ARSL Conference 2013

“Empowering Small Libraries”

Omaha, NE 9/26/13-9/28/13

First Day Highlights

Like all conferences I’ve ever attended, the ARSL conference has too much to do with too little time. Today’s opening keynote speaker was Lee Rainie, Director of the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project. This was the first time I had heard him speak and as he freely admits, he does speak fast.  He discussed Pew Research data that can be used for library advocacy, and presented data associated with rural communities, comparing it to urban communities. Interestingly, there is no real statistical differences accept in the perception that “libraries give everyone a chance to succeed”. Rural communities were ten points lower in this area.  But their research shows libraries are appreciated (90%), improve the quality of life, libraries are keeping up with technology, and are still relevant in the google age. When asked how important libraries are to communities, their importance is highly rated at the same level as fire fighters.  But libraries are very poor at advocacy. What do people want from their libraries? To coordinate more closely with the schools, offer free literacy programs to prepare children for school, provide separate spaces for different services--but people to not want libraries to give up book stacks to free up spaces.  Lee left us with a vision of the next rural library - a platform for growth and creativity.

The first workshop I attended was “Dazzling Displays of a Dime” presented by Leah Krotz, the director of the Belleville Public Library in Belleville, KS. She shared many basic marketing principles that she has used in display development, as well as many display ideas. Tips on how often to change displays, setting up displays in the stacks, using versatile cubes as backdrops, and more. I especially liked the “Book of the Day” displayed right at the circ desk for that last minute impulse checkout!

The luncheon speaker was Mary Beth Stenger, the director of Southern Area Library in Lost Creek, WV. The Southern Area Library was selected as the Best Small Library in America for 2013 by Library Journal.

This is an amazing achievement, considering the operating budget of $32,000 per year!

The next session I attended was “Makers and Mentors and More” led by Tim Owens from IMLS. This session was more of a panel discussion of various maker library campaigns.  And, no, a 3D printer is not necessary to provide a maker space. Some time was spent talking about people (staff and patrons) and places where maker “aha” moments can be realized.  And of course, my personal favorite, using LEGOs!

The last session of the day I selected because I really had never heard of the FREE program offered by OCLC for library advocacy. The session, “Build Library Awareness by Engaging Your Community”, described the ‘Geek the Library’ Community Awareness Campaign from OCLC. And did I mention it is free? Materials, planning support, management support. Apparently, there are currently no participating libraries in Maryland, which may be why I haven’t heard of it. I plan to have the Hancock Library be the first.