ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GET OUR RECORDING STARTED AND WELCOME OUR PRESENTERS THAT ARE HERE TODAY, WE'RE SO EXCITED TO HAVE FOLKS FROM THE SEATTLE AREA, TOM WATSON IS THE PROJECT MANAGER AT THE KING COUNTY ECOCONSUMER PUBLIC OUTREACH PROGRAM.
THE KING COUNTY SOLID WASTE DIVISION.
HE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE FINE FOLKS AT THE KING COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM.
WE HAVE WITH US LAURIE FINLAYSON, WHO IS THE ADULT SERVICES LIBRARIAN AT THE AUBURN, ALGONA-PACIFIC -- I SHOULD HAVE PRACTICED THAT ONE, ALGONA-PACIFIC AND MUCKLESHOOT LIBRARIES HERE IN THE KING COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM AND STEVEN BAILEY ALSO FROM THE LIBRARY IS THE LIBRARIAN SERVICES MANAGER.
I'M SO EXCITED TO HAVE THE THREE OF YOU HERE AND WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE TOM GET US STARTED.
WELCOME, TOM.
>> THANKS, JENNIFER.
THANKS FOR BEING A PART OF THIS, EVERYONE.
THIS CONCEPT OF FREE COMMUNITY REPAIR EVENTS ORIGINATED IN EUROPE.
KING COUNTY STARTED OUR PROGRAM THREE YEARS AGO, BUT THERE WERE ALREADY LOTS OF REPAIR EVENTS IN THE U.S. AND ALL OVER.
WE'VE HAD 15 TO 20 OF THESE EVENTS IN EACH OF THE PAST THREE YEARS AND WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER 15 THIS YEAR STARTING NEXT MONTH.
10 OF THIS YEAR'S REPAIR EVENTS WILL BE AT KING COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM LIBRARIES.
THIS PHOTO WAS FROM OUR FIRST REPAIR EVENT AT THE AUBURN LIBRARY.
BECAUSE WE WERE WORKING WITH TOOLS AND ELECTRICITY, MAYBE A LITTLE DUST AND FUMES, THE SAFETY AND HEALTH OF THE PUBLIC AND OUR FIXERS AND THE STAFF AT THE VENUE LIKE LIBRARY STAFF ARE A TOP PRIORITY.
ANOTHER TOP PRIORITY IS TREATING EVERYONE WITH RESPECT.
THESE REPAIR EVENTS ARE ALL ABOUT INCLUSION.
THE CULTURE OF OUR REPAIR EVENTS IS WE TAKE A STAND AGAINST RACISM AND SEXISM AND CLASSISM AND WE DO IT RESPECTFULLY AND SINCERELY AND WITH A SMILE.
AND, OF COURSE, WE TRY TO FIX AS MUCH STUFF AS WE CAN.
THIS LIST SHOWS A FEW EXAMPLES.
WE'LL PRETTY MUCH TRY TO WORK ON ANYTHING THAT DOESN'T USE GASOLINE, DOESN'T HAVE A STRONG ORDER AND ISN'T DANGEROUS.
WE FIX OR MEND MORE THAN 70% OF THE ITEMS THAT COME IN.
OUR FIXERS ARE THE HEART OF THE PROGRAM AND THE PROGRAM HAS OTHER HEARTS OF THE PROGRAM, TOO.
OUR CUSTOMERS AND ALSO THE FOLKS WHO WORK AT EACH VENUE LIKE THE LIBRARY STAFF AND MANAGERS.
THIS PHOTO IS -- WEFT -- WE PROVIDE STIPENDS TO OUR FIXERS FOR EACH EVENT THEY WORK.
SINCE THEY USE THEIR OWN TOOLS AND SEWING MACHINES.
FOR THE ROBOTICS TEAM, THE HIGH TECHERS, YOU CAN SEE THAT A LITTLE BIT ON HER SHIRT, THE STIPENDS ARE A FUNDRAISER.
THESE ARE THE KINDS OF ORGANIZATIONS AND AGENCIES LIBRARIES MIGHT BE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH.
STATE ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCIES IN THE THIRD BULLET POINT PROBABLY WOULDN'T SPONSOR REPAIR EVENTS DIRECTLY, BUT THEY CAN PROVIDE GRANTS AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY HAS DONE THAT HERE IN WASHINGTON STATE.
THESE ARE JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF HOW LIBRARY SYSTEMS CAN GET THINGS GOING.
IF YOU HAVE ONE ENERGIZED PERSON, A LIBRARIAN OR A PARTNER, YOU CAN START A REPAIR EVENTS PROGRAM AT YOUR LIBRARY.
AND THIS PHOTO, THIS WAS A REPAIR EVENT AT A SENIOR CENTER, THE PERSON ON THE RIGHT HAD BROUGHT A SEWING MACHINE AT A THRIFT STORE, HAD BOUGHT A SEWING MACHINE AT A THRIFT STORE AND WANTED TO LEARN HOW TO USE IT TO SEW PILLOWS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS AND OUR SEWING FIXER SET UP THE WOMAN'S SEWING MACHINE AND WAS SHOWING HER HOW TO USE IT.
WE DON'T HAVE MANY RULES, BUT HERE THEY ARE.
OUR CUSTOMERS AND FIXERS ARE GOOD ABOUT ALL OF THESE.
THE PHOTO SPEAKS TO THE LAST BULLET POINT HERE ABOUT HAVING FUN.
WE WERE AT THE AUBURN LIBRARY, IT WAS IN SEPTEMBER ON A NICE DAY AND SOME OF OUR FIXERS WERE SET UP OUTSIDE THE LIBRARY, WHERE THERE'S A BIG BEAUTIFUL OAK TREE.
SO TO REPLACE A KNOB ON THIS FAN AND WE DID OTHER WORK ON THE FAN, TOO, THAT WILL BE SHOWN IN A LATER SLIDE, BUT THEY DECIDED TO USE WHAT THEY FOUND ON THE GROUND, THIS A CORN.
OUR FIXER DRILLED OUT THAT ACORN AND GLUED IT TIGHT.
IT WORKED GREAT AS A KNOB AND THE CUSTOMER LOVES IT.
THIS IS AT THE MUCKLESHOOT LIBRARY, THAT'S AN ANTLER LAMP THAT OUR FIXER MARK WAS ABLE TO REPAIR.
WE WORK ON A LOT OF LAMPS AND WE FIX NEARLY ALL OF THEM.
THE MUCKLESHOOT LIBRARY IS IN STEVEN AND LAURIE'S LIBRARY CLUSTER AND IT'S ON NATIVE AMERICAN LAND.
THE MUCKLESHOOT RESERVATION, IT'S ABOUT 40 MILES SOUTH OF SEATTLE.
OUR REPAIR EVENTS PROGRAM WE LET THE VENUE CHOOSE THE EVENT NAME.
AND SOME OF THE LIBRARIES AND OTHER VENUES IN OUR PROGRAM HAVE CHOSEN THE NAME REPAIR CAFE FOR THEIR EVENTS, BUT THE NAME FOR THE REPAIR EVENT OR PROGRAM REALLY ISN'T THAT IMPORTANT.
PEOPLE END UP JUST CALLING IT THE NAME THEY LIKE ANYWAY.
ONE OF OUR FIXERS CALLS THESE EVENTS FIX-A-THONS.
SO TO WRAP UP MY PART, IF THIS CONCEPT INTERESTS YOU, AND YOU HAVE SOME TIME IN YOUR JOB TO WORK ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS, JUST GO FOR IT.
AND START BY HOSTING A SMALL REPAIR EVENT AT YOUR LIBRARY.
NOW, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO STEVEN.
>> THANKS, TOM AND JENNIFER.
AND HELLO, EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS STEVEN BAILEY, I'M A LIBRARIAN SERVICES MANAGER FOR THE KING COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM.
I OVERSEE PROGRAMMING, COLLECTIONS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR THREE LIBRARIES IN SOUTH KING COUNTY OUTSIDE OF SEATTLE.
TOM MENTIONED EARLIER IN THE PRESENTATION THAT FROM HIS PERSPECTIVE, LIBRARIES ARE A GREAT VENUE FOR THESE REPAIR EVENTS.
SO FROM THE LENS OF LIBRARY SERVICES, IT'S A GOOD FIT FOR LIBRARY PROGRAMMING.
AND SPEAKING AS A LIBRARY MANAGER, HOW CAN YOU CONVINCE YOUR SUPERVISOR THAT THESE EVENTS ARE WORTH THE TIME AND EFFORT TO ORGANIZE?
CONSIDER THESE TALKING POINTS FOR THAT CONVERSATION.
LET'S START WITH ACCESS.
SOME OF US ARE FORTUNATE TO KNOW SOMEONE WHO HAS FIX-IT KNOWLEDGE, THAT ABILITY TO TAKE SOMETHING APART, DIAGNOSE AN ISSUE, FORMULATE A SOLUTION AND PUT EVERYTHING BACK TOGETHER AGAIN.
PERHAPS IT'S A RELATIVE, A FRIEND OR A NEIGHBOR, BUT NOT EVERYONE HAS A SKILLED REPAIR PERSON IN THEIR LIFE, ALTHOUGH MOST EVERYONE HAS AN ITEM IN NEED OF REPAIR.
SOMETIMES, SEVERAL ITEMS IN NEED OF REPAIR.
SO LIBRARY REPAIR CAFES OFFER OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS EQUITABLE ACCESS TO FIXERS IN A SAFE, TRUSTED AND BARRIER FREE VENUE.
THESE EVENTS HELP US BUILD COMMUNITY, AS WELL.
THE KING COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM HAS RECENTLY COMPLETED SOME STRATEGIC FOCUS WORK AND OUR NEWLY REVISED STRATEGIC FOCUS IS TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH MEANINGFUL CONNECTION.
REPAIR CAFES ARE AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO FOSTER MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS.
WE BUILD COMMUNITY THROUGH HONEST COMMUNICATION AND THE SHARING OF KNOWLEDGE, PERSONAL STORIES AND EXPERIENCES.
HAVING PATRONS BRING A PIECE OF THEIR PERSONAL LIFE INTO OUR LIBRARIES IN THE FORM OF SOMETHING NEEDING REPAIR IS THE PERFECT OPENING FOR THEM TO SHARE THE STORY BEHIND THAT PIECE, FOR EXAMPLE.
AND FOR US TO START A CONVERSATION WITH THEM.
IT'S SO MUCH FUN TO WATCH THE CONVERSATIONS START TO BLOOM AT THESE REPAIR CAFES.
THEY HAPPEN BETWEEN LIBRARY STAFF AND PATRONS, BETWEEN PATRONS AND OTHER PATRONS AND BETWEEN PATRONS AND THE FIXERS AS THEIR ITEMS ARE BEING ATTENDED TO.
THE FEELINGS OF GOOD WILL IN THE ROOM ARE PALPABLE.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE TRULY GRATEFUL FOR THE SERVICE.
THE FIXERS ARE HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO HELP AND TO SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE AND LIBRARY STAFF ARE THRILLED TO SEE SO MANY FOLKS COMING INTO THE BUILDING.
SOME MORE REASONS.
LIBRARIES HAVE TRADITIONALLY WORKED TO OVERCOME SOCIOECONOMIC INEQUALITIES, FOR EXAMPLE, BY LOANING OUT BOOKS AND MATERIALS TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS FREE OF CHARGE AND BY OFFERING FREE CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.
REPAIR CAFES ARE AN EXTENSION OF THAT MINDSET IN THAT THEY FUNCTION AS A MONEY SAVING OPTION FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
IF SOMETHING BREAKS, REPAIRING IT FOR FREE IS OBVIOUSLY MORE COST EFFECTIVE THAN REPLACING IT.
AND REPAIRING IT RATHER THAN DISCARDING IT DIVERTS POTENTIAL WASTE FROM OUR LANDFILLS SO THERE'S A TREMENDOUS ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFIT, AS WELL.
FINALLY REPAIR CAFES ARE AN EXCELLENT MARKETING AND OUTREACH TOOL.
THE WOW FACTOR FOR THIS PROGRAM IS VERY HIGH.
SO MAKE SURE YOU SPREAD THE WORD WIDELY BEFOREHAND.
WE SAW SO MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS BRINGING ITEMS IN WHO COMMENTED THAT THEY HADN'T BEEN TO THE LIBRARY IN YEARS, WHICH GAVE US THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO RECONNECT AND TO TALK ABOUT ALL OF THE OTHER GREAT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES WE PROVIDE.
DEFINITELY MAKE SPACE AT AN INFORMATION TABLE AT YOUR REPAIR CAFES FOR YOUR MONTHLY CALENDARS AND AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, HAVE STAFF MEMBERS AVAILABLE TO ENGAGE WITH FOLKS AS THEY'RE COMING IN.
AND AS THEY WAIT FOR A FIXER TO BECOME AVAILABLE.
AND JENNIFER SAYS BOOKS!
MAKE A DISPLAY OF REPAIR BOOKS.
ALSO, YOU CAN LEVERAGE THE REPAIR CAFE WOW FACTOR TO TALK TO YOUR CITY OR COUNTY OFFICIALS OR COMMUNITY PARTNERS ABOUT THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT YOUR LIBRARY IS DOING AND THE AMAZING SERVICES THAT YOU PROVIDE.
IT'S A GREAT CONVERSATION STARTER.
AND LASTLY, LET'S NOT FORGET THE FIXERS.
THEY'RE YOUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS AS WELL SO DON'T HESITATE TO TALK UP LIBRARY SERVICES TO THEM, ALSO.
I RECALL TELLING A FIXER AT ONE OF OUR EVENTS ABOUT OUR AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR DATABASES AND THEY WERE THRILLED TO LEARN THAT WE OFFERED SUCH VALUABLE RESOURCES FOR FREE.
WELL SPEAKING OF FIXERS I'M GOING TO TURN THIS OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE WHO WILL TALK ABOUT RECRUITMENT IDEAS FOR FIXERS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE GREAT INTRODUCTIONS.
I'M AN ADULT SERVICES LIBRARIAN AT THE AUBURN LIBRARY PRIMARILY AND I'M ONE OF THE ONES WHO MAKES THE EVENT HAPPEN ON A PRACTICAL LEVEL SO THIS IS THE PRACTICAL ASPECT OF THINGS.
NOW, WE HAVE THE GREAT ADVANTAGE OF BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH TOM WATSON AS A PARTNER IN THIS SO HE DOES SO MUCH OF THE WORK THAT I'M GOING TO TRY TO EXPLAIN TO ALL OF YOU AND TOM, I HOPE THAT YOU CAN JUMP IN IF I MISS SOMETHING.
BUT THE FIRST ASPECT OF SETTING UP A REPAIR CAFE IS FINDING YOUR REPAIRERS.
I'LL SAY FIXERS BECAUSE THAT'S AN EASIER WORD TO SAY.
SO THE FIXERS -- GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
>> LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED HELP GETTING YOUR SLIDES TO MOVE.
>> I JUST NEED TO ENGAGE MY BRAIN AND MY -- THEY'RE NOT MOVING.
>> DID YOU CLICK ON THE SLIDE FIRST, GET YOUR MOUSE OVER ON THE SLIDE.
>> UH-HUH.
THERE WE GO.
I DID PAGE DOWN.
THAT WORKED.
OKAY, THANK YOU.
SO WHEN WE DO THE REPAIR CAFES, WE FOCUS ON REPAIRS IN THREE MAIN AREAS.
THE SEWING, THE MECHANICAL, WHICH IS KIND OF GENERAL HANDYMAN KIND OF STUFF, AND ALSO ELECTRONICS.
THERE'S OFTEN A LOT OF OVERLAP BETWEEN THOSE AREAS AND IF YOU ARE WANTING TO START OUT SMALL, YOU CAN EASILY PICK JUST ONE OF THOSE AREAS INSTEAD OF TRYING TO DO ALL THREE.
SO THE FIRST ONE WOULD BE SEWING.
HOW TO RECRUIT VOLUNTEERS FOR SEWING.
THESE ARE JUST SOME BRAINSTORMING IDEAS THAT I HAD AND THAT WE HAD AS WE DISCUSSED IT AND I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR IDEAS FROM ALL THE REST OF YOU WHO ARE PARTICIPATING HERE IN THE CLASSROOM, YOU CAN POST ADDITIONAL IDEAS HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY WELL AND MAYBE YOU HAVE SOME QUILTING GROUPS THAT USE YOUR MEETING ROOM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT OR YOU'VE HAD PROGRAMS THAT INVOLVE SEWERS.
THERE'S ALL KINDS OF CRAFT FAIRS AROUND SOMETIMES.
FARMERS MARKETS, ASK PATRONS, POST A FLYER IN THE CRAFT AREA.
AND WE ALSO THOUGHT THAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE SOMEONE LIKE TOM, WHO RECRUITS THE FIXERS, THIS WOULD BE A GREAT PROJECT FOR ONE OF YOUR VERY CAPABLE VOLUNTEERS TO MANAGE.
MAYBE SOMEONE FROM YOUR FRIENDS GROUP OR SOMEONE WHO IS JUST A GENERAL LIBRARY VOLUNTEER WHO LIKES TO ORGANIZE THINGS.
SOME OF THE WAYS TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE WOULD ALSO BE JUST TALKING WITH PATRONS AS THEY CHECK OUT THEIR BOOKS AND RECRUIT THAT AND I SEE THAT SOME OF YOU ARE SHARING YOUR IDEAS HERE.
WE'VE GOT SENIOR CENTERS AND THE YARN SHOP, THOSE ARE ALL GREAT.
SO WHAT WE DID WITH THE SEWERS.
I'M GOING TO BACK UP A MINUTE.
TOM -- WHEN HE RECRUITED HIS FIXERS HE ARRANGED TO HAVE A STIPEND, HE HAS A GRANT AND HE PAYS THE FIXERS I THINK IT'S $150 FOR A THREE-HOUR COMMITMENT OF TIME.
>> 125 NOW.
>> WHAT IS IT?
>> $125.
>> $125 OKAY.
>> IT USED TO BE $100 PER EVENT, NOW IT'S $125.
>> WHILE YOU'RE ON TOM, DO YOU WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PARTNERSHIPS AND THE GRANT THAT YOU GOT?
>> WE ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE A GRANT.
WE USED THE FUNDING THAT WE HAVE THROUGH THE KING COUNTY SOLID WASTE DIVISION AND YOU CAN -- YOU CAN GO AHEAD -- I DON'T REALLY NEED TO ADD ANYTHING ELSE RIGHT NOW, BUT I WILL IF NEEDED.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU.
OKAY.
SO FOR THE MECHANICAL PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF RETIRED ENGINEERS OR -- I KNOW MY HUSBAND IS HANDY WITH STUFF.
HE DOESN'T ALWAYS FIX MY STUFF, THOUGH, SO I BRING IT TO A REPAIR CAFE, BUT YOU CAN ASK AT THE SENIOR CENTER, POST FLIERS AT HARDWARE STORES.
THERE'S THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS ROTARY CLUBS.
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND BOYSCOUT TROOPS ARE ALSO GREAT RESOURCES FOR THIS KIND OF THING.
THEY NEED TO PUT IN VOLUNTEER HOURS AND THEY GET GREAT SATISFACTION OUT OF HELPING OTHER PEOPLE.
THIS PARTICULAR PICTURE IS OF A LIBRARY STAFF PERSON HIDING BEHIND THE MINI BLIND THERE, IT'S A BLIND THAT HAD OPENED FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM AND SHE HAD NO IDEA HOW TO GET IT FIXED AND IT WAS A GREAT VICTORY TO BE ABLE TO BRING IT TO THE REPAIR CAFE AND GET IT FIXED.
FOR ELECTRONICS REPAIRS, SOME PLACES THAT YOU COULD GO TO FIND PEOPLE WOULD BE HIGH SCHOOL ROBOTICS CLUBS.
AGAIN, THE SENIOR CENTER.
WE JUST COUNT ON OUR SENIOR CENTERS FOR A LOT OF THINGS.
RADIO CONTROL CAR AND PLANE CLUBS, RADIO SHACK, ANY KIND OF ELECTRONICS RECYCLING STORE.
AND, OF COURSE, FOR ALL OF THESE YOU CAN POST ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS.
WE OFTEN FIND THAT THE GENERAL REPAIR, WHICH WE'RE CALLING MECHANICAL, BLENDS IN WITH THE ELECTRONIC REPAIR THAT ONE MIGHT LEAD INTO ANOTHER AND SO WHEN YOU SET UP YOUR ROOM IT'S IMPORTANT TO PUT THOSE NEAR TO EACH OTHER.
LET'S SEE DO YOU HAVE TO PAY FIXERS BECAUSE YOU NEED TO USE SOMEONE WHO REALLY KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE DOING OR IS IT OKAY TO USE VOLUNTEERS?
>> THESE ARE EXCELLENT QUESTIONS.
PHYSICALLY OKAY TO USE VOLUNTEERS.
IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT YOUR VOLUNTEERS ARE LOOKING FOR.
MAYBE THEY JUST WANT TO DO IT FOR COOKIES AND FEELING GOOD.
SO YOU HAVE TO REALLY KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY.
OKAY.
THE LOGISTICS OF AN EVENT ARE OBVIOUSLY VERY DEPENDENT ON YOUR SPACE IN YOUR LIBRARY.
IN THE KING COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM ALL OF OUR LIBRARIES HAVE MEETING ROOMS.
THE SIZE VARIES QUITE A BIT.
THIS PICTURE IS OF THE RENTON LIBRARY MEETING ROOM.
THE RENTON LIBRARY IS BUILT OVER A RIVER SO IT HAS THAT BEAUTIFUL GREEN BACKGROUND AND WE HAD PLENTY OF SPACE TO PUT OUT TABLES.
IN OTHER LIBRARIES, THE MEETING ROOM CAN BE SMALLER OR ODDLY SHAPED AND IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE.
SO CONSIDER WHAT OPTIONS YOU HAVE IN YOUR OWN LIBRARY, BUT ALSO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
THERE MIGHT BE A COMMUNITY CENTER WHERE YOU COULD HAVE AN EVENT.
MAYBE A HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM OR A CHURCH.
WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IS THE SIZE OF THE ROOM WHERE YOU CAN HAVE -- AT OUR REPAIR CAFES WE HAVE 20 TABLES SO THAT TAKES UP QUITE A BIT OF SPACE AND THE ARRANGEMENT DEPENDS ON THE ROOM.
SOMETIMES, WE'VE USED OUTSIDE AREAS TO HAVE KIND OF AN OVERFLOW DEPENDING ON THE WEATHER, AND THEN SOME OF THE MESSY REPAIRS CAN BE OUT THERE.
IT'S ALSO NICE TO HAVE A WAITING AREA BECAUSE PEOPLE OFTEN HAVE TO WAIT FOR THEIR TURN TO GET THEIR ITEM REPAIRED.
AND IT HELPS TO HAVE AN AREA WHERE CHILDREN CAN BE OCCUPIED WITH COLORING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT IF YOUR ROOM IS GETTING, TOO, CROWDED.
SO HOW MANY TABLES?
WE HAD UP TO 20.
MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR OUTLETS ARE BECAUSE YOU'LL NEED POWER FOR CERTAIN POWER TOOLS AND TO SEE IF THE LAMPS ARE WORKING AFTER THEY'RE REPAIRED.
YOU NEED TO HAVE A SIGN-IN AREA AND A WELCOME DESK.
THIS IS A GAL NAMED MARY JANE WHOSE HUSBAND IS ONE OF THE REPAIRERS AND SHE IS THE PERSON THAT WORKS AT THE SIGN-IN DESK SO SHE GIVES EVERYONE A RELEASE FORM AND SHE TAKES A NOTE OF WHAT THEY CAME TO GET FIXED AND HOW MANY ITEMS, AND THEN SHE LOGS IT AFTERWARDS TO SEE IF THE ITEM ACTUALLY WAS FIXED AND THAT GIVES TOM THE STATISTICS HE NEEDS AND HE SENDS OUT A GREAT E-MAIL OUT AFTERWARDS THAT TELLS ALL THE ODD THINGS THAT CAME IN AND HOW MANY WERE FIXED AND WHAT THE PERCENTAGE WAS.
SO THERE'S THE RELEASE, THIS IS IN OUR RESOURCES THAT YOU CAN ACCESS FROM -- WHERE IS THAT?
THERE'S THE LINK THAT HAS ALL THE RESOURCES AND WE HAVE A SAMPLE OF OUR RELEASE FORM.
SO THE HELP DESK PERSON ALSO DETERMINES WHICH FIXER IS AVAILABLE AND WHEN THEY'RE FINISHED WITH A PROJECT AND AVAILABLE TO START ON A NEW ONE.
IT ALSO HELPS TO HAVE A PERSON WHO IS TOM IN OUR CASE THAT WILL GO TO KIND OF TRIAGE THE SITUATION.
SO HE WORKS WITH MARY JANE TO FIND OUT WHAT'S COMING, HE FIGURES OUT WHICH FIXERS SHOULD WORK ON IT NEXT, AND HE KEEPS THE WHOLE FLOW MOVING SMOOTHLY.
HE'S LIKE A COORDINATOR OR A GO-BETWEEN FOR THE FIXERS AND THE SIGN-IN AND MAKES SURE PEOPLE AREN'T WAITING AND THAT THE FIXERS AREN'T WAITING EITHER BECAUSE WE WANT THE WHOLE THING TO BE EFFICIENT.
OTHER FACTORS, HAVE PLENTY OF TRASH CANS, HAVE TARPS ON HAND IN CASE THERE'S MESSY REPAIRS.
IT'S NICE TO HAVE BOTTLED WATER FOR THE REPAIRERS.
IT WILL DEFINITELY BE NOISY AND YOUR LIBRARY WILL KNOW THAT SOMETHING CHAOTIC IS GOING ON, BUT THAT'S A GOOD THING.
IT HELPS IF YOU CAN HAVE FRESH AIR AND ALWAYS STAY FLEXIBLE.
SO THESE TWO PICTURES ARE HERE TOGETHER.
THE ONE ON THE RIGHT SHOWS THE SEWING FIXERS AT WORK REPAIRING MANY DIFFERENT THINGS.
FOR ME, I BROUGHT IN A DOG BED WHERE MY DOG HAD CHEWED UP THE ZIPPER AND I BROUGHT IN A NEW ZIPPER AND THEY REPLACED THE ZIPPER FOR ME AND THAT WAS A HUGE THING.
I DON'T SEW AND IT WAS REALLY GREAT TO HAVE THAT DOG BED GOOD AS NEW.
ON THE LEFT WE HAVE A LITTLE RED DRAGON.
THIS IS OWNED BY SOMEONE WHO HAS SOME MENTAL DISABILITIES AND COLLECTS DRAGONS AND THIS DRAGON WAS THREADBARE IN MANY PLACES, BUT IT WAS ALSO QUITE MUSTY SMELLING.
SO THE PEOPLE WITH THE SEWING MACHINES WERE NOT ABLE TO WORK ON IT, BUT MARY JANE SAID I'LL JUST SEW THAT WHILE I'M SITTING HERE SO SHE WAS WORKING AT THE SIGN-IN DESK, SHE GOT A NEEDLE AND THREAD AND SHE SEWED THE LITTLE RED DRAGON AND REPAIRED IT FOR THIS GUY AND HE WAS SO HAPPY.
IT JUST MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN HIS WORLD.
WHEN YOU PROMOTE YOUR EVENT, IT HELPS IF YOU CAN TRIGGER IN PEOPLE'S MINDS SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE LYING AROUND THAT THEY DON'T THINK OF THAT ARE BROKEN.
I THINK OF UMBRELLAS.
ALL OF MY UMBRELLAS HAVE BROKEN PIECES.
I JUST USE THEM ANYWAY.
BUT YOU CAN GET REALLY CREATIVE WITH THAT.
YOU CAN HAVE A DISPLAY OF BROKEN ITEMS OR THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN FIXED WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO PROMOTE YOUR EVENT.
YOU CAN ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO LOOK IN THEIR ATTIC.
YOU CAN -- ONE OF OUR ORIGINAL SLIDES THAT DIDN'T SHOW WHEN WE WERE AT THE BEGINNING IS SLIDE NUMBER 4, THAT LISTS A WHOLE LOT OF ITEMS UNDER EACH OF THE CATEGORIES OF THINGS THAT PEOPLE MIGHT NEED TO GET FIXED.
IT CAN BE SCREEN DOORS, COFFEE MAKERS, VACUUM CLEANERS, WE HAD A FLAG POLE ONCE.
WE HAD ALL KINDS OF THINGS.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES THE EVENT REALLY FUN IS JUST SEEING THE VARIETY OF THINGS THAT COME IN AND THE FIXERS ARE SO GOOD AT BEING CREATIVE AND TACKLING IT AND THEY HAVE LOTS OF TOOLS AND THINGS THAT MAKE THEM ABLE TO FIX IT.
IT'S VERY IMPRESSIVE.
THIS IS A SLIDE WITH SOME SAMPLES OF THINGS THAT COME IN.
IN THE MIDDLE SECTION ARE SCREENS THAT WERE BROKEN ON THE LEFT AND THEY'RE FIXED ON THE RIGHT.
THERE'S AN UMBRELLA, THERE'S SOME LAMPS, SOME UNUSUAL LAMPS AND ON THE LEFT IS SOME JEWELRY WHERE PEOPLE BROUGHT IN EXTRA JEWELRY AND USED TO SOME JEWELRY TO FIX OTHER JEWELRY.
I DON'T REMEMBER THE STORY THERE.
BUT IT'S ALL PRETTY EXCITING TO SEE WHAT THEY DO.
I'M LOOKING AT THE CHAT LIST HERE.
YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN WRITING A LOT OF STUFF.
>> YEAH, IF YOU WANT TO KEEP GOING, I'M COLLECTING THEM AND WE'LL BE SURE AND COVER EVERYTHING THAT COMES THROUGH ONCE WE ARE AT THE END.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU.
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ALONG THE WAY PLEASE WRITE THOSE IN THE CHAT, AS WELL.
SO PROMOTION.
THIS IS ALWAYS AN ISSUE FOR ANY LIBRARY PROGRAM.
PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS SAY OH, I WOULD HAVE COME TO THAT IF I HAD KNOWN ABOUT IT.
SO HOW DO WE GET THEM TO KNOW ABOUT IT?
I JUST AGAIN WAS BRAINSTORMING.
SOME OF THE THINGS WE DO, WE ALWAYS HAVE FLIERS FOR OUR PROGRAMS IN THE LIBRARY AND WE TRY TO PUT THEM OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL ON PUBLIC BULLETIN BOARDS OR CHURCHES OR WHATEVER.
FOR A REPAIR CAFE I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO TAKE A BUNCH TO A THRIFT STORE WHERE PEOPLE ARE DROPPING OFF STUFF BECAUSE THRIFT STORES USUALLY WON'T TAKE THINGS THAT ARE BROKEN AND IF SOMEONE TRIES TO GIVE THEM SOMETHING BROKEN, THEY COULD-ROUND AND SAY WELL, WE CAN'T TAKE IT, BUT LOOK HERE'S A REPAIR CAFE AT SUCH AND SUCH LIBRARY AND YOU COULD GET IT FIXED THERE AND THEN YOU CAN USE IT AGAIN.
ASK ALL YOUR PEOPLE, THE FIXERS, YOUR STAFF, AND YOUR FRIENDS GROUPS TO SPREAD THE WORD THROUGH THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS.
TAKE THE FLIERS TO HARDWARE STORES, POST IT AT THE DUMP OR THE TRANSFER STATION.
AND AGAIN, I MENTIONED THE DISPLAY OF BROKEN ITEMS.
WE ALSO THOUGHT YOU COULD PROMOTE IT IN THE LOCAL PAPER AND YOU CAN INVITE CITY LEADERS OR COMMUNITY LEADERS TO COME AND ASK THEM TO PROMOTE IT IN THEIR RESOURCES.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF ONE OF OUR FLIERS AT THE MUCKLESHOOT LIBRARY AND IT JUST KIND OF EXPLAINS SOME OF THE RULES ABOUT DON'T BRING ANYTHING LEAKY OR THAT HAS GASOLINE AND THAT YOU HAVE TO BE PRESENT DURING THE REPAIR AND AGAIN, THESE FLIERS ARE IN YOUR RESOURCES.
OKAY.
DIGITALLY, THAT'S A HUGE WAY TO PROMOTE, OBVIOUSLY.
I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR SOME OF YOUR IDEAS.
WE HAVE USED FACEBOOK, NEXT DOOR, PATCH, AND INSTAGRAM TO PROMOTE THINGS AND ASK PEOPLE TO SHARE IT.
POST IT ON THE LIBRARY WEB PAGE.
THAT KIND OF THING.
MAKER SPACES, SCHOOLS, I'M SEEING LOTS OF GOOD THINGS THERE.
OKAY.
THEN THE DAY OF THE EVENT, OUR EVENTS TYPICALLY RUN FROM 3:00 TO 6:00.
WE BOOK OUR MEETING ROOM FROM ABOUT 1:00 TO 9:00 TO GIVE US PLENTY OF TIME TO SET UP.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE AVAILABLE AND CHECK IN PERIODICALLY DURING THE EVENT.
THE SETUP IS MOSTLY TABLES, FIGURING OUT WHERE THINGS GO AND TOM DOES A LOT OF THAT, BUT WE'RE ALL HAULING STUFF AROUND AND THEN THE FIXERS ARE BRINGING IN THEIR CRATES WITH TOOLS AND WOODWORKING THINGS AND SOLDERING IRONS, ALL KINDS OF STUFF.
I THINK THAT IT'S HELPFUL TO HAVE A FEW ITEMS FROM STAFF READY TO REPAIR AHEAD OF TIME SO THAT FIXERS WHO ARE SET UP CAN GET STARTED BEFORE THE PUBLIC STARTS COMING IN.
WE DON'T WANT ANYONE TO HAVE IDLE TIME BECAUSE WE WANT THEIR TIME TO BE USED WELL.
WE'VE MENTIONED HAVING A DISPLAY OF REPAIR BOOKS.
MIX AND MINGLE, TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES, HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PEOPLE, LISTEN TO WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.
THE STORIES THAT COME OUT OF THESE THINGS ARE REALLY INTERESTING.
SO MANY PEOPLE BRING AN ANTIQUE THING OR AN HEIRLOOM HANDED DOWN FROM THEIR PARENTS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT THAT'S BROKEN AND IT'S A REAL TREASURE TO THEM, AND IT'S WONDERFUL TO HEAR THOSE STORIES.
ONE PERSON SUGGESTED HAVING A BELL TO RING WHEN AN ITEM IS REPAIRED, THAT'S KIND OF A FUN VICTORY AND EVERYONE CUPLOD.
AND AT THE VERY END, YOU NEED A LOT OF TIME FOR CLEANUP, YOU NEED TO THANK YOUR FIXERS AND THEIR PARTNERS, SHARE YOUR SUCCESS STORIES WITH STAFF.
I LIKE TO POST A LOT OF THE PICTURES IN AN E-MAIL WITH SOME OF THE FUN STORIES WE'VE HEARD AND SHARE IT AMONG THE STAFF.
THIS PERSON HERE IS DEANNA.
SHE'S ONE OF OUR FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY AND SHE CAME AND GOT THIS LAMP REPAIRED AND WAS SO HAPPY ABOUT IT AND SHE WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE IN THE WHOLE PROGRAM AND WE'RE JUST REALLY GLAD THAT WE COULD DO SOMETHING THAT WOULD HELP HER.
SHOUT-OUT TO YOUR FRIENDS AT THE LIBRARY, GIVE THE STIPEND, HAVE A SNACK.
WHOOPS.
I DIDN'T MEAN TO GET TO THAT QUITE YET, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY IN CONCLUSION IT'S A VERY MEANINGFUL EVENT.
PEOPLE LEAVE FEELING HAPPY.
THE FIXERS FEEL INVOLVED AND CONNECTED.
THIS EVENT BUILDS SOCIAL CONNECTIONS ACROSS ALL KINDS OF DEMOGRAPHICS IN THE COMMUNITY.
IT MAKES EVERYONE FEEL WELCOME.
IT FORMS GREAT PARTNERSHIPS.
IT'S A TON OF WORK, BUT IT'S SO WORTHWHILE AND PLUS, YOU GET YOUR STUFF FIXED.
SO IT'S A WIN-WIN-WIN.
AND THAT IS THE END OF OUR PRESENTATION, BUT WE CAN TAKE QUESTIONS AND INTERACTION FROM EVERYONE.
>> FANTASTIC.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I WANT TO MENTION BEFORE WE WORK THROUGH SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT ON THE EVENT PAGE, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF RESOURCES ALREADY COLLECTED THAT THIS TEAM USES IN THEIR REPAIR EVENTS.
THERE IS THE FLIER THAT YOU SAW SO YOU CAN READ THE LANGUAGE THEY USE ON THE FLIER.
THERE'S THE RELEASE FORM TEMPLATE THAT THEY HAVE AT THAT CHECK-IN TABLE FOR PEOPLE TO SIGN AND TO CLARIFY EXPECTATIONS AND LIABILITY ISSUES AND THERE'S ALSO A FEEDBACK TEMPLATE.
THEY GATHER FEEDBACK ON I THINK THEIR HALF-SHEETS FROM FOLKS REALLY QUICK.
THEY'RE VERY QUICK SO YOU CAN SEE IF PEOPLE WERE IN A HURRY AND READY TO LEAVE THEY WOULD GET SOME GREAT FEEDBACK FROM THAT.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER EXAMPLES OF FIX IT CLINICS AND REPAIR CAFES AND FIX IT FAIRS AS WELL AS THE REPAIR CAFE U.S. GROUP ON FACEBOOK.
THERE'S A WONDERFUL SHORT DOCUMENTARY CALLED FIXED ABOUT A REPAIR CAFE IN TORONTO.
AND I FOUND THIS A GREAT WAY TO SORT OF SEE A LOT OF WHAT STEVEN WAS SAYING, THE KIND OF COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL CONNECTION THAT REALLY BLOOMS OUT OF THE EVENTS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I SAW IN THAT WAS THE -- IF AN ITEM IS REPAIRED, THEY HAVE A SMALL BELL THAT PEOPLE GET TO RING, AND THEN SOMETIMES, THEY'LL HAVE A FIXED SIGN THAT THEY CAN HOLD UP FOR A PHOTO OP AND THAT'S ANOTHER GREAT RESOURCE FOR PROMOTING AND MARKETING AN ADDITIONAL EVENT.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO EXPLORE THE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ON THE EVENT PAGE.
SOME OF THE OTHER QUESTIONS -- THERE WERE A -- AND I APPRECIATE -- I KNOW STEVEN AND TOM WERE REPLYING AS WELL IN CHAT, BUT IT'S GOOD FOR US TO GET SOME OF THESE VERBALLY ADDRESSED.
SO THERE WERE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SUPPLIES AND ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT THE FIXERS GENERALLY BRINGING THEIR SUPPLIES, I KNOW SOME LIBRARIES PROVIDE SOME OF THOSE SUPPLIES, BUT CAN, TOM, YOU TALK A LITTLE ABOUT HOW YOU ADDRESS SOME OF THE MORE SPECIALIZED THINGS THAT FOLKS MIGHT NEED?
SOMEONE ASKED SPECIFICALLY LIKE THE SCREENS, HOW DID THEY KNOW TO HAVE THE SCREEN MATERIAL THERE?
AND I BELIEVE YOU DO SOME -- YOU REQUEST ON THE FLIER THAT PEOPLE CONTACT YOU AHEAD OF TIME WITH THOSE KINDS OF QUESTIONS?
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT?
>> YES.
I GIVE MY WORK E-MAIL AND WORK PHONE NUMBER OUT VERY LIBERALLY ON OUR FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE AND ON THE POSTERS AND OFTEN IN THE LIBRARY INFORMATION AND INVITE PEOPLE TO CONTACT ME DIRECTLY IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR ITEMS JUST TO SEE WHETHER IT'S THE KIND OF THING THEY COULD WORK ON AND WE CAN'T NECESSARILY WORK WITH PEOPLE A LOT IN ADVANCE, BUT I CAN GIVE THEM THE BASICS AND WE DON'T HAVE RESERVATIONS EITHER AND ONE THING I CAN DO WHEN PEOPLE CONTACT ME EARLY IS TO MAKE THAT CLEAR TO THEM THAT IT'S STILL FIRST COME FIRST SERVE, BUT THAT CHECKING IN BEFOREHAND IS JUST A WAY TO KNOW WHETHER THEY MIGHT NEED TO BRING THEIR OWN PARTS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> EXCELLENT.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE ANOTHER APPROACH IS TO ENCOURAGE -- YOU KNOW, MAYBE THERE'S A CONTACT MADE FOR THEM TO BE PREPARED FOR THE NEXT FIXER EVENT SO IT COULD BE THAT THAT -- THAT THERE'S AN ARRANGEMENT WHILE THE FIXER SAYS OKAY I CAN WORK ON THIS NEXT TIME AND THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN BRING SO IT SEEMS LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A LONGER TERM RELATIONSHIP IS THERE, AS WELL.
THIS WONDERFUL IDEA OF MAKING IT A DIY PROGRAM AS WELL AND I KNOW SOME LIBRARIES ARE MAKING IT MORE OF A DIY FOCUSED PROGRAM.
ANOTHER PERSON MENTIONED HEARING ABOUT AN EVENT WHERE SOMEONE WHO SHARPENS TOOLS IS SET UP AT THE LIBRARY SO PEOPLE CAN BRING YARD TOOLS, SCISSORS, KNIVES, THAT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF A MAYBE MORE SPECIALIZED EVENT FOR FOLKS TO HAVE.
THERE WERE SOME EXCELLENT EXAMPLES OF OTHER KINDS OF POTENTIAL PARTNERS AND FOLKS TO REACH OUT TO.
THE FOLKS THAT MENTIONED THE AUTOMOTIVE AND ELECTRONICS AND SMALL ENGINE REPAIR, FOLKS.
I KNOW YOU MENTIONED IN ONE OF THE PICTURES ONE OF THE YOUNGER PATRONS IS A 4H-ER.
SO THE 4H FOLKS AS WELL ARE A GOOD IDEA TO TAP INTO.
LET'S SEE.
THE OTHER IDEA THAT SORT OF CAME UP IS, YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE PEOPLE DON'T COME AND SAY CAN YOU FIX MY PHONE?
AND I THINK EMPHASIZING THAT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE KINDS OF FIXERS THAT ARE AT LIBRARY EVENTS AND THOSE THAT MAYBE ARE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WOULD DO THOSE SPECIALIZED REPAIRS, I KNOW THAT SOMETIMES, THE INTENTIONALITY OF MAINTAINING THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE BEING SENT TO THOSE POTENTIAL PROFESSIONAL FIXERS IS IMPORTANT, BUT ALSO AGAIN ANOTHER SORT OF SPECIALIZED OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS TO EXPLORE MORE SPECIALIZED EVENT.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS THAT HAVE COME UP SO FAR THAT ANY OF YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO?
LET'S SEE.
OH, THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT THE -- DO THE SEWERS ONLY DO MENDING AND TOM YOU SAID SOME OF THE SEWING FIXERS ALSO DO GENERAL REPAIRS AND MAYBE -- I COULD SEE THAT ESPECIALLY BEING AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP FOLKS DIY IF SOMEONE WANTED TO HEM CURTAINS OR WHATEVER, BEING ABLE TO BRING THOSE FOLKS IN AND I KNOW MANY MAKER SPACES HAVE SEWING MACHINES AS A PART OF THE RESOURCES THERE IF YOU HAVE A SPACE IN YOUR LIBRARY WHERE YOU CAN HAVE A SEWING MACHINE, HOW GREAT TO HAVE THE LIBRARY HAVE ONE ON HAND FOR THAT.
THERE'S A DIY REPAIR AT A LIBRARY THAT HAS A SOLDERING PROGRAM FOR JEWELRY AND ELECTRONIC REPAIR.
YEAH, I THINK THE ISSUE OF PEOPLE BEING DISAPPOINTED WITH THE OUTCOME OF REPAIRS IS OVERCOME CERTAINLY IF THEY'RE DOING THE REPAIRS THEMSELVES.
SO.
>> JENNIFER CAN I JUMP IN?
>> YES, PLEASE.
>> I JUST WANTED TO CIRCLE BACK AROUND.
THERE SEEMS TO BE -- HERE ABOUT PARTICIPANT SATISFACTION AND, YOU KNOW, SPECIALIZED REPAIRS AND THAT KIND OF THING.
WHETHER IT'S THE WAY, YOU KNOW, WE PROMOTE THE REPAIR CAFES OR JUST WHAT PEOPLE'S EXPECTATIONS ARE WHEN THEY COME IN, WE REALLY HAVEN'T HAD A LOT OF SPECIALIZED REPAIRS OR A LOT OF DISAPPOINTED PATRONS, AT LEAST NOT IN THE ONES WE'VE HOSTED IN MY LIBRARIES.
I'M WONDERING, TOM, DO YOU HAVE NUMBERS ABOUT THE SUCCESS RATE OF YOUR FIXERS?
I KNOW IT'S PRETTY HIGH.
>> YES.
FOR LAST YEAR, FOR EXAMPLE, AT OUR 15 REPAIR EVENTS LAST YEAR, WE WORKED ON A TOTAL OF MORE THAN 1,000 ITEMS, AND WE WERE ABLE TO REPAIR AND MEND 78% OF THOSE.
THAT WAS 700 GENERAL ITEMS, NEARLY 700 GENERAL ITEMS AND 400 SEWING ITEMS AND SO THE -- THE PERCENTAGE FOR ALL OF LAST YEAR WAS 78%.
GENERALLY, WE LIKE TO SAY THE SUCCESS RATE IS 70% OR MORE AND THAT SEEMS TO BE FAIRLY STANDARD FOR REPAIR EVENTS, REPAIR CAFES THAT I'VE HEARD OF ALL OVER THE PLACE, THAT SEEMS TO BE PRETTY GENERAL SUCCESS RATE, 70%.
AND WE'RE AT A LITTLE ABOVE THAT EVEN SOMETIMES.
>> THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT THE BUDGET THAT THE LIBRARY OR TOM THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT HAS.
I DON'T KNOW, I KNOW THAT YOU ARE INVOLVED WITH THEM SO I'LL USE YOU AS A RESOURCE, BUT LET'S SAY IF SOMEBODY WAS STARTING OUT CAN WE GET SOME BRAINSTORMING ABOUT THE RANGE OF WHAT SOME OF THOSE COSTS MIGHT BE?
>> IT JUST DEPENDS ON HOW INVOLVED YOU WANT TO BE.
SINCE WE HAVE SOME MONEY AVAILABLE FOR OUR PROGRAM, I'M PART OF THE KING COUNTY SOLID WASTE DIVISION AND WE HAVE MONEY COMING IN BECAUSE THE SOLID WASTE DIVISION OPERATES SEVERAL -- ACTUALLY EIGHT TRANSFER STATIONS AND A MAJOR LANDFILL SO WE HAVE A LOT OF REVENUES COMING IN THAT WE CAN USE FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
WE'RE REALLY LUCKY THAT WAY.
NOT MANY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE THAT AND NOT MANY LIBRARIES HAVE THAT MUCH MONEY AVAILABLE, BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT MONEY AVAILABLE, WE WANT TO SHOW OUR FIXERS THAT WE VALUE THEM AND SINCE THEY'RE USING THEIR OWN TOOLS AND SEWING MACHINES, WE PROVIDE THE STIPENDS AND THAT HELPS THE PROGRAM BE BETTER I THINK, BUT YOU COULD DO IT WITHOUT THAT.
SOME LIBRARIES HAVE A SMALL PROGRAMMING BUDGET AND THEY CAN MANAGE TO FIGURE OUT SOMETHING.
SOMETIMES, YOU CAN DO IT -- YOU CAN DO IT ALL VOLUNTEERS, BUT THE MORE MAYBE YOU CAN GET DONATIONS -- SOMETIMES, AGENCIES CAN GET GRANTS FROM THE STATE, AS WAS MENTIONED IN ONE OF THE SLIDES.
THERE'S POSSIBILITIES, BUT FOR I THINK -- I THINK AT LEAST 500, $1,000 TO START TO DO AN EVENT, TO DO A REPAIR EVENT.
BUT IT REALLY VARIES ALL OVER THE MAP.
>> GREAT, THAT'S VERY HELPFUL.
THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT PEOPLE PAID FOR THE PARTS USED IN THE REPAIRS.
I THINK STEVEN'S ANSWER IS WE DON'T CHARGE FOR REPAIRS OR PARTS, BUT TOM YOU MENTIONED THAT IF THERE ARE SPECIALIZED PARTS THEN THOSE ATTENDEES DO NEED TO BRING AND PAY FOR THOSE SPECIALIZED PARTS, WAS THAT CORRECT?
>> YES, IF IT'S AN OUTER SCREEN ON A CELL PHONE THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, THAT'S A VERY SPECIALIZED REPAIR AND THAT HAS TO BE THE EXACT SCREEN FOR THE PHONE SO THEY WOULD NEED TO BRING THAT AND I WOULD TRY TO MAKE THAT CLEAR TO THEM IN ADVANCE AND IN OUR PUBLICITY, WE'VE TRIED TO DO THAT, TOO.
ANOTHER THING, WHERE THEY WOULD NEED TO BRING IN THE RIGHT PART IS SEWING REPAIRS FOR ZIPPER REPAIRS AND THOSE NEED A ZIPPER -- A ZIPPER REPLACEMENT, THAT NEEDS TO BE THE EXACT SIZED ZIPPER AND ACTUALLY WE OFTEN HAVE TO -- SOMETIMES, OUR FIXERS HAVE TO TURN DOWN REPAIRS AND THEY ALWAYS CAN DO THAT FOR ANY REASON, AND IF IT'S JUST GOING TO TAKE TOO LONG AND OTHER PEOPLE ARE WAITING, THEY'LL SAY WELL, WE CAN'T DO A BIG ZIPPER REPLACEMENT.
WE TRY TO COVER AS MUCH AS WE CAN, BUT PEOPLE ARE VERY UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THAT AND WE HAVE HAD -- AS STEVEN MENTIONED, WE HAVE HAD VERY FEW PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN UPSET FOR ANY REASON AND THE FEW THAT HAVE IF MAYBE THEIR ITEM COULDN'T BE REPAIRED, THEY WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH THEM AND HAVE THEM SATISFIED ONE WAY OR THE OTHER BY THE END.
MAYBE THEY CAN COME TO ANOTHER EVENT OR WE TELL THEM THE KIND OF PLACE THEY'LL HAVE TO GO TO A PROFESSIONAL TO GET THE WORK DONE IF IT'S A SPECIALIZED THING SO WE'RE ABLE TO WORK IT OUT MOST OF THE TIME.
>> I CAN'T EMPHASIZE WHAT I'VE SEEN THAT THOSE RELATIONSHIPS REALLY ARE VERY MUCH LIKE WHAT WE DO IN LIBRARIES IN TERMS OF REFERENCE AND REFERRAL SO THIS REALLY FITS IN OUR LIBRARY WHEELHOUSE FOR SURE AS AN EXTENSION OF THOSE REFERENCE AND REFERRAL SERVICES AND AS A COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS, LEARNING FROM EACH OTHER AND DEPENDING ON HOW ENGAGED THE FOLKS ARE IN THE REPAIR ITSELF, THEY'RE LEARNING, AS WELL.
SO TOM I KNOW YOU TALKED A LITTLE ABOUT TOTAL NUMBERS.
CAN YOU MAYBE DESCRIBE THE NUMBERS ON AVERAGE OF HOW MANY PEOPLE SHOW UP AND I KNOW SOME OF YOUR PHOTOS, I MIGHT SHIFT US BACK TO SOME OF THE PHOTOS I CAN SEE WHERE FOLKS ARE WAITING SO GIVE US A SENSE OF HOW MANY FOLKS MIGHT BE WAITING AT SOME OF THOSE EVENTS JUST SOME AVERAGES WOULD BE GREAT.
>> 30 TO 80 PEOPLE COME TO EACH EVENT AND WE GENERALLY WORK ON ANYWHERE FROM 40 TO 120 ITEMS AT EACH EVENT AND YOU JUST NEVER KNOW HOW LONG PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT OR HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE WAITING AT ANY ONE TIME BECAUSE JUST MATCHING THE REPAIRS WITH THE RIGHT FIXERS AND SOMETIMES, A REPAIR WILL TAKE TWO HOURS OR MORE.
IT WILL TAKE ALMOST THE WHOLE EVENT AND MAYBE THAT'S THE FIXER WHO IS THE EXPERT IN A CERTAIN THING THAT SOMEONE'S WAITING ON.
SO IT IS FAIRLY COMMON FOR PEOPLE TO WAIT A LONG TIME.
BUT WE JUST HAVE NO IDEA AND I TRY TO MAKE THAT CLEAR WHEN I TALK TO PEOPLE IN ADVANCE, TOO.
>> EXCELLENT, THAT'S GREAT.
THIS ONE I CAN SEE PEOPLE WAITING IN THE BACKGROUND THERE.
AND ALSO, I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF TALK OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN FOLKS ARE WAITING.
IF THERE ARE CHILDREN INVOLVED, OBVIOUSLY, ENGAGING THEM AT A TABLE WITH COLORING SHEETS OR ANOTHER ACTIVITY.
MAYBE A SMALLER WORK -- SOME SORT OF OTHER PROJECT WHERE THEY'RE CREATING FROM MAYBE IT'S WASTE, WHO KNOWS, THEY'RE CREATING ART FROM WASTE MAYBE PERHAPS.
>> I CAN JUMP IN HERE.
AT THE RENTON EVENT ONE TIME, THE ROOM WAS QUITE CROWDED AND WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH CHILDREN WHO WERE NOT OCCUPIED SO I ROPED IN OUR CHILDREN'S LIBRARIAN AND SHE GOT SOME COLORING PAGES AND LITTLE PUZZLES AND SHE JUST SAT AT A TABLE OUTSIDE OF THE MEETING ROOM WITH THE KIDS THAT NEEDED A LITTLE EXTRA ATTENTION.
AND KEPT THEM OCCUPIED AND SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO BE THERE THE WHOLE TIME, BUT THAT WAS JUST A LITTLE EXTRA THAT WE THREW IN AT THAT BRANCH THAT HELPED.
>> THAT'S FANTASTIC.
SO THERE WAS ALSO A QUESTION ABOUT THE GREETER AT THE TABLE.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT -- I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETIMES THE GREETER IS THE PERSON THAT'S MATCHING THE REPAIR TO THE FIXER AND THEN SOMETIMES, THERE'S MAYBE SOMEBODY LIKE TOM WHO'S ON THE FLOOR WITH MAYBE A SENSE -- MORE OF A SENSE OF WHO'S GOING TO BE AVAILABLE NEXT?
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT PROCESS?
>> SURE.
THE GREETER IS SOMEONE WHO IS SEATED AT THE TABLE AND STAYS THERE THE WHOLE TIME FOR PEOPLE WHO COME.
SO WHEN SOMEONE COMES WITH THEIR THINGS THAT NEED REPAIRING, THEY WOULD COME FIRST TO THAT TABLE, SHE WOULD HAVE THEM SIGN THE RELEASE FORM WHICH BASICALLY SAYS THAT THEY WON'T HOLD US LIABLE IF IT CAN'T BE FIXED AND SHE HAS THEM SIGN IN WITH EACH ITEM THAT NEEDS FIXING AND TOM WOULD KIND OF TAKE OVER FROM THERE AND JUMP IN TOM IF YOU NEED TO AND HE WOULD TRIAGE THE ITEM TO THE DIFFERENT REPAIRERS, WHOEVER WAS AVAILABLE FOR WHATEVER THE ITEM WAS.
WE DIDN'T ALWAYS REPAIR EVERYTHING THAT EVERYONE BROUGHT, BUT WE ALWAYS TRIED TO REPAIR AT LEAST ONE THING IF THEY BROUGHT MORE THAN ONE THING.
>> TOM, DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT THAT?
>> YES, THERE'S NO ONE WAY TO DO THESE EVENTS.
WHAT WAS THE LAST POINT?
THE SPECIFIC QUESTION YOU WERE ASKING?
>> LAURIE WAS EXPLAINING DEPENDING ON WHAT THE ROLE OF THE GREETER IS, IF THERE'S SOMEONE ELSE ON THE FLOOR DIRECTING FOLKS TO THE PROPER FIXER.
>> YES, THAT'S KIND OF A LUXURY AND YOU CAN JUST HAVE ONE PERSON DOING BOTH AND A LOT OF PROGRAMS ARE A LITTLE SMALLER AND SO YOU SHOULD REALLY DO WHAT WORKS FOR YOUR LIBRARY AND THE FIXERS THAT YOU CAN FIND AND REALLY AS LIBRARIES ALWAYS SEEM TO DO REALLY TRY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF YOUR SPECIFIC COMMUNITY, IF YOU HAVE MANY PATRONS SPEAKING CERTAIN LANGUAGES, THEN TRY TO HAVE FIXERS IN YOUR CREW AT LEAST ONE THAT MAYBE SPEAKS THAT LANGUAGE OR IS A MEMBER OF THAT COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE -- AND THEY DON'T NECESSARILY WORK ALL EVENTS, BUT WE HAVE SPANISH SPEAKERS, VIETNAMESE SPEAKERS, SOMALI MOM AND HER SON.
AND THEY SPEAK -- ACTUALLY HE IS DEAF AND USES SIGN LANGUAGE AND HIS MOM SPEAKS SOMALI AND ARABIC.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER WAY TO TRY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF YOUR COMMUNITY IF YOU CAN.
SOUTH KING COUNTY WHERE LAURIE AND STEVEN ARE AND WHERE A LOT OF OUR EVENTS ARE IS EXTREMELY DIVERSE.
ACTUALLY, OUR WHOLE COUNTY IS AND SO WE'RE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO MAKE OUR EVENTS AS DIVERSE AS WE CAN WITH OUR FIXERS AND MEET THE DIVERSE POPULATION THAT ALWAYS COMES DO SPECIALIZED PROMOTION TO THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.
SOME PROMOTION IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES SOMETIMES, LIKE VIETNAMESE.
AND WE -- WE'RE ALSO ALWAYS TRYING TO HAVE A LOT OF GENDER DIVERSITY AMONG OUR FIXERS, NOT HAVE THE SAME SORT OF STEREOTYPE WHERE IS HARD TO GET AROUND SOMETIMES WHERE MOST OR ALL OF THE GENERAL FIXERS ARE MEN AND THE SEWING FIXERS ARE WOMEN.
WE'RE ABLE TO ESPECIALLY AMONG OUR GENERAL FIXERS HAVE QUITE A BIT OF DIVERSITY IN GENDERS AND ETHNIC BACKGROUND AND AGES.
>> FANTASTIC.
WHAT A WONDERFUL VENUE TO EXPLORE THAT AS A SCENARIO.
YOU DID -- WE DID MENTION THAT THE SESSIONS ARE THREE HOURS LONG USUALLY, IT SOUNDS LIKE.
AND IN TERMS OF THE TIMES OF DAY, DO YOU EXPLORE DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE DAY FOR YOUR EVENTS TO MEET DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOLKS TO COME?
>> ALL OF OUR EVENTS ARE EITHER WEEKDAYS, MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, FROM 3:00 TO 6:00, OR SATURDAYS, I WAS GOING TO SAY THEY'RE ALL SATURDAY MORNING.
NOW, WE'RE TRYING A FEW SATURDAY AFTERNOON ONES, BUT WE JUST TRY TO DO ONES THAT WORK FOR OUR FIXERS, FOR THE TRAFFIC.
TRAFFIC IS EXTREMELY HEAVY IN THE SEATTLE AREA AND PROBABLY MOST PLACES, RUSH HOUR, AND THEN SATURDAYS WE HATE TO TAKE UP THE FIXERS' WHOLE DAY OR OUR CUSTOMERS SO ACTUALLY WE'RE TRYING SATURDAY AFTERNOON EVENTS FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR.
WE HAVEN'T -- I DON'T THINK WE'VE HAD ANY, BUT SEVERAL OF OUR EVENTS AT LIBRARIES IN KING COUNTY ARE ON SATURDAY AFTERNOONS AND WE HAVE THE FULL -- WE HAVE THE FULL SCHEDULE OF OUR REPAIR EVENTS UP AND SO THAT'S -- YOU COULD JUST GOOGLE KING COUNTY REPAIR EVENTS OR FIND US AND SO THE 10 LIBRARIES WHERE WE'LL BE THIS YEAR, SEVERAL FOR THE FIRST TIME FOR YOU FOLKS IN THE SEATTLE AREA WILL BE AT THE BOTHEL KENT KIRKLAND, FAIRWOOD THAT'S NEAR RENTON, BELLEVUE, SAMAMISH, AUBURN, SHORELINE, BUREON AND NORTH BEND, VERY RURAL UP ON THE WAY UP INTO THE MOUNTAINS THERE, THEY'RE UNDER ABOUT THREE FEET OF SNOW RIGHT NOW IN NORTH BEND SO THOSE ARE THE PLACES WE'LL HAVE THE -- THE LIBRARIES WILL HAVE EVENTS.
ONE OTHER QUICK THING I'LL THROW IN IS THAT SOME LIBRARIES WHERE IT'S A SMALL LIBRARY THE LIBRARIANS WILL FIND ANOTHER VENUE ESPECIALLY IN A SMALL TOWN SO IN THE SMALL COMMUNITY OF CARNATION, THE LIBRARIAN THERE, CATHLEEN O'KEEFE LINED US UP AT THE SENIOR CENTER THERE IN CARNATION.
>> THERE ARE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS RELATED TO HOW DO YOU -- DO YOU PROVIDE ANY SORT OF TRAINING OR ORIENTATION FOR YOUR FIXERS?
OR DO YOU HAVE TO VET THE FIXERS?
DO YOU HAVE TO DO ANY SORT OF ASSESSMENT OF THEIR ABILITY AND HAVE YOU EVER HAD TO FIRE A VOLUNTEER FIXER?
>> FOR OUR PROGRAM I DO ALL OF THE WORKING WITH THE FIXERS AND THE VETTING IS JUST INFORMAL.
JUST TRYING TO GET A SENSE OF THEIR BACKGROUND AND ABILITY TO FIX AND WHETHER THEY HAVE THE KIND OF HELPING VOLUNTEER MINDSET AND ENJOYING WORKING WITH PEOPLE THAT WILL BE NEEDED FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
AND I WANT TO HAVE SOME KIND OF ONLINE -- SO I'LL LOOK TO SEE IF THEY'RE ON LINKED IN OR LOOK AT THE JOBS THEY'VE SAID THEY'RE DONE OR GET SOME SENSE THEY'RE A REAL PERSON.
WE DON'T ACCEPT EVERYONE.
BECAUSE WE'RE A GOVERNMENT AGENCY AND THESE ARE VOLUNTEERS WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THE PUBLIC, WE DO NEED TO BE A LITTLE CAREFUL ABOUT IT AND WE ARE.
I WOULDN'T SAY FIRE PEOPLE, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW TIMES WHERE WE'VE SAID IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S A GOOD FIT FOR YOU AS A FIXER BECAUSE YOU'RE JUST NOT REALLY ENJOYING IT.
YOU HAVE A SCOWL ON YOUR FACE AND SO MAYBE THIS ISN'T A GOOD FIT FOR YOU.
BUT THAT'S BEEN EXTREMELY RARE.
>> SO SORRY.
THERE WAS A QUESTION, IF YOU ALL RUN CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS ON YOUR FIXERS?
>> IS NOBODY STILL HEARING ME?
>> I AM, SORRY ABOUT THAT.
WE HAVEN'T HAD A NEED TO DO THAT.
THE FORMAL VETTING AND USING JUST REFERENCES AND REFERRALS HAS WORKED OUT FINE, BUT IF A PROGRAM FELT LIKE THEY NEEDED TO DO THAT, I UNDERSTAND.
I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY USE ANYTHING THAT WE DO AS A DIRECT MODEL, BUT WE HAVEN'T NEEDED TO AND I DON'T KNOW IF SOMEONE WANTS TO SPEAK TO THAT.
I SEE THE QUESTION IS, DO YOU RUN CORI CHECKS.
THAT MUST BE AN OFFICIAL FEDERAL THING.
DO LIBRARIES DO THAT IN SOME CASES?
>> FOR SOME VOLUNTEERS YES, LIBRARIES DO.
IT DEPENDS I THINK ON THE ROLE THAT THEY'RE SERVING IN SO YEAH.
>> YEAH.
YES, EXACTLY WE DO RUN BACKGROUND CHECKS ON VOLUNTEERS TO SOME, BUT FOR FIXERS WE WOULD LEAVE THAT TO YOU, TOM.
>> EXCELLENT.
>> BECAUSE AS COORDINATOR BECAUSE I'M THERE ALL THE TIME AND WE HAVE -- WE DON'T -- WE DON'T ENCOURAGE CUSTOMERS TO DIRECTLY WORK WITH -- WITH THE FIXERS OUTSIDE OF OUR EVENT, SO IT HASN'T BEEN AN ISSUE.
THERE'S ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE ISSUES WITH THESE EVENTS, BUT AFTER DOING 50 OF THEM, WE'VE BEEN I THINK BY PAYING ATTENTION TO DETAILS AND OUR FIXERS BEING SO GREAT, WE -- WE HAVEN'T HAD THESE KINDS OF SAFETY -- ANY KINDS OF SAFETY PROBLEMS OR THOSE THINGS, BUT WE'RE CONSTANTLY AWARE THAT WE NEED TO DO OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE THOSE KINDS OF THINGS DON'T HAPPEN.
>> WELL FANTASTIC.
I JUST CAN'T TELL YOU HOW EXCITED I AM ABOUT THE COMMUNITY BUILDING THAT YOUR EVENTS ARE DOING.
I REALLY FEEL STRONGLY THAT LIBRARIES PLAY A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN SOCIAL CONNECTIONS IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND THIS EVENT DEFINITELY DEMONSTRATES THAT THAT CAN HAPPEN WITHIN THE LIBRARIES.
SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH AND I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH ALL OF YOU ATTENDEES AFTER WE HAVE THE RECORDING POSTED.
THANK YOU, TOM, LA URIE, STEVEN AND GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR CONTINUED AMAZING -- THANK YOU TO OUR CAPTIONER AND TO OUR WJA SUPPORT AND EVERYONE.
HAVE A FANTASTIC DAY.
I WILL SEND YOU ALL TO A SHORT SURVEY AS YOU LEAVE.
WE WOULD LOVE TO GET YOUR FEEDBACK ON TODAY'S EVENT.
WE'LL SHARE THAT WITH OUR PRESENTERS AND IT ALSO HELPS US IN OUR ONGOING PROGRAMMING AND I WILL FOLLOW UP BY E-MAIL WITH YOU ONCE THE RECORDING IS POSTED AND I'LL SEND YOU ALL A CERTIFICATE WITHIN A WEEK.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
HAVE A FANTASTIC DAY.