At my school (LREI), our Library and Edtech departments merged a few years ago. We are in a bit of a unique position since two of our dedicated tech people are degreed librarians, and the Department Chair of the Edtech department is actually our high school librarian. So our joint department numbers 9 strong with 6 of us holding MLS degrees. We are fortunate to work and play well together, but our sense from attending conferences and meetings was that we are a bit of a rarity. In the fall, we hosted the first #libtechcon14 where we invited librarians and tech folks to come in pairs or teams for an unconference style day that would touch on some of the hard questions about communication, working together and the future of libraries. The event sold out quickly and once it was over, we were asked to consider hosting the conference again….
Tag: communication
Change Keeps Coming
Whether you are a project manager for your library’s youth programs or a supervisor adjusting to staffing shortages, librarians often deal with changes. I recently attended a fascinating workshop on a relevant topic for many of us working with children in libraries: Leading from the Middle in the Middle of Change. Hosted by the Library Administration and Management Association (LAMA) section of the North Carolina Library Association, this workshop differed from a traditional training; it was an unconference or participant-driven event. Lois Kilkka, Deputy Director for Library Experiences with Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, presented an inspirational speech on leadership and how to facilitate change at any level within an organization. The participants, including project managers, coordinators, deputy directors, department supervisors and branch managers from across North Carolina, discussed how to best encourage our co-workers to not only withstand but to embrace change. We formed small groups to focus our discussions on one…
The Power of Eight Simple Words
It’s easy to focus on those rare but disheartening comments from parents we hear on occasion as youth services librarians. “No, I’ll let you check out a DVD today but no more books.” “You’ve already read that before. Pick a book that’s not so easy.” “If you don’t be quiet, that librarian (or teacher, as we are often called) will make you leave.” We can combat these statements by celebrating the joys of reading at every opportunity, encouraging youth to channel their energy by attending our interactive programs. We can engage both parents and children during brief readers’ advisory moments, sharing that we support reading for pleasure for even our youngest patrons. We can help parents become their child’s reading advocate. We can also hold fast to those unassuming remarks from our patrons that demonstrate the incredible impact of our work in the community. We gain insight when we learn…