tblcplanning

 

Braden River Focus Group Summary

Page history last edited by Michelle Oleson 2 yrs ago

BRADEN RIVER FOCUS GROUP: APRIL 16
 

Question 1: What are the challenges that are facing libraries today and for the next few years? (In priority order)
 
1. How to stay relevant – in light of technology, constant change, uncertain funding and high expectations of patrons.
2a. Security: building security and security of materials. Children after school/discipline.
2b.Technology decisions and getting staff buy-in to new stuff. Evaluating options.
3. Recruiting new librarians and transitioning existing staff into competency at the next level of leadership and advancement.
4. Space evaluation and design for new and changing services.
5. Disaster planning for the region. (e.g., how to value the collections, determining what to do with staff after the disaster (the human factor).
6. Intellectual property issues. (copyright, open archives)
7. Multicultural issues: language, hiring staff, collections, marketing new collections, patrons in both public and academic libraries.
8. Marketing and increasing the marketing of what we already market in a small way.
9. Funding – sustainability.
10.Getting kids involved in programs.
11.Patrons’ increasing expectation of instant gratification.
12.Food, drink and cell phones in the library.
13.E-government: pressures to help people with welfare paperwork as a library service.
14.Privacy issues (patrons want custom services but may not understand related issues)
 

Question 2: What are the things that TBLC does well that help you address these challenges?
 
1. Training. Suggestion: bring more training through technology such as Opal, Adobe Connect, MS Live
Meeting, Illuminate, etc. Such a product could also be made available for member libraries to use.
2. Forecasting, trendspotting. (Lib 2.0, e.g.)
3. Communication: listserv, website, etc.(Add RSS feed?)
4. Ask A Librarian: not only service itself but also opportunity to network and collaborate. Scheduling is
exemplary.
5. DLLI
6. Reciprocal Borrowing
7. Speakers of national stature brought to region for members to hear.
8. Collaboration with other consortia to share resources.
9. Cataloging/bibliographic services: training and assistance.
10.Training for grant-writing (add training on how to get private funding?)
11.Website hosting and networking
12.Language classes
13.Cooperative purchases such as Overdrive.
 

Question 3: What should TBLC add, change or improve that would help you to better meet the challenges ahead?
 
1. Resource sharing: iBorrow/Alleycat needs to get
better. Need to get the system vendors to communicate and collaborate with each other.
2. Training: add more hands-on training. Suggestion: bring School for Scanning; workshop on what’s available in software and new technology. What’s the best technology?
3. Group rates for marketing resources (Big printing orders? Use TBLC credits?)
4. More Library 2.0 training (current classes are full and too short); offer it electronically or plan a Big TBLC Tech Training Day. Lib. 2.0 Day; mini-conference like Paraprofessional Workshop.
5. Disaster planning that includes some of the key disaster planning people from the region, including those outside of libraries.
6. Develop a database of products: a wiki-like online tool that allows people who have tried and used a product to leave a contact name and number for others who are interested in the product.
7. Develop a programming warehouse online with programming resources (speakers/presenters and the like); also to include a long range program calendar so libraries can coordinate with each other in bringing people here from out of state.
8. Mentoring coordination so people can connect with mentors outside their own library.
9. Workshop on space planning for new services (needs 2 days, one for conceptual and one for hands-on design. Connect libraries with consultant who could walk through their library and make suggestions for re-design.
10. Help with recruitment issues:
• Post jobs on web
• Help region develop a suggested “minimum wage” like APA has done.
• Help find people with multicultural skills/languages and encourage library schools to offer language skills for librarians.
• Help find librarians with specialized skills in technology and management
• Help train existing staff to develop technical, language, and/or management knowledge/skills
11. Help libraries market TBLC within their staff: use National Library Workers Day to do it.
12. Continue to make marketing videos and help libraries get them on the air.
13. TBLC needs to market its own services better. (such as Overdrive)
 

Question 4: What will TBLC look like in five years if it has been meeting these challenges and opportunities?
TBLC will have
• more staff
• more space or squatter rights in libraries around the region
• powerful bandwidth
• a “distance” learning person on staff
• much more electronic training and/or “substitutes” (Interns from library school?) who help out in libraries while staff goes to TBLC training. An expanded virtual presence: instant meetings with lots of people involved
• higher fees or more members: more museums and cultural institutions as members
• a leadership development plan for TBLC top management positions
• classes for institutions that need to examine, catalog, preserve and share their archives
• a continuing pro-active approach, staying up to date on emerging issues
• a way to effectively market and advocate for libraries
• proposals for emerging technology offered at a group rate libraries can afford
• initiated a statewide library card
• a class in “yoga for librarians”.

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