Facebook Readers' Advisory, Various Libraries
September 2011, Milwaukee Public Library
January 2012, Kitsap Regional Library
Competencies demonstrated:
At both institutions, I worked with a team of librarians to provide a readers’ advisory blitz on our Facebook page. Readers posted what they’ve been reading lately, and we suggested their next read. This was a fantastic experience both times - fun and engaging for the librarians and the patrons! It’s a great way to stretch ourselves to engage our community, and gives us a chance to hone our RA skills to boot. September in Milwaukee was the first time I had been involved in an event like this, and I learned what procedures were successful and what could be improved.
In January 2012, I helped Kitsap Regional Library execute a similar event. We were overwhelmed with hundreds of requests in just two hours! This experience was especially enjoyable because the library system had an emergency closure that day due to severe weather. However, we were able to continue providing live library services online! It was a very real accomplishment towards our goal of having a true 24/7 digital branch. We will absolutely be doing this again, perhaps with more children’s librarians and a summer-reading angle.
January 2012, Kitsap Regional Library
Competencies demonstrated:
- Uses Web tools and social networking communities to engage with and provide services to users
- Explores the potential of social networking to interact with users and meet their information needs
- Understands the unique opportunities, norms and limitations of online engagement with users
At both institutions, I worked with a team of librarians to provide a readers’ advisory blitz on our Facebook page. Readers posted what they’ve been reading lately, and we suggested their next read. This was a fantastic experience both times - fun and engaging for the librarians and the patrons! It’s a great way to stretch ourselves to engage our community, and gives us a chance to hone our RA skills to boot. September in Milwaukee was the first time I had been involved in an event like this, and I learned what procedures were successful and what could be improved.
In January 2012, I helped Kitsap Regional Library execute a similar event. We were overwhelmed with hundreds of requests in just two hours! This experience was especially enjoyable because the library system had an emergency closure that day due to severe weather. However, we were able to continue providing live library services online! It was a very real accomplishment towards our goal of having a true 24/7 digital branch. We will absolutely be doing this again, perhaps with more children’s librarians and a summer-reading angle.
Virtual Readers' Advisory Service Proposal, Milwaukee Public Library
September 2010
Competencies demonstrated:
MPL would like to do a better job of engaging teens and young professionals, despite its very limited staffing and space resources. We are also actively seeking new ways to use online tools to engage our own local community. At the same time, I identified a need for stronger readers’ advisory services at MPL. Combining these needs prompted me to propose a virtual readers’ advisory service which provides personalized, librarian-created book lists. In other libraries, this service has been extremely successful in attracting local use. It has the added benefit of often being immensely popular especially with teens and twentysomethings. A virtual service also allows us to reach many people with a minimum expenditure of resources, as it requires neither space nor a single, dedicated, physically present librarian. I’m so excited about the possibilities of this service! I crafted this proposal for our virtual services committee. It was accepted, and hopefully the program will move forward soon!
Competencies demonstrated:
- Defines and implements outreach services for the library community to increase use of library services and to reach underserved populations
- Demonstrates ability to be creative, promote new ideas
- Understands and articulates the importance of engaging with users in non-traditional ways that extend beyond the physical library
- Aligns efforts with the vision and direction of the organization
- Devises strategies to keep up with emerging tools and techniques, and connects with professional communities to seek and share best practices
- Identifies the appropriate opportunities, resources and timing to act in support of the library’s vision and mission
- Works to meet or exceed goals by obtaining resources and support, and by eliminating obstacles
- Evaluates programs, using appropriate evaluation strategies
MPL would like to do a better job of engaging teens and young professionals, despite its very limited staffing and space resources. We are also actively seeking new ways to use online tools to engage our own local community. At the same time, I identified a need for stronger readers’ advisory services at MPL. Combining these needs prompted me to propose a virtual readers’ advisory service which provides personalized, librarian-created book lists. In other libraries, this service has been extremely successful in attracting local use. It has the added benefit of often being immensely popular especially with teens and twentysomethings. A virtual service also allows us to reach many people with a minimum expenditure of resources, as it requires neither space nor a single, dedicated, physically present librarian. I’m so excited about the possibilities of this service! I crafted this proposal for our virtual services committee. It was accepted, and hopefully the program will move forward soon!
