We are seeing a lot of buzz about Big Data. The ability to collect massive amounts of data, finding patterns and trends is allowing us to see ourselves, our communities, cultures, and subcultures, as never before. At the same time, I think about the nature of information in the Age of Information. The ability to measure, collect, […]
Libraries are in the midst of change, big change. Library professionals often have to address the most basic of basics: funding, staffing, resources. We see some amazing and inventive projects and visions for libraries. It is important, it is vital, to revision our libraries. Let’s not be ordinary and functional; let’s hold a vision for […]
Library work is fun. In my first year as a professional in the library field, I was working at Walnut Public Library in Southern California. We were a busy library. Whenever I was at the reference desk I realized that a good librarian is like a good party hostess: we make sure everyone feels welcome, […]
Student staff play an invaluable role in the library. They are unique and skilled individuals with experience and insights, and they see both sides of the interaction: as patron and as staff member. Every time I hired a student staff member, I encouraged them to give feedback and to make suggestions for improvements. Some of […]
Great ideas start with you. Recently, I had lunch with a wonderful friend and collaborator. We were talking about innovative ideas for the library setting, a favorite topic of ours. We both appreciate fresh approaches and our ideas were building one upon the other. When I suggested a smoothie bar in a library, that wonderful […]
Whenever we get together as a team to plan, to problem solve, and to make team or organizational decisions or recommendations, we hope to make the time as effective as possible. Joan Frye Williams presented an excellent Infopeople webinar on Value-Added Facilitation. Rather than focusing on the basics of leading meetings and discussions, she talked […]
Rich notes of Cuban jazz waft through the space. The library is not quiet. Not at all. If you explore research on music listening, you will find a wide range of studies. Some focus on the Mozart Effect. Others delve into relaxation benefits. Certainly music enriches our lives and there is such a wide and […]
Peter Senge wrote about shared vision in The Fifth Discipline. This is much different from a vision that a top-down manager delivers to her employees without participation. All that manager will get is compliance from her team. It is the kind of vision that is easily forgotten and few on the team will be excited […]
