Long Term Community Partnerships Vs. Diverse Programming

Hey! Its another post…oh boy! This time I’ve decided to start out with a funny picture rather than end with one. Try this out for size:

Schmenge Brothers

Now here is something I saw LIVE last week, which basically ruled:

Einstein on the Beach

And now for something completely different, what I’m drinking while writing this post:

Founders Breakfast Stout

And what I’m listening to while writing this post:

Fela

Ok, now that you have some cognitive context, let’s proceed with the post.

Today I thought I would write a bit about, well, library programming again. Are you still awake? Well, one of my main duties where I work and passions as a librarian is adult community programming. Over the past 3+ years I have worked hard to create diverse and unique adult programming at my library. Over this time I have generally focused on creating different and unique programming every month, with 2-4 special programs every month. These special programs are in addition to regular monthly programming that we hold. Here is a snapshot of programming I have coming up this month at my library to give you an idea. This month happens to be one of the busiest of the year and I’ve decided to do a special Comic Book focus as I just recently finished re-cataloging and expanding the entire manga/comics/graphic novels collection. All programs are organized, run, taught or otherwise put managed by myself other than the following: writers group and art gallery opening.

Special Programs:

1. Senior Day – one of the biggest programs of the year, 50-80 senior citizens from the community. We have tours of the library, library card signups, a quick presentation on library services for seniors (the point of the event?), catered lunch, live music during lunch and then a trivia contest hosted by me with prizes. And let me to you, those seniors aren’t kidding when it comes to competing for free things!
2. Video Game Tournament and Comic Book Trivia – this is the first video game tournament I’ll be running (what, how is that possible?). I’m targeting local college students and I’m working with the SC Williams Library (Stevens Tech) and the fantastic library Valerie who is the Communications and New Media Strategies Librarian. Hmm, one’s professional title can be an important thing…what, my official title of “Librarian” isn’t helping me? Anyway, we’ll be playing Tekken Tag Team Tournament 2 on a 10ft projector screen with pizza and drinks. Gamestop gift certificate is the prize. Comic book trivia while the gaming is happening – one-shot comics as prizes for each question. Anyway, hope this works out. Working with a colleague of mine who runs game time for teens and loves video games. Also, we are starting a video game collection at the library launching this month – Xbox 360, Wii and PS3. Should be sweet.
3. A Lecture from a founding member of the local Jack Kirby Museum – “The Life and Times of Jack Kirby”
4. A monthly ‘special’ series I hold is the Hoboken Do-It-Yourself series, where I bring in local businesses/individuals/etc. to teach unique, often hands-on classes. This month I have a local artist giving a two part hands-on series on writing and drawing comics.
5. Park Bench Open-mic – our final monthly open-mic series event of the year. Learn more in my “Programs That Have Worked” section of this blog. An openmic we hold in a local park next to the library. We have an hour long live musical performance followed by an openmic poetry, music, comedy, etc.

Recurring Series Programs:

1. Monthly computer classes:
   1. Microsoft Excel Part 1
   2. Microsoft Excel Part 2
   3. Internet Basics 1
   4. Internet Basics 2
2. Monthly Career workshop series – Cover Letter Workshop
3. Monthly Film Screening – Army of Darkness (yes!)
4. Writer’s Critique Group
5. Spanish Language Internet Basics Class

Whew! So yeah, pretty much the busiest month of the year. I always jam pack in programs September – November.

Anyway, this snapshot shows you that while there are a number of recurring monthly programs (largely classes and such I teach), the rest of the programs are kind of out of the box and often change each month. I originally thought that this would be beneficial to do; to have diverse and different programming every month rather than having long lasting programming. The decision to do this was also influenced by the fact that my administration instructed me that they didn’t like programming that brought in the same programmer repeatedly and instead wanted to spread out our programming. As a result, diversity was the name of the game. Anyway, I DID still think this strategy could yield benefits for the following reasons:

• The community in which I work is a diverse community with an array of needs
• A major demographic in our community is 20s/30s and affluent – the library is very interested in attracting this group to the library. I thought that a broad range of programming focusing on hands-on activities and topics that would appeal to this group – cooking, food, arts and crafts, DIY skills, etc. As such, often changing activities and programs could appeal to this group
• We have diverse audience targets that we hope to attract to the library: young/affluent, job seekers, seniors, Spanish speakers, underprivileged, etc.
• I thought that diverse programming would allow me to network with all kinds of groups in town which would build social capital, strengthen library ties in the community and raise awareness of our services

3 years later I have a few thoughts on how this strategy has turned out. 

Benefits:

Over the past 3 years I’ve definitely been able to create a bunch of very unique programs that I’m proud of. These programs have indeed reached out and attracted many new faces to the library and built some awareness of our efforts in town. This includes the elusive 20/30s crowd. Some examples of programs I thought were especially cool:

1. DIY Home Beer Brewing Workshop and Homebrew Tasting – taught by the Jersey City Home Brew Club
2. Senior Day (3rd year running)
3. DIY Layer Cake Making
4.  African History Month – African Food Sampling, Live Music and Cultural Celebration Event
5. Haiti Roundtable Discussion featuring reporters, professors and other Haiti experts
6. LGBT Yearly Pride Month Programming – 3 special programs every June
7. Live theater – one-woman “Tea for Three” with Elaine Bromka (the mother from Uncle Buck!) and Chinese Peking Opera – partnered with the local high school to have classes sent over for the performances. Going to be doing this for a 3rd year in a row too.
8. Local author roundtable – a dozen authors talking about the writing process and getting published
9. Chick-Lit Night – 2 local Chick-lit authors presenting their new books along with cupcakes, coffee and tea
10. Open-mic series
11. Housing Fair – over a dozen nonprofits, gov’t groups, etc., and over 100 attendees

Throughout these programs, and especially with the DIY monthly series, I’ve certainly been able to reach out to many different businesses and groups in town. We’ve also reached out to local gov’t, schools, nonprofits, etc., through out outreach efforts and also through our community needs assessment and strategic planning initiatives. During these community analysis projects we did a lot of gatekeepers interviews and did a lot of surveys/polling among the community. Indeed, these efforts led largely to energies being put into the creation of the computer classes to meet the needs identified in the senior citizen and job seeker demographics. However, it has not all been sunshine and lollypops:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9riCK5ivhis

Drawbacks:

Despite the success we’ve had, I feel that both the positives have not gone far enough and that our efforts to really integrate ourselves with other groups in town have not really come to fruition. Here are some of my thoughts on drawbacks:

• While we have initiated many partnerships with many groups in town, most of have been on a limited basis because of the limited nature of the programming. As a result, the relationships with these groups generally lack maintenance and continual contact. So while the door has been opened to these groups, any new initiative or effort needs to partially restart the wheel.
• Patrons are often interested in follow-up programs for their favorite events. Because of our policies and focus, follow-up programs have either not happened or occurred so far in advance that we have lost some of the audience.
• Patrons may be enticed by a unique program that interests them, I’ve found many of the other programs I’ve chosen may not interest them (though they might for others). As a result, new patrons who have come to a few programs may eventually lose contact as the programs do not necessarily reflect their interests for that month.
• Advertising and outreach can be difficult as our potential target audience often shifts based on the difference in programming
• Simply coming up with several unique programs every month and maintaining quality of the program, advertising, outreach AND maintaining community relationships for each program is nearly impossible.

Conclusions:

I think that I need to learn some lessons from past experiences on this, so…here are some thoughts on what I might try moving forward:

• I’d like to select a VERY FEW focuses for programs and series I want to develop – maybe 2 – 3. I need to select a target audience or community need, select a program to meet this need and partner with specific organizations on this. While I’ve done this all before, I would like to have the programs be repeating on a regular basis – once a month, bi-monthly, etc. My upcoming project into the creation of a Makerspace (of sorts) at my library should be a good place to start. I have a few ideas already (see my last post). I’d like to have a space open at least weekly that could serve a particular need and work with specific groups. A ‘pie-in’the-sky’ idea I had was for the library to have a computer lab (which we already have) with all the necessary software and resources for learning to write code. We could then partner with the in-town university (Stevens Tech) to perhaps get students/professors to teach writing code and programming to local underprivileged high school students. Stevens students could get college credit and so could the high schoolers. Great idea, LOTS of work. We’ll see…
• Design a strategy to maintain the contact and interaction between the library and partnered organizations. Perhaps assign certain staff to work on these relationships – which would require a little work on staff allocation. Another challenge is that we are basically is small to medium sized library attempting to grow fast and expand services with a staff that remains the same. My thought is that we are generally, with a few exceptions, working at capacity as it is. This will require some re-configuring of staff goals and objectives with a reallocation of staff time and resources. However, I believe I can find the room and believe maintaining these relationships is KEY to the future of the library:
  • becoming an integral contributor and player in local educational efforts or governmental initiatives can be very important to solidifying the library’s imagine and role in the local community (and in the mind’s of taxpayers at the polls)
  • collaboration and partnerships are key to building social capital and raising the awareness of the library’s local community role
  • partnerships and collaborations are ALSO key to obtaining grants and funding
• Scale back on unique programming to make way for the recurring programs.
• Review the monthly programming to make sure they are all streamlined, attracting audiences and providing value effectively. If they are not, trim the fat.
• Maintain a more modest level of diverse programming. This strategy indeed still has value and should be continued for many reasons. However, I might make better effort to obtain feedback (which I do) and have programming reflect the interests of those patrons. Perhaps a redesign of feedback forms?
• Better communication with targeted patrons. We have an email newsletter, Facebook, Twitter, Eventbrite and lots of promotions in the local paper/online news resources. Perhaps I can create a social media group specifically for the DIY series to keep people informed and encourage an online discussion? Hmm…

Anyway, those are my thoughts for now. The diverse programming has definitely given the library lots of benefits. However, I would like to scale of that back to make room for long-lasting community relationships and partnerships on programming. Striking the balancing will be the key, especially with staff and space limitations.

Once again, any thoughts are much encouraged!

P.S. – by the end of my post I was listening to this on Spotify:

 

Also, 3 Founders Breakfast Stouts were consumed… 🙂

Makerspace Invasion!

Today I decided to write a little on the beginning of a project I am undertaking at my library. I’ll try to post updates as I go along and work things out, hopefully with the idea of following learning from my mistakes, successes, etc.

Over the past almost 4 years (yikes!) I’ve been immersed in many different projects and aspects of the library I oversee.  If any of you are public librarians working at a small to mid-sized library (generally understaffed, etc.), you’ll recognize this picture of juggling many different hats. Here’s a few of things I’ve really focused on:

• Unique adult programming to reach all audiences – at least 2-4 special programs every month + DIY monthly program series + 4 computer classes + 1 career workshop + 1 film screening + 1 book discussion (not run by me) + writers group (also not run by me) + art gallery opening (again, not run by me). I’ve spent much of my time creating unique programs as I believe free adult education, technology training and community driven programming is a huge component of the future of public libraries. See my old posts about the DIY series I started or the list of programs that have worked section of this blog for a better idea of the programs I’m doing. Or see my library’s eventbrite page for what’s happening now: http://hobokenpubliclibrary.eventbrite.com/
• Creation, teaching and maintaining of weekly computer skill training classes – about 2 dozen classes this point
• Creation, teach and maintaining of monthly career workshop series – 7 classes right now (just taught the first Intro to Linkedin class last night)
• The development of unique and in-depth music and graphic novel/comics/manga collections: ones that focused on having examples of some of the best albums from many different genres, including punk, metal, rap, etc. The same goes for the graphic novels/manga/comics – all the new stuff, examples of some of the best runs of many titles…and lots of Vertigo titles! Also. full runs of series whenever possible. And certainly no censorship of any kind!
• Creation and operation of the library’s social media: Facebook, Twitter, Eventbrite with updates most days

I’ve also done a lot of work on strategic planning, community needs assessments, union representation/contract negotiation, etc. – and all from the public service desk!

Ok, I’m just tooting my own horn here – sorry about that! Mostly I just feel that there are a bunch of public librarians out there who will understand about doing way too many things at once!

Anywho, NOW I’m looking to head into some new projects – ones that mirror much of what is being discussed in today’s library journals, conferences, etc. New project: investigate and implement a Makerspace into my library.

Yes,the 3-D printer is the hot topic everyone is thinking about these days. The new savior of libraries, right?

I’m going to assume you have all heard of Makerspaces from, well, basically any library literature that you pick up today, so I won’t waste your time. In the city that our library serves, there are currently at least 2 different groups that are looking into creating at least some sort of Makerspace and/or Technology Workshop Space. Our library has been approached about participating and of course, we were interested in doing something like this anyway. So, I’ve volunteered to begin looking into this for the library.

Here are some important relevant details:

• There are at least 3 groups trying to do something similar in the city – so we do not want to duplicate efforts AND we would like to partner whenever possible
• Our library has limited space available – really only a small (20 person) programming room that is used for other programs too
• I don’t want to try and do something that A) other groups are already doing in town B) is out of our staff/time constraint ability
• The budget for this is currently unknown, but one benefit our library has is that we likely have ample funding for this kind of project
• The City government wants to create a space in town, but has invited the library to participate. Therefore, I need to come up with BOTH ideas for a Makerspace inside the library AND remote location possibilities
• One of groups already working on these projects has a Makerspace of sorts up an running – it is mostly based on metalworking, soldering iron projects, creating robots, and other fun projects like that.

I have come up with some ideas for both in library and remote location possibilities, factoring in duplication and what other groups are already doing. Here are some of the ideas – anybody have any thoughts on these? Leave a comment and let me know!

In Library:

• *3-D Printer, training and open creation times. This would be IF no other group is going to do this in town with free access
• separate computer stations specifically for webchatting. Stations would have webcams, microphones, headsets and various webchatting software and web services
• photography stations – computers with high end photo editing software along with high end printers and photo paper. Local photographers would be employed to come in and offering training on a regular basis and then there will be open times for people to use the workstations.
• Open resume and cover letter creation time + job search/applications – we will have laptops setup, lots of print and online resources available, and staff available to assist. I already teach career workshops, so this would simply be an open time for people to cover whatever topic.
• Open-tech time – staff on hand with computers setup for people to come in and ask whatever questions they may have regarding general computer/Internet tech. Likely meant for lower skilled users.
• Partner with Stevens Institute of Technology (in town) as well as the local high school to have students/professors from Stevens teach classes on writing code to high school kids utilizing our computer lab.
• Video blogging stations and open creation times. Classes will be taught regularly on how to use the various tools, including video editing software and recording, to create your own video blog or other film project. We would also have quality video cameras and webcams available along with video editing software. Users would be able to come in, get training, and then have opentime to work on their video projects with staff present to help when possible.
• Work with the other group in town (Makerbar) to offer classes to kids to create basic robots with fun, easy and safe materials

Off Site Options – this is a little harder as I’m not sure what resources will be available at this remote site. Mostly this might involve bringing what I would be doing in house to a remote location.

• Resume/job skills open workshop OR teaching the career workshops remotely instead of in house
• Open-tech time
• Take some of the other mobile “stations” mentioned above – webchatting, video editing, photo editing, etc.
• teach computer training classes that I already teach at the library

Anyway, those are some of the ideas I have for this. My next step is to come up with a real plan for IN LIBRARY possibilities. I’ll need to pick things that would be feasible for our budget/staff availability/space and time constraints. I will also want to select activities that would in fact be something of interest to the community (oh yeah, that). Detailed plans for budgeting, staff training, collaborations, implementation, success measurement, etc., will be forthcoming.

Anyone have any thoughts? Has anyone created a makerspace before in their library? How about specifically in a small-medium sized public library?? Any thoughts, suggestions or straight up insults are welcome!

Oh, and here’s a funny picture:

Sometimes I feel like this at the public service desk.

Public Service Fatigue

Today’s post might be a subject that contributed to the naming of this blog, at least partially haha.

Today was another day at work which finished with a feeling of that might be described as public service fatigue. This is a subject that has been covered somewhat in our field, though I don’t know if I’ve really come across a full solutions. First, let me explain what I mean by public service fatigue. Here I am specifically referring to working a public library service desk, specifically a reference/technology desk in an urban library setting. I do have a good amount of the positive interactions that you would imagine in library school: resume assistance, student research, genealogy help and LOTS of technical assistance. I enjoy these interactions, however I’ve felt recently like my enthusiasm for even these types of questions has been problematic of late. I believe this is likely due to a few factors specific to my work environment, including:

• I do ALL my work from the public service desk, which includes organizing all adult programming, arranging/creating all computer/career workshop classes (I teach them later), operating all social media, strategic planning, linking/processing, loan processing, staff management, etc.
• Juggling many tasks at once from the public service desk

Worker fatigue, cheesy stock photo style!

However, I believe the biggest challenge I face to my enthusiasm is my interactions with a variety of patrons that cause problems with other patrons or staff. These problems come in so many forms and are a such a constant, everyday presence of my work environment that not only do they often absorb significant amounts of my time, but I believe also saps my enthusiasm for all interactions with the public. I’m sure many of you know this problem well, though this is NOT something that is a subject that you are really prepared for in library school. I believe this to be a glaring omission of librarian higher education (among many).

To give you a better image of the situation, here are just SOME of the interactions or situations that are part of my daily work environment:

• Stopping patrons from knowingly breaking various library rules put in place to make the environment a better place for all: playing music/videos very loudly, talking on cell phones, trying to bypass public computer timing software, crowding people around a single computer, etc. Most of these infractions revolve around using the public computers
• Patrons watching pornography on public computers (there are no screen guards and children frequent the area, so we have banned pornography at the library) – this has happened several dozen times in the past several months only. I’ve had to re-write library rules and sanctions to try and deal with this problem, which has resulted in several patrons being banned permanently and others for long periods of time from computer access
• Unfortunately, there have also been patrons who have taken watching pornography on public computers to ‘the next level’ – I won’t spell it out. This has happened more than once
• drunken or intoxicated patrons who may or may not be belligerent, aggressive, loud, potentially dangerous or otherwise very disturbing to patrons/staff
• mentally unstable patrons – many times we’ve had patrons who are mentally unstable or incoherent and present significant problems when thinking about their rights, but then also the rights and safety of other patrons and staff
• Potentially dangerous patrons – we’ve had a number of patrons who have directly threatened staff verbally or physically, staff who have been stalked and harassed outside of work, staff who have been sexually harassed while at work, and many more situations (bomb threats, etc).
• Generally belligerent patrons who are disruptive and insulting to staff

I’m sorry to paint a detailed picture like that, but these are all things that are a significant portion of my work environment and take up significant amounts of my professional time either through have to deal with each situation as it arises, having to work with security on patron sanctions or working with administration on drafting new rules to improve the library environment. Again, this is not a subject that I feel has been broached enough in library schools and professional research. I find that much of the scholarly material in our field (but not all of course) have some of the following traits:

• research is conducted in and meant for academic library settings
• research focuses on ‘next trend’ subjects that show only positive potentials and are often not realistic for many tight budgeted, understaffed public libraries

With that said, there IS significant research on staff well-being and creating a positive work environment in library management and business/general management publications. I plan on perhaps doing an analysis and maybe putting a paper together combining this research with perhaps an individual case study.

Anyway, the point: it bothers me that I’m now not doing my best with general patrons after having been drained with the issues of various problem patrons. I also really got into the field largely because of its role in public service, community assistance and community ties. I work hard to produce programs, collaborate with community organizations and create education opportunities for various people within the community. I was the first to stand up and defend the rights of all to use the library and encouraged other staff to do their best to absorb the trials of problem patrons and instead try to realize the conditions of their life and environment and use the library to create opportunities for them.

While I still feel like I try to do this, my patience and sympathy for problem patrons has lost of lot of ground recently, and that has bothered me. I’ve spent more time recently coming up with new rules and sanctions to prevent bad/disruptive/dangerous behavior than I have on creating programs or services that provide opportunity. I think that part of the problem here is that I have tried to reach out with these services that have seldom been used by the people who could use them the most. Our location is near two shelters and we receive many people from both locations every day. Over the last few years, I spent time identifying needs the library may be able to help with with these populations (computer training, career workshops, etc). I put together monthly computer classes and career workshops that I teach and collaborated with the shelters’ administrations and even gave presentations at the shelters to encourage use of our services. Rarely has anyone actually taken up these opportunities. I knew that this was a long shot of course, its sometimes the hardest thing to reach out for help when in need. However, the general lack of use of these services by problem patrons has worked against my enthusiasm here.

So how are libraries suppose to work with needy patrons who very often can come with an assortment of different challenges that effect staff and other patrons, including mental illness, drug abuse, aggressive behaviors or worse. I recently re-read an article I came across in library school that laid out the picture pretty well by a librarian at the time from the Salt Lake City Library: What They Didn’t Teach Us in Library School by Chip Ward. Here is a link to that fascinating case study of the librarian’s challenges working in an urban setting:

http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/174799/ward_how_the_public_library_became_heartbreak_hotel

So let’s break down possible responses for libraries to these kinds of situations:

1. You can crack down, create new rules and stiff enforcement. This may cut down on incidents, but there’s the problem of denying your service to those who might need them the most. Further, there are questions of whether the library should even restrict access in any way to patrons in most situations
2. You can engage the problem and try to forge solutions. This is often a huge challenge and one that various social service groups in your area are already tackling and are likely overwhelmed and underfunded.
3. A combination of both of the aforementioned
4. Ignore the problems

I believe our library has actually engaged in some of all of the above. Initially I did some community analysis, gatekeeper interviews and created programs and services in collaboration with community groups to try and better meet the needs of this needy group.

Solutions I’ve tried:

1) creating weekly computer basics/intermediate classes

2) monthly career workshops including writing resumes, cover letters, online job searching, etc.

3) One on one sessions with individual patrons

Other things I could try:

• aggressive efforts to really share services and partner with community service organizations
• have social workers visit the library on a regular basis to provide counseling
• provide more programs on basic needs topics (jobs, health care, personal finance, education, etc.) and aggressively target this group

Results of efforts:

1. Low usage of these services by the target group
2. One-on-one sessions were the most effective, but hugely time consuming on staff and classes were adopted instead
3. Disruptive behaviors continued and even intensified (not suggesting this is a causal result, just happened)

Next Step: Sanctions and Rules

• After perhaps two years disruptive, abusive and even dangerous behaviors were becoming out of control so I worked to help draft new rules and sanctions that I pulled from sampling other library policies in NJ and by evaluating our goals.
• New rules were created as well as clear sanctions for rule violations to create clear punishment for rule violations, to protect staff from dangerous patrons and to protect staff in their decision making in these types of situations from potentially negative review from administration.

Results:

• intense level of problem patron behaviors dropped slightly after several patrons were banned or had their privileges limited.
• Rule enforcement has taken up more staff time
• likely trust levels have fallen between needy and/or problem patrons and staff

Finally, in many individual cases staff will tend to ignore smaller rule infractions when possible as they have simply deemed that trying to enforce the rules are not worth it. This decision has been reached as a result of experience with patrons not stopping the behaviors, administration coming down on them for decisions made and the resulting combined stress.

So…what do to?? I’m sure the research I will look into will make many organizational/staff environment recommendations. Just browsing some of the literature (and from my knowledge of management practices), here’s a couple of organizational ‘solutions’ that could be adopted:

1. design on/off desk time for all staff and enforce
2. rotate staff in different departments
3. create reasonable goals and objectives for staff and with reasonable workloads
4. desk coverage to include more than one staff at all times so all staff have backup
5. create well structured and trained staff procedures
6. try to engage all staff in more decision making and team forged solutions on these issues
7. create fun activities and rewards for staff instead of just all work all the time
8. staff physical health options  – staff yoga, exercise, etc.

I”m sure there are many others. However, I feel as if those are general workplace style solutions that do not address this specific public librarian fatigue issue. Note: this specific situation may have an added component of a friction between staff and administration. Staff believes that administration does not have the staff’s safety/well being as a top concern and feels like they have not been backed up when making decisions in these tense and difficult situations.

In the end, is the best we can do a combinational approach as I mentioned previously? Try to work with community groups and create services/programs to help this group while at the same time enforcing rules to maintain stable work environment? Well, this flawed approach may be the best possible when working with problem patrons and needy patrons. However, what about the librarians? How can we better deal with this fatigue of which I speak? I’m not sure a solution of a choice of will to simply put on a positive perspective is a realistic solution. I’d like to come up with some a combination of practical organizational, personal, administrative and professional options to create the best environment AND personal/professional perspective to work in such an environment. This is the challenge that I will need to begin researching and working with. How about you, readers? What are your experiences? What are your suggestions? How do YOU feel in your currently work environment? Do you deal with any of these situations? If you are actually still reading this 🙂 then let me know what you think!

Final thoughts: Solutions right now:

• better manage my workload and scale down
• create off-desk time for all staff to have time off-desk to work
• Designate a technical services desk and reference desk – have designated staff for each desk and separate duties to make better workflow
• move reference desk away from computer area (where most infractions occur) – not physically possible at our library, and really not a good solution most likely
• work hard to create better comradery within the department – create fun events at work away from the desk, rewards/recognition for employees who have done well, etc. Though, this might be hard not actually running the department…
• better connect with local social services organizations and create fresh solutions/partnerships
• maintain level of sanctions/rules
• * management issues/trust: well, I’m the union representative currently negotiating contracts, so working on it 🙂

Whew! That was a waaay too long post. Sorry. If you are still reading, THANK YOU and GREAT JOB! Let me know your thoughts!

PS – here is a funny photo:

“Non-professional” solution to librarian fatigue??

Sweet Reference Question of the Day

The first reference question I had today was, well, unique. If fact, I don’t remember going over this in library school!

The question: a patron came in and asked if I could help him ‘change’ a document that he had, but that he didn’t know how to use a computer very well. Slightly in the dark, I said ok, but let me try to understand what you need. Well, after a question or two, he produces a New Jersey Department of Corrections document and basically wants me to “change” the name on the documents and a few other things…so basically, forge official DOC documents. Needless to say, forging DOC documents was not something I could do.

But this question certainly was the winner for question of the day. How about you guys? Anyone have some amusing/ridiculous/bizarre reference questions they’d like to share?

Reality Check

Just a quick thought today: employees at the library today discovered a ‘unique’ Craigslist post that involved the library. I’ve seen quite a lot while working at the public library in my day: dozens of people watching pornography, drunk/intoxicated people, real questions about building a time machine, physical fighting and screaming, and much, much more. This is of course the side of working in a public library that is rarely mentioned, but is likely one of the two popular perspectives of what public libraries are today for people who are casual to non-users:

Perspective #1: public libraries are daytime homeless shelters

Perspective #2 – public libraries have books and are basically stuck in a 1980s level of technology, collections, etc.

I think that it would be good if library schools and our profession engage issue of public perception (related to #1) and the REAL issues that can occur while working in a public library. This would be good for preparing future professionals, creating a better public perspective game plan and attempting to craft real solutions to real problems. Anyway, more on this later.

For now…here’s the today’s story:

A person posted an advertisement on Craigslist explicitly laying out his offer of sexual solicitation to be performed inside the library. Specifically, you would be able to find him the “adult non-fiction section” and that you would know him by the “purple thong” that he would be wearing. And indeed, a very, uh, detailed picture accompanied this post.

So yeah, a good mix of somewhat hilarious, somewhat depressing, somewhat scary. Welcome to the public library!

Here’s just a few articles that the general public might consume about public libraries:

http://gothamist.com/2011/04/20/brooklyn_public_library.php

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/04/25/135707937/pornography-is-protected-speech-at-new-york-public-libraries

 

Then there’s some ALA perspectives:

http://www.ala.org/aboutala/governance/policymanual/updatedpolicymanual/section2/61svctopoor

http://www.ala.org/advocacy/diversity/outreachtounderservedpopulations/servicespoor

Oh and just to remind you, this exists:

Program Evaluation #1: Open-mic Series

I’ve finally decided to start this blog up again – simply got far too busy with work at the library working on a new contract as lead contract negotiator/union rep. for the library workers.

To start back up I’d to again focus on adult programming in libraries. I do quite a bit of programming at my library as the adult program coordinator. I do this in addition to quite a few other things I run, which I do find can detract from my overall ability to create top flight programming each time. Other things I do at the library: maintain all social networking (Facebook, Twitter, Eventbrite, and soon a WordPress blog and possibly YouTube channel), I created and teach all computer classes (about 16 classes) and career workshops (5) – 5 classes a month, participate in planning and technology committees, develop and maintain the graphic novel/manga/comics and music collections, and all while working at the public service desk and managing library assistants. I also help to create quite a bit of policy around the library and am often a lead person on technology initiatives – like researching the possibility of a maker space at the library. Again – I”m also the union rep. and lead contract negotiator.

Whew, that all sounds pretty self-absorbed! Sorry about that! Really, I just wanted to lay out a scenario that I bet a lot of small to mid-sized public library librarians are facing: many roles, lots of big plans, but not enough time and resources. Here is a picture to illustrate that point:

 

With that mindset though, I’d like to begin to make an analysis of some of the major programs or program series I run and look at the successes and stumbling point of those programs. I certainly want to encourage readers (haha, readers?) to chime in and give me some suggestions, share your stories or perhaps even get some ideas from my experiences. So, let’s get to it!

Program Series: Park Bench Open-Mic

Description: From May-October we hold an open-mic and live music event in an park that is adjacent to the library on the 3rd Saturday of each month. We have an opening band play for the first hour (2pm) that is arranged through a co-worker/library assistant at the library who also happens to be a musician and run a successful open-mic series in NYC every Thursday. We take advantage of this and he hosts the openmic and books most of the bands. After the initial band we open the floor (and the mic) to anyone looking to read their poetry, play music, do comedy or any other performance art. We have two promotional tables at this event to showcase all of our upcoming programs and services. We’ve been doing this program for about 3+ years now and average probably 50 people for each event.

Advertising methods:

• We create flyers for all of our events and distribute in the library and around town (Hoboken is one square mile, so this is a feasible option).
• Social media promotions: Facebook, Twitter, Eventbrite
• monthly advertisement in the local newspaper with all of our upcoming programs
• promotion the the open-mic run by the employee in NYC

Costs:

• $300 – featured musician
• $-$50 – refreshments (very variable)
• initial equipment purchases – speakers, mixer, microphones, stands, wires, etc.

You might be bored at this point so I’ve inserted a random picture to make you happy:

Positives:

• In terms of attendance, this is by far our best recurring program.
• Its a fun event for employees and we are able to get support staff very invested in the program and utilize existent staff talents for the library’s benefit.
• We bring unique music to the community
• We get a chance to promote our services and programs
• We offer attendees a welcoming environment to express themselves and share their art

Negatives:

• many of our attendees are simply people using the park that day who are then attracted by the music and other things going on – we often have refreshments available as well
• our numbers of interested musicians, poets and other artists fluctuate and we can’t seem to maintain a consistent group for our series
• we have seemed to reach a plateau for attendees/performers
• the program’s format and offerings has not really changed in 3 years

To get a better feel for the program series check out the Facebook page for the library I maintain – we have hundreds of pictures in our photos section from the programs, including the open-mic series: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hoboken-Public-Library/128891617134

Our most recent open-mic featured a professional jazz band and had a local food theme (encouraging eating locally and learning why) – this included me baking 100+ pumpkin cookies with fresh, local pumpkin to serve and for kids to decorate and the event, lots of local cider, a local food book display, and tabling from the local farmers’ markets to spread the word on what they offered. Needless to say, the kids table was a smash hit, check out the fun pictures:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151060403027135.427416.128891617134&type=1&l=850ecf5c0e

Analysis:

Anyway, I feel like this program needs some new life and some new direction. Things I’d like to do with this series:

• Increase awareness of the program (don’t we always?)
• Improve advertising methods
• Encourage more artists and musicians to participate
• add educational value and direct links to library services and materials
• add new elements to refresh the series

Ideas for Improvement:

• Networking with other open-mics, music venues and artist/musician groups in town to encourage them to participate
  • Perhaps offer some manner of incentive to them?
• Incorporate activities for kids and families in each program
• Book displays or originally created materials with each open-mic + theme for each open-mic
• Trivia contest between acts with prizes?
• Partnerships on the program with local musicians groups/artist groups/ etc.?
• Buy in from local restaurants – have a different local restaurant sponsor the event each month and serve food and promote their business?

Well, those are my thoughts the library’s Park Bench Open-Mic program. Anyone have any thoughts? Suggestions? Brutal criticisms? Wise cracks? Let me know!

P.S. – all librarians need to know about this:

Old Books

Note: doing lots of local history research using 100 year old books (and I presume 100 year old dust) can in fact cause you to be sick. Note #2: Do not inhale 100 year old dust.

Library Security

Many people who work in public libraries will know that library security is an often ignored issue. Rarely if ever have I seen a journal article that discusses issues of security, harassment of staff, public disturbances and other related things. In just 3 years time I have been witness to quite a number of incidents that range from annoyances to ones that defy belief. We all know that public service will always entail dealing with patrons who are upset, demanding or even irate. In fact, I found a spectacular VHS staff training video while weeding our professional collection: “Dealing with the Irate Customer.” Must be from the late 1980s or early 1990s. Great cover photo to the tape, though both people on the front look pretty irate! And why is one of them in a house coat??

"Dealing with the Irate Customer"

Anyway, those things are the everyday stuff we deal with. However, what I am referring to are situations where staff are seriously harassed or threatened; significant public disturbances are made; or even cases where violence or drug use becomes an issue inside the library. Recently there were several incidents that occurred where I work, including threats of violence, severe public intoxication and, I’m sorry to type this out, public acts of self-sexual behavior – that’s about as tame as I could put that! For a number of reasons, and because I am the library union representative, I decided to contact a number of different libraries in my area (northern NJ) to find out what kinds of security policies they have and if they have had similar experiences to us. In my next post I will examine the results of my contacting about a dozen different libraries and discuss.

I think that if I continued as a Reference Librarian for perhaps 5 more years, I could probably have enough bizarre dark comedy to fill a book. I want to add a few random stories on my blog over time to make things a little different from a normal professional blog. How about something that happened this week. While I’ve had many bizarre questions come my way as a librarian, this week I got one that ranks probably top 5 for me for bizarre questions. A patron asked me simply “where can I find books on stimulation?” I was somewhat caught off guard by this being busy with a few things, so I naively proceeded into reference interview mode. I asked something along the lines of “well, what do mean exactly? Stimulation in relation to what?” …there I am, making a rookie librarian mistake. The patron responds, “Yunno, STIMULATION…” and kind of gives me a wink wink sort of look. As this point the realization of his question almost caused me to say out loud “oooohhhh, ok”. In situations like this, and yes, there have been others, I find a ‘get quick answer’ approach is best. For your information, books on this and related subjects could be found at Dewey 306.7.

Unique Community Programming

Here’s an article I recently got published in the NJLA Reference Quarterly newsletter about a unique programming series I started that promotes local business and culture, creates partnerships and focuses on local programmers.

 

“Do-It-Yourself Monthly Program Series as Community Bridge Building”

 

The Hoboken Public Library has recently initiated a new monthly program series that is calledHobokenDo-It-Yourself (DIY), which is a monthly series of programs that focuses on unique skills and informational programming as taught by local individuals, businesses and organizations. Our inaugural schedule includes bread baking, interior design basics, chocolate making, recycled sculpture art and home beer brewing. The workshops are interactive with students creating their own chocolate, testing beer making supplies or creating their own sculptures in class. Students enjoy the hands-on aspect and get the opportunity for a unique learning experience. The goal of this community program series is to offer free opportunities to learn unique skills and information. However, the nuanced rewards of this program go beyond one-way benefits for users and extend also to community partnerships, local identity and a potential role of the future of public libraries.

In contemporary library literature we are beset by urgent calls to adopt emerging technology trends and engage patrons in an online interactive setting. Indeed, there is merit to these arguments and in many ways libraries will need to adopt a variety of technological initiatives. The Hoboken Library currently operates such services as weekly computer classes, a technology lending program (Kindles, Nooks, laptops, Ipad, etc.), diverse online databases and resources and maintains an interactive presence on a variety of social networking platforms. However, another important aspect of the public library’s future is that of increased connection to local identity and organizations. Indeed, the Hoboken Public Library’s recent strategic planning process one of the goals identified through community analysis was for the library to be “a gathering place with opportunities for social interaction and cultural enrichment.” As more of our traditional lending services become digitized and under the prevue of corporate interests, libraries will need to shift in order to encourage its position as an important local entity. Much has also been written about the importance of partnerships and collaboration within the community: local government, schools, organizations and businesses. The public library can help to support local cultural identity as well as local businesses through programming and collaboration. This new program series takes positive steps in that direction.

WithHobokenDIY we engage local businesses and individuals to share their unique skills with the community in the form of an interactive program. The obvious manifest benefit is free programs for the community featuring unique skills. However, benefits are also received by local businesses, the community and the library. First, local businesses and artisans receive free promotion of their services through the promotion of this event in addition to modest compensation for their time and materials. Our library is has worked hard to foster a multi-faceted approach to promotion. The approach includes traditional advertising such as a monthly newspaper ad, online news ads, print and email newsletters, Facebook and Twitter and flyers in-house and around town. Our approach also includes one of the things this program seeks to accomplish: networking with a variety of local organizations and targeted promotion and collaboration with those groups. Through the programs patrons are encouraged to explore aspects of local culture and businesses that perhaps they were not acquainted with, which benefits the business at hand as well as the local business community. Finally, with collaboration comes shared resources and networking, which can help the business in terms of increased media exposure or contacts provided through interaction with the library and its patrons.

The library profits from this partnership and forges a forward thinking role in the local community. The library attracts new users through the variety of program topics offered by the DIY programs. The nature of these programs also allows the library to act as a medium through which local culture, business and identity is experienced and promoted, which is something uniquely available to public libraries to capitalize on. The library is also able to promote local mom-and-pop businesses and might serve to raise the library’s visibility within the community. It is hoped that this program can be extended to include collaboration with the local chamber of commerce and government to further local collaboration and exposure. Tailing on those points, the library is able to create new networking pathways with local business, government, organizations, media and community gatekeepers, which is crucial for the perception of library relevance in the future local community. Finally, the library benefits from the partnership with local businesses and other groups providing the program through joint promotional efforts and investment in the success of the program.

This new series is a work in progress and the details laid out are ones being continually strived for. However, I believe what the program series is attempting and what it represents is something that will be vitally important to the future of the public library. Certainly libraries will need to adopt relevant technologies at an increased pace. However, as lended materials become wane in importance the public library needs to bolster its position as an integral and vital part of the community. The library can offer much in the way of promoting local culture and business, as well as form partnerships and mutual arrangements with local stakeholders.  In the future, the public library will rely more heavily upon its programming, adult education, and children’s services in its physical locations. Beyond that the public library will need to work more aggressively on identifying itself as an important local institution and as a public space: unique community partnerships and gaining mutual investment are a big step in that direction.

Community, Education and the Future of Libraries

In my role at the Hoboken Public Library one of my duties is organizing the adult programming. I also created and teach a series of monthly computer classes are part of the programming. When I started at HPL there was an opening to take over programming and I was eager to do it. The public library at least has a public perception of being under attack and in decline. Real or perceived, the following all factor into the public library being on the defensive:

– budget cuts locally and from state/federal
– attacks on public services and funding of all kinds by opportunistic politicians
– the digitization of traditional collections and obstacles of  eBooks and other online materials
– copyright issues relating to eBooks and digitized materials
– perception that the library is obsolete in comparison to the Internet
– increased competition for scarce grant and donor resources in lieu of public funding

There are lots of other challenges to be sure, but this is a good enough list to realize a tough situation for libraries. As such, I see libraries as needing a multi-faceted approach to generating interest and awareness in library services, offering new technologically based services and strengthening our position in local communities. Many calls to action are routinely heralded in library journals and blogs: more digitized collections and eBooks, online engagement tools (Facebook, blogs, sharing tools, and other online content), sophisticated fundraising efforts, and of course, lots of other technology based suggestions. Slightly less touted is the need for public space or a common, which the library provides.  In a time of zealous privatization there are not many public spaces left that are free, and even less indoors. Indeed, simply maintaining that public space is an important role for libraries. However, I believe that there is an element of the library’s role in the community that are overlooked or taken for granted. Free adult educational opportunities and adult programming provide needed resources to patrons, can foster partnerships in the community and rebrand the library’s image locally.

Given the aforementioned difficulties facing libraries, specifically the decreasing importance of a physical collection, I think that the library needs to raise its stature and activity in the local community. Programming and outreach are the main tools a library has to do this. Further, the public library still maintains a charitable perception in the mindset of most, so organizations are often willing to work with the library.

I’ve geared some of the programming at HPL to resemble community center type programming: cooking classes, dance classes, arts and crafts, DIY activities, etc. Many of those types of programs a library can often find a local business or organization to provide the program or at least partner on it. This style of programming first shows the library as promoting local business and culture. Networking is accomplished and partnerships forged through this style as well, which builds the library’s stature in the community and begins to build mutually beneficial relationships between the library and other groups locally. These relationships can further add to the library’s ability to spread the word about its services and increase awareness and demand. The partnered organization benefits as well: a mom-and-pop business gets free advertising, local government can get the word out on new initiatives and individual artisans can raise awareness of their work. These types of relationships can be built on all kinds of programming: local author visits, local government officials giving talks about recycling best practices, local reporters or academics giving topical lectures, etc.

In tandem with programming I believe free adult educational resources are another role libraries can fill that is needed in communities. At HPL I teach almost 20 computer literacy classes as well as career workshops. The library will always be a place where people can come and have access to materials and resources to improve their lives. While material and online resource support will continue to be essential in this effort, libraries should also look to programming that engages and works directly with community members. Perhaps the most important resource a library has is its staff, with all the knowledge and abilities they have. Providing classes and class-like programming will be an important role libraries can fill in the future, especially in a time of funding cuts. More than that, if libraries want to be considered information specialists, they need to be on the forefront of informational technologies as well as methods on how to instruct the public on information seeking and critical thinking. As we know as librarians, finding good information and being able to use it is not just plugging a search into Google. Critical thinking skills, awareness of quality resources and research skills are all things trained library staff can offer in the form of classes and programming. Most likely a library will find that once embarking on a path of offer these types of services, networking and community partnerships will begin to reveal themselves via interested groups.

Programming and outreach efforts that focus on local identity and community can go a long way to meeting goals of the public library. First, the library receives additional advertisement from partnered local groups and raised awareness of services through word of mouth. I’ve found that once a good relationship has been established with a community group, especially a local charity, nonprofit or club, the library receives the benefits of the membership of that group being aware of its services and spreading the word. Word of mouth is still a powerful force in the local community.

Second, as the library integrates itself into the network of local groups it will begin to be counted upon by those local groups (local government being a good partner in this sense) for its services and resources. If the library can establish itself as a vital contributor of services not only to local individuals, but to local community organizations, then efforts to cut funding or diminish its resources will be met with stiffer resistance.

Third, the library can re brand itself as a desired hotspot locally. Out-of-the-box programming, a well maintained community space and innovative online resources and communications mediums will create that desirable image the public library is looking for. This is partially due to the efforts made to collaborate with local groups and benefiting from the social capital created. Libraries should certainly be looking to offer all kinds of innovative technological services and communications. Also, its also probably a good idea for libraries to adopt nuanced fundraising practices. However, the public library should not forget the role that programming, outreach and creating a common space can have or the community and the library.