Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Fourth Annual Rotary Literacy Summit

Author Name: Abigail Andrews
Library System: Washington County Free Library

Top 3 things learned:

1. Kids are supposed to learn to read until 3rd grade, but after 3rd grade, they read to learn.

2. If kids are not reading at grade level by the end of 3rd grade, they are more likely to drop out of school.

3. Students with chronic absenteeism can never catch up to their peers. By addressing issues such as asthma and tooth pain, which are leading causes of chronic absenteeism, these students are more likely to succeed.

How to implement: 

Could the library create a new partnership with the public schools to focus on meeting the needs of the students who are not reading on grade level at the end of 2nd grade.

MLA/DLA 2015: Managing Energy, Not Time

Author Name: Sally Hull
Library System: Western Maryland Regional Library

Top 3 things learned:

1. We learned the four types of energy : spiritual, mental, emotional and physical and to fully engage these means being :Physically energized, emotionally connected, mentally focused and spiritually aligned with a purpose that is important to you.

2. We learned about having a Full Cup. When we fill ourselves with things that give us positive emotional energy it spills over into everything else we do.

3. We learned the SOSS model for emotional management and expression. S-Stop and slow down (count to 10) O-Oxygenate (take some deep breaths) S-Strengthen appreciation (literally think of appreciating someone or something. It engages your pre-frontal-cortex) S-Seek Information (learn more about the other person's point of view....it may even buy you some time before you respond).

How to implement: 

I think the SOSS model is useful anytime and anywhere. How many times are we already planning the words we are going to use to defend our position before the other person is even finished speaking? Slowing down, breathing, and thinking before we speak is something so simple that we
can implement so easily .....but we just don't do it. We want to be heard and be right more than we want to take the time to be thoughtful. Maybe we all need a little sign on our desks that says SOSS ;-)

Hagerstown Rotary Literacy Initiative: 4th Annual Literacy Summit

Author Name: Amanda Kaufman
Library System: Washington County Free Library
Learning Event website: http://www.hagerstownrotaryliteracyinitiative.org/

Top 3 things learned:

1. The achievement gap between low income and high income families is evident in children as young as 9 months.

2. Little Free Libraries - these are set up throughout Washington County, with more coming. They are small water-proof containers that contain free books for anyone to come by and take home and read. There is no due date and if the book is never returned their is no penalty. Read more here: http://littlefreelibrary.org/ 

3. WCPS has a birth to five program that covers the entire county. Free resources for children in need, such as a speech pathologist, occupational therapist, and physical therapist who will come into the home to work with children. In order to access this resource, a referral must be placed (this is normally done by a pediatrician).

How to implement: 

One of the topics that came up repeatedly was how many at-risk children come from families where English is not spoken or is not the first language. Perhaps libraries could offer some support to parents who do not speak or read English well by offering adult literacy programs that could be co-sponsored with another organization in the area.

School Readiness Symposium: The Arts Work in Early Childhood

Author Name: Amanda Kaufman
Library System: Washington County Free Library
Learning Event website: http://www.wolftrap.org/education.aspx

Top 3 things learned:

1. Movement activities for story time, such as going around the circle to create a movement with your name - at the end you've created your own dance as a group, and the mirror game where one person leads the group and they must imitate slow movements as if looking in a mirror.

2. Free resources available from education.wolftrap.org - create a free login account and access resources to implement the arts (drama, music, and dance) into story time and programming.

3. Children naturally learn through art integration - this provides active learning and can reach children with special needs, do not speak English as a first language (or at all), and kids who learn in different ways.

How to implement: 
Many options to implement movement, dance, drama, and music into story times. I've tried to implement the name movement introduction/dance with a story time with mixed results. The kids were very interested in watching me do it, but were shy to participate themselves. I think incorporating more movement and leadership opportunities (allowing kids to lead the group) would get them more comfortable with the idea.

MLA: Tweens the Next Frontier in Youth Services

Author Name: Barbara Riffey
Library System: Allegany County Library Systems

Top 3 things learned:

  1. I learned what the social networking tweens are now using, snap chat, twitter, vine, etc.
  2. I came away with many ideas for programming
  3. I learned about options of separating out collection for tweens.

How to implement:

  • When we do programming, maybe use some of the social networking that is most popular to bring more tweens in. 
  • I am anxious to try out some of the program ideas.
  • I will try to encourage more participation at the library to tweens.

Additional learning: Trying out the different social media networking.

MLA/DLA Conference 2015

Author Name: Jennifer Spriggs
Library System: Allegany County Library Systems
Learning Event website: http://www.mdlib.org/content.asp?contentid=1

Top 3 things learned:

  • The WWW Exercise: What Went Well
  • Benefits of Being Happy at Work
  • GED tests are now completely online.

How to implement:

  • Start a conversation or meeting by asking, "What's gone well for you since the last time we talked?"
  • Practice the WWW exercise daily for one week and see how it changes your perspective.
  • Share with staff - in 200 studies on 275,000 people worldwide: happiness leads to success in nearly every area - work, health, friendship, sociability, creativity, and energy. 
  • When people work with a positive mind-set, productivity, creativity, and engagement improves. 
  • Dedicate a computer for GED testing at branches.

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

MLA/DLA2015 Conference

Author Name: Elizabeth Hulett
Library System: Western Maryland Regional Library

Top 3 things learned:

  • There are several different ways styles of leadership and many of them overlap.
  • Leaders establish the positive conditions of wellness, recognition, empowerment and significance.
  • Risk taking is a part of leadership.

How to implement: 
Every time you try an new initiative you are taking a risk, but you should always be willing to try. I see WMRL's new Strategic Plan as an opportunity to take some risks with new initiatives.

Additional learning: 
Behind the Executive Door by Karol Wasylyshyn is a book that was recommended in one of the programs I attended which I plan to read.

MLA/DLA2015 Conference

Author Name: Susan Poper
Library System: Western Maryland Regional Library

Top 3 things learned:
1) Genealogy just might be fun...looking up a person's ancestors
2) The more Jill Craig and Mary Manix spoke about "the dead" I became more intrigued with the thought of looking up my own "dead people"
3) I didn't know there were so many free websites and books from other libraries that a person could find out so much information on one individual.

Additional learning: when I'm actually going to start this I know where to go for help...starting with Jill!

MLA/DLA15: Bring Out Your Dead

Author Name: Jill Craig
Library System: Western Maryland Regional Library
Learning Event website:
http://www.mdlib.org/files/docs/conference/MLAProgram.pdf

Top 3 things learned:
Resources for family histories -
1. Published histories add material not found in census data. The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy and Printed Sources: A Guide to Published Genealogical Records list sources. Many libraries like WCFL's Western Maryland Room and FCPL's Maryland Room collect only local family histories, but there are libraries that collect more broadly, like Mid Continent Library http://www.mymcpl.org/genealogy and Allen Public Library http://www.mymcpl.org/genealogy and might be willing to either answer a question based on the book or ILL a copy.

2. Heritage Quest includes PERSI (Periodical Research Index) as well as census. PERSI could be used to look for a family name in an article. 

3. Family Search also has published family histories. They scan small run family histories and have over 200,000 digitized family and local history publications - books.familysearch.org

How to implement: 
These resources could add to what I post on whilbr. I traditionally search ancestry.com for some information about a person I am referring to. Looking at published family histories could add to this info.

Additional learning: Family Search requires Internet Explorer. I had deleted it from my computer!

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Crafting the Successful Maker Program @ Computers in Libraries

Gwinnett County Public Library (Georgia) has a dynamic duo (their Training Manager AND their IT Division Director) working on maker programming - not maker spaces. BIG difference. 

Their slides are available in PDF: 
http://conferences.infotoday.com/documents/219/D202_Baker.pdf

Of course, I got excited hearing about how they implemented a staff training plan but before I get into that, let me share some other take-aways first:

First, they did trials which they called Maker Camps. They had two of them; one in the summer of 2014 and one in the winter of 2014. They partnered with a local school both times but in the summer, the program ran for 4-days, 3-hours each day. In the winter they changed it up a bit to 3-days, 4-hours each day. Both camps were scheduled around school holidays/breaks. At the camps, the kids worked with Makerbot Replicator, TinkerCAD, Google Drive, and Makerbot Mini. 

The next step was to get the local school library media specialists involved in order to have a special event in conjunction with Teen Tech Week. So, they had a program which featured the history and future of 3D Printing and each participant got to print one item from the Thingverse online catalog. 

It was interesting that they held these events in the open spaces of the library rather than in a meeting/programming room. Having the events out in the open generated more interest as library customers came in, saw what was happening, and asked questions. It wasn't disruptive but rather eye opening and a great way to market/communicate! 

For staff, they held their own staff maker camp and they ran it very similarly to how the kid maker camps were designed EXCEPT they added a session on troubleshooting. They also incorporated Lynda.com resources, lots of hands-on experience, and they dedicated a lot of time to WHEN THINGS GO WRONG. 

I would love to do this or something like this for staff in western Maryland if there is interest. The tricky part is staff being able to attend three consecutive days - even if they were only 4-hours - due to staffing constraints. I think having the consecutive training is important to make the learning stick but I feel like we'd have to switch it to maybe 2 sessions a week for 2 consecutive weeks. That might be more feasible. If you're reading this and you're one of my colleagues in Allegany, Garrett, or Washington counties, please email me and let me know what your thoughts are. 

Games, Gadgets & Makerspaces @ Computers in Libraries 2015

Brown Dog Gadgets is a great resource for programmables.
Games, Gadgets, & Makerspaces

I would describe this event as a highly interactive technology & coding petting zoo. I got to meet people who are providing new technologies for libraries to use in various ways. This was a pretty timely event as it nicely complemented the Coding in Libraires training that I had just attended the Thursday prior.

What kinds of technologies did I get to see/experience?

You may recognize the squishy circuits - 2nd from the right.
So what? 
Well, Jennifer Hopwood (SMRLA) and I talked about possible coordinating staff development programming with NASA on using LittleBits in coding programs. Based on the feedback I've heard about the Code in Libraries workshop, many of our staff want/need additional practice with these technologies before they feel comfortable facilitating a program on their own. Perhaps, NASA could provide that programming link? 

Also, I've been thinking about WMRL's Emerging Technology Collection. Perhaps it is time to take it into a new direction. We started with mobile technologies but now the trend in library educational programming seems to be turning toward coding, we may need to reconsider what we buy for our collection and how we make it available. Perhaps we could but together coding programming kits: one for a Squishy Circuits program, one for a LittleBits program, one for an Arduino program, etc. More on this when I write my post about NYPL's TechConnect (spoiler alert: my mind was blown!)
I even made my own light-up badge!

I also think this is important information to share with the WMRL Technology Interest Group since they are kind of tasked with staying on top of tech trends, etc. . . 

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Computers in Libraries

Author Name: Bill Taylor
Library System: Washington County Free Library

Learning Event website: http://computersinlibraries.infotoday.com/2015/

Top 3 things learned:

  1. LibraFor me, this conference developed a theme: "Linked data and the semantic web"
  2. Libraries are not well-represented in Google results (nor other search engines), especially results based on the latest "knowledge graph" techniques, because we are not taking advantage of the markup possibilities in schema.org, the vocabulary being developed and used by all major search engines.
  3. In particular, creative works (books, music, movies) can be described in these schemas and then be much more accessible to search engines, but libraries' MARC format is not accessible in this way.
  4. OCLC is working on how to use schema.org model for library cataloging, and LC is developing BIBFRAME, the Bibliographic Framework Initiative, as a replacement for the MARC format.

Much more detail and useful information is in the presenters' slides on http://computersinlibraries.infotoday.com/2015/Presentations.aspx. In particular, sessions A102, A203, A305ries are not well-represented in Google (and other search engines), especially in the latest type of searching, so-called

How to implement:
I will work with Maria to learn more about how we will be affected by BIBFRAME and how we can take advantage of it and schema.org.

Additional learning:
Darien library (CT) is using kiosks and interactive displays for patron information; lots of good ideas in the presenter's slides: conferences.infotoday.com/documents/219/B202_Goodman.pptx

Innovative Users Group Conference

Author Name: Bill Taylor
Library System: Washington County Free Library

Learning Event website:
http://innovativeusers.org/resources/calendar/event/41-iug-2015-conference.html

Top 3 things learned:

1. We can have our own tables in Polaris! For example, a table showing shelf capacity of different call number ranges in each branch, to compare with the number of items currently in that range in each branch, for purposes of rebalancing floating materials

2. We could have Polaris automatically send a welcome email to newly registered patrons - a SQL job can run once a week to send out an email to everyone who registered during the previous week

3. The Serials module is pretty easy to set up and use, especially if you don't have to interface with a vendor

How to implement: 
Each of the above will go on my to-do list! Since we decided not to purchase CollectionHQ, being able to replicate some of its functions will be very useful for selectors and branch managers. Our current system for tracking receipt of periodicals is time-consuming and idiosyncratic - using the serials module will be more efficient. A welcoming email to new patrons would be useful in conveying policies and information.

Additional learning:

  • New features in version 5.0 SP1 (which we can upgrade to whenever we want)
  • Patron can be allowed to change hold pickup location, even for in-transit and held items (if we want)
  • In the PAC, patron's account display will list any associated patrons; also lists claimed and lost items
  • We will be able to "secure" a patron record - no activity of any kind is possible until record is "released" - can be used as a last-ditch collections effort
  • We can allow associated patrons to pick up each other's holds
  • We can have items automatically renew themselves if there are no holds
  • Patrons can opt out of reminder notices
  • Polaris can automatically mark bib records to display or not in PAC, via a nightly SQL job, based on criteria such as presence of linked items and their status
  • There will be a new check-in option of "missing part" which will set the circ status to "claim missing part" and generate a notice to the patron; can charge patron's account if we want
  • (Coming in SP2, later in 2015:) integrated DOWNLOAD of econtent from Overdrive - that is, patron's can check out and download right from PAC - no need to send them to Overdrive website
  • We can completely customize notices by editing the underlying report - more than just modifying text with language editor
  • Sno-Isle Libraries have used Polaris reports to provide some of the collection management data that would be available with CollectionHQ - his examples are available in online presentation

Code in the Libraries: Coding Kits

Author Name: Cyndi Powell
Library System: Washington County Free Library

Top 3 things learned:
1. Learned about circuits and how to make squishy circuits and paper circuits.
2. Learned how to use an arduino and a raspberry pi.
3. Learned ways we can incorporated these different technology devices into programs at the library.

How to implement:
As a part of this training/program, each library branch got a coding kit, which was purchased by WMRL (THANKS SO MUCH!) The kits were all inclusive (more than I was expecting), so they are ready to go and ready to be used by kids and teens alike. I hope to share the information I learned with the branch managers and other staff so that they can take full advantage of these awesome resources!

Picture of the day: http://www.wmrl.info/sites/default/files/webform/arduino.jpg

Computers in Libraries: Library Leaders Summit

Author Name: Marilyn Pontius
Library System: Washington County Free Library

Learning Event website: http://www.librarysummit.com/DC2015/

Top 3 things learned:

1. Determining and Demonstrating Value with the Logic Model By adopting the Logic Model (developed by IMLS to create Outcome Based Program Evaluations), the library can measure the outcomes, and eventual impact of their programs and services.

2. Net Promoter Score (talked about by Stephen Denning) Every company's customers can be divided into three categories: Promoters, Passives, and Detractors. Ask one simple question: How likely is it that you would recommend the Washington County Free Library to a friend or colleague? Customers respond on a 0-10 scale. Promoters score 9-10, passives score 7-8, detractors score 0-6. To calculate the NPS, take the percentage of customers who are Promoters and subtract the percentage who are Detractors. Are we really a customer focused organization?

3.Using an Agile or Scrum approach to projects within the library. List all the tasks/problems/projects
Prioritize the tasks/problem/projects Take the top priority tasks (1 or 2) and assign the top people to complete the task in 3 weeks. Evaluate the solution. Will it work? Does it need refinement? Do you need to start over?

How to implement: 
I was intrigued by the Net Promoter Score as a way of measuring how well you are succeeding as a customer-driven organization. Will be conducting a survey of WCFL patrons to see how we are doing. I also really like the idea of re-vamping a library volunteer program to have volunteers share their passion and expertise by creating programs at the library.

Additional learning: 
I would like to see WCFL adopt the Logic Model as the standard program planning methodology, as well as use this approach in developing our next strategic plan.

Code in the Libraries: Coding Kits

Author Name: Jennifer Ross
Library System: Washington County Free Library

Top 3 things learned:

  • Teaching Circuits, like the "Squishy Circuits" we made out of Play Dough and 9 volt batteries and LED lights, is a great way to help children grasp the logic and concepts behind computer code.
  • There are a lot of games to help kids grasp coding as Blocks of Coding Language.
  • Having mini-computers, like the Arduino, make it easier to understand the working "guts" of the computers, which also help kids learn to code.

How to implement: 
We will definitely be offering some of the coding programming at our library soon, like the LED and conductive thread bookmarks and some more of the great coding resources.

Additional learning: 
Can't wait to get more time playing around with the Arduino.

Reflection Image:
http://www.wmrl.info/sites/default/files/webform/code%20in%20the%20library%202.jpg

Code in the Libraries: Coding Kits

Author Name: Tammy L. Gantz
Library System: Washington County Free Library

Top 3 things learned:

  • Learned how to create a squishy circuit and a parallel circuit.
  • Looked at different block based programming languages such as scratch.
  • Programmed an arduino to switch and LED on and off.
  • Learned how to set up a Raspberry Pie.

How to implement: 
All of these ideas could lead to library programs and classes for all ages.

Additional learning: 
This class was very technical. More training in these areas would be needed before I would be comfortable leading a class in these areas.

Code in the Libraries: Coding Kits

Author Name: Adryana Billotti
Library System: Washington County Free Library

Top 3 things learned:

  • How to set up and run a computer using a raspberry pi
  • How to make a squishy circuit
  • Simple coding that was used to make LED lights turn on and off

How to implement: 
I hope to begin planning upcoming programs that use coding and different circuitry tools to teach kids and teens the same things that I learned in the program.

Additional learning: 
I would like another class that provides program ideas that can be done with these different tools that we gained a basic understanding of. Now that I have a basic understanding and idea of how to use the tools, I would like to create a list of program possibilities.