The Library Manager-Teacher

Slide 1: Managing Library 2.0 The Library Manager-Teacher ILA 2007

Slide 2: Empowering an enthusiastic staff to embrace change and innovate to improve patron service.

Slide 3: The Cluetrain Manifesto “#50 Today, the org chart is hyperlinked, not hierarchical. Respect for hands-on knowledge wins over respect for abstract authority. #51 Command-and-control management styles both derive from and reinforce bureaucracy, power tripping and an overall culture of paranoia.

Slide 4: 2.0 management requires… Openness Innovation Sharing Decentralization Participation Trust

Slide 5: Librarian’s 2.0 Manifesto I will become an active participant in moving my library forward. I will recognize that libraries change slowly, and will work with my colleagues to expedite our responsiveness to change. I will be courageous about proposing new services and new ways of providing services, even though some of my colleagues will be resistant.

Slide 6: Librarian’s 2.0 Manifesto I will let go of previous practices if there is a better way to do things now, even if these practices once seemed so great. I will take an experimental approach to change and be willing to make mistakes. I will enjoy the excitement and fun of positive change and will convey this to colleagues and users.

Slide 7: Ways to generate staff buy-in… Listen to staff Involve staff in planning Tell stories Manage projects well Offer training 2.0: let everyone play & experience

Slide 9: Transformation timeline 9/06 Summer 2007 Computer classes, new YA podcasting theatre; website with RSS and MySpace page; Flickr; online events calendar LibraryThing 12/05 2/07 Blogspot blog IM Reference

Slide 11: 2.0 managers must… Overcome the Responsibility Virus Create a collaborative culture Generate staff buy-in

Slide 12: What do you do when you don’t have support? Manage “up” Show how the change will address a specific user need. Develop clear policies and procedures. Show successful examples from comparable libraries. Explain how the change will benefit staff. Find low/no-cost ways to implement change. Build a prototype. Include a timeframe and implementation plan. Address sustainability and mission- appropriateness.

Slide 13: What do you do when you don’t have support? Manage “laterally” Build a coalition with other middles. Share the workload  Be willing to break down “department”  barriers in service of patrons.

Slide 14: What do you do when you don’t have support? Manage “down” During staff training, explain how and why patrons need or would use the tool. Provide useful training tools. Train the trainer. During the launch phase, be prepared to dedicate lots of time to ensure project success.

Slide 15: The Library Manager-Teacher… …creates opportunities for change to happen from all directions!

Slide 16: The Library Manger-Teacher Avoid “little library” syndrome. Collaborate on a mission/vision statement. Create time for learning and play. Field trips  Mini-retreats  Allow others to become experts.

Slide 17: The Library Manager-Teacher Do “Evaluation 2.0” Collaborate  Use employee self-evals  Share 2.0 goals among staff  Maintain learning momentum and follow up. Change in stages Play, try, evaluate, and plan for what’s next 

Slide 18: •Del.icio.us •Podcasting in Adult Services •Book Discussion blog or bulletin board ???

Slide 19: Managing Library 2.0 The Library Manager-Teacher Rana Hutchinson Salzmann Head of Reference & Electronic Services Brookfield, IL Public Library rsalzmann@brookfieldpubliclibrary.info