Display fun

I was given a display assignment with an open topic. The cabinet is set in the basement with adult non-fiction, so I figured I should do it on some resource available down there.

I was considering promoting our collection of local history materials (my lib has a nice genealogy section) so I thought that would be nice. Unfortunately for that idea, the room is in use by library staff until March (they're digitizing our microfiche!), which is cool, but sorta poops on my idea.

So, I decided to pick something that interests me and promote out small (needing expansion but that's not my dept.) collection of graphic novels.

It's kinda fun, though I don't know if anyone will like/care about it.

I hope some patrons learn a little about GNs from my display, if nothing else. *fingers crossed*

Pictures to follow.

Funky ideas for funky libraries -- Giving patrons a new way of interacting with libraries

Two interesting articles on one library in the Netherlands. The idea of Bookdrop tagging is really fascinating. It would encourage patron participation in classifying books using pre-determined tags. Unfortunately, another blog article followed up with that project, and it wasn't as successful as I'd have hoped: What Could Kill an Elegant, High-Value Participatory Project?

I think this happens a lot with different libraries in that someone gets an idea for how to change the way things are done, but nobody thinks to ask the front-line staff that will be responsible for maintaining/integrating/etc. the new system.

I think this sort of project would be great for a small school library with a small community of patrons that are eager to share their thoughts on books with one another. It would be smaller and easier to maintain, as well as encourage young people to read more by making it more interactive.



Another story that caught my attention while checking my blogroll was this: Bookstore Night in Buenos Aires Encourages Reading : NPR

I haven't the words to express myself on this, except to maybe say it's an effing great idea. Seriously, how cool would that be to place comfortable things like couches in the least-likely place you could think of to have a reading party? This reminds me of the midnight-book parties they used to have for the release of a new Harry Potter book. I don't think my library ever did anything like that, but I'd have loved to be involved in that. It's the sort of funky, out-of-the-way, out of the box type thing that I'm all about.

Projects - multi-lingual and bibliographies

My project to update the multilingual collection is falling a bit flat. The adult services librarian isn't getting back to me on a time I can meet with her to propose the signs I want to put up. I'm thinking of just leaving those signs out and going for it anyway! Well, we'll see how that goes. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one who cares about that project. I want to learn more about the SOMP system, too. How we get new multi-lingual books in and whatnot.

Other than that, I've got it into my head to put together subject bibliographies for the Star Wars novels we have in our collection.  In looking for new SW series for my dear man, I've found it's difficult to navigate through our collection and all the many, many authors who have contributed to these series.

New computers + writing manuals

The library recently got a massive grant from the town, so we're using that to upgrade our computer systems. We're getting a RFID system! *dances* I learned about that in school, so it should be made of awesome.

In addition to that, we're also digitizing a lot of our collection (they won't tell us what that means, exactly, but they hired some people to do it, so I'll assume they know what they're doing). Also, we got a new program in place to sign patrons onto the computer! I was so excited when the lady came around to instruct us. I even volunteered to write a procedures manual for this new system. It's so cool, called PC Connect, and allows people on circulation to go in and see the status of every computer in the building. We can book time for patrons, log them off, extend their time, etc. It was very cool, and a great experience to write the manual for the circulation department.

After this, I volunteered to update the circ procedures manual, so I'm doing that right now. I've gone through the existing manual, noted the things that need to be changed for greater understandability, and even procedures that are missing (there were quite a few). I've gone over my proposed changes with my supervisor and she's okayed me to proceed with updating this!

I shouldn't be so excited to write procedures manuals, but I am. I even know that nobody in circ will look at the thing, but just in case they need to, it's there. It'll be great for new employees in the circ department, which will be very cool. I wish the manual had been up-to-date when I'd started. They try to teach you how to do things, but the instruction left me confused as so many different people do things their own way, and sometimes, 'their own way' isn't the correct or even proper way to do things.

Then again, I am a bit of an eccentric nerd who loves writing, so why wouldn't I approach this self-appointed/afflicted task with the same gusto that I approach a super-uber-chocolate sundae?

myliblog: Uncle Bobby's Wedding

I'm in love with my profession all over again.

Beautiful response to a patron complaint regarding the inclusion of a children's beginner-level book that addresses gay marriage from a child's perspective. The responding librarian is intelligent and respectful and composes a very well-thought-out response.

myliblog: Uncle Bobby's Wedding

Multi-Lingual re-vamp

I noticed that our multi-lingual section is a bit unkept and the books are shelved all willy nilly. I asked my supervisor if I had permission to take time out of shelving to go reorganize the shelves. She said yes.

Then I proposed that I create new signs for that area to make it more inviting. So instead of one big sign that says "Oh, Arabic and Chinese are in this alcove" I will have signs that say Chinese /
中文 (zhōngwén) and Arabic / العربية (al arabiya)

I have a feeling I'm getting too excited for this project. I still feel like not too many people care or even want me to do this. Still, I see a place to make a positive change, and I'm gonna go for it!

I have a list of languages at the library. I've asked my friends to take a look at them and tell me if they look okay for displays, or how I should write the language so it's welcoming to library patrons.

This is the list of languages left to verify:
(I get confused when entries like Serbian have two possible words.)

Arabic
العربية (al arabiya)

Filipino
??

Finnish
suomi / suomen kieli

Greek
ελληνικά (ellēniká)

Gujarati
ગુજરાતી (gujarātī)

Hindi
हिन्दी (hindī)

Hungarian
magyar / magyar nyelv

Italian
Italiano

Korean
한국어 [韓國語] (han-guk-eo)

Punjabi
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ / ﺏﺎﺠﻨﭘ (panjābi)

Portuguese
português

Russian
Русский язык (Russkij jazyk)

Serbian
српски (srpski)
српски језик (srpski jezik)

Ukranian
Українська (Ukrajins'ka)

Urdu
اردو (urdū)

Vietnamese
tiếng việt

Display Success

Well, I put my display together to promote the non-fiction area of the collection. I put up a simple display in the case, but then pulled an unused table out and just stacked tons of interesting-looking non-fiction books on it.

The cool part: My display has since come down (the case is being used for other things) but the table remains!

It's awesome. I set out books, and then I see people going over and looking at the things that are on the table. I even set out a book, then I went back up to circulation and a man came up 10 minutes later with that same book that I'd set out!

I feel so proud, and yet, feel like nobody at work really cares. I don't expect fanfare or anything, but it's like me (and my displays/efforts) are invisible :(

Maybe I care too much...