Library Connections Brainstorm

Library Related Websites
Blogs Wikis and Listservs (Oh my!)
Staff Connections
Other Ideas
 

Library Related Websites

• WebJunction www.webjunction.org
• OCLC www.oclc.org
• Librarian's Index to the Internet www.lii.org
• ALA (American Library Association) http://www.ala.org
• PLA (Public Library Association) http://www.pla.org
• MLA (Medical Library Association) http://www.mlanet.org/ 
• State Library Associations http://www.cosla.org/
• Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations (ALTAFF) http://www.ala.org/united/
• Lyrasis http://www.lyrasis.org/
• INFOPEOPLE www.infopeople.org
• OPAL(Online Programming for All Libraries) archived events
• SirsiDynix Institute web seminar archive
• Project Wombat:  An email discussion list for tough reference questions 

Blogs Wikis and Listservs (Oh my!)

• Create a blog or wiki for your library or library staff to make easy updates
• Make a wishlist and post it on the website/blog and in the library
• Blogging Libraries Wiki
• Library Success: A Best Practices Wiki
• Library Weblogs collected by Peter Scott
• BlogJunction Kansas
• Web4Lib http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib
• PubLib http://lists.webjunction.org/publib/
• Read more about blogs and other social software on WJ
• Create a branch manager listserv/staff listserv
• Ning:  Create a Social Networking group
• The Rambling Librarian's 10 points on Blogs and RSS
• 23 Things to "explore and expand your knowledge of the Internet and Web 2.0"
• A service that offers "library event calendaring, blogs, feedback forms, RSS, and custom databases":  http://engagedpatrons.org/ 
• Create a library tech discussion forum
• Create a Myspace page for the library and "friend" other libraries

Staff Connections

• Mentor each other
• Meet with other community librarians - once a month
• Find a buddy from somewhere else in the state or country
• WebJunction's In Focus monthly webinars for rural library staff (and also archives of the sessions!)
• Form annual quadrant meetings for rural and small library personnel
• E-mail connections to other state rural library personnel
• Send monthly "at my library" e-mails to other libraries
• Form area library association- school, public, academic, special, etc...
• Book cart drill team- have fun with other library staff and outreach to the community
• Attend conferences- ALA, MLA, NELA, PLA, etc...
• Join teacher/librarian associations
• Cross-training visits between libraries
• Trade employees for a day
• Potluck dinner with idea exchange
• Connect with schools to get homework assignments
• Stay in touch with library participants
• Road trip to conferences
• Meet with other library directors once a month
• Share success stories with peer groups and bring examples to directors' meetings

• Think about all Library Partners- Share ideas and resources!

  • Area branch public libraries
  • Local College/University libraries
  • Elementary, Middle, High School libraries
  • Local prison libraries
  • Special libraries
  • Libraries in similar situations; population served, # of staff, # of hours open, etc...
  • Tribal community libraries

Other Ideas:

• Host or attend free civic events about freedom, democracy, and citizenship and register your library's event with the September Project. Since 2004, more than 1,100 libraries in 34 countries have hosted free and public September Project events.
• Keep City Council aware of library staff activities
• Work with library board to develop a better connection between librarian and board, Friends groups, etc..
• Ask trustees to call once a month about needs or concerns
• Share summer programs with nearby towns
• Lunch and learn
• Set up library to school library video conference to do distance booktalks

If you have library connections ideas or resources to add, please share them in the comments area below. Thank you for all your great work!!