Sending a very warm thanks to all the staff at Cedar Rapids Public Library. I spoke and facilitated an exploration of “Wholehearted Libraries” at their Staff Development Day on Friday and thoroughly enjoyed meeting folks, hearing their stories, and touring their amazing building. THANK YOU! Download the slides here: Cedar Rapids Public Library Staff Day
Yearly Archives: 2019
9 posts
I was honored to be interviewed fro Jutland Station while at Next Library 2019 in Aarhus. So, I think that the most important challenge we are facing in libraries now is ensuring we are open and welcoming for everyone. The world has changed so much in the last few years. We need to make sure our services meet the needs of those who might visit the library to feel safe. Those who need access to information and services that may help them get on solid ground in their lives. The underserved and the invisible should feel welcome and encouraged in […]
Text of a letter I just emailed: Dear South Bend Common Council – I was born and raised in Mishawaka and worked as a librarian at SJCPL for 15 years – 1991 – 2006. We saw the internet and Web come in and change information services. The library leveraged this to become on of the best in the nation. I have since moved on to be an Associate Professor at the School of Information at San Jose State University but I often check in on my home library. I was saddened to hear about the plan to modify LIT. I […]
Thanks to everyone who attended my talk “Wholehearted Librarianship: Finding Hope, Inspiration, and Balance” at ALA last week in Washington DC. We should bring our hearts to work, and qualities such as empathy, emotional intelligence, and reflective action are all part of this process. Service steeped in humanism, compassion, and understanding should be the cornerstone of what we do, and why we do it, for all members of our communities, including the underserved. Join Dr. Michael Stephens for an exploration of the importance of accessible, welcoming and responsive library environments that invite open and equitable participation, as well as an […]
CHICAGO — Of his earlier book, Against the Grain raved, “Reading this book brings a sense of hope, inspiration, and excitement for what the future holds for the new generation of hyperlinked librarians entering our profession.” Now Michael Stephens is back with a newly curated collection of succinct writings that will refresh your view of the profession and invigorate your work: “Wholehearted Librarianship: Finding Hope, Inspiration, and Balance,” published by ALA Editions. Associate Professor at San Jose State University, Stephens encourages curiosity and creativity in his students and all library workers by connecting trends from outside the profession to its […]
Just published in Library Leadership & Management: Technology, Collaboration, and Learning: Perceptions and Effectiveness of US Public Library Staff Professional Development Michael Stephens, Stacey A Mitchell, Ari Zickau Abstract The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the preferences and perceptions of professional development (PD) activities for public library staff. The survey instrument was distributed to public librarians and paraprofessionals throughout the United States. Beyond the challenges of time and money, a picture emerged from the data of what might best serve the needs of librarians and paraprofessionals for PD. Staff want to feel encouraged and supported about learning […]
Greetings! If you are attending Next Library 2019 in Aarhus, Denmark next week, please consider this interactive session. I am thrilled to be joining colleagues from the US and Australia to present “The Power of Stories.” Storytelling – an ancient, community-building, revered, and always-relevant “technology” – is a powerful connector. Stories can bring people together. Stories resonate with everyone and we can use them to better understand our communities and ourselves. This interactive session introduces three unique ways to extend and enhance the power of stories in your institution. We will explore how to gather and utilize our community’s stories […]
LAWRENCEVILLE, GA, March 7, 2019 — Gwinnett County Public Library and the San José State University School of Information have selected Stephanie Rawlins, Pike County Library from a group of five finalists as the winner of the 2019 Innovative Librarians Award. The award recognizes library science graduate students who put forward new ideas that improve libraries and library services. Rawlins, Library Director at Pike County Library in Indiana, will receive a $1,000 cash prize for her work on implementing Virtual Healthcare at local libraries. Virtual healthcare has the potential to create better health care awareness, minimize hospital admissions, and better […]
A TTW Guest Post by Sarah Jo Zaharako My fifth grade library students just designed their dream libraries. Every Friday for a month, during library class, students collaborated to create slideshow presentations representing exactly what they wanted in a public library. Inspired by innovative library spaces, services, and programs worldwide, students considered possibilities that went far beyond their current perceptions of libraries. Brainstorming was outlandish, collaboration was messy, and students enthusiastically poured their hearts into this project. They found images online, built idea boards using Google docs, designed spaces on MineCraft, and created totally unique models and drawings. Students who […]