Categories Engaging Library Users

156 posts

Posts about strategies to get users involved in the library or thoughts related to serving library user’s needs

Engaging Library Users Library Jobs & Careers

Transparent Library: “Going to the Field”

The transparent library’s fluid nature and open communication allow all levels of staff to understand what it takes to meet user needs. By following this simple rule—bring them out—you’ll develop a big-picture understanding of library services among your staff, and you’ll see dividends immediately. Read the whole column here

Engaging Library Users Library Spaces

Wyoming Libraries: Mud Flap Girl

Wyoming Libraries: Mud Flap Girl Originally uploaded by mstephens7 http://www.wyominglibraries.org/campaign.html Wyoming’s libraries are as expansive as the state, and as close as down the street. Libraries offer more than many people realize, and we want to reach out beyond our regular users to let people know this. The new statewide marketing campaign is designed to increase understanding, use and support of Wyoming libraries. The campaign theme is “Bringing the World to Wyoming.” When you see an Eiffel Tower topped with a western windmill or a pickup with a Trojan Horse trailer, you’ll know that libraries have brought the world to […]

Engaging Library Users Web 2.0 & Library 2.0

On Interviews and the Shadow of City Hall

Michael McGrorty had an interview: http://librarydust.typepad.com/library_dust/2007/09/down-in-the-bas.html During the interview I was asked the usual question, “As a new librarian, what would you do to determine the needs of your community of patrons?” My response was as it has always been: “I would do my best to make contact with a broad cross-section of the patrons by any means possible, but especially by the Internet, which is fast, cheap and easily used to communicate ideas and questions, and to receive responses in return.” I added that I would immediately establish a personal blog as a means of maintaining a conversation with […]

Emerging Technology Engaging Library Users Gaming & Gamification

Blog Post Gold

&tPosts I’ve noted for use in classes, presentations and future writing: Aggregator as Textbook by Will Richardson: I’ve been thinking more and more about my own use of RSS, and trying to reflect on the choices I make in my aggregator. Frankly, I am still amazed that so relatively few people (not just educators) have made RSS a part of their practice, but I wonder if it doesn’t have something to do with how disruptive a technology it is when you really think about it. It changes the traditional information structures in fundamental ways, and it forces us to be […]

Engaging Library Users Social Media

Ask for What You Want

By Michael Casey & Michael Stephens When was the last time someone said lawyers or doctors needed to update their images into the 21st century? How many skits on Prairie Home Companion or Saturday Night Live have you seen where doctors appear as outdated, dowdy spinsters in need of love or romance? None. Yet Garrison Keillor’s “Adventures of Ruth Harrison, Reference Librarian” parades antiquated and stereotyped images of librarians as humor. Unfortunately, librarians are often portrayed as technologically backward, fearful of teens and loud noises, and overly protective of books to the point of not wanting anyone to “touch our […]

Engaging Library Users Web 2.0 & Library 2.0

Jessamyn at Work

Me at Work Originally uploaded by jessamyn An incredible image from Jessamyn’s photostream brightens my gray day in Northern Michigan: She writes: This is what I do on a lot of my days. I go to libraries and help people with their computers. Today was a fun day. Both my students had Macs and were clever and interesting people [the little girl is a grandchild of one of the trustees] with problems to solve. I taught the man on the right how to reply to an email, how to use the shift key and how to make a folder and […]