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Rural Workshop - Barriers to Sustainability
3:03 PM EDT 6/20/04
At last week's Gates sponsored workshop on Sustainability in Rural and Small Libraries, one of the first things we did was brainstorm some ideas about what the barriers are to sustainability. Here are some of the ideas that we came up with:
-consistent funding
-info about emerging technologies
-misunderstandings at the state library level
-staff training and continuing education
Those of you in Rural and Small Lib's: what are your barriers to sustainability?
Those who attended the workshop: what did I miss?
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RE: Rural Workshop - Barriers to Sustainability
3:03 PM EDT 6/20/04
as a reply to Chrystie Hill.
One of the barriers I often hear about as I work with small libraries is TIME. When a one-person library director is doing collection development, circulation, planning, budgeting, programming, and shoveling the walk...the addition of technology, while wonderful, also puts a tremendous crunch on already-precious time. Just helping patrons with the questions about technology, not to mention the maintenance of the technology, is difficult, so finding time to keep up with new technology is usually not even on the radar screen. State libraries and regional libraries can certainly assist librarians with that, but it still comes down to the local librarian having to do the nitty gritty work of it!
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RE: RE: Rural Workshop - Barriers to Sustainability
3:03 PM EDT 6/20/04
as a reply to Chrystie Hill.
When I worked for the Gates Foundation and would have the opportunity to visit rural libraries, numerous barriers came to light. Time is definitely one of them mentioned...and staff allocation. Kind of like "thanks for the computers, but how are we going to support them?" It's been interesting to hear innovative ways libraries have taken on more responsibilites with less resources. Are you signed up for our Rural Libraries event this month? Check out this page for more information, it'll be a great place to share ideas and best practices with people in the same boat.
[url http://webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=1235 ]http://webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=1235[/url]
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RE: How do we address TIME?: RE: Rural Workshop - Barriers to Sustainabilit
3:03 PM EDT 6/20/04
as a reply to Chrystie Hill.
I am so curious about this issue of "time" and having enough of it to do the things needed in libraries to sustain a variety of programs, including public computing. I am not sure what exactly we can provide to each other in the community to help with this issue -- time-saving tips? Tutorials on time management? Obviously we cannot produce more time for each other (although I wish we could!), but maybe we *can* save each other some time by sharing information and materials here at WebJunction as much as we can, so that we don't have to reinvent wheels to keep our programs running. Thoughts, anyone?
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RE: RE: How do we address TIME?: RE: Rural Workshop - Barriers to Sustainab
3:03 PM EDT 6/20/04
as a reply to Chrystie Hill.
We just finished our first online workshop, with around 35 participants, where we had a short brainstorm session on this topic; here are a few ideas that came out of that:
-tech support
-lack of space
-training: enough time to do it, funding it, and making sure it's "in-depth" enough
-CIPA challenges
-old wiring
-not enough time to learn it all!
-upgrading
-persuading community leaders to support and understand our challenges
Interestingly, the *most critical* barriers that the group identified (from the larger list) were:
-locating and enticing specific community support and collaboration, from schools, businesses, etc.
-money for maintaining hardware and software
-library leadership that is not proactive
in the community
-advocacy training, knonwing how to go out to people and get their support
-short staffed, lack of staff support for all library duties
-retaining staff, after time invested with training and such
-trying to be an expert in all library areas...
Now, perhaps it's time to turn our attention to some possible solutions.
What do you all think??
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RE: RE: How do we address TIME?: RE: Rural Workshop - Barriers to Sustainab
3:03 PM EDT 6/20/04
as a reply to Chrystie Hill.
The varying degree to which libraries use volunteers has been interesting to me as I work in and with different public libraries in rural areas. I have met some volunteers who put so much time and effort in to helping their community library -- sometimes as technical volunteers (doing training or troubleshooting, etc). And then there are other libraries where volunteers play a small role. I know it takes a lot of time to train volunteers and there are sometimes issues with unions and volunteers doing things that other staff is paid to do.... but I'm curious to hear what others think about volunteers as a means to help ease the burden on busy small-town library staff.
Brenda
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RE: RE: RE: How do we address TIME?: RE: Rural Workshop - Barriers to Susta
3:03 PM EDT 6/20/04
as a reply to Chrystie Hill.
I'd love to hear about the volunteering option as well. Does anyone have a really successful volunteer program to tell us about?
---
In our last workshop, some of the libraries shared & talked about the following solutions for rural & small libraries:
-use WJ training (it's free, online, and self-paced)
-partner with local cable company for Internet access at no cost
-send packets of library info (regularly) to potential library supporters; one person used utility bills to send out an annual report!
-assign board members to advocate with & at city council meetings
-use e-Rate technology plan categories to develop overall tech plans
-establish friends of the library group or foundation to help with advocacy efforts
-host "chamber luncheons" in the library
-use train the trainer to get folks involved in the field
-use mobile computers on the library floor (with rolling carts) then move them into training space/lab for group training and computer classes
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RE: RE: RE: How do we address TIME?: RE: Rural Workshop - Barriers to Susta
3:03 PM EDT 6/20/04
as a reply to Chrystie Hill.
In my workshops around the south concerning Filtering, many of the rural libraries are concerned with losing staff members. The reason given was that some of the staff felt uncomfortable helping patrons with the Gates computers, and now they are expected to disable/enable a filter? Some are already planning on leaving library world because of it. Sad that technology has such an effect. I have encouraged the participants in my workshops to role-play with their staff to make them feel more comfortable. Of course, the time issue comes into play. When to do this!??
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Re: RE: RE: RE: How do we address TIME?: RE: Rural Workshop - Barriers to S
12:58 PM EDT 4/22/06
as a reply to Max Anderson.
I work as the director of a library with a part-time paid employee. Filtering has only been
a problem for the patrons. Some feel that they should not have to go through us to get to where they want to go, some don't mind the filters, and the last group are embarrassed
that a filter popped-up, they usually end up, " saying- I'm not going anyplace bad!!!"
Then you have to explain to them, it could just be a pop-up that's causing the problem.
My co-worker's view like mine is, it is no different than logging them on to the computer to
begin with to a certain degree. We have a couple of standard questions that we ask, but
that is no big deal.
Filtering on the whole is not a barrier for us.
Our biggest barrier is pretty much like everyone else- getting the community educated
about libraries,who should help fund us, who we are, what we do, how we function, and in our county the biggest barrier is that we have some people who don't understand that we are not only educational butwe are also most definitely RECREATIONAL.
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RE: Rural Workshop - Barriers to Sustainability
1:03 PM EDT 6/9/06
as a reply to Cherie Davis.
That's good to hear that filtering has not been a significant barrier. In a funny, turned-around way, it may lead to more interactions with library staff, which is always a good thing, imo. You get the opportunity to explain something about filters and let the patron know that you are there to help.
Interesting point about the library being definitely recreational. I think there are still some holdouts in the profession who resist that label, not unlike those who thought that novels were not appropriate fare for patrons back in the early 1900's. Educating the public is currently a huge challenge for libraries of all sizes. Please let us know what works for you.
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