Come talk with Sue about their research study with students on Thursday February 2, 2012 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm, Lower Lobby of the MTCC

This research study is a user needs analysis of the views and comments of potential student users as to what should be included in a learning commons, how the space should be designed and what services should be provided. Focus groups conducted with undergraduate student users of the existing Informatics Commons at the University of Toronto Scarborough Library showed that students appreciated convenient access to desktop computers and to staff help. In a future learning commons, students need spaces for quiet individual computer use, collaborative group computer use, and social activities. Service needs include improved technical, research and writing support.

Lower Lobby of the MTCC

Community Mapping: Keeping it Simple and Straightforward 

Jenny Schnoll and Lina Kim

Toronto Public Library

Toronto Public Library’s new approach to community outreach and engagement says that library staff partner and collaborate with groups and individuals so they can define and fulfill their own interests and needs. To do this well, staff need the right skill set. This poster session describes a community mapping process adopted by TPL to help staff make that first step in community entry. Community mapping is generally recognized as the first step in helping library leaders and branch staff alike develop a new understanding of how the library fits into and contributes to the existing fabric of the community.

Reinvesting in the Carnegie Legacy: Small Public Libraries, Big Community Impact

 Danielle Arial

Wellington County Library

Throughout the last decade, the County of Wellington has exemplified a commitment to community investment.  In that time, nine of their fourteen branches have been renovated or reconstructed, with the five others to be completed over the next six years.  Reinvestment in the County’s five original Carnegie libraries substantiates the very real return on investment Andrew Carnegie imagined. These innovative building projects create healthy, vibrant communities: barrier-free accessibility combined with environmentally sustainable construction standards lay the foundation for significant community impact.  Accessible washrooms and parking, along with assistive technologies exemplify the County’s commitment to barrier-free service.  Living roofs, rainwater collection for washroom use and daylight harvesting are just a few of the initiatives incorporated into the County’s Green Legacy Building Standards.  The poster session will inspire other municipalities, providing ideas as to how they can renew this worthwhile investment.

Lower Lobby of the Convention Centre, Thursday February 2nd and Friday February 3rd, from 12:00 Noon – 2:00 p.m.

OLA Poster Sessions: Feb 2 & 3 – Descriptions

Comfort & Joy: Yoga and Make-Your-Own-Sundaes During Christmas Exams

Robin Bergart, Jim Brett, Sophia Apostol, Robin Sakowski, Randy Oldham, and Doug Horne

University of Guelph Library

The University of Guelph Library piloted a program last December to help students relieve their stress during the final exam period. We teamed up with the university’s Athletics Centre, Wellness Program, and Students’ Association to offer yoga and relaxation classes, healthy snacks, and a sundae bar! This poster documents the reception by the students. Did they welcome it or find it disruptive? Did it help their studies or distract them instead? What were the most popular activities? How would we do it differently next time?

Talk with U of Guelph – with many other library staff  - about their programs and projects on February 2nd & 3rd in the Lower Lobby of the Convention Centre at OLA’s Superconference  at the Poster Sessions, 12:00 Noon – 2:00 p.m.

Here’s the full program of OLA Poster Sessions – it’s not published anywhere else!

Purpose:              What is the goal of your blog?  What do you want to communicate or promote?  Be clear about this.

Description:       What do you want your site to look like?  Plan the physical description of the blog.  Sketch out your vision so you can “see” it before you build it.

Schedule:            How often will you be updating your blog?  Set a publication frequency that’s reasonable.

Audience:           Who are they?  What’s the target market?

Cost:                      How much?  Even electronic publications have a cost,  including  - and especially – the “cost” of your time!

Distribution:      How are you going to ensure that you reach your audience?  Where is the “Place” (another marketing “P”)?

 Person(s):          Where does the responsibility lie?  During set-up, you may want to create a project plan to identify milestones – especially if you are relying upon outside expertise to deliver certain aspects of your site.  After you are up and running,

Continue reading Promotion 101: Is blogging part of your plan?

As a planner, Jim  has completed over 50 master plans, facility feasibility studies and operational reviews for public libraries in Ontario and Atlantic Canada. He is expert in all aspects of needs and market assessment; has redesigned service delivery models for urban and rural library systems; worked with architects on library building projects and conducted research for library organizations on planning guidelines and performance measures. He is the principal author of the recently released second edition of the SOLS Resource Manual, The Library’s Contribution to Your Community – which every library interested in demonstrating value should have.

Jim will be one of the speakers at the Leadership Renewal pre-conference Wednesday February 1st.  With that much planning experience, in that many organizations he’s seen it all.  He’ll work with participants to understand why plans fail, and, obviously, how to avoid failure.  People say “oh I hate planning! The plans never get implemented anyway.”  Well, as Jim will point out, it isn’t the planning that’s the problem — it’s the lack of clarity, honesty

Continue reading OLA Superconference: Expanding our Perspectives

Projects will be much more manageable with Juanita Richardson on board. YEAH! We’re delighted that Juanita has joined D&J as an associate.  I’m supposed to put her “official photo” in this blog post, but I like this pic with Jane much better — it shows Jane and Juanita as they are — full of life and fun!  You can see the “official” one in the About Us section.

Juanita Richardson joins D&J from Richardson Jalakas & Associates – an information strategy company she founded in 1998.  Juanita has experience on both sides of the information industry.  Most recently, she worked for many years as Business Development Consultant for CEDROM-SNi.  Prior to that, she was  Manager of Licensing, Product Strategy and Client Services with InfomartDialog.  Before “crossing the street” she was Manager of the Business Information Centre for Deloitte & Touche and held positions in the Research Departments of Wood Gundy and ScotiaMcLeod.  She is an instructor at Seneca College’s Library and Information Technician program.

Bilingual, with an MLS, MBA and vast experience in the

Continue reading Welcome Juanita Richardson

I have given several talks on why libraries fail, and published an article on the topic, and one of the things I include in developing leaders is “the ability to retain youthful qualities as adults — curiosity, playfulness, eagerness, fearlessness, warmth, energy. Certainly this is the season for it, so strengthen your neoteny!