AND I'M GOING TO WELCOME OUR PRESENTER FOR TODAY.
LORI JUHLIN COMES TO US AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE HAWARDEN PUBLIC LIBRARY IN IOWA.
SHE ALSO SERVES AS THE CHAIR OF THE ARSL MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE.
SHE ALSO IS THE EDITOR FOR THEIR NEWSLETTER.
SO LORI HAS LOTS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH ARSL AND DOES LOTS AS A VOLUNTEER FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT HAPPENS AT ARSL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF THAT, LORI.
I'M GOING TO SHIFT THIS ON OVER TO YOU AND PASS YOU THE BALL AND LET YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND GET STARTED.
WELCOME, LORI.
>> HI, EVERYONE.
I'M SO GLAD TO BE HERE.
ARSL IS A VERY SPECIAL ORGANIZATION TO ME, AND IT IS SO VALUABLE.
I'M GOING TO HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE LOTS MORE SPACE IN WICHITA.
SO THAT'S A PLUG.
I'M ON THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.
SO I CAN VERIFY THERE'S ALMOST DOUBLE THE SPACE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED TODAY.
I HAVE BEEN THE DIRECTOR OF THE HAWARDEN PUBLIC LIBRARY IN NORTHWEST IOWA FOR JUST OVER THREE YEARS.
WHEN I STARTED, THINGS WERE A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
SO IN DECEMBER OF 2016 I STARTED.
I TOOK OVER FOR A DIRECTOR WHO HAD BEEN HERE FOR AS LONG AS I HAD BEEN ALIVE.
SO NEEDLESS TO SAY, KIND OF BIG SHOES TO FILL.
I REALLY CAME TO THIS COMMUNITY NOT KNOWING A SOUL.
AND MOVING TO AN AREA WHERE I DIDN'T KNOW ANYONE.
I'M SO GRATEFUL THEY TOOK A CHANCE ON ME, WELCOMED ME, BROUGHT ME INTO THE COMMUNITY, BUT I FOUND IT WAS HUGELY IMPORTANT FOR ME A LITTLE BIT OF AN INTROVERT TO STEP OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE A LOT.
OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, WE HAVE REALLY TRANSFORMED THE WAY THE COMMUNITY SEES OUR LIBRARY, THE WAY PEOPLE REACT TO WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THOSE POSITIVE COMMENTS.
AND REALLY NOTICE AN IMPACT IN OUR CIRCULATION, THE PEOPLE WALKING THROUGH OUR DOOR IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.
WE ARE A TOWN OF ABOUT 2500.
SO PRETTY SMALL.
WE ARE ALONG THE BIG SIOUX RIVER IN NORTHWEST IOWA.
WE ALSO SERVE ANOTHER SMALL TOWN THAT'S ABOUT TEN MILES EAST OF US.
WE HAVE CONTRACTING CITIES WHERE THEY PAY US AND WE PROVIDE SERVICE TO THEIR COMMUNITY.
SO THAT IS ALSO PART OF OUR SERVICE AREA.
AND OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT ENCOMPASSES BOTH HAWARDEN AND IRETON, WHICH IS THE SMALLER TOWN WE CONTRACT WITH.
WHEN I STARTED, OUR FACEBOOK PAGE WAS KIND OF DULL AND A LITTLE LIFELESS.
AND WE HAVE TRANSFORMED THAT A LOT OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.
THAT IS SOMETHING I'M REALLY PROUD OF.
I'LL NEVER FORGET, MY SECOND WEEK ON THE JOB I HAD TO GO TO CITY COUNCIL, INTRODUCE MYSELF.
I WAS NERVOUS.
I WAS SCARED.
I ALSO INTRODUCED MYSELF TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WITHIN MY FIRST TWO WEEKS.
AS SOMEONE WHO IS SOMEWHAT OF AN INTROVERT, THAT SCARED ME.
BUT I'VE KIND OF OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS DEVELOPED THE COURAGE AND THE CONFIDENCE TO GET OUT THERE AND SHARE MORE.
THIS WAS PART OF THAT.
SO IF I SOUND A LITTLE NERVOUS, I PROBABLY AM.
SO MY FIRST SUMMER WHEN WE STARTED, WHEN WE WERE PLANNING, I HAD PARENTS START APPROACHING ME AND SAYING, HEY, YOU KNOW, MY KIDS, THEY PARTICIPATE IN THIS ACTIVITY DURING THE SUMMER.
THE PROGRAMMING, THEY ALWAYS MISS IT.
THEY CAN NEVER GO.
THEY REALLY WANT TO.
SO ONE OF THE FIRST CHANGES WE MADE WAS SHIFTING FROM ABOUT THREE PROGRAMS A WEEK DURING SUMMER TO SEVEN.
I MIGHT HAVE BEEN CRAZY.
AND WHEN WE DID THAT, PARENTS STARTED COMMENTING AND THEY'RE LIKE, WOW.
BASICALLY WHAT WE DID WAS REPEATED PROGRAMS MORNING AND AFTERNOON SESSIONS TO ALLOW KIDS WHO WERE, SAY, DOING BALL IN THE MORNING, THEY COULD COME IN THE AFTERNOON OR VICE VERSA.
AND THAT REALLY ENHANCED THE ACCESSIBILITY OF OUR PROGRAMS.
WE ALSO WERE ABLE TO KIND OF ADD AN ADULT COMPONENT TO IT THAT HAD NEVER BEEN DONE.
AND THAT, I THINK, WAS HUGELY IMPORTANT TO ALLOW ADULTS THE CHANCE TO ENJOY AND BE CREATIVE DURING THE SUMMER.
WE DID OUR FIRST EVER INFLATABLE PARTY, AND YOU CAN SEE IN THE PICTURES THAT'S OUR COMMUNITY CENTER.
IT'S A CONVERTED GYM.
THE KIDS HAD A BALL.
THEY'RE LIKE, YOU'RE BRINGING THAT BACK, RIGHT?
SO THIS WAS ONE THING THAT I KIND OF STARTED MAKING MY MARK IN THE SUMMER OF 2017, MY FIRST SUMMER.
THEN BY THAT FALL, WE KNEW WE NEEDED TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE THE LIBRARY MORE ACCESSIBLE TO KIDS, AND WE KNEW WE NEEDED A CARPET.
CARPETING WAS PROBABLY THE HARDEST THING I'VE EVER DONE, AND IT WAS TEN MONTHS INTO MY TENURE.
THANKFULLY FOR LOTS OF HELP FROM THE CITY GUYS, THEY ARE SHOWN HERE MOVING OUR SHELVES, WE WERE ABLE TO CARPET THE WHOLE LIBRARY, 5200 SQUARE FEET, IN ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF.
AND WE MOVED 25,000 BOOKS TWICE, MOVING THEM OFF THE SHELVES, MOVING THEM BACK ON, REARRANGING, AND KIND OF REVAMPING OUR CHILDREN'S AREA AND MAKING IT MORE ENGAGING AND FUN FOR THE KIDS.
THE CHILDREN'S AREA IS BEHIND WHERE THE KIDS ARE DOING THE RIBBON CUTTING.
WE INVITED THE THIRD GRADERS TO COME AND CUT A RIBBON IN THE CHILDREN'S AREA.
WE TOURED -- WE GAVE TOURS TO ALL THE KIDS ONCE THE WORK WAS COMPLETE, AND EVERYONE WAS REALLY EXCITED.
AND THE NEXT STEP IN THAT WAS WE PROVIDED, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WEST SIOUX SCHOOLS, WHICH IS OUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, STUDENT ACCESS CARDS WITHOUT PARENT SIGNATURES, ALLOWING KIDS TO CHECK OUT THREE BOOKS.
THEY GOT DIGITAL ACCESS.
THEY GOT ACCESS TO OUR COMPUTERS, AND WE CHANGED POLICIES TO ALLOW THEM MORE EQUAL ACCESS TO THE LIBRARY BECAUSE OUR LOCATION IS TWO BLOCKS FROM OUR LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHICH IS GRADES TWO THROUGH FIVE.
K THROUGH ONE IS IN IRETON.
SO BY ROLLING OUT STUDENT ACCESS CARDS, WE STARTED HAVING PARENTS COME IN AND SAY, WOW, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU DID THIS.
HOW DO I GET A CARD?
IT WAS MAINLY AN AWARENESS THING TO GET PEOPLE AWARE OF THE FACT THE LIBRARY EXISTED AND THAT WE WERE HERE FOR THEM.
WE STARTED PARTNERING WITH THE DISTRICT, THE SCHOOL, SO IF KIDS WANTED A CERTAIN BOOK, TEACHERS WOULD EMAIL US.
THEY WOULD GIVE US THE TITLE, THE STUDENT NAME.
WE'D CHECK IT OUT.
I WOULD EVEN DELIVER BOOKS UP TO THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, UP TO THE HIGH SCHOOL JUST TO PROVIDE THEM ACCESS BECAUSE SOME OF THESE KIDS CAN'T NECESSARILY GET HERE.
CARDS WERE AN ISSUE WHEN WE REQUIRED PARENT SIGNATURES, SO THIS WAS KIND OF AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ROLL OUT THAT ACCESS AND SAY HERE, HERE'S AN EASY WAY FOR YOU TO GET WHAT YOU NEED TO DO YOUR SCHOOL WORK.
IN THE SPRING OF 2018, WE HAD A STAFFING CHANGE WHERE MADDY WAS HIRED AS OUR CHILDREN'S LIBRARY, AND JULIE WAS OUR FIRST EVER SUMMER INTERN.
FUNNY ENOUGH, MADDY WAS YOUNGER THAN JULIE.
JULIE WAS THE ELEMENTARY LIBRARIAN PARA IN THE SCHOOL.
SINCE THEY WERE HIRED IN ABOUT APRIL, A LOT OF THE PLANNING WAS UNDER WAY.
WE KIND OF KEPT THINGS FAIRLY SIMILAR, ADDED SOME EXTRA PROGRAMS IN JULY THAT WERE LESS STRUCTURED, AND EXPANDED MORE ADULT PROGRAMMING AGAIN.
ONCE SUMMER READING WAS OVER, THOSE TWO EMPLOYEES REALLY STARTED KIND OF COMING UP WITH SOME IDEAS FOR FALL.
WE WERE EXCITED.
BUT THEN MADDY WAS OFFERED A FULL-TIME JOB AT THE SCHOOL.
I THOUGHT I WAS HONESTLY GOING TO LOSE BOTH OF THEM.
THEY CAME BACK TO ME AND SAID, HEY, CAN WE BE CO-CHILDREN'S LIBRARIANS?
THEY WORKED ALL DAY AT THE SCHOOL.
THEY CAME AND DID AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING TWO DAYS A WEEK.
THEY SAID, WE'LL ADD SATURDAY PROGRAMMING.
I'M LIKE, OKAY, WE CAN DO THAT.
I WAS A LITTLE RELUCTANT.
AS I KNEW, THEY WERE WORKING REALLY HARD ALL DAY, AND I THOUGHT, IS THIS GOING TO LAST?
BUT WE CHANGED UP THE PROGRAMMING AGAIN.
WE HAD BEEN DOING LEGO CLUB EVERY WEEK.
THEY ADDED CRAFTS.
THEY ADDED OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AND MORE TECH-FOCUSED S.T.E.M., THAT SORT OF THING.
AND WE STARTED SEEING MORE KIDS.
I THINK ONE WEEK WE HAD 46 KIDS IN OUR MEETING ROOM.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MIGHT HAVE BROKEN FIRE CODE.
BUT THE KIDS LOVED IT, AND THEY LOVED MADDY AND JULIE, AND THEY WERE FAMILIAR WITH THOSE TWO BECAUSE THEY WORKED AT THE SCHOOL.
THEY WERE WELL-LOVED BY THE COMMUNITY.
WHEN WE STARTED PLANNING FOR THE 2019 SUMMER READING PROGRAM, WHICH WAS THEIR SECOND, THEY STARTED COMING UP WITH SOME IDEAS THAT I WAS LIKE, WOW, THIS IS PRETTY EXCITING.
I GAVE THEM THE IDEA, I SAID WE NEED TO INSTITUTE STORY TIME AT THE POOL.
AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY HAVE TO TAKE A BREAK AND THE KIDS ALL HAVE TO GET OUT AND THEY HAVE TO CHECK THE CHEMICALS, DO STORY TIME.
WHAT CAME AFTER THAT WAS SO MUCH MORE.
AND THAT'S WHAT I LOVED ABOUT IT.
THEY REALLY TOOK AN IDEA AND RAN WITH IT COMPLETELY AND CREATED AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE KIDS LOVED THE LIBRARY.
I CAME ACROSS THIS QUOTE, AND I KIND OF LOVE IT.
WE ALL FOCUS ON OUR COLLECTIONS, BUT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON BUILDING THAT COMMUNITY.
IN OUR TOWN, WE HAVE A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT DIVERSITY WITH ABOUT HALF OF OUR SCHOOL POPULATION IS HISPANIC.
A LOT OF SPANISH SPEAKERS.
THERE HAD BEEN KIND OF AN ONGOING FEELING THAT THERE WERE TWO SIDES TO THE COMMUNITY, AND THEY WEREN'T NECESSARILY COMING TOGETHER.
WE WERE ABLE TO KIND OF BRING THOSE SIDES TOGETHER SOMEWHAT.
AND IT'S STILL GROWING.
SO I WANT TO ASK, HOW DO YOU BUILD YOUR COMMUNITY?
WHAT KIND OF THINGS DO YOU DO THAT WORK FOR YOU AND KIND OF GET THE COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER?
I FEEL LIKE THE LIBRARY IS PART OF THAT.
>> EXCELLENT.
WHILE PEOPLE ARE SHARING, I'M GOING TO JUMP IN.
WE HAVE SOME GREAT QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
THERE WAS A QUESTION RIGHT OFF THE BAT ABOUT HOW YOU MANAGE ALL THIS GREAT STUFF YOU'RE DOING, ESPECIALLY THAT SUMMER PROGRAMMING.
HOW MANY STAFF DO YOU HAVE, IN ADDITION TO MADDY AND JULIE?
>> I HAVE -- WE HAVE THREE PART-TIME -- WE HAVE AN EQUIVALENT IN THE LIBRARY OF UNDER THREE FTE, INCLUDING MYSELF.
AND I'M THE ONLY FULL-TIME.
>> WOW, OKAY.
SO HOW DO YOU MANAGE ALL THAT SUMMER PROGRAMMING?
>> MADDY AND JULIE, THEY WORK --
DURING THE SUMMER -- THEY WERE PARAS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, SO BASICALLY THEY HAD SUMMERS OFF.
SO DURING THE SUMMER, WE INCREASED THEIR HOURS TO APPROXIMATELY 30 A WEEK JUST FOR THE SUMMER MONTHS.
AND THEY WORK LESS THAN FIVE DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR.
>> OKAY.
>> SO A LOT OF THE PLANNING, YOU KNOW, HAPPENED NIGHTS, WEEKENDS, AND I DID PAY THEM FOR THAT.
WE COMMUNICATED OUTSIDE LIBRARY HOURS.
SO THAT WORKED OUT FOR US.
>> OKAY.
LET'S SEE, WHAT IS YOUR SERVICE POPULATION?
>> JUST OVER 3,000.
>> OKAY.
THAT'S GREAT.
SO YOU MENTIONED THAT YOUR FACEBOOK VIEWS WENT UP WITHIN THAT THREE-YEAR PERIOD.
SOMEONE WONDERED IF VIEWS TO YOUR WEBSITE ALSO WENT UP.
DO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF IF YOUR WEBSITE GOT BUSIER TOO?
>> YES, IT DID.
WE WENT TO A FORMAT IN EARLY 2017 THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY TRACK VIEWS, AND WE HAVE DEFINITELY SEEN INCREASED TRAFFIC ON THAT.
>> OKAY.
SO PEOPLE WERE REALLY EXCITED TO LEARN ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOLS ON THE CARD ACCESS.
HOW DID YOU CONVINCE THE SCHOOL TO PARTNER WITH YOU?
SOMEBODY MENTIONED IT CAN BE TOUGH BECAUSE SCHOOLS ARE SO PROTECTIVE OF THEIR LIBRARIES.
>> WE ACTUALLY -- I TALKED WITH THE PRINCIPALS AND, YOU KNOW, TOLD THEM, WE'RE NOT HERE TO COMPETE.
WE'RE HERE TO HELP EACH OTHER.
BY HELPING EACH OTHER AND GIVING THESE KIDS ACCESS, THEY CAN EXPAND THEIR COLLECTION.
I CAN TELL YOU THEIR BOOK BUDGET FOR A YEAR MIGHT BE $500, WHEREAS MY BOOK BUDGET IS 20,000.
>> OKAY.
THAT'S A GOOD RATIONALE THEN.
HOW DID YOU NAVIGATE PROVIDING ACCESS TO STUDENTS WITHOUT PARENT SIGNATURES?
ESPECIALLY WITH COMPUTER ACCESS, SOMEONE ASKED.
>> WE HAVE POLICIES.
WE DIDN'T HAVE FILTERING AT THE TIME, BUT WE DID HAVE SEPARATE AREAS FOR THE KIDS TO GET ON THE COMPUTER.
AND I DID NOT HAVE A SINGLE PARENT COME IN AND SAY, I DON'T WANT MY KID TO HAVE ACCESS.
>> OKAY.
WELL, THAT'S GOOD.
>> THERE WERE ABOUT 600 CARDS ISSUED.
>> WOW.
>> MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, WE HAD PARENTS COME IN SAYING, WOW, I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE DOING THIS, HOW DO I GET A CARD?
>> THAT'S PERFECT.
THAT'S WHAT WE WANT, RIGHT?
>> YEAH.
SO DO YOU -- I DON'T KNOW IF YOU MENTIONED ANY OF YOUR -- HOW YOU APPROACH FINES.
DO YOU CHARGE FINES ON THOSE STUDENT ACCESS CARDS?
>> WE ARE CURRENTLY FINE FREE ON ALL KIDS MATERIALS.
THAT INCLUDES UP TO YOUNG ADULT.
IF A BOOK GOES LOST, WE WORK WITH THE KID.
WE SAY, YOU KNOW WHERE IT IS, FIND IT.
EVEN IF IT'S REALLY OVERDUE, WE'D RATHER HAVE THE BOOK BACK.
WE HAVE LOST VERY LITTLE.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
>> THE KIDS WITH PROBLEMS ON THEIR CARDS IS PROBABLY LESS THAN 1%.
>> THAT'S FANTASTIC.
AND I KNOW THERE ARE RESOURCES OUT THERE ON LIBRARIES THAT ARE SHIFTING TO FINE FREE.
I'LL MAKE SURE AND ADD THAT TO THE EVENT PAGE.
THERE ARE LOTS OF QUESTIONS COMING THROUGH.
WE'LL TRY TO TOUCH ON AS MANY OF THEM AS WE CAN.
AND THERE'S DEFINITELY LOTS OF FOLKS CHIMING IN TO RESPOND TO YOUR QUESTION AS WELL.
WERE YOUR SATURDAY PROGRAMS EVERY SATURDAY OR TWICE A MONTH?
>> ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH.
WE STARTED WITH SATURDAY MORNING CARTOONS.
THAT'S ON THE FIRST SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH.
AND THAT IS A VERY LOW-KEY PROGRAM.
WE PROVIDE CEREAL AND MILK, DONUTS, AND WE JUST TURN ON SOME CARTOONS.
WE HAVE CABLE AT THE LIBRARY, SO WE JUST TURN ON THE TV AND PULL ON SOME CARTOONS AND THE KIDS SIT AND RELAX AND JUST HANG OUT AND HAVE A GOOD TIME.
THE OTHER SATURDAY PROGRAMS, WE TEND TO THROW IN SOMETHING SPECIAL.
WE'VE DONE FANCY NANCY TEA PARTY, YOU KNOW, HOT DOG DINNER THEATER.
JUST KIND OF CRAZY IDEAS.
FAMILY LEGO DAY.
>> THAT'S FANTASTIC.
AND I KNOW YOU HAVE SOME OTHER IDEAS AS WELL.
ONE MORE QUICK KIND OF TECHNICAL QUESTION.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NEED TO RESPOND TO THIS, WE CAN ADD IT TO THE EVENT PAGE.
BUT HOW DID YOU MANAGE THE DATA MERGE FOR THE KIDS' INFORMATION TO GET THEM THOSE CARDS?
>> WE GOT A LIST OF NAMES AND THE EMAIL ADDRESSES FOR THE STUDENTS AND WHAT GRADE.
THAT IS IT.
AND WE TYPED MOST OF THEM IN MANUALLY.
WE DIDN'T HAVE AN EASY WAY TO MERGE THEM ALL IN ON OUR ILS.
I THINK NOW WE PROBABLY CAN.
AND NOW WE'RE ONLY ADDING THE NEW SECOND GRADERS EVERY YEAR BECAUSE WE START IN SECOND GRADE.
ONCE THEY'RE AT HAWARDEN ELEMENTARY WE ISSUE THOSE KIDS SO IT'S NOT TERRIBLY HARD.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, LET ME JUST SUMMARIZE A FEW OF THE THINGS THAT FOLKS RESPONDED TO YOUR HOW DO YOU BUILD COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY-WIDE BOOK IS SELECTED EVERY YEAR, BINGO GAMES, PARTICIPATION IN LIONS CLUB, LOCAL HEALTH COALITION, FAMILY RESOURCE ADVISORY COUNCIL, AND OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS TO KEEP IN THE KNOW AND OFFER THE LIBRARY AS A PARTNER.
AND I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THAT.
ADULT PROGRAMMING, LOTS OF ADULT PROGRAMMING, INCORPORATING A SOCIAL ELEMENT SO THAT THERE'S INTERACTION AND WAYS FOR PEOPLE TO FORM CONNECTIONS.
SOME OF THEM ARE SENIOR EXERCISE.
PEOPLE ALWAYS LOVE TO HANG AROUND AND CHAT AFTERWARDS.
MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE CAN ATTEND PROGRAMS, ELIMINATING BARRIERS BY STRUCTURING THE SCHEDULE FOR WORKING PARENTS, AND NO CHARGES FOR PROGRAMS.
SCHOOL VISITS, MOVIE/GAME NIGHTS, SENIOR CENTER VISIT.
LET'S SEE, YEAH, LOTS OF WONDERFUL EXAMPLES.
OTHER FOLKS INTEGRATING THE SCHOOL LIBRARIES INTO THEIR ONLINE CATALOGS.
I'D LOVE TO HEAR THE ACCESS YOU PROVIDE.
THAT'S SOME PRETTY FANCY SERVICE YOU PROVIDE TO YOUR SCHOOL, TO THE SCHOOLS WITH YOUR LIBRARY MATERIALS.
THAT'S GREAT.
SO KEEP YOUR IDEAS COMING.
LIKE I SAID, CHAT IS A GREAT PLACE FOR US TO COLLECT THOSE, AND IT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO REVIEW AS WELL.
ONE MORE, PROJECT FOR THE CENTENNIAL OF WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE.
I KNOW I'VE SEEN THAT COMING THROUGH.
THE SCHOOL HAS GOTTEN INVOLVED, COMMUNITY WOMEN'S GROUPS.
THEY'RE GOING TO MARCH IN A COMMUNITY PARADE.
WHAT BETTER WAY TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER.
>> OKAY.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON.
EVERYONE CAME UP WITH A LOT OF GREAT IDEAS.
ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I SAID YES TO WAS A CRAZY VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY.
I SERVED BEER FROM A BEER TENT AT A LOCAL DEMOLITION DERBY.
KEEP IN MIND, I DON'T DRINK BEER.
I HAVE NEVER POURED BEER FROM A TAP, BUT SOMEONE ASKED AND I SAID, THAT SOUNDS LIKE FUN!
WE REALLY EXPANDED GOING TO NONTRADITIONAL PROGRAM LOCATIONS.
YES, WE READ AT THE SWIMMING POOL.
IT WAS A BLAST.
AT THE LOCAL SOFTBALL GAME, WE DID WATER BALLOON BATTING PRACTICE.
IT WAS HOT, AND WE GET VERY HOT IN THE SUMMERS.
SO IT WAS A LOT OF FUN.
KIDS HAD TO READ A BOOK TO GET TO SWING, AND WE HAVE ONE OF THE LOCAL SOFTBALL PITCHERS PITCH THE WATER BALLOONS.
CRAZY PICTURES AND A LOT OF FUN THAT NIGHT.
BEING PART OF ALL THESE GROUPS THAT ADVANCE COMMUNITY, I JOINED A LOT, AND SOMETIMES I FELT LIKE I WAS RUNNING TO MEETINGS ALL THE TIME, BUT BEING IN THOSE GROUPS NOT ONLY LISTENING AND LISTENING IS A KEY PART OF THIS.
IT'S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT PUSHING OH, THE LIBRARY CAN DO THIS, THE LIBRARY CAN DO THAT.
IT'S LISTENING TO WHAT IS NEEDED AND SAYING, OKAY, HOW CAN WE PARTNER?
HOW CAN WE WORK TOGETHER AND MAKE THIS COMMUNITY BETTER?
AND THE WEST SIOUX PROSPER TEAM IS FOCUSED ON DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE PREVENTION.
TABLE TALKS IS ABOUT COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.
THE CHAMBER, WE HAD A COMMUNITY VISIONING, AND I WAS PART OF THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE, TRYING TO GET THE COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER AND WORK AND JUST LEARN ABOUT WHAT EVERYONE ELSE IS DOING SO THAT WE CAN COMMUNICATE.
IN A SMALL TOWN, I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING GOING ON.
SOMETIMES SETTING THE DATE FOR SOMETHING AND YOU DON'T KNOW, OH, THAT'S COMMUNITY VBS WEEK OR THERE'S A HUGE BASEBALL GAME THAT WEEK.
IT'S SO HARD.
WE'RE ALL COMPETING FOR THE SAME AUDIENCE, AND BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER AND WORK TOGETHER SO THAT WE'RE NOT SCHEDULING HUGE COMMUNITY EVENTS WHEN THERE'S ANOTHER EVENT GOING ON CAN BE A CHALLENGE.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SAY YES.
DON'T BE AFRAID, EVEN IF IT DOESN'T 100% FIT WITH THE LIBRARY.
MY BOARD HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE ABOUT ME BEING OUT THERE AND GOING TO THESE THINGS.
OFTENTIMES MY BOARD PRESIDENT IS ALSO ATTENDING BECAUSE HE'S ON SCHOOL BOARD, HE'S PART OF A -- 
HE'S ON THE DAY CARE BOARD, HE'S VERY ACTIVELY INVOLVED.
SO WHEN I SEE IT AND I'M ATTENDING THIS STUFF, SOMETIMES HE IS TOO.
IT'S GOOD THAT I'M OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO MORE ABOUT THESE LIBRARY POP-UPS.
THE STORY TIME AT THE POOL TURNED INTO POP-UPS.
OUR FIRST ONE, WE HAD A LOCAL BUSINESS DONATED A WHOLE BUNCH OF WATER BALLOONS, AND WE HAD A GAME.
WE HAD ABOUT 100 KIDS PLAYING A GAME WITH WATER BALLOONS OUT ON THE LAWN IN FRONT OF THE POOL, AND THEY WERE TOSSING, YOU KNOW, TRYING NOT TO HAVE THE BALLOON BREAK, AND THE FINAL KIDS ENDED UP WINNING A WHOLE PILE OF WATER BALLOONS THAT YOU FILL WITH THE HOSE.
THE KIDS LOVED THAT.
AND YOU CAN SEE IN THE PICTURES HERE, THE MOM OF THE YOUNG BOY READING ON THE TOWEL, SHE'S LIKE, HOW DID YOU GET HIM TO READ AT THE POOL?
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S SO FUN ABOUT IT.
WE ACTUALLY HAD THE SOFTBALL TEAM READ BEFORE THE GAME.
WE HAD THE COACH READING BEFORE THE GAME.
IN THE THIRD PICTURE, MADDY IS SITTING ON THE EDGE OF THE POOL, AND YOU CAN SEE ALL THE KIDS.
THEY'RE STARING AT HER, WATCHING HER READ, WHILE THEY'RE AT THE POOL.
I THINK GETTING OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY FOR US WAS -- THE FIRST FEW TIMES, THE AUDIENCE KEPT BUILDING.
THEN WE STARTED GETTING PEOPLE SAYING, HEY, CAN YOU DO A POP-UP HERE?
AND WANTING TO PARTNER WITH US.
WE STARTED VERY LOW BUDGET.
WE HAD TWO CRATES, AND WE TOOK BOOKS.
WE HAD A RUBBER-BACKED RUG AND TWO VERY ENTHUSIASTIC LIBRARIANS.
AND WE HAD SOME BOOKMARKS.
I WENT TO A BOOK EXPO AND BROUGHT BACK A WHOLE PILE OF ART.
I SAID FOR EVERYONE WHO COMES TO A POP-UP, THEY GET THEIR NAME IN THE DRAWING.
THEN WE DREW FOR THOSE BOOKS AND HANDED THEM OUT.
WHEN WE EXPLAINED TO THEM, THEY THOUGHT, WOW, THAT'S A REALLY COOL THING.
WE EVEN FOUND OUT WE HAD SOME GROUPIES THAT WOULD TRAVEL AROUND AND GO EVERYWHERE WE WENT.
WHAT WAS NICE IS WE SHOWED UP AT SOFTBALL GAMES, BASEBALL GAMES.
PEOPLE STARTED SAYING, WHERE ARE YOU GOING NEXT?
WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
WE WANT TO KNOW.
AND THE FOLLOWING ON FACEBOOK, THAT'S WHEN WE KIND OF STARTED TO SEE A MASSIVE CHANGE ON FACEBOOK.
WE GAINED PROBABLY LIKE 50 TO 75 FOLLOWERS IN THE SPAN OF A MONTH OR TWO.
AND AT ONE POINT, WE WATCHED OUR GROUPIES IN A GREASED PIG CONTEST.
AND IT WAS HOT.
IT WAS LIKE 100 DEGREES THAT DAY AND HUMID.
THEY HAD SHOWN UP TO OUR POP-UP AT THE FAIR, AND THEY'RE LIKE, PLEASE STAY AND WATCH US.
HOW DO YOU SAY NO?
YOU DON'T.
AND THEN WE HAD A LOCAL MANUFACTURING COMPANY APPROACH US AND SAY, HEY, WE WANT TO PARTNER WITH YOU.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
WHAT CAN WE BUY YOU TO SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, GETTING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY?
THEY EVEN SAID, HEY, CAN YOU COME TO A POP-UP AT OUR BUSINESS, YOU KNOW, DURING BREAK TIME AND SHARE ABOUT THE LIBRARY?
SO THAT WAS KIND OF LIKE YOU STARTED TO SEE THE PERCEPTION CHANGE, AND WE STARTED -- WE DID POP-UPS SOMETIMES OUTSIDE OF LIBRARY HOURS, WHICH WAS -- 
ALLOWED US TO, YOU KNOW, KEEP THINGS RUNNING AND GO TO THESE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.
AND WE DIDN'T SCHEDULE ANY CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING ON FRIDAYS DURING SUMMER READING.
THAT WAS KIND OF OUR POP-UP DAY, BUT WE DID EVENINGS, WE DID SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS, OUTSIDE LIBRARY HOURS.
AND THAT'S WHEN I SAID SOCIAL MEDIA KIND OF BLEW UP, PEOPLE WERE EXCITED.
I WOULD GO AROUND THE GROCERY STORE AND THEY'D BE LIKE, HEY, THAT WAS REALLY AWESOME.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
SO IT WAS NICE TO START SEEING PEOPLE REALIZE -- AND KEEP IN MIND, THESE WERE PEOPLE THAT HAD NEVER SET FOOT IN THE LIBRARY.
THAT'S WHAT I LOVED ABOUT IT.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
LORI, CAN I QUICKLY ASK, PEOPLE ARE DEFINITELY INTERESTED IN STAFFING AND UNDERSTANDING YOUR STAFFING.
SO YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU HAD TWO STAFF THAT USUALLY GO TO THE POP-UP EVENTS.
YOU JUST MENTIONED SOME OF THEM WERE DONE OUTSIDE OF LIBRARY OPEN HOURS.
SO THAT MAKES SENSE.
IN TERMS OF DURING YOUR REGULAR SCHEDULES, HOW DO YOU BALANCE THOSE STAFFING NEEDS BACK AT THE LIBRARY VERSUS YOUR POP-UP EVENTS?
>> I HAD THREE PART-TIME EMPLOYEES THAT DON'T DO ANY PROGRAMMING.
SO IF I WAS NOT AT THE POP-UP, WHICH MORE OFTEN THAN NOT I WASN'T, I WAS AT THE LIBRARY, AND WE TYPICALLY RUN A STAFF, YOU KNOW, TWO PEOPLE MOST DAYS, SOMETIMES THREE OVERLAP.
YOU KNOW, WE WERE ABLE TO MANAGE WITH THE THREE THAT DON'T DO PROGRAMMING.
THEY WORK ENOUGH HOURS ALONG WITH ME TO HAVE ADEQUATE STAFFING AT THE LIBRARY.
THEN OBVIOUSLY FOR THE EVENTS THAT HAPPENED OUTSIDE OF LIBRARY HOURS, I DID PAY THE TWO EMPLOYEES WHO WERE OUT DOING POP-UPS.
THEY COULD MARK THAT DOWN ON THEIR TIME SHEETS.
AND WE ALLOTTED FOR THAT WITHIN OUR BUDGET.
THEIR HOURS SOMEWHAT HAD FLEXIBILITY.
>> OKAY, ALL RIGHT.
THAT'S REALLY HELPFUL.
THANK YOU.
>> YEAH.
WE ALSO HAVE SUMMER LUNCH AT OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHICH IS TWO BLOCKS AWAY.
SO WE DID DO A POP-UP THERE.
THAT WAS OUR VERY FIRST POP-UP.
SO THE PBS RUG, TWO VERY OLD STOOLS, AND OUR CRATES OF BOOKS.
THE ALIEN IS BOOKIE MONSTER.
THE KIDS GOT TO NAME HIM.
AND WE WERE AT THE GROCERY STORE ONE TIME.
IT WAS A REALLY COLD, WINDY, WET DAY.
SO THEY ACTUALLY LET US SET UP IN THE PRODUCE SECTION.
I DID BUY A CANOPY SO WHEN WE WERE OUTSIDE, ESPECIALLY IF IT WAS SUNNY, WE DID HAVE SOME COVERAGE TO HELP NOT SUNBURN OURSELVES.
SO MY QUESTION IS, WHERE COULD YOU DO A POP-UP?
THERE ARE SO MANY OPTIONS.
EVEN PLACES THAT YOU MIGHT NOT THINK OF.
>> SO THERE'S A QUESTION AROUND ARE THERE ISSUES WITH TRANSPORTATION AND INSURANCE THAT FOLKS MIGHT NEED TO BE AWARE OF, DO YOU THINK?
>> NOT THAT WE KNOW OF.
I MEAN, I DID -- WE'RE CONNECTED TO OUR CITY.
I DID ALERT THEM TO THE FACT.
THEY KNOW WE FREQUENTLY DRIVE TO VARIOUS PLACES.
SO I MEAN, THEY ARE PAID STAFF, SO THEY WOULD BE COVERED BY OUR INSURANCE.
SO WE DIDN'T RUN INTO ANY ISSUES.
>> GREAT.
WOW, THERE'S SOME GREAT POP-UP EXAMPLES.
THEY HAVE RESOURCES AT THE DENTIST, PHARMACY, AND DOCTOR'S OFFICE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY DO PROGRAMMING THERE, BUT THAT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR SURE.
LET'S SEE HERE.
OH, ALSO, SOMEBODY MENTIONED VOLUNTEERS.
DO YOU USE VOLUNTEERS FOR ANY OF YOUR PROGRAMMING?
>> NOT A WHOLE LOT.
WE DO HAVE THE OCCASIONAL VOLUNTEER HELP US WITH PROGRAMMING.
MOSTLY RETIRED TEACHERS.
>> OKAY.
>> SO THAT TENDS TO BE WHERE WE TARGET FOR VOLUNTEERS.
MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THEY LOVE TO DO IT BECAUSE IT GIVES THEM A CHANCE TO, YOU KNOW, CONNECT WITH KIDS AGAIN.
AND WE HAVEN'T HAD TO WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT BACKGROUND CHECKS ON THAT FRONT.
>> OKAY.
SO YEAH, YEARLY FAIR FOR POP-UPS, PARK OR PLAY GROUND, FARMERS' MARKET, LAUNDROMAT, YAY.
AMISH PARKS, SCHOOL, PARADE, HEALTH CARE FAIR, COUNTY FAIR, LOW-INCOME APARTMENT COMPLEX, LOCAL KIDS' GYM, ANOTHER FARMERS' MARKET.
THIS LIBRARY PARTICIPATES IN THE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT.
BARBERSHOPS, SALONS.
>> I LOVE THESE.
>> FOOD BANK, WONDERFUL.
COFFEE SHOPS.
>> THAT IS GREAT.
SO AGAIN, ANOTHER FABULOUS QUOTE FROM R. DAVID LANKES.
GREAT LIBRARIES CAN HAVE GREAT BUILDINGS OR LOUSY BUILDINGS OR NO BUILDINGS AT ALL.
YOU CAN HAVE MILLIONS OF VOLUMES OR NONE, BUT GREAT LIBRARIES ALWAYS HAVE GREAT LIBRARIANS WHO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING I'M SO PASSIONATE ABOUT.
I MEAN, ENGAGING THAT COMMUNITY, GETTING PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THE LIBRARY IN A POSITIVE WAY AND JUST BEING THERE FOR EVERYONE.
SO WHAT POP-UPS TURNED INTO, OUR FIRST EVER BLOCK PARTY.
ABOUT THE END OF JUNE, MADDY AND JULIE CAME IN TO ME AND SAID, HEY, WHAT ABOUT HAVING A BLOCK PARTY?
I'M THINKING, OKAY?
I'M THINKING THAT'S A LOT OF WORK.
 THEY'RE LIKE, OH, DON'T WORRY.
WE'LL TAKE CARE OF IT ALL.
WE DON'T NEED A LOT OF HELP.
I'M LIKE, OKAY.
SO BLOCK PARTY WAS BORN AND PLANNED IN ABOUT THREE WEEKS.
THAT WAS A LITTLE NERVE RACKING.
THEY STARTED RECRUITING BUSINESSES.
IN THE PICTURES HERE, WE HAD A SELFIE BOOTH.
COILCRAFT IS OUR LOCAL MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
THEY MANUFACTURE ELECTRONICS.
WE HAD THE BAND TEACHER WITH AN INSTRUMENT PETTING ZOO AND OUR VERY OWN POLICE CHIEF GETTING DUNKED.
THE DUNK TANK WAS OUR CONTRIBUTION, BUT THE KEY THING WAS WE WANTED IT FREE, WE WANTED IT FUN, AND FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY.
WE TALKED TO -- WE APPROACHED LOCAL BUSINESSES.
THE KEY THING WAS IT WAS A PERSONAL INVITATION.
WE WALKED IN THEIR BUSINESS AND SAID, HEY, DO YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS?
I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS I WILL SAY, WHETHER YOU'VE BEEN IN YOUR COMMUNITY A LONG TIME OR YOU'RE BRAND NEW, GETTING OUT AND PHYSICALLY WALKING INTO THE BUSINESS AND TALKING WITH THEM, NOT JUST ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR THEM BUT WHAT YOU CAN WORK TOGETHER ON.
WE GOT SCHOOL GROUPS, CHURCHES, THE CITY, OUR AMBULANCE SQUAD, OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND IN THE PICTURE HERE IS HUNTER DECKER.
HE'S A LEGEND IN OUR TOWN.
HE GRADUATES IN MAY AND WILL BE HEADED TO IOWA STATE AS THEIR QUARTERBACK.
GETTING HIM TO PARTICIPATE AND LET KIDS DO PASSES WITH HIM, KIDS LOVED THAT.
THEY LOVED SEEING HIM AND GETTING TO TALK WITH HIM, AND WE HAD THE MAYOR INVOLVED.
WE HAVE THE POLICE CHIEF, LOTS OF OUR TEACHERS.
DEFINITELY ALLOWING KIDS TO SEE TEACHERS AND ROLE MODELS IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE IT'S APPROACHABLE IS SUCH A HUGE THING.
AND WE HAD OVER 20 DIFFERENT GROUPS REPRESENTED.
OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT DID WATER FIGHTS.
THE MAYOR DID LEGOS INSIDE ONE OF OUR MEETING ROOMS BECAUSE IT WAS A BEASTLY HOT NIGHT.
AND THAT WAS A COOLING CENTER.
WE OPENED UP THE MEETING ROOMS, AND THE KIDS COULD GO INSIDE AND GRAB A BOTTLE OF WATER, PLAY LEGOS.
WE HAD OVER 500 PEOPLE COME OUT THAT NIGHT.
WE SHUT OFF TWO BLOCKS NEXT TO THE LIBRARY, UP TO THE COMMUNITY CENTER, AND OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT DID THEIR TRAINING THAT NIGHT.
SO DID OUR RESCUE SQUAD.
THEY ACTUALLY CUT APART A CAR.
THE KIDS ALL GOT TO SEE IT.
AND ONE OF THE BEST THINGS WAS BEING ABLE TO SEE THE COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER.
YOU HAD BOTH SIDES OF THE COMMUNITY, HISPANIC AND LATINO AND THE REST JUST INTERACTING, HAVING A GREAT TIME IN WHAT WAS A KIND OF CRAZY, THROWN TOGETHER, THREE WEEKS' PLANNING, IT REALLY WENT OFF PRETTY WELL.
WE ONLY HAD A FEW COMMENTS, LIKE MORE TRASH CANS, HAVE FOOD.
AND WE'RE ALREADY MAKING PLANS FOR 2020.
WE'VE SET OUR DATE, AND WE'RE ALREADY REACHING OUT TO GROUPS, TALKING TO THEM AND SAYING, HEY, ARE YOU GOING TO STILL BE A PART OF THIS?
REACHING OUT TO MORE BUSINESSES BECAUSE, OF COURSE, AFTER IT HAPPENED, THEY'RE LIKE, WHY DIDN'T YOU COME TO US?
WE FELT BAD, BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN ONLY DO WHAT YOU CAN DO.
SO I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING IS WHEN YOU'RE GOING FORWARD, IT'S GREAT TO BE ABLE TO PLAN THIS AND KEEP IT GOING DURING THE SUMMER, BUT HOW DO YOU KEEP IT GOING YEAR ROUND?
I FEEL LIKE I'M ALWAYS ON.
AFTER THE END OF SUMMER, I WAS EXHAUSTED, BUT I WAS LIKE, I NEED A BREAK.
EVERYWHERE I WENT, I HAD PEOPLE COMING UP TO ME IN THE GROCERY STORE AND THE RESTAURANT SAYING, HEY, THAT WAS REALLY AWESOME, HERE'S A SUGGESTION.
I KNOW IT FEELS LIKE IN A SMALL TOWN, YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE ALWAYS ON.
SO I WILL SAY, SELF-CARE IS IMPORTANT.
TAKE A BREAK.
THANKFULLY, I HAVE THE CONFERENCE COMING UP AFTER SUMMER READING.
FOR ME, THAT WAS JUST A MUCH-NEEDED RESPITE, TIME AWAY.
YOU CAN EVEN TAKE A VACATION, YOU KNOW, WITHIN YOUR OWN STATE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TO A CONFERENCE FOR THAT.
BUT NOW WE'RE JUST CONTINUING TO FOSTER THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF WHAT WE DO YEAR ROUND.
IN THE WINTERTIME, NOBODY LIKES TO GET OUT.
SO I STRESS, YOU KNOW, KEEP THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.
IT DOESN'T HURT TO GO BACK AND FORTH A FEW TIMES EACH YEAR, TALKING WITH YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES, TALKING WITH YOUR PARTNERS AND KEEPING THEM INFORMED.
SO MUCH OF THIS PRESENTATION IS A RESULT OF MY INVOLVEMENT WITH ARSL.
I LEARNED FROM OTHERS, AND I FEEL LIKE WE CAN TOO.
SO HERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES TAKEN FROM THE ARSL LISTSERV WITH THEIR PERMISSION OF THINGS THEY DID IN THEIR COMMUNITY THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN WITHIN THE BOX OF WHAT WE NORMALLY DO.
SO, YOU KNOW, I LOVE THESE SUGGESTIONS.
BEING INTERVIEWED BY STUDENTS FOR THEIR TV SHOW AND SETTING UP AT THE LOCAL FARMERS' MARKET.
THAT WAS MENTIONED.
I LOVE THAT KARIN IN CONNECTICUT PORTRAYED THE FOUNDER OF THE LIBRARY DURING A CEMETERY WALK.
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT THAT WAS LIKE.
FINALLY, SOME OF THE OTHER CRAZY THINGS WE'VE SAID YES TO.
WE HAD SOME MASSIVE, MASSIVE FLOODING IN OUR AREA, AND ALL THE BRIDGES TO SOUTH DAKOTA WERE UNDER.
SO WE HAD PEOPLE CALLING US SAYING, HEY, CAN U.P.S. DELIVER MY PACKAGE THERE?
I'LL BE PASSING THROUGH.
WE WOULD DO THAT AND SAY, YES, OF COURSE THEY CAN DO THAT.
WE HAD PEOPLE DROPPING OFF EXTRA VEGGIES THAT JUST SAID, I'M OVERRUN, CAN YOU PLEASE JUST LET PEOPLE TAKE THESE?
WE HAPPILY DID.
SO I AM CURIOUS, WHAT HAVE YOU SAID YES TO?
SOME OF THE CRAZIER THINGS.
>> AND WHILE WE GET SOME OF THOSE, WHATEVER YOU SAID YES TO, THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT YOU ALLOW PEOPLE TO CHECK OUT OR RETURN BOOKS AT YOUR POP-UP EVENTS.
>> WE HAVEN'T YET, BUT WE ARE LOOKING TO GET A HOT SPOT SO THAT WE CAN.
>> OKAY, THAT MAKES SENSE.
THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
AND YOU SORT OF TOUCHED ON THIS WITH YOUR EXAMPLE OF THE BLOCK PARTY.
SOMEBODY ASKED EARLY ON HOW YOU PLAN YOUR ACTIVITIES.
DO YOU DO IT WITH A COMMITTEE, YOUR BOARD, STAFF?
SO MAYBE IN ADDITION TO THE BLOCK PARTY PLANNING, CAN YOU GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW YOU GET THOSE IDEAS FOR THE KINDS OF OUTREACH PROGRAMMING YOU'RE DOING.
>> A LOT OF THEM -- I BELONG TO SEVERAL GROUPS ON FACEBOOK.
I ALSO OBVIOUSLY BELONG TO ARSL.
SOMETIMES WE KIND OF TWIST IT IN OUR OWN WAY, AND SOMETIMES WE TAKE IT VERBATIM.
IN SOME CASES IT'S MY STAFF.
THEY COME TO ME AND SAY, HEY, WE WANT TO DO THIS.
I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN THE THEORY, HIRE THE BEST PEOPLE THEN GET OUT OF THEIR WAY.
BECAUSE IF YOU SUPPORT THEM AND LET THEM GROW AND LEARN, THAT'S WHEN THE MAGIC STARTS.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED HERE.
WE HAD TWO REALLY GREAT STAFF THAT JUST KIND OF RAN WITH THINGS.
>> YEAH, I THINK THE STAFFING IS KEY.
ENCOURAGING YOUR STAFF TO TAKE ON OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING ABOUT OTHER IDEAS.
LIKE YOU SAID, YOU'RE GETTING LOTS OF IDEAS FROM THE BROADER LIBRARY COMMUNITY.
SO YEAH.
I APPRECIATE THIS QUESTION COMING UP AGAIN.
YOU MENTIONED HOW YOU EXPANDED YOUR ADULT SUMMER PROGRAMMING.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOU DID THAT AND WHAT THAT LOOKED LIKE?
>> AT FIRST WE STARTED WITH JUST A COUPLE EVENING CRAFTING EVENTS.
OUR NORMAL HOURS, WE TYPICALLY CLOSE AT 6:00.
SO OFTENTIMES WE WERE RUNNING THOSE STARTING AT 5:30 OR 6:00 AND RUNNING INTO THE EVENING.
I, AS SALARIED STAFF, DID A LOT OF THAT MYSELF, NOT REQUIRING STAFF TO STAY INTO THE EVENING.
A LOT OF IT WAS CRAFTING.
WE WERE GETTING VARIOUS GENERATIONS JUST COMING TOGETHER AND BONDING OVER A CRAFT PROJECT.
SOMETIMES IT WAS A MOVIE.
WE DID BATH BOMBS.
WE'VE DONE THINGS WITH OUR CRICKIT.
I AM A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF HOBBY LOBBY, SO I AM CRAFTY.
>> PART OF QUESTION WAS SPECIFIC TO THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM.
IS THERE AN ADULT -- WHAT YOU DID WITH YOUR ADULT SUMMER READING?
>> WE ISSUED SIMILAR CHALLENGES.
WE HAVE A SYSTEM WHERE THEY EARN BADGES.
SO IT'S ACTIVITIES, IT'S READING, IT'S NOT JUST READ THIS MANY HOURS.
WE ENCOURAGE A LOT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH FAMILIES.
MOST OF OUR AUDIENCE IS WORKING MOTHERS, BUT WE DO GET SOME RETIRED FOLKS JUST WANTING TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
WE JUST STARTED OFFERING EVENING PROGRAMMING FOR THEM.
>> FANTASTIC.
ALL RIGHT.
WELL, KEEP POSTING QUESTIONS, BUT HERE ARE SOME WONDERFUL EXAMPLES OF YES, THINGS THEY SAID YES TO.
LIBRARIES SHARING PRODUCE AT THEIR CIRC DESK.
THAT'S WONDERFUL.
LOTS OF SAYING YES TO THE DUNK TANK.
THAT'S A BOLD YES.
PAINTING A COMMUNITY MURAL.
4H CLUB LEAVES ITEMS AT THE LIBRARY FOR THEIR SERVICE PROJECTS.
THAT'S A GREAT PARTNERSHIP.
LET'S SEE, OPENING THEIR COMMUNITY ROOM TO SERVE SNACKS AND HOT DRINKS TO PEOPLE EXPERIENCING POWER OUTAGES.
LIBRARIES IN TOUGH TIMES, THAT'S A GREAT YES FOR SURE.
COLLECTING TOYS FOR THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.
THAT'S WONDERFUL.
STARTING YOGA CLASSES.
A PRE, PRE, PRE SUPER BOWL PARTY.
OH, MY GOODNESS.
LOTS OF WONDERFUL YESES.
LET'S SEE, YES TO DANCE CLASSES, YES TO MEALS FOR KIDS YEAR ROUND, HOMEWORK BOOK CLUBS AND ART CLASSES, JOB FAIRS.
YES TO JOB FAIRS.
>> THERE'S SO MANY THINGS YOU CAN DO.
ALL THESE HAVE REALLY LED TO A HUGE CHANGE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I HAVE TO SAY, THE WORK OF ARSL AND THE WORK OF SMALL LIBRARIES REALLY INSPIRED ME ON THIS ONE.
IT'S ONE THAT I COLLABORATED WITH MY STAFF TO PRESENT AT OUR STATE CONFERENCE.
OUR CHILDREN'S CIRCULATION HAS GONE UP ON AVERAGE 30% TO 50% OVER LAST YEAR.
WE SAW SIMILAR INCREASES FROM THE YEAR BEFORE.
OVERALL CIRCULATION IS GOING UP ANYWHERE FROM 10% TO 20% ANNUALLY.
SO THAT IS HUGE IN MY MIND.
I'M LIKE, WE REALLY ARE BUSIER.
WHEN I PULL THE CIRC, I'M JUST LIKE FLABBERGASTED BY WHERE WE'RE AT ON THAT.
IT'S SHOWING -- AND THE COMMENTS STILL CONTINUE.
JUST THE OTHER DAY, I WAS IN THE GROCERY STORE.
MY CHECKOUT CLERK SAID SHE'D BEEN SITTING ALL DAY.
SHE WAS REALLY TIRED.
SHE HAD BEEN WAITING FOR A RELATIVE HAVING SURGERY.
I SAID, SOUNDS LIKE YOU NEEDED A BOOK.
SHE SAYS, YEAH, I SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF THAT.
AND SOMETIMES IT'S THAT COMMENT.
I GET THE SAME THING IN A BANK.
I HAD THE GAL SAY I DIDN'T KNOW YOU GUYS HAD AUDIOBOOKS THAT I CAN GET ON MY PHONE.
HERE'S THE INFORMATION.
I HAD SOME FACEBOOK MESSAGES WITH HER.
SHE'S ACTUALLY A FRIEND OF MINE.
I GOT HER SET UP AND GOING.
DON'T BE AFRAID TO DO STUFF LIKE THAT.
WE HAD A REALLY CRAPPY WEATHER DAY.
WE WERE CLOSING EARLY.
I HAD A PATRON MESSAGE ME AND SAY, HEY, I REALLY WANT TO ACCESS BRIDGES.
SHE HAD A CARD.
I GOT HER THE INFORMATION.
AS WE WERE CLOSING.
DOING THOSE SMALL THINGS REALLY MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
AND I FEEL LIKE SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO RELAX THINGS A LITTLE BIT.
I KNOW WE HAVE POLICIES, BUT IT'S LITTLE ACTS LIKE THAT, THAT REALLY PEOPLE START TALKING.
I DON'T THINK PROVIDING GOOD SERVICE, YOU KNOW.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
>> I FEEL LIKE AS SMALL LIBRARIES, WE HAVE THE OPTION TO DO THAT.
I KID YOU NOT, I GET FACEBOOK MESSAGES FROM PATRONS AFTER HOURS.
IF IT'S AN UNREASONABLE HOUR, NO, I DON'T RESPOND.
SOMETIMES I WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT DAY.
BUT IN MOST CASES, I TRY TO REMAIN ACCESSIBLE TO THE LEVEL I FEEL COMFORTABLE.
IF I'M COMPLETELY UNAVAILABLE, I'M UNAVAILABLE.
BUT IF THEY WANT TO MESSAGE ME AND SAY, HEY, I HAVE A QUESTION, OR CAN YOU LOOK THIS UP FOR ME, I TRY TO, AS MUCH AS I CAN, HELP THEM, WHILE RESPECTING MY TIME.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, KENDRA, THANKS FOR SHARING, THERE'S A GREAT ARTICLE THAT'S BEEN POSTED TO CHAT.
I'LL ALSO ADD IT TO THE EVENT PAGE BY ARSL'S VICE PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT-ELECT.
SHE HAS A WONDERFUL RESOURCE THAT SHE WORKS THROUGH WITH HER TEAM, FOCUSED ON GETTING TO YES.
THAT'S ANOTHER LEARNING RESOURCE THAT YOU ALL CAN USE.
AND ONE MORE QUICK QUESTION.
ASIDE FROM SHARING YOUR GREAT WORK AT CONFERENCES AND HERE IN THIS WEBINAR, HOW DO YOU SHARE YOUR IMPACT OR HOW DO YOU REPORT ON THAT?
DO YOU HAVE A REPORT YOU PROVIDE YOUR BOARD?
HOW DO YOU INCLUDE ALL THESE WONDERFUL ANECDOTAL STORIES AND ASPECTS OF YOUR GREAT WORK?
>> OFTENTIMES -- I DO AN ANNUAL REPORT CITY COUNCIL.
I DO ONE TO OUR CITY COMMISSIONERS BECAUSE WE GET FUNDING FROM THEM.
MY BOARD, OBVIOUSLY, I PROVIDE A MONTHLY REPORT.
SO A LOT OF TIMES I HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THIS STUFF IN MY MONTHLY REPORTS AND ALSO IN THOSE ANNUAL REPORTS TO THE GOVERNING BODIES.
I TRY TO DOCUMENT THEM AS MUCH AS I CAN.
I WILL ADMIT I'M PROBABLY NOT THE BEST AT IT.
BUT IF I REMEMBER SOMETHING AND WRITE IT DOWN, I JUST KIND OF HAVE A FILE OF THINGS I HEAR AND COMMENTS THAT ARE MADE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE POSITIVE.
JUST REMEMBERING, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE HAVING A TOUGH DAY, OPEN THAT FILE.
REMIND YOURSELF THAT YOU ARE DOING GREAT WORK, EVEN WHEN SOMETIMES THE CHIPS MAY BE DOWN.
>> I LOVE THAT.
HAVE THAT FILE HANDY, BOTH TO PUT IN STUFF AND TO VISIT FOR THOSE DAYS YOU NEED A LITTLE UPLIFT.
THAT'S FANTASTIC.
WELL, WE'RE ABOUT TO WRAP UP, BUT I WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO HAVE FOLKS SHARE THEIR ONE THING.
WE KNOW IT'S HELPFUL TO LEAVE THESE SESSIONS -- THERE'S BEEN SO MANY IDEAS, AND DEFINITELY I ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO RETURN TO THE EVENT PAGE.
WE'LL POST CHAT.
THERE'S SO MANY THINGS WE DIDN'T GET TO TOUCH ON THAT WERE SHARED IN CHAT.
FEEL FREE TO SHARE.
WE'LL LET LORI WRAP US UP.
THANKS SO MUCH, LORI.
>> WELL, I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN TODAY.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME.
GIVE ME A CALL.
EMAIL IS PROBABLY EASIER.
I'LL TRY TO RESPOND.
I REALLY LOVED BEING ABLE TO SHARE ABOUT GETTING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND WORKING TOGETHER.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING SUCH A GOOD AUDIENCE, AND I'M EXCITED TO READ THE CHAT AFTER THIS BECAUSE I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PAY ATTENTION TO IT THAT CLOSELY.
>> EXACTLY.
WELL, LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE PLANNING POP-UPS.
SO THAT'S DEFINITELY A HUGE TAKEAWAY, AND SOMEBODY SAID THEY'RE GOING TO TRY WATER BALLOONS.
>> YEAH, JUST GET A PLASTIC BAT.
YOU CAN GET A KIDDIE STYLE BAT.
THAT'S THE MOST FUN.
>> FANTASTIC.
ALL RIGHT.
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, LORI.
A REMINDER TO FOLKS THAT I'LL SEND YOU AN EMAIL LATER TODAY ONCE THE RECORDING IS POSTED, AND I'M ALSO GOING TO SEND YOU TO A SHORT SURVEY AS YOU LEAVE.
IF YOU CAN TAKE SOME TIME NOW OR ACCESS THAT LINK IN THE EMAIL, WE LOVE TO GET YOUR FEEDBACK.
WE'LL SHARE THAT WITH LORI, AND IT'LL HELP US GUIDE OUR ONGOING PROGRAMMING.
AND I'LL ALSO SEND YOU ALL A CERTIFICATE FOR ATTENDING TODAY.
THAT'LL SHOW UP SOMETIME NEXT WEEK.
AGAIN, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE.
THANKS TO OUR CAPTIONER, AND EVERYONE HAVE A FANTASTIC REST OF YOUR WEEK.
BYE-BYE.