WebJunction

I would also like to encourage our members to write in with what they want to see us cover in our theme for January on how libraries can demonstrate the impact they have on our communities to legislators, funders, and the community at large. We have already received a lot of suggestions about what folks want to see, so keep them coming!

--Liz, WJ Content Manager

It's interesting that you say that Brenda, because I've heard feedback from other WJ members that they really like the personal stories too. The CIPA decision stories, the OSS example articles, and the library of the month features are all examples of the content at WJ that people are really responding to...

Perhaps I should ask these more specific questions:

Do you have a personal or library story that demonstrates the impact your library is having on your community?

How do you relay these stories to funders and partners?

I'd also like to hear from Liz - what are folks asking for thus far? May help get the conversation started...

Betha, WOW! What an inspiration. Maybe we can get someone involved in this initiative to be a guest during our "Demonstrating Impact" month. Thanks for sharing.

(This is my first time posting! Yikes!) As a computer trainer who has worked in libraries around the country, my fellow co-workers and I have seen positive impacts technology has provided in several ways. There has been an increase in circulation as public access computing in libraries increase. Impact can also be demonstrated by an increase in library computer classes, partnerships with local businesses, volunteer networks, and increase in number of patrons who sign up for new library cards.

All good ideas, Helena. Thanks for sharing and Welcome Aboard! We're glad to have you joining us.

I'm especially interested in documentation of these types of changes. Do you know of any place we can look to for statistics or discussion of the kinds of things you're talking about? Would come in handy as we prepare for our big theme in January.

Excellent, Max, so good to see your post. It's also good to hear about the workshop details - makes us all feel a little less like we're working on these things in a vacuum.

Great question, Betha.

Similar story: I was waiting for the bus just this last week and another person waiting told me, in passing, that they had just recently moved to Seattle and had lost their identification. Not knowing much about the process of getting new identification without other documentation, I said "Have you tried the library?" He looked at me, stunned, maybe confused. I explained, "You can go to the library and the librarian will help you figure out what you need to do to get new ID. They can prob even give you information on getting a copy of your birth certificate." He said, "librarians can do that?" I said - "Yep, and it's free."

Whether I'm talking to a friend who *knows* I'm an information specialist, or strangers waiting for the bus - the answer I give to almost any information inquiry is "Go to the library _________ (insert Web site, reference desk, history desk, etc.) and you'll get to it, or someone will help you get to it."

Now, how to capture how truly amazing that is - the last organized bastion of democracy and all that - in one sentence, well...

"@ your library" does a pretty good job (in terms of marketing these concepts.

In conversation, I think that it's effective to figure out what people's information needs are, on a personal level, and then say "Did you know you can do XYZ at the library?"

As for a retort on the Google comment, which we've all heard a hundred times, I say:

There're an enormous amount of resources on the Web, some of them relevant and valuable, and Google's very good at helping even the novice searcher get to them, but ... librarians are skilled & professional information organizers and retrievers; they go way beyond what Google can do. They help us better articulate what our questions or information needs are, help us understand what we're getting to on the Web when we get there (through Google or otherwise), how to use it, and what can be found beyond the Web, when necessary, to help us answer our information needs or inquiries more absolutely. (Not exactly short, is it?)

If you're just fact checking, gathering bits and pieces, Google is fine. But most of the time we want (and deserve) more than that.

Perhaps it sounds like I'm preaching to the choir...

Chrystie, regarding your question about statistics/informationon technology impacts, the Gates Foundation has surveys completed by libraries that received computer grants. These surveys remark on how computers in libraries have helped them with leveraging, outreach, circulation, partnering with businesses, and so forth. Also, as you know Andy Gordon has done a lot of studies in this area. Perhaps you could contact him for some of his research?

Happy New Year everyone! Ready for some fundraising? Check out some of the great articles this month, including a road map to help you show how your library Demonstrates Impact.

The theme is: "Demonstrating Impact:

Crunch the Numbers and Punch Up Your Message" and can be found via the main WJ page. Also here is an article from School Library Journal that I thought was interesting and had some helpful information. It's called "Winning the Grant Game" and can be found here: [url http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/index.asp?layout=article&articleId=CA279502 ]http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/index.asp?layout=article&articleId=CA279502[/url]

I just heard a reply to this during a College of DuPage teleconference on virtual reference this morning--not really new, but with a little different tweak that struck a chord with me: you can do a Google search and get thousands of hits, and spend the time to sort through them but a librarian will help you do that in much less time--saving time seems to be important to people. This was in reference to students, specifically, but time-saving is important to everyone. Maybe something about separating the wheat from the chaff--and adding few other good grains, too?