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Rebecca Jones posted this in Lib, IM, KM, Tech & Tools on February 11th, 2012 Heeding the advice I passed along a few days ago in ”Ways to Bring a Conference Back to Work,” I’m blogging the Halton Hills Public Library’s session at OLA 2012 Superconference (session 422 “Technology Made Simple! Moving Beyond Basic Computer Instruction” with Beverly King, Clare Hanman and Darlene Green of Halton Hills PL) The session – and the experience they shared with the audience – was solid.
Here’s my notes on how they are making the library the place for people to learn to apply and exploit personal technology devices:
they have 2 branches – both under reno or being rebuilt during the development & piloting of this service creating new spaces for all age groups including seniors they liked a program Old Bridge Public Library in New Jersey had developed a Senior Spaces Initiative with Seniors on Fridays, and learned from it they looked too at New Horizons for Seniors Program, a federal grants program for projects led or inspired by seniors, and worked to secure a $25,000 grant the TMS or Technology Made Simple program started out for seniors but it evolved to a program for all they purchased 5 e-readers, playbook, ipod touch, digital camera, 2 camcorders, 2 ipads, 8 laptops, plus patrons brought their own devices in also purchased cleaning cloths, storage bags, tote boxes & carts, extension cords ,bower bar, adapters, brewing system for coffee!! quickly realized that some devices can’t be used while being powered; people often didn’t realize that the device wasn’t powered off, but rather “sleeping”, so the battery would run down, and then not be usable for the next session
Continue reading How to “Make Technology Simple” for your Community
Rebecca Jones posted this in Conferences on February 7th, 2012 Ah….we all know the rush of adrenalin experienced at a conference. Many of us have just returned from a fantastic OLA 2012 Superconference – one of the best I’ve been to in Ontario in a long time. So much networking! So many people to contact, products to consider, ideas to explore, presentations to follow up on! So much learning!
And………we all know that first week back at work. The conference is a faded memory already…..the notes we so carefully scribbled or typed set aside for—- ah, for—– for when we get time to look at them, discuss them with our colleagues, take action with them. We have the best of intentions, and too often, the worst of follow-up.
Thanks to The Learning Circuits blog for “10 Ways to Bring a Conference Back to Work,“ and to Stephen Abram for tweeting it! Here’s some tips from The Learning Circuits post:
BLOG LIVE FROM THE CONFERENCE – or Post-Conference I agree wholeheartedly with this tip – unless you couldn’t get on the wireless, which is sometimes the case; but typing your notes lets you quickly plug them into blog posts when you do get back to work, even if it’ your personal blog in which you can tag the topics and easily retrieve the info and ideas in 6 months when your brain says “wait a minute….I heard someone at OLA talk about this….”. If I don’t have my laptop or iPad, I type notes into my Blackberry to sync the docs or memo
Continue reading Ways to Bring a Conference Back to Work
Juanita posted this in Conferences, Leadership on February 7th, 2012 Wendy Hicks of Stratford Public Library created and moderated a session with an incredible mix of seasoned managers offering their top ten tips to be an effective manager. Although they didn’t say it, I heard the overall message as “Keep in touch.”
1. Keep in touch with the front line: Know what front line staff knows. Go on the front line occasionally to find out what the customers are thinking, and what staff is experiencing.
2. Keep in touch with yourself: Govern your temper, put everything in perspective, and be the calm centre of any storm. Be in control of yourself. 3. Keep in touch with staff: Be respectful of staff, and that respect will then be reciprocated. Acknowledge and highlight the work someone does well. Don’t just point out flaws. While it’s important to make sure staff knows what they can improve, it’s important that they know what they have done well.
4. Keep in touch with the golden rule: Give 100% of the credit to everyone else when a project has gone well. Heap praise on them. Be front and centre when criticism comes your way. Project your people. Take the burden of blame. Build trust, show you have their back and people will do their best for you.
5. Keep in touch with the culture: Keep your style flexible to reflect the style needed in any given environment.
6. Keep in touch with opportunities: Look for opportunities to guide people. Don’t try to control. Identify people’s
Continue reading OLA Superconference 2012: Top Ten Management Tips
Rebecca Jones posted this in Learning, Lib, IM, KM on January 31st, 2012 Designing an Academic Library Learning Commons: Students Have Their Say Sue Reynolds @ University of Toronto Scarborough Library
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.
Rebecca Jones posted this in Leadership on January 31st, 2012 Too often we find ourselves in a leadership role – whether as a team lead, supervisor, or manager, before we’ve really prepared ourselves. And, can you prepare? Or do you learn on the job? Come & discuss this on Thursday Feb 2 at the OLA Superconference in Session 309 @ 9:05 a.m.
The Accidental Manager
View more presentations from Rebecca Jones
Rebecca Jones posted this in Conferences on January 31st, 2012
OLA Poster Session on Friday February 3, 2012 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
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.
Rebecca Jones posted this in Conferences, Lib, IM, KM on January 30th, 2012 Come hear Wellington County Public Library’s experience at the OLA Poster Session on Thursday February 2, Lower Lobby of the Convention Centre, Noon – 2:00 p.m.
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.
Here’s a guide to the Posters developed by 28 public, academic, corporate and agency libraries describing programs, projects and research they’ve undertaken. Come talk with them about what they’ve learned — up close and personal!
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
Rebecca Jones posted this in Conferences on January 26th, 2012
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!
Rebecca Jones posted this in Learning on January 25th, 2012 During the past 3 years I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work on several projects with Jim Morgenstern of dmA Planning and Management Services. D&J have always sought out the best associates to collaborate with on projects to bring different perspectives and experiences to clients’ unique opportunities and challenges. We don’t know everything that’s for sure! And working with planners who have vast experience in municipal and recreational sectors has been very rewarding, both for us and certainly for libraries.
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
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