Pamela MacKellar March 30, 2009 Computers in Libraries www.accidentallibrarian.com/CIL09 It’s Your Choice

Librarian with >25 years experience in: public tribal special school and post secondary technical school libraries Author Idea person, creative, like to try new things, enjoy taking risks, usually see possibilities, attracted to technology from the start …

Librarian with >25 years experience in:

public

tribal

special

school and

post secondary technical school libraries

Author

Idea person, creative, like to try new things, enjoy taking risks, usually see possibilities, attracted to technology from the start …

Acoustic data coupler modem

Basics of libraries and librarianship Know your library’s/organization’s mission Know your community’s information needs Planning, planning, planning Design goals to meet community needs Know where your library is going Funding library projects with grants Remove “barrier thinking” Spread the word about:

Basics of libraries and librarianship

Know your library’s/organization’s mission

Know your community’s information needs

Planning, planning, planning

Design goals to meet community needs

Know where your library is going

Funding library projects with grants

Remove “barrier thinking”

Write a book!

We are just a small library in a little village Our budget is too small/We don’t have enough $$$ We don’t have enough staff We are disadvantaged and underprivileged I’m not a technology expert I don’t know enough about technology Technology can’t improve on the services we already offer I don’t have the time to learn about technology I don’t have the time to keep up with new technologies Our last needs assessment indicated no community needs relating to technology The IT Department/person won’t let us Our computers are too old The network is out of date We don’t have the right hardware or software It’s not a good time for new ideas when the economy is in such bad shape My director isn’t interested We have other purchases that are more important

We are just a small library in a little village

Our budget is too small/We don’t have enough $$$

We don’t have enough staff

We are disadvantaged and underprivileged

I’m not a technology expert

I don’t know enough about technology

Technology can’t improve on the services we already offer

I don’t have the time to learn about technology

I don’t have the time to keep up with new technologies

Our last needs assessment indicated no community needs relating to technology

The IT Department/person won’t let us

Our computers are too old

The network is out of date

We don’t have the right hardware or software

It’s not a good time for new ideas when the economy is in such bad shape

My director isn’t interested

We have other purchases that are more important

We don’t have the expertise We already tried that and it didn’t work We already have too much work to do I’m the only one who cares about new ideas in my library There’s too much bureaucracy here to get that done Our customers are happy with things just the way they are I’m happy with things just the way they are We don’t like taking risks here If there are no guarantees that it will work, we won’t take any chances It will never happen They don’t pay me enough It’s not my job There is no room for failure We’ve always managed fine with things the way they are Now is not a good time to start a new project First we need to do research, a feasibility study and gather data Maybe some other time I don’t know where to start I’m too old for this I’ll get back to you on that I’m not sticking MY neck out for this idea If it doesn’t work I’ll be a laughing stock or they’ll run me out of town

We don’t have the expertise

We already tried that and it didn’t work

We already have too much work to do

I’m the only one who cares about new ideas in my library

There’s too much bureaucracy here to get that done

Our customers are happy with things just the way they are

I’m happy with things just the way they are

We don’t like taking risks here

If there are no guarantees that it will work, we won’t take any chances

It will never happen

They don’t pay me enough

It’s not my job

There is no room for failure

We’ve always managed fine with things the way they are

Now is not a good time to start a new project

First we need to do research, a feasibility study and gather data

Maybe some other time

I don’t know where to start

I’m too old for this

I’ll get back to you on that

I’m not sticking MY neck out for this idea

If it doesn’t work I’ll be a laughing stock or they’ll run me out of town

We become less productive We are less excited about new ideas We become discouraged We disengage at work We go through the motions Things start to atrophy Environment around us becomes negative Valuable staff members quit Customers are turned away

We become less productive

We are less excited about new ideas

We become discouraged

We disengage at work

We go through the motions

Things start to atrophy

Environment around us becomes negative

Valuable staff members quit

Customers are turned away

Discouraged, unexcited, unproductive, bored, disengaged, negative library staff Negative signage Outdated, neglected and forgotten web pages, wikis and MySpace pages Technology that doesn’t work Obstacle-driven organization

Discouraged, unexcited, unproductive, bored, disengaged, negative library staff

Negative signage

Outdated, neglected and forgotten web pages, wikis and MySpace pages

Technology that doesn’t work

Obstacle-driven organization

Reality is ever-changing If something is a reality now it doesn’t mean it is always going to be a reality How we frame or perceive reality is our choice We can flip a negative into a positive

Reality is ever-changing

If something is a reality now it doesn’t mean it is always going to be a reality

How we frame or perceive reality is our choice

We can flip a negative into a positive

When you see mostly and you remind yourself and others about them over and over, day in and day out, year in and year out, eventually … obstacles and barriers

When you see mostly

and you remind yourself and others about them

over and over,

day in and day out,

year in and year out,

eventually …

They become your reality.

Since you create your own reality Why not choose to focus on opportunities?

Since you create your own reality

Why not choose to focus on opportunities?

Aztec Public Library Aztec, NM Librarians Seizing Opportunities

Aztec Public Library Aztec, NM

Aztec Public Library Aztec, NM Digital Media Arts Program Fulfills need in community Goal and purpose driven Funded by multiple sources Multiple partners involved New “library paradigm” model for community

Digital Media Arts Program

Fulfills need in community

Goal and purpose driven

Funded by multiple sources

Multiple partners involved

New “library paradigm” model for community

“Small town” thinking Breaking out of “libraries don’t do that” paradigm Lack of support from some town leaders Lack of support from some library board members

“Small town” thinking

Breaking out of “libraries don’t do that” paradigm

Lack of support from some town leaders

Lack of support from some library board members

Stay committed Think big Strive for a purpose or goal Stay in your power Keep trying Be fearless Don’t listen to criticism Just jump into it Believe in yourself

Stay committed

Think big

Strive for a purpose or goal

Stay in your power

Keep trying

Be fearless

Don’t listen to criticism

Just jump into it

Believe in yourself

Martha Liebert, Martha Liebert Public Library, Bernalillo, NM Opportunities: book donations from community $500 from the town Local lumber company funded materials for shelves Carpenters from public schools built the shelves Members of VFW painted the shelves What it took: Mission and Vision Leadership Dedication Personal commitment

Martha Liebert, Martha Liebert Public Library, Bernalillo, NM

Opportunities:

book donations from community

$500 from the town

Local lumber company funded materials for shelves

Carpenters from public schools built the shelves

Members of VFW painted the shelves

What it took:

Mission and Vision

Leadership

Dedication

Personal commitment

Librarians Choosing Opportunities Summary First have a plan, vision and mission Know your library’s goals Know your community’s needs Be brave Believe in yourself Go for it! Stick to it

First have a plan, vision and mission

Know your library’s goals

Know your community’s needs

Be brave

Believe in yourself

Go for it!

Stick to it

What You Can Do Now

Evaluate your own outlook Identify the problem Decide to change Develop a guiding principle Take action

Evaluate your own outlook

Identify the problem

Decide to change

Develop a guiding principle

Take action

Use available test tools: Learned Optimism Test from Dr. Martin Seligman’s book Optimistic Movement Optimism Test Human Mind Project Optimism/Pessimism Test Spirituality & Health Optimism Test Psychology Today Optimism/Pessimism Test Links at www.accidentallibrarian.com/CIL09

Use available test tools:

Learned Optimism Test from Dr. Martin Seligman’s book

Optimistic Movement Optimism Test

Human Mind Project Optimism/Pessimism Test

Spirituality & Health Optimism Test

Psychology Today Optimism/Pessimism Test

Links at www.accidentallibrarian.com/CIL09

What negative thoughts about your work situation go through your mind regularly? What thoughts about your work situation must you face to turn your attitude around? Write down one attitude you want to adjust or thought pattern you want to redirect. What resources do you need?

What negative thoughts about your work situation go through your mind regularly?

What thoughts about your work situation must you face to turn your attitude around?

Write down one attitude you want to adjust or thought pattern you want to redirect.

What resources do you need?

Our outlook is the result of choices we make Your outlook or attitude is not permanent You can choose to change You cannot change someone else People can change only if they want to change “You and I are infinite choice-makers” Deepak Chopra

Our outlook is the result of choices we make

Your outlook or attitude is not permanent

You can choose to change

You cannot change someone else

People can change only if they want to change

Know where you are going Write a statement of purpose Change is fun when you know what you are aiming for

Know where you are going

Write a statement of purpose

Change is fun when you know what you are aiming for

Do something to support your guiding principle every day Do something out of your comfort range Encourage others Believe in yourself

Do something to support your guiding principle every day

Do something out of your comfort range

Encourage others

Believe in yourself

Use technology as a tool to help you meet an identified need in the community Do something that will make a difference in the lives of people Use free technology tools Take free webinars, tutorials or read Try something easy Do something that doesn’t require lots of time and staff Have fun Be flexible Loosen up, it doesn’t have to be perfect Spread the word about your successes

Use technology as a tool to help you meet an identified need in the community

Do something that will make a difference in the lives of people

Use free technology tools

Take free webinars, tutorials or read

Try something easy

Do something that doesn’t require lots of time and staff

Have fun

Be flexible

Loosen up, it doesn’t have to be perfect

Spread the word about your successes

MaintainIT Project WebJunction TechSoup Polaris Library Systems Library Open Source Webinars (nominal fee) SirsiDynix Institute archive 100 Free Library 2.0 Webinars and Tutorials State Library Agencies Read

MaintainIT Project

WebJunction

TechSoup

Polaris Library Systems

Library Open Source Webinars (nominal fee)

SirsiDynix Institute archive

100 Free Library 2.0 Webinars and Tutorials

State Library Agencies

Read

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/wo/woissues/washfunding/fedfund/arra101.cfm FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Bill contains $171.5 million for the Grants to State Library Agencies program within the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) an increase of more than $10 million over last year Library Grants Blog librarygrants.blogspot.com

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/wo/woissues/washfunding/fedfund/arra101.cfm

FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Bill

contains $171.5 million for the Grants to State Library Agencies program within the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA)

an increase of more than $10 million over last year

Library Grants Blog

librarygrants.blogspot.com

Good luck! Pam MacKellar [email_address] www.accidentallibrarian.com/CIL09

Good luck!

Pam MacKellar

[email_address]

www.accidentallibrarian.com/CIL09