The one day summit during the 2014 Canadian Library Association Conference, Driving Change for Community Impact, looked at exciting new ways libraries are developing solid strategies for engaging their communities, creating innovative programs and spaces, improving services and efficiencies, getting closer to and supporting their communities, and illustrating their value to stakeholders. It started with several case studies:
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Makerspace at Edmonton Public Library by Pam Ryan, Director, Collections & Technology
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Eliminating services in order to renew at the University of New South Wales (Sydney Australia) by University Librarian Andrew Wells
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Implementing a customer service program at Markham Public Library by Moe Hosseini-Ara, Director of Culture, City of Markham.
Kim Silk, Data Librarian, Martin Prosperity Institute, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto and Elisabeth Glass, Manager, Planning & Development, Toronto Public Library shared highlights of producing an economic study and the results of the recent one done by the Institute for the Toronto Public Library and the city council.
Dave Pollard, Director, Group Pattern Language Project and associate Alexa Pitoulis directed skits using volunteers from the audience who read scripts illustrating meeting and conversation scenarios. Attendees then discussed the situations and possible ways of improving the outcomes using facilitation cards developed by Dave’s group. Two lucky audience members received a deck of cards as prizes!
Last but not least, Madeleine Lefebvre, Chief Librarian, Ryerson University moderated a panel including morning speakers Andrew and Moe along with Pilar Martinez, Deputy CEO, Edmonton Public Library and Melody Burton, Deputy University Librarian. Discussion involved the audience and touched on tips and experiences with managing change! Fantastic interactive conversations throughout the day were highlights for me!
