June, 2007

At the Rural Library Sustainability Project workshop at ALA last Friday, Jana Ponce, Director of Parker Public Library in Parker, AZ shared her inspired idea for getting the word out to seniors about public computer classes ...

She transforms her library's class schedule into simple place mats, and distributes them to the local diner where seniors frequent. (!)

Libraries have been quite successful using wish lists to expose their needs. When a community member sees something tangible they can donate, such as a printer or a bookshelf, they often feel motivated to help out. This is not a new idea. At the Rural Library Sustainability Workshop, libraries shared stories of televisions, paint, art supplies, and other commodities community members donated.

Libraries are spending an increasing amount of time helping patrons complete online forms. One librarian from Georgia shared that when a Lowes store opened recently in her town, her library had applicants streaming in, eager to complete a job application. "In my town, we're it" she shared, while other Georgian librarians nodded their head in recognition of this challenge. Not many folks in her town own computers, so her library provides the only access to the Internet, and the only spot to complete an online form.

It's been a pleasure spending the past two days lunching with rural librarians. My first lunch date included librarians from Mississippi, Montana, and Kansas. All had such inspiring stories to share, and all were initiating impressive programs in their libraries. There's a reason they were chosen to participate in WebJunction's Rural Library Sustainability Project: these women are leaders.

Don’t hate me because I’m not a big fan of Twitter. I have friends who use it and I’ve followed bloggers who swear by the coolness of it, and I haven’t yet determined a reason to join the bandwagon.

Yesterday I attended WebJunction's Rural Sustainability Workshop.

What a day!

Will you be attending ALA in D.C.? If so, please take a moment away from the hustle and bustle of sessions, meetings, and workshops, and tell us about your library. We'd love to hear how you and your staff make things happen.

If you'll be in town, please submit your contact information and be sure to say, "I'll be at ALA!" in your message.

You'll share your experiences, and we'll provide the refreshments. Hope to see you!

Techsoup has created a good, general overview of the issues involved with content filtering for libraries and nonprofits. For those who make the decision to use content filtering software, there's a good guide to choosing the right software for your situation.

In many public libraries, volunteers play a significant role in supporting the services libraries provide. In particular, technical support tops the list of areas in which savvy community members can help fill a crucial and valuable need.

Kristi Bryant, from the Wells Public Library in Wells, Maine, spoke to us about her library's volunteer experiences: