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Weekly Tips




  • Weekly Tips

    Weekly Tips: The Board of Trustees

    November 20th, 2007 | Permalink | Comment?

    From advocacy to strategic planning, our board of trustees makes up a diverse range of people working together on behalf of libraries.

    Who are trustees?

    Originally published in the Rural Libraries Journal, The Politics of Library Boards is a revealing article that draws on numerous sources and surveys to describe the unique position that trustees have in their roll as representatives of the library and the community.

    Represent the community

    One of the important points in the previous article was to recruit trustees that reflect the diversity within your community. Check out Recruiting Latino Trustees and read about informal and formal methods of recruiting, as well as retaining trustees for optimal services to your Latino community.

    Advocacy

    This excerpt from The Successful Library Trustee Handbook discusses targeted ways for trustees to get into the public arena and advocate on behalf of our libraries.

    Planning

    Effective Governance for Rural Libraries is a valuable new concept paper that details a “game plan” for action: the Program for Effective Governance. Rural boards can use these ideas to empower their library colleagues and improve their libraries.

    Trustee training

    Become an Effective Trustee is a course for new trustees that are learning about their responsibilities, or tenured trustees that would like to brush up on their skills.

    Additional resources

    Join the conversation in these recent discussion threads related to the work of Friends and Trustees in the library. Check out The Association for Library Trustees and Advocates, a division of the American Library Association. Finally, WebJunction’s Friends and Trustees has more trustee information and resources on transformative library advocacy.

    To suggest trustee resources, send us a note at content@webjunction.org.

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  • Online Collaboration, Weekly Tips

    Weekly Tips: Shine the Spotlight

    November 14th, 2007 | Permalink | Comment?

    One of the most popular ways to get involved at WebJunction is to give recognition to the libraries and colleagues that offer meaningful contributions to the world of libraries.

    Library of the Month
    Every library has a story, and we want to know yours! This feature is based on your referrals of libraries that make an impact. Nominate your library and use the Library of the Month title for further promotion in your community. For examples, or even inspirations for new practices, check out the Library of the Month Archive.

    Member Spotlight
    It’s not just about your library; it’s also about you! If you know a WebJunction member that deserves to be applauded, we would like to feature them in the Member Spotlight. The beauty of spotlighting individuals is the opportunity to see the diverse perspectives represented in our community. Don’t be shy about nominating yourself! It’s your unique experiences that make WebJunction a great place to be.

    Spanish Language Outreach Case Studies
    These stories highlight the libraries that have successfully used their creative energies and innovative ideas to provide the best possible services for Spanish speakers. Learn from your community’s accomplishments and create new stories of your own.

    To suggest a library or colleague for future recognition, send us a note at community@webjunction.org.

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  • IL2007, Weekly Tips

    Weekly Tips: Internet Librarian 2007

    November 6th, 2007 | Permalink | Comment?

    Internet Librarian 2007 has debunked the myth that you have to be a techie to attend; there’s something for everyone! And as you’ll see from the gems highlighted in this Weekly Tip, you needn’t attend the conference to benefit. This group (organizers, presenters, and attendees) is committed to using social software tools of all kinds to get the word out. They’ve made many of the presentations available on the web and have shared comprehensive session notes in blog posts.

    The IL2007 Wiki directs folks to slideshare (a free tool for sharing presentations) where many of the presenters have posted their slides. The sessions have good clear titles to get you to those sessions that have tips, resources, and links for exploring and implementing tools that help us better serve our communities. In the near future, Information Today (the conference organizers) will be sharing additional resources and presentations like they have in previous years.

    The conference is probably the largest gathering of librarian bloggers, many who have posted notes on sessions. This labor of love demonstrates not only their stellar note-taking skills, but their commitment to using tools to connect us with this valuable information. Browse all the blog posts tagged with IL2007 on either Technorati or WordPress or take a look at the list of bloggers at IL2007 as listed on the InfoToday Blog. Just to give you a sense of what’s available, here are a few of the presentations posted on the web, some paired with notes from bloggers:

    Do you have a story you would like to share about Internet Librarian? Email WebJunction.

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  • Weekly Tips

    Weekly Tips: Reference Services in the Digital Age

    November 1st, 2007 | Permalink | Comment?

    Would your library like to implement virtual reference services? Could your current program use a refresh? Expanding reference services into the virtual world greatly complements existing services, but making a positive impact can be a challenge. The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) outlines the necessary steps in Guidelines for Implementing and Maintaining Virtual Reference Services. Also, WebJunction is featuring a course in December that describes common pitfalls and Best Practices for Virtual Reference.

    For additional materials, OCLC has amassed a thorough collection of resources on Virtual Reference Topics and Trends. And check out WebJunction’s own community of practice on digital reference at the Virtual Reference Desk.

    A growing percentage of youth tap into online reference services for homework help. This presentation discusses children’s virtual reference questions to the Internet Public Library and suggests implementing a virtual reference program for children.

    There is an informative discussion going on at All Aboard about virtual reference and instant messaging tools, read your community’s recommendations here. Do you have a story you would like to share about how your library manages virtual reference services? Email WebJunction.

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  • Weekly Tips

    Weekly Tips: Personal Branding for Professional Development

    October 23rd, 2007 | Permalink | Comment?

    You’ve been Googled! Managing your public identity with care is a must for professional development.

    In Career Development Tips, WebJunction Executive Director Marilyn Mason provides noteworthy suggestions for nurturing your career. Among them is to publish: “Your work experience will get you in the door, but it’s often something else that will get you the job.”

    Whether you publish material in print or online, your level of “findability” in search engine results can give your career a major boost. In Managing Your Reputation Online, William Arruda and Kirsten Dixson introduce the “Scale of Digital Distinctness”:

    * Dissed – search engine results reveal negative information.
    * Disastrous – a lot of information, but none of it is actually you.
    * Dabbling – a little information about you is returned, and it’s supportive.
    * Distinct – the goal; there is a lot of information, and it emphasizes a positive image.

    Some print sources that librarians publish in include Library Journal and ALA’s Public Libraries and Booklist. A blog is a great way to showcase your talents online, but if time doesn’t allow for blog maintenance, creating a website or contributing to discussion forums in your field can also create a presence. Need to brush up on your writing skills before you display them worldwide? WebJunction’s Effective Business Communication Series can help you improve your ability to write professionally.

    Carefully cultivating an online identity is a key activity for enhancing your career, but your daily interactions are also very important. WebJunction’s Info-Age Etiquette will help you excel in a variety of situations and maintain a quality professional image.

    Submitting content to WebJunction is a great way to get noticed! Read about Contributing Content or check out Get Involved for other ideas.

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  • Weekly Tips

    Weekly Tips: Who is WebJunction? You are!

    October 16th, 2007 | Permalink | Comment?

    Visit a Community Partner, get to know your fellow members, and strengthen the ties of our library community.

    By region:

    • * See how our Community Partners customize their resources and personalize their sites.

    • * Read what other members are discussing regionally through visiting different Partner Blogs

    • * Get to know some other libraries in the Library of the Month Archive and nominate your own for this monthly title!

    By member:

    • * Check out the Member Spotlight and get to know some of your outstanding peers that have been highlighted in this feature.

    • * Extend a salutation to other registered members from our directory. Sign in, search according to name or region, and send a message.

    Finally, Get Involved presents other ideas to get active and connect with your community. Ideas include:

    • * Write a resource article

    • * Become a discussion board moderator

    • * Facilitate a webinar

    • * Or just tell us what you’d like to see on WebJunction! Email content@webjunction.org

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  • Weekly Tips

    Weekly Tips: Collection Development

    October 9th, 2007 | Permalink | Comment?

    Collection development is an exciting, ongoing process of discovery. According to ALA’s Library Bill of Rights: “Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view.” Sometimes it can be a challenge to find a wide selection of balanced materials. The following resources can help contribute to the collection development process at your library.

    Youth Collections:

    The following courses feature valuable suggestions for growing your various youth collections:

    Digital Collections:

    There are also some interesting discussions going on in All Aboard about Video Collection Development and Collection Development Services to Spanish-speakers.

    Past Tips:

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