This document outlines the process undertaken by the Multitype Library Systems in Minnesota to establish a group of library futurists to examine challenges and opportunities facing Minnesota libraries. It describes how the futurists group was formed, including inviting representation from different library types and regions, appointing a steering committee, selecting 25 futurists ages 25-35 through an application process, and holding kickoff meetings. The goal was for the futurists to have a focused conversation on the future of Minnesota libraries and initiate a wider discussion on developing a strategic plan.
Bethesda Medical Libraries Emergency Preparedness PartnershipAmy Donahue
OBJECTIVE
The first objective of this project was to gather qualitative information on the Bethesda Medical Libraries Emergency Preparedness Partnership (BMLEPP) that could be added to the National Network of Medical Libraries (NN/LM) Emergency Preparedness & Response Toolkit: Library Disaster Stories. The second objective was to promote the Disaster Information Specialist Project to different types of libraries.
METHODS
The primary method for collecting information for this project was to conduct interviews with every member library of the BMLEPP. The questions for the interviews were based on those created by Robin Featherstone for her work collecting the stories of libraries that had experienced disasters for the Library Disaster Stories website. The project leader identified the relevant staff members of each library, and the author contacted them through e-mail and arranged a time to physically visit each BMLEPP library and perform the interview. The same five questions were discussed at every interview, after which the author transcribed the notes and sent them back to the interviewee for any revisions or additions.
The author also attended monthly Disaster Information Specialist Project meetings and joined the corresponding listserv. These two venues served as the primary places for gathering information on how to further promote the project.
RESULTS
A total of six interviews were conducted with seven staff members at the five partner libraries. Two interviews were conducted at the National Naval Medical Center’s Stitt Library – the first with library volunteer and disaster management researcher Dr. Jack Schmidt and the second with Tahirih Fusscas, Reference Librarian. The interview at the James A. Zimble Learning Resource Center, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) was conducted with both Alison Rollins (Reference and Instructional Librarian) and Linda Spitzer (Head of Reference and Interlibrary Loan) in the room. One staff member was interviewed at each of the remaining three partner libraries: Brittany Haliani, Director of the Medical Library at Suburban Hospital; Alicia Livinski, Biomedical Librarian at the National Institutes of Health Library; and Cindy Love, Technical Information Specialist at the Disaster Information Management Research Center, Specialized Information Services Division, National Library of Medicine.
As a result of discussions at the meetings and on the listserv, the author organized a “no-host dinner” during the Special Libraries Association (SLA) annual conference in Washington, DC. A total of 12 librarians, including individuals from non-medical libraries who were previously unaware of the Disaster Information Specialist Project and NLM’s work in emergency preparedness and response, attended. In addition, the author (along with USUHS librarian Alison Rollins) attended the SLA Emergency Preparedness & Recovery Advisory Council meeting during the conference and spoke briefly about the partnership, the Information Specialist Project, and the listserv.
CONCLUSION
From the information gathered though the interviews, the author concludes that the stories of the BMLEPP partner libraries may be useful to other libraries interested in forming similar local groups and so should be posted on the NN/LM Toolkit website. In addition, the interviews revealed that the BMLEPP provides a specific example of a local partnership that developed through grassroots organization for the benefit of all members (specific benefits include NLM funding and increasing networking both between and within each library’s institution). The interviews also revealed that librarians at all the partner libraries had gone through disaster-related training. This training ranged from Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) to training in disaster information tools (specifically the Wireless Information System for Emergency Responders or WISER).
The author
NCompass Live - Nov. 4, 2015
http://nlc.nebraska.gov/ncompasslive/
The Nebraska Library Commission will make up to $25,000 available in internship grants to accredited Nebraska public libraries through the 2016 Nebraska Library Internship Grant Program. Similar to internship grant funding provided from 2008 to 2014, this internship program works to introduce high school and college students to the varied and exciting work of Nebraska Libraries. The internships are intended to function as a recruitment tool in helping the student to view the library as a viable career opportunity while providing the public library with the finances (up to $1,000 per library or branch) to provide stipends to the student(s). In the past student interns have helps libraries expand programs, complete projects, improve websites, and expand social media use, while bringing in fresh ideas to the library. Grant applications will be accepted electronically between October 23 and December 17, 2015.
In this November 4, 2015 NCompass Live session, past participating libraries, as well as a former intern, will share their experiences with the 2014 internship program—including successes and lessons learned. This session will also introduce the upcoming 2016 grant opportunity for internships, offered by the Nebraska Library Commission in partnership with Nebraska’s Regional Library Systems and supported in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the Nebraska Library Commission.
Presenters: JoAnn McManus, Internship Grant Program Manager and Mary Jo Ryan, Communications Coordinator both with the Nebraska Library Commission; Laurie Yocom, Wilson Public Library (Cozad); Rose Barcal, La Vista Public Library; Laura Alt, Shelby Community Library; and Amy Wenzl, Omaha Public Library (former grant intern at Sump Memorial Library, Papillion).
Presented for WLA 2021 Annual Conference, November 17th, by Melissa McLimans, WiLS and Kim Kiesewetter, WiLS
Surveys, focus groups, your annual report data: it’s all telling you a story about your library and your community. Join Melissa and Kim as they share ways in which libraries can use data to tell the story of both their communities and institutions. It will include an overview of different types of data that a library might use ranging from existing resources to inspiration for new research. To tie everything together, the session will conclude with ways to present selected data in a compelling, narrative format to tell a larger story to a variety of audiences.
The Minnesota History Coalition invites you to join your colleagues to discuss history activities that have been supported by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, through the Legacy Amendment.
The Future Is Coming! What Does That Mean for Public Libraries?Libraries Thriving
This brainstorming session is the culmination of a month-long campaign for public libraries on Libraries Thriving. It will feature a discussion panel of library supporters sharing their visions of the public library of the future. The discussion will build on the results of Libraries Thriving’s survey of public libraries and also incorporate discussion forum conversations around the prompt "It's the year 2022. The public library of today differs from the public library of 2012 in these three ways..."
Digitally Enabled Futures Images by Michael Vallance & David L. Wright of Future University, Hakodate, Japan.
The presentation was shown at the Interdisciplinary Social Sciences conference at Cambridge University, UK in August 2010.
See Michael's website for publication reference athttp://web.mac.com/mvallance/DRVALLANCE/Publications.html
Bethesda Medical Libraries Emergency Preparedness PartnershipAmy Donahue
OBJECTIVE
The first objective of this project was to gather qualitative information on the Bethesda Medical Libraries Emergency Preparedness Partnership (BMLEPP) that could be added to the National Network of Medical Libraries (NN/LM) Emergency Preparedness & Response Toolkit: Library Disaster Stories. The second objective was to promote the Disaster Information Specialist Project to different types of libraries.
METHODS
The primary method for collecting information for this project was to conduct interviews with every member library of the BMLEPP. The questions for the interviews were based on those created by Robin Featherstone for her work collecting the stories of libraries that had experienced disasters for the Library Disaster Stories website. The project leader identified the relevant staff members of each library, and the author contacted them through e-mail and arranged a time to physically visit each BMLEPP library and perform the interview. The same five questions were discussed at every interview, after which the author transcribed the notes and sent them back to the interviewee for any revisions or additions.
The author also attended monthly Disaster Information Specialist Project meetings and joined the corresponding listserv. These two venues served as the primary places for gathering information on how to further promote the project.
RESULTS
A total of six interviews were conducted with seven staff members at the five partner libraries. Two interviews were conducted at the National Naval Medical Center’s Stitt Library – the first with library volunteer and disaster management researcher Dr. Jack Schmidt and the second with Tahirih Fusscas, Reference Librarian. The interview at the James A. Zimble Learning Resource Center, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) was conducted with both Alison Rollins (Reference and Instructional Librarian) and Linda Spitzer (Head of Reference and Interlibrary Loan) in the room. One staff member was interviewed at each of the remaining three partner libraries: Brittany Haliani, Director of the Medical Library at Suburban Hospital; Alicia Livinski, Biomedical Librarian at the National Institutes of Health Library; and Cindy Love, Technical Information Specialist at the Disaster Information Management Research Center, Specialized Information Services Division, National Library of Medicine.
As a result of discussions at the meetings and on the listserv, the author organized a “no-host dinner” during the Special Libraries Association (SLA) annual conference in Washington, DC. A total of 12 librarians, including individuals from non-medical libraries who were previously unaware of the Disaster Information Specialist Project and NLM’s work in emergency preparedness and response, attended. In addition, the author (along with USUHS librarian Alison Rollins) attended the SLA Emergency Preparedness & Recovery Advisory Council meeting during the conference and spoke briefly about the partnership, the Information Specialist Project, and the listserv.
CONCLUSION
From the information gathered though the interviews, the author concludes that the stories of the BMLEPP partner libraries may be useful to other libraries interested in forming similar local groups and so should be posted on the NN/LM Toolkit website. In addition, the interviews revealed that the BMLEPP provides a specific example of a local partnership that developed through grassroots organization for the benefit of all members (specific benefits include NLM funding and increasing networking both between and within each library’s institution). The interviews also revealed that librarians at all the partner libraries had gone through disaster-related training. This training ranged from Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) to training in disaster information tools (specifically the Wireless Information System for Emergency Responders or WISER).
The author
NCompass Live - Nov. 4, 2015
http://nlc.nebraska.gov/ncompasslive/
The Nebraska Library Commission will make up to $25,000 available in internship grants to accredited Nebraska public libraries through the 2016 Nebraska Library Internship Grant Program. Similar to internship grant funding provided from 2008 to 2014, this internship program works to introduce high school and college students to the varied and exciting work of Nebraska Libraries. The internships are intended to function as a recruitment tool in helping the student to view the library as a viable career opportunity while providing the public library with the finances (up to $1,000 per library or branch) to provide stipends to the student(s). In the past student interns have helps libraries expand programs, complete projects, improve websites, and expand social media use, while bringing in fresh ideas to the library. Grant applications will be accepted electronically between October 23 and December 17, 2015.
In this November 4, 2015 NCompass Live session, past participating libraries, as well as a former intern, will share their experiences with the 2014 internship program—including successes and lessons learned. This session will also introduce the upcoming 2016 grant opportunity for internships, offered by the Nebraska Library Commission in partnership with Nebraska’s Regional Library Systems and supported in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the Nebraska Library Commission.
Presenters: JoAnn McManus, Internship Grant Program Manager and Mary Jo Ryan, Communications Coordinator both with the Nebraska Library Commission; Laurie Yocom, Wilson Public Library (Cozad); Rose Barcal, La Vista Public Library; Laura Alt, Shelby Community Library; and Amy Wenzl, Omaha Public Library (former grant intern at Sump Memorial Library, Papillion).
Presented for WLA 2021 Annual Conference, November 17th, by Melissa McLimans, WiLS and Kim Kiesewetter, WiLS
Surveys, focus groups, your annual report data: it’s all telling you a story about your library and your community. Join Melissa and Kim as they share ways in which libraries can use data to tell the story of both their communities and institutions. It will include an overview of different types of data that a library might use ranging from existing resources to inspiration for new research. To tie everything together, the session will conclude with ways to present selected data in a compelling, narrative format to tell a larger story to a variety of audiences.
The Minnesota History Coalition invites you to join your colleagues to discuss history activities that have been supported by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, through the Legacy Amendment.
The Future Is Coming! What Does That Mean for Public Libraries?Libraries Thriving
This brainstorming session is the culmination of a month-long campaign for public libraries on Libraries Thriving. It will feature a discussion panel of library supporters sharing their visions of the public library of the future. The discussion will build on the results of Libraries Thriving’s survey of public libraries and also incorporate discussion forum conversations around the prompt "It's the year 2022. The public library of today differs from the public library of 2012 in these three ways..."
Digitally Enabled Futures Images by Michael Vallance & David L. Wright of Future University, Hakodate, Japan.
The presentation was shown at the Interdisciplinary Social Sciences conference at Cambridge University, UK in August 2010.
See Michael's website for publication reference athttp://web.mac.com/mvallance/DRVALLANCE/Publications.html
Reaching New Audiences with Community DialoguesNCIL - STAR_Net
Staff at the National Center for Interactive Learning at the Space Science Institute have developed a Community Dialogue Strategy to empower public libraries to examine their existing practices, and reach out to their community to ensure that their library is a welcoming and safe environment. This strategy was developed and tested with funds from the National Institutes of Health, NASA and National Science Foundation as part of the STAR Library Education Network. Community Dialogues encourage libraries to ask the questions “who is missing from my library” and “who in the community would be a great partner for my library.” In this webinar, participants will learn more about this innovative strategy, and hear from public library staff who have made positive changes to their practice based on results from their own Dialogues.
MIT’s administrative community demonstrated that it’s already off to the races when it comes to invention. The jam-packed annual poster session on October 14 brought together 26 sponsoring DLCs and hundreds of Institute community members eager for a preview of what’s next at MIT.
Paper Presented during International Conference on What’s next in libraries? Trends, Space, and partnerships held during January 21-23, 2015 at NIT Silchar, Assam. It is being jointly organized by NIT Silchar, in association with its USA partner the Mortenson Center for International Library Programs, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Is your library interested in reaching out to the community to gain new patrons? Or in better understanding the needs of your current (or potential) patrons? Join us to learn more about Community Dialogues, designed by the STAR Net team to help libraries learn more about their patrons, potential community partners, and how to more effectively serve underrepresented audiences. These Dialogues have been conducted more than 150 times at over 90 libraries across the country. Hear results and pitfalls to avoid from the libraries who have conducted them. This webinar is appropriate for any interested library staff, but please also share this announcement with your outreach librarians, directors, or anyone that is interested in reaching out into the community.
A talk delivered by Lauren Smith at the Anybook Oxford Libraries Conference 2015 - Adapting for the Future: Developing Our Professions and Services, 21st July 2015
Librarians and library workers are critical actors in shaping the future of our communities and libraries. In this session, we will talk about what it will take for each of us to lead our libraries in this environment. By engaging local community members in authentic conversations and making their aspirations and concerns the reference point for taking action, we open up new possibilities for increasing our impact. We will use tools prepared by the American Library Association’s “Promise of Libraries Transforming Communities” initiative--a partnership between ALA and the Harwood Institute of Public Innovation--and other frameworks to unleash possibilities for occupying a more visible, valued role in our communities.
NCompass Live - January 29, 2020
http://nlc.nebraska.gov/ncompasslive/
Innovation encompasses far more than technology. One of the most exciting trends in 21st century libraries is the emphasis on restructuring and reinventing our roles in our communities. A huge part of this discussion revolves around the term "Community Engagement". And while this sounds grand and fancy, things often get blurry when we are pressed to define it, implement it, and (the most daunting of all) measure it.
It’s time to cut through ambiguity and put concrete parameters around this evasive topic. This discussion will center around the following questions about community engagement: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and HOW?
Participants will leave with a clear definition of Community Engagement, along with the framework for how to build a Community Engagement plan. One size doesn’t fit all. Your library is uniquely special and to honor this fact, this interactive hour will include brainstorming about what’s right for your library and community. This discussion will be supported by concrete examples and case studies from libraries who have implemented successful community engagement plans.
This conversation is for everyone in the public library. The secret to effective community engagement involves the whole team; we all have an important part to play.
Presenter: Erica Rose, Library Science Faculty/Program Coordinator, University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Each year, the Nebraska Library Commission awards Continuing Education and Training Grants to Nebraska libraries to provide funding for staff to attend conferences and training sessions. In 2011, the NLC awarded grants to several librarians to attend the Public Library Association Conference in Philadelphia. Attend this session to learn more about the grants and to hear these librarians talk about their experiences at PLA.
Diversity in a Flash: A Lightning Showcase of Residency Diversity Initiativessespinosalib
An American Library Association 2015 Annual Conference presentation sponsored by the Ethnic Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table and the Residency Interest Group.
Diversity Residency Programs provide professional opportunities to recent MLS graduates from underrepresented communities in librarianship. Residents have spearheaded innovative approaches to support the diversity mission of the institution and library through internal and external initiatives. Hear from current and previous residents who have developed outreach initiatives and diversity programming highlighting ethnicity and multiculturalism at four academic libraries as they share recommendations for developing, implementing, and sustaining similar projects at other institutions. Outreach and programs include developing relationships with diversity departments and local communities, holding events to celebrate diverse cultures and ethnicities, and looking internally at institutional resources to support diversity. More information at http://alaac15.ala.org/node/28886
Getting Together To Go Forward: The Lessons of Diversity Initiatives and How ...Louis Muñoz Jr.
Graduates from various library diversity initiatives will discuss their experiences and summarize their programs’ outcomes. Presenters and participants will then brainstorm and explore various strategies that their institutions can use to recruit, nurture, and retain more individuals from under-represented groups. At the conclusion of the program, participants will share their suggestions with the larger group. (These ideas will form the nucleus of a Wiki resource that librarians can use for furthering diversity efforts.)
Public version of presentation proposing research project to look at libraries/ librarians ' role in relation to Open Educational Resources.
[this version edited to remove some context]
1. To Infinity and Beyond!
Public Library Association
Spring Symposium 2011
2. Inspiration
New Jersey Blue Ribbon Task Force
Mid-Atlantic Futures Conference
MN Office of the Legislative Auditor Report on Public
Libraries
No strategic state plan for libraries
General threats and challenges to libraries of all types
3. Why Multitypes Took the Lead
Multicounty multitype library systems take the lead
Talk across the lines
Recognize challenges and opportunities
Know the history of library structures & issues
Understand the importance of vision and planning
4. Steps
Multitype directors committed to funding the initial
planning meetings
Identified individuals and groups to participate in a
planning session
Issued the invitations
Hired a facilitator
5. Who was invited
Regional Public Library Systems
Public Libraries
Private Colleges
U of M Libraries
MnScu Libraries
Minnesota Library Association
Minnesota Educational Media Organization
Minitex
State Library
6. First meeting—May 2010
Goals of the Meeting
Agree that this was needed
Look at process & procedures
Create timeline
Establish subcommittees
7.
8. Steering Committee
Executive Committee
Application Development
Finance
Session Planning
Recruitment
Resource & Support for Futurists
9. Other Steering Committee
Meetings
June
Accepted work of subcommittees
Defined the Futurists Group
Application process
Session planning for Kick Off
10. What we wanted to happen
Identify challenges, changes, that will impact libraries
of all types
Create a foundation for a conversation about the
future, change, and getting there
Involve the library community in the conversation
11. “Ulterior Motives”
Introduce different types of library staff to each other
Encourage recognition of the shared problems and
issues
Encourage acknowledgement that all types of libraries
matter
Metro-centric attitude would be diluted
Identify common challenges
Leadership development
12. Accelerated timeline
Aim for Kick Off in October 2010
Selection of participants in September 2010
Futurists report in May 2011
15. Expectation that the Library
community would be involved
in the conversation, be used
as resources, & and would be
informed throughout the
course of the process.
16. No expectations that this
Futurists Group would be able
to define how to implement
changes.
17. Who?
A group of designated
people to have the focused
conversation…and then
could initiate a wider
conversation.
18. Applicant Criteria
Work in Minnesota library or be a library school
student
Between the ages 25-35
19. Questions for Applicants
What motivates you to want to be part of a group
involved in making recommendations for the future of
Minnesota’s Libraries?
Describe what comes to mind when you think of
“Minnesota Libraries”?
If you are selected as a member of the Library Futurists
– what do you hope is one possible outcome from the
work of the Initiative?
20. Who Applied?
83 applicants
6 School Librarians
44 Public
7 Special
26 Academic
21. Selection Criteria & Process
All types of libraries
Geographic representation
Everyone read all the applications
Scored on a rubric
Face to face discussion of applicants
22. Futurist Group Profile
3 School Librarians
3 Special/Other
6 Academic Librarians
12 Public Librarians
Geographic representation
24. Involving the Library Community
Everyone invited
Michael Rogers, The Practical Futurist
Christine Lind Hage, ALA Committee for America’s
Libraries for the 21st Century
25. First Meeting for Futurists
Facilitator to help them get started
Let them decide their own process, topics, & procedures
27. Thanks to Patricia Post, Executive Committee
Planning Documents
http://mnlfi.pbworks.com
Editor's Notes
OLA highlighted the need for a broad conversation about libraries in MNSilosNo strategic plan that addresses the challenges and changes that all types of faceNo other venue for this kind of conversation
We know everyone—talk across the linesKnow the challenges and opportunitiesKnow the history and politicsNo strong state library agency that looks to planningMore rulemaking rule enforcing fiscal oversightNot visionary or able to look to evolutionLack of evolution in MN library structure
Out of continuing education budgetsWhy a facilitator—to insure the neutrality of the discussion and decisions, keep us on task and track, summarizeMCMT hired the bus and the driver and let the “passengers” define the destination and the route
Broad as possible—metro, outstate, all typesEvery group identified 2 representativesState library in transitionThat if you didn’t to the first meeting, you couldn’t come to the remaining meetings—efficiency
Recognized that this was an ambitious time frameTo increase the efficiency and ensure results, created subcommittees
Amazingly enough—The conclusion is that everyone recognized and was was eager for a conversation these topics
That first meeting with the facilitator allowed everyone to express ideas and reservations about moving forward but in the end everyone agreed there was/is a need for doing a project like this. Involving everyone, looking aheadEveryone agreed to trust the process And trust the work of the subcommittee
Other leadership development opportunitiesWater vs plumbing
Buy in from library community
Ultimate charge for the Futurists
We want to be in charge of the vision—we know we are within various politician structures, but our history of collaboration and cooperation
Don’t expect—or want really—specific recommendations on structure, fundingThis isn’t a problem for the Futurists to solve—give the vision, the library community will take it from there
Don’t expect—or want really—specific recommendations on structure, fundingThis isn’t a problem for the Futurists to solve—give the vision, the library community will take it from there
We want to be in charge of the vision—we know we are within various politician structures, build our history of collaboration and cooperation
Most controversial was age limit—a lot of non-Minnesota nice emails and conversationsReasons on the wikiInspired by speaker at state conference on generations at work—the value of similar world experience, The age limit is not meant to imply that those older or younger than the 10-year range do not have contributions to make or ideas to share, but rather it reflects the research on age cohorts and the value that shared experience brings to discussions such as these. The presenter at the recent Minitex ILL conference made a compelling case for how different generations or cohorts interact with one another and those outside their cohort based on their shared experience of world events that have occurred during their lifetime, as well as the economics, political climate, demographic changes, environments, and other conditions that have influenced their development and world view. In addition, the Steering Committee wanted to go deeper into Minnesota libraries for voices and ideas that may not always be heard in other venues or outside their own settings.
Skeptics on Steering Committee questioned if we would even get 24 applicants
All notified yes or no. Given time to accept—required attendance at first meeting for participation
Wanted to get everyone on the bus--
Compromise on telling them what to do, how to organize, and topics to discuss by having the facilitator at their first 2 meetings.One steering committee member was an emerging leader really encouraged the use of a facilitator so they weren’t just tossed in to sink or swimFollowed the successful approach that worked with steering committee—hire the driver and bus—let them choose the destination and stops along the wayShould have done better coaching on using facilitator