms for members to exchange ideas and to meet on a regular basis;

• To cultivate the practice of librarianship and to foster a spirit of cooperation

• To serve as a source of current information

• To partner with other library and non-library groups

• To collect and disseminate information and resources that are critical to this network

• To advocate for rural and small libraries

The eight highlighted leaves in the tree of our logo represent the eight central objectives of our association. In order to grow, thrive and be who our members need us to be, we strive to accomplish these objectives.

Geek the Library

Community awareness campaign developed through a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, administered though OCLC

Highlights the vital role of public libraries

Educates the community about the challenging funding issues many public libraries face

Helps start important local library funding conversations

Jenny Powell, Field Marketing Manager, OCLC Geek the Library Campaign

Geek the Library Campaign phases: Before Launch; Phase 1

Create Awareness; Phase 2 Generate Engagement; Phase 3 Encourage Action

Campaign Management Center Support

Materials, Blog, Webinars, Handouts, Presentations, Samples

Free professional materials

Posters, handouts, T-Shirts, table cloth, bumper stickers, book marks, bags

Must enroll by June 30, 2014 and implement campaign by June 30, 2015

Geek the Library Before Launch

Marketing plan development

Steakholder bye-in

Geek the Library Phase 1 Create Awareness

Educate the public to the vocabulary

Launch

Geek the Library Phase 2 Generate Engagement

Take the message to the community

Involve staff

Geek the Library Phase 3 Encourage Action

Funding focus

Geek the Library Week

Dazzling Displays

Leah Krotz, Director

Belleville Public Library Belleville, KS

schoollibrarydisplays.blogspot.com

Dazzling Displays

Content:Attractive Library MaterialsBasic StructureBackgroundSignageProps

Toolkit:HammerTape measurePoster puttyUtility knifeScissorsFishlineMagnets (hooks and flat)

Tips for Dazzling Displays

• Book Bubbles

• Book of the Day

• Keep an eye out for Props

• Change displays to correspond with length of check out

dclibrary.org

Makers, Mentors, and More

Timothy OwensSenior Program Officer, IMLSTravis PorterLibrarian/Branch Manager, Ada Victory Branch, Boise, ID Kieran HixonTechnology & Digital Initiatives ConsultantColorado State Library

Makers, Mentors, and More

Importance of developing creative problem solving skills

Rethink what constitutes Maker spaces and Maker programs

EXCEL at Rearranging Your LibraryChris Ripple, Central Kansas Library System, Great Bend, KS

EXCEL at Rearranging Your LibraryGrocery store model :

• Customers enter at front of store

• Essential items on the perimeter-require customers to walk through entire store

• Large signs tell people what is in isles

• Sale items on the end of the isles

EXCEL at Rearranging Your Library

• Wide power paths that lead patrons around library (everyone)

• Secondary traffic zones (most people)

• Tertiary traffic zones (few people)

• Merchandizing hot spots – displays everyone will see

EXCEL at Rearranging Your Library

Tips• Consider patron comfort

• Use large signage for large areas (Adult Fiction, Childrens, etc)

• Don’t use Dewey on signs

• Put everything you can on wheels for flexibility

The Future is Now

Follow the Rules

Make the Rules

Innovation is necessaryHow much time do you

spend thinking about your library’s future?

How much is 1% of your time?

A 35 hour work week is 2100 minutes

1% of 2100 minutes is 21 minutes

Is your future worth

the investment of

21 minutes a week?

There is no box. . .

http://noboxbook.com/blog/

Tasha Turner

“No book is ever perfectNo piece of art is ever perfectNo meal I cook is ever perfect But at some point we have to eat...”

Perfection is a myth. . .

Thomas A Edison

Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.

Join us for the 2014 Conference

Tacoma, WashingtonSeptember 4-6, 2014

Hotel Murano - $99 per night