So I went to ALA, now what?

You might have noticed a flurry of blog posts about sessions I attended while at ALA in Chicago. But sharing what I learned in those sessions isn't quite enough; I really need to think about and speculate how I might use what I learned. How will I change my ways now that I know what I know?

Example #1: Partnerships in Unlikely Places
I just had an idea, just 5 minutes ago, that I should call Best Buy's corporate headquarters and ask them if they could come to western Maryland and do a workshop on Technology Users Advisory. We always get asked, "which tablet/device/ereader should I buy?" How well are we answering those questions? So, why not learn from the experts. They could also recommend which technologies we should pay attention to. 

Consequently, I have to call back - they weren't open yet.

I had a similar idea that involves Apple. They have some of the best customer service practices I've ever experienced so, why not ask them if they could do a 'think differently about customer service' workshop for us? Assuming my budget can accommodate their fees. If my budget cannot accommodate their fees, maybe this would be a good workshop to have sponsored by several MD library systems, or the other two regionals, or DLDS.

I have to call back - they weren't open yet either; they're on Pacific Time.

I have another example that involves a special project I'm working on with a fellow Leadership Washington County alum, who isn't a librarian nor does he work in libraries. He's an analytical MBA type who has the ability to transform data sets into interesting and engaging visuals for the marketing arm of a bio-tech company. We're both very excited about this project because we, well, I should only speak for myself here, I have very big imaginings that this will do great things for the Washington County community once it's up and running. We are still in the planning phase, talking with key stakeholders and the like so, I won't disclose more until it gets closer to the actual pilot launch. #teaser

Example #2: Experimentation and Innovation in Libraries
This program was all about what libraries can learn from lean startups.

The first thing I took to heart was the extremely simplistic notion of talking to people. Talking to lots of people. Case in point, every year I send out a training needs assessment survey to all of the staff in the three western MD counties in an attempt to find out what they need me to do for them in the coming year in regards to learning and development. After the results are in I try to schedule follow up meetings with the three staff development coordinators in the three counties. This year was no different. However, as a result of this ALA session, I've also started meeting with department heads and branch managers to have similar conversations and so far these meetings have proven to be extremely helpful and have provided much guidance. I still need to schedule these meetings in Garrett and Allegany counties.

One of the immediate benefits of having these conversations is that we identify training need overlap. For example, I was talking with Elizabeth Hulett, the head of adult services in WCFL, and she said that she had tasked one of her librarians to learn there is all to know about the Obama Care initiative that will be taking effect in a few months. Then, when I spoke with WCFL's branch coordinator, Jan Viands, I asked Jan if her staff would need to know about Obama Care, too and of course, they would. So, Shannon (WCFL librarian) and I have somewhat joined forces in identifying sources of staff training that can happen over the next couple of months - with one definite training date being on Oct. 7th for Jan's branch staff meeting. In my research on this topic, I found the Health Howard service, which, if they're prepared to do Obama Care workshops, would be available to Allegany and Garrett counties' staff as well!

The second thing I took to heart was the notion of challenging assumptions. 

Step 1: Identify the assumption
Step 2: Challenge it by turning it into a testable hypothesis

This process seems to translate naturally into my staff development life. 

Step 1: Identify the assumed training need: "Staff member X needs to learn how to download eBooks onto the iPad." Oh yeah? How do you know? LOL 
Step 2: Turn the training need into a testable hypothesis: "I predict that Staff Member X is unsuccessful at downloading an OverDrive eBook onto an iPad."

I obviously need training myself on how to write better hypotheses. 

Then, once I have my testable hypothesis, I run a small, tight experiment. In this case, I would go to Staff Member X and ask them to show me how to download an OverDrive eBook onto an iPad. Ideally, I would have some kind of rubric to keep track of which steps in the process were adequately achieved and which ones were not.

I am actually going to try attempt to test this hypothesis with some eReader training that WCFL has asked my help with today (July 11th) and on the 17th. I'll write a follow-up post to review what happens.

So, for those of you who went to ALA, what will you do differently now that you know what you know?

Improv Fundamentals

Presented by Second City in Chicago at the American Library Association's annual conference.

The biggest take always I got from this program were more exercises to do with groups to illustrate communication and creativity processes, and also ways to use exercises when just interacting one on one with folks. 

Before I go into the different exercises we did, I want to share some really important verbiage they shared that really resonated with me. 

1. When working/talking with a colleagues whose expertise is identifying weaknesses and problem areas and/or they are great at identifying the reasons why an idea might not succeed, instead of becoming frustrated with them, thank them for their gift of insight and acknowledge that you want to hear those insights (because you do. Fault-finding is important!) and that you want to make sure they're heard at the most opportune time so that you can easily capitalize on them.  Tell them that now isn't the best time but that we will need other those insights in the afternoon or tomorrow or whenever the best time might be.

2. To keep these aforementioned talented folks engaged - especially when doing group work like brainstorming - ask them to facilitate the exercise or be the scribe. So, instead of them not participating at all because they're more focused on the dark spots, tell them that you need them to facilitate the group's current exercise. This is great for two reasons: they're doing an important and valuable task and the group is getting the results they need at the time. 

3. Get into the habit of saying, "yes, and..." To build upon ideas rather than shutting them down. For example, let's say I suggest doing one on one technology appointments with me and library staff to help staff learn a bit more about whichever technologies interest them or those with which they are having the most difficulty. Then let's say you think it's a dumb idea and that it'll never work because we tried it before...staff won't sign up...it's a waste of time...whatever the reason, but with the "Yes and" technique, you squash those less constructive sentiments and say, "yes, and we could have it at the Oakland library!" Or, "yes, and we could include databases in those one on ones!" or, "yes, and we could make them worth one CEU for folks who need CEUs!"

And from there we work together to develop the idea and together with a more fun and positive attitude we might come to the conclusion that, 1) this is going to be great! Or 2) this needs more work but has potential, or 3) this is not actually the best way to fulfill the learning need. So, sure, it might take longer to get the the, "this is a crappy idea" but it allows the idea generator to reach that conclusion on her own which is more powerful anyway, and it also provides equal opportunity to get to the, "wow, this is a great idea!"  Win win for both parties.  

The Exercises

"Red ball, thank you."
This is a whole group exercise that brings awareness to the communication pitfalls we all cause and are victims of each and every day. 
Have the group stand in a circle. The lead facilitator holds up an imaginary ball in one hand and says, "In my hand I have a red ball and it will forever be red and it will always stay this shape and size. Before I throw my red ball to someone I have to make eye contact and say Red Ball. The recipient has to acknowledge the red ball by saying in response, Red Ball, thank you. Then that person makes eye contact with someone and repeats the process."
This goes on for a few minutes until the group gets the hang of it. Then the facilitator pauses the group and asks to see the red ball. Then he/she introduces a green ball in the exact same way they introduced the red ball and the game begins again but with two imaginary balls going throughout the circle. The facilitator keeps adding more and more imaginary items (yellow ball; polka dotted blue ball, etc) until it's pretty clear that the group has dropped some balls. At that point, the facilitator pauses the group and asks to see all of the imaginary objects. Chances are all items won't be accounted for. Then the facilitator debriefs the exercise and calls attention to what went wrong. Then we start all over again but then we add even crazier objects like a rabid squirrel, a crying baby, a freshly baked pie, a card catalog from 1972... You get the idea. Ideally, the 3rd round should end with all objects accounted for because participants (especially those in the sender role) will be more diligent about getting confirmation from the person who's on the receiving end of the item before they actually toss/pass the item to them. 

"Thank you"
This is a pair (1:1) exercise where each participant takes turns having a typical conversation about any topic they wish but before each turn the participants must say, "Thank you," before saying their next sentence. For example:

Julie: Hey, how was the ALA conference?
Carrie: Thank you. It was great. I attended a lot of really great sessions. How about you?
Julie: Thank you. I went to several really great sessions. I think the TLC program was the best though.
Carrie: Thank you. I wanted to go to that one but I had a different one that I really had to attend instead. 
Julie: Thank you. So, which one did you attend instead?

You get the idea. The notion is to slow down your conversation and always start on a positive and encouraging note because both of those components help to stimulate dialog. 

"Beginning with the end"
This is a pair (1:1) exercise where each participant takes turns having a typical conversation about any topic they wish but each participant has to start his/her first sentence with which ever word was their partner's last word. For example:

Julie: Hey, how was your fourth of July?
Carrie: July fourth was crazy hectic cause I'm trying to pack and move and start a new job but all in all I had a great time with friends and family.
Julie: Family get-togethers are always memorable times. 
Carrie: Times when we can eat good food and drink good drink and play a fun game or two! 
Julie: Two of my cousins even showed up yesterday to celebrate the holiday!

You get the idea. The notion here is all about communication as a team/partner effort. You want to set your partner up (and vice versa) to succeed by giving them a gift in the form of an easy-to-use last word. So you really have to think before you speak.

"Director"
This is an exercise for a group of three with one person acting as the "Director" and the other two having a conversation about any topic they like. At anytime he or she wishes, the Director claps and whomever is speaking needs to revise what they just said. For example:

Julie: Hey Carrie, I'm really happy to hear about your new job.
Director: CLAP
Julie: Hey, Carrie, I'm really happy to hear about your new cat.
Carrie: Thanks. He's a handful but a lot of fun. We named him Max.
Director: CLAP
Carrie: We named him Polaris.
Director: CLAP
Carrie: We named him Wizard.
Julie: What a great name! What color is he?
Carrie: He's various shades of gray - ha ha how fitting for a librarian!
Director: CLAP
Carrie: How fitting for a fisky cat!
Director:CLAP

You get the idea. The idea behind this exercise is to practice thinking quickly on your feet and responding appropriately to changing demands. Think you know what that patron's excuse is going to be as they approach the circ desk with 15 kids books dripping in orange goo? Think again. Or better yet, don't think at all and just listen to them attentively without projecting your assumptions on to them.

The final project

So, our final project for the preconference was to get into groups of 7 and in 10 minutes we had to:

• Think of a new invention and the problem it solves
• Give it a name
• Give it a catchphrase / tagline
• Give it a theme song
• Give it a celebrity endorser
• Design a 30 second commercial that the group would perform for everyone on stage

This seems like an exercise that could be done at any staff meeting or during a staff development event to get staff thinking about new services, programs, or products their libraries could offer. What do you think about all this? How might you or your library take advantage of all the the world of improv has to offer us? I know I will be looking into additional improv resources and potential improv workshops that can be provided to staff in the western counties. 

ALA New Orleans

ALA 2011, held in New Orleans, Louisiana, was a pretty exciting event in my career as a librarian. Not only did I get to eat some really amazing food (I see that food seems to be a popular topic when it comes to discussing this year's ALA), but I got to meet smart, funny, interesting, innovative library people from all around the world. By "library people", I mean people who work for libraries, sell things to libraries, design things for libraries, or just plain love libraries. Not everyone there was a librarian, but everyone had something to share about the libraries of the future. Because I haven't totally had enough time to process my experience in a full write-up, I'll just dish out some quick observations:

• I met Nancy Pearl!!! Nancy Pearl, people!!! She's like the rockstar of library world!!! I met her first at her book signing, though sadly I did not win her autographed copy of Book Lust to Go. I met her a second time when she facilitated the session I attended called "Libraries and Bookstores: Strange Bedfellows" where library and bookstore leaders discussed joint partnerships in several communities that have benefited both industries.
• Librarians can go anywhere and do anything! I met a lot of really great librarians who work in some truly unexpected places; from a librarian who worked for Sears.com (her job was to make up those handy dandy categories that you use for finding items when you're shopping online) to a Canadian librarian who traveled around with rural Native tribes studying how local library services are utilized by tribal populations. There really are opportunities for librarians in every industry.
• It's true, I do not like crawfish.
• Library technology is a very exciting industry, similar in many ways to designing things for space or time travel. The technology, the machinery, and the innovation that takes place make our jobs easier and sleeker, but also helps us to remain relevant in people's daily lives by addressing their technological and social needs. From book vending machines (think Redbox with books) to mobile access libraries to machines that turn pages for you to chairs that look like they are straight out of the Death Star, library technology is full of the wild and wonderful. Even my husband was amazed by some of the high-tech stuff when he was wandering around the exhibit hall on his own.
• Bourbon Street smells terrible, but not terrible enough to keep the crowds away.
• How many times have patrons made comments about how difficult it is to find things because we don't organize our shelves like Barnes & Noble? There is a new way of cataloging called the C3 system that combines the best of bookstore classification systems with a more updated version of call numbers that make it faster and easier for patrons and staff to find items on their shelves. The Markham Public Library in Canada has debuted the system to great success and the patrons seem happy too. Hearing about innovations like these definitely makes you stop to think about how many systems are being used today that are really obsolete.
• The social media wave is definitely washing over libraries everywhere. Most of the Q & A sessions were conducted via Twitter!! Librarians discussed the pros and cons of staff marketing via Facebook and MySpace. Sessions presenters always included links to where to where they could be found online. The conversations almost always continued after every session, not only in the rooms or in the hallways, but online! Everyone was tweeting! The ALA tag #ALA11 was even briefly trending on Twitter. That's what happens when you put 11,000 librarians in a building together and let them use smart phones!
• Food will never taste as good again...

I did and saw (and ate) so much, that this little synopsis barely does my experiences justice, but I can definitely say that being in the company of so many enthusiastic and innovative library people makes me very optimistic and excited for the future of our profession. I would like to thank everyone in the Allegany County Library System who made it possible for me to have this opportunity including the administration and my coworkers and substitutes who covered my shifts, as well as Western Maryland Regional Library for funding staff development opportunities like this one. If any of you ever get the chance, it truly is something worth experiencing.

Big & Easy Learning in NOLA (ALA)

I attended the Annual Conference of the American Library Association in New Orleans (6/23-6/27) and aside from learning about the *best* places to eat in the Big Easy I also learned the following lessons:

1. If you're given a 2hr slot to present a program be sure to fill that 2hr slot. I attended a program that was supposed to be on the unmined potential of ebooks but the presenter only had 20 minutes worth of material. She would have liked for the remainder of the time to be spent on walking folks through the installation process of a freely available ebook-creator software but no one was told to bring laptops so, we left at 8:22AM only to hunt down a more fulfilling program. The ebook creator wasn't all that great and I know of better ones so, I'm not even going to mention it here.

2. There's no such thing as over-communicating. Not to be confused with TMI (too much information) which can be a cause for concern in any work environment, communicating broadly and in a timely manner (to the point of repeating to some degree) can be a good thing and a sign of a healthy team. One way to practice good over communication skills is to have daily 10 minute huddles (or 5 minutes of genius as they are sometimes called). Do these at a set time every day with whoever is available and do it standing up. What to share during these huddles - whatever you got going on that day or recap what happened the previous day. Just share, share, share. Be sure to jot down some notes and post them in a central location for everyone to see - esp. if they weren't able to attend the huddle.

3. Venting, although cathartic, is not productive. Be a good listener but help the ventee to move forward with a solution. Or if you're the person venting try to be aware of the fact that you are venting and ask a colleague for help with solving the solution if you feel stuck. You don't have to go it alone.

4. When delivering a conference program accept in advance that there will be plugged and unplugged learners. The challenge is catering to them both!

5. Information literacy instructors in academic libraries and public trainers in public libraries are two birds of a feather that have been disguising themselves to look different from each other. They need to join forces instead of drawing their lines deeper in the sand. I'm working on putting together a conference program on this very topic. We'll see how it goes. If you're interested in co-presenting with me just give me a shout!

6. Can't afford to bring a big name presenter physically to your library? Try to convince them to Skype their presentation. Be sure to set up a room on your end that has a reliable and high speed internet connection and a web cam so that the presenter can see the attendees when they ask questions.

7. We should strive to humbitious (humbly ambitious).

8. Have writer's block or a brainstorming block? Start throwing out your worst ideas ever and it'll get the wheels turning again, not to mention some great ideas!

ALA 2010: Staff Development Discussion

Staff member: Julie Zamostny
Original event date: June 28, 2010
Original event time: 1:30-3:30pm
Speakers: Sandra Smith

ALA 2010: Library Trainers as Leaders

Staff member: Julie Zamostny
Original event date: June 27, 2010
Original event time: 10:30AM-12:00PM
Speakers:Paul Signorelli, Maurice Coleman, Sandra Smith, Louise Whittaker

ALA2010: Purple Crayons, Random Dots, and PB Sandwiches

Staff member: Julie Zamostny
Original event date: June 26, 2010
Original event time: 4:00-5:30PM
Speaker: Frances Yates, Director at IU East

ALA 2010: Beyond F2F: New Methods for Staff Training

Staff Member: Julie Zamostny
Original event date: June 25, 2010 (ALA Preconference)
Original event time: 8:30AM-Noon
Speakers: Jay Turner, Maurice Coleman, Mary Beth Faccioli