First of all, a huge thanks to everyone who attended the rural library sustainability workshop on Wednesday at RCPL. You were so full of great ideas and information. I left feeling very excited about the future of libraries in our state. Here are the notes from our brainstorming session on Outreach, Advocacy, Library Connections and Training.

Outreach

  • The following groups were identified as already being reached via outreach programs: children (via schools, daycares and afterschool programs); parents; caregivers; delinquent/abused teens; homeschoolers; first steps; seniors (via churches, senior centers, adult daycares and nursing homes); mentally disabled adults (via a social services facility); teens; college students; community service groups (offering programs by request).
  • Some potential partners identified for outreach: DSS, adult literacy groups, ESL groups, employers of immigrants.
  • Groups not yet reached: schools, business community, homebound, hispanic population.
  • Other ideas mentioned: adopt a troop, books in a Doctor’s office, story time offered in a Doctor’s office.

Advocacy

  • Current advocates identified: current/former board members, employees and Friend officers; Director; Chamber of Commerce; developers (land, economic); news media; realtors; local sports players.
  • What are we advocating for? funding, cooperation and services.
  • The challenge: direction and priorities in the message.
  • Other ideas for great advocates: teens, parents, children, city leaders.

Library Connections

  • Partners: schools, preschools, daycares, library associations, government (on all levels), literacy groups, Friends of the Library, senior facilities, experts, college and tech schools, state library, civic/fraternal organizations, arts council, first steps, professional interest groups, chamber of commerce, museums, political reps, foundations, listservs/blogs.
  • Potential partners: business community, different cultural groups, hispanic populations.

Staff & Patron Training

  • Ideas for training: limit computer classes to 12 people or less so everyone can have a computer and so you are able to give one-on-one attention; pair teens with seniors for computer training classes; teach patrons how to use downloadable audiobooks.
  • Question #1 raised: How do I balance the needs of patrons with different skill levels?
    • Ideas: advertise pre-reqs for the class; offer one-on-one training; have floaters in the room who can provide additional assistance.
  • Question #2 raised: How do I give seniors training?
    • Ideas: limit the class size or offer one-on-one training; seek a grant that will provide you with resources to offer an intensive training course. Here’s an example:
    • Kathy Sheppard from Library Development talked about a grant her former library received to teach seniors in a six-week computer skills training. They offered the courses and recorded them, giving each participant a video/dvd at the end that they could watch over and over again. Many of the seniors went through the class more than once, making it a very successful program. All funded by a grant!
  • Question #3 raised: How do I train my staff?
  • Ideas: make the most of staff days; when a new employee starts, use it as an opportunity to train everyone; make everyone an expert in something — this will help with orienting new employees and give everyone someone to go to when they need help in a certain area; use resources in the state — other libraries, the state library, teens, experts in your area, etc.; if someone wants to learn something new, give them time to play and then ask them to teach everyone!

I hope these notes help everyone. I can’t wait to see what the new two groups will come up with!