Author: Catherine

Librarian, writer, cupcake connoisseur, and utility infielder.
Communications & Marketing, In the Workplace, User Experience, Weekly Links

Lonely, Lonely Links

Catherine

Long time, no links (on the blog). These guys would really like to be shared.

I keep watching this video. It’s worth the three minutes.

(Side note: Even my empathy comes with sandwiches. Jimmy John’s cures all.)

What should you stop doing? I bet it’s one of these things.

In not-shocking news for most librarians: Bosses say they want outside of the box thinking until it happens

How To Tell The Story Of Your Idea Using The ‘Value Proposition Hack.’ Does your idea add value? Should it matter? Who cares? This trick will make deep thinking much simpler.

Stop Thinking So Much Like a Damn Librarian. You are not your user. Learn to see through their eyes.

Eight Ways to Stay Calm in the Middle of Chaos. Don’t let a busy period at work destroy you. Librarianship is (almost never) not life or death. Step back from the panic button.

Book Reviews

Recommended reads: Best of 2013

Catherine

I know, I know — libraries aren’t all about books anymore. These are titles that are too good not to share.

I’ve read a lot this year, and I’m astonished how many nonfiction books made my favorites list. I’d also like to grant some Yearly Achievement Awards to George R.R. Martin, Rae Carson, Tiffany Reisz and M.L. Buchman for sucking me into their series and taking me off to much more exciting worlds.

And now, without further adieu, my Goodreads shelf for the best books I’ve read this year.

What books did you love?

Other

My Summer Reading List

Catherine

Summer only officially began a few days ago, but being a child of the Upper Midwest, “summer” reading starts in mid-May. Here’s what I’m working on this summer:

Already Finished

To-Read

What’s on your list this summer?

Weekly Links

Great links for librarians, the new weekly (no longer monthly!) edition

Catherine

After my recent post on wanting to read, write, learn and share more, it’s only fitting that I sneak in a few weeks’ worth of links. About everything.

How to get things done (a flowchart): A simple tool to kick yourself into gear. It’s much easier than you think.

Better meetings: BLUF and the three WHATS: The military knows how to get things done. Two seriously simple approaches to better (and shorter!) meetings.

Don’t let endless meetings derail decision-making: As someone who recently sat through a meeting about meetings about meetings, I beg you. Let’s DO something.

6 things you control that are impacting your job performance: We control more than we think. Helpful in rethinking how I approach my job in a crowded (and sometimes a bit chaotic) office.

Three tips for becoming an energizer: How to go about controlling some of those things from the first link. Set aside the negative energy; strive for a more positive existence in the workplace.

Other

Who really needs this?

Catherine

The Sigma chapter of Beta Phi Mu (Drexel) had a belated induction ceremony last week. It was a bit of a last minute affair, and Executive Council (I’m the secretary) worked hard to find an interesting speaker who was available less than a month later. Nicole Engard’s presentation on The New Age of Librarianship (PDF) covered some cool new (and not so new) programs, great ways in which libraries are really serving their communities. The newbies were impressed. But so were we.

Nicole ended her talk with some tips that sent me scrambling for a way to take notes (emphasis mine):

  • Never ever ever stop learning!

  • “I don’t have time” is unacceptable

  • Read, Write, Teach and Share

  • Networking is key!

  • Be creative/Think outside the box

  • Challenge the status quo

By this point, I found myself wondering, “Who was this talk really for?” Yes, it was great for our recent graduates, but the more experienced among us were even more excited. It’s great to bring focus back to our work.

And so, as I sit mid-flight to my big summer conference (ed tech, not libraries, sadly), I resolve to do these things. To keep learning. To make time for knowledge. To share what I learn. And to never stop asking the question “Why?” when it comes to the status quo.

This talk was definitely for me.

Weekly Links

Great links for librarians, “It’s May?!?” edition

Catherine

Wow, hello, end of the semester! Here’s what I’ve been reading in between all sorts of craziness.

What’s my brand identity and how do I communicate it? Yes, your library does have a brand, but do you know what it is? This post will walk you through how to identify and leverage your brand.

How to plan when you are already doing it: Story of my social media life.

How to explain your career transition: An interesting take on what most of us do when entering librarianship. Bring your whole history to the table, not just what you’ve done since getting your MLIS. (n.b. Using your prior experience can make amazing things happen in your world. Trust me!)

10 things every customer wants: A summary of recent research on customer behavior. Lots to be learned by libraries in this list.

Communications & Marketing

The only two things librarians need to read about QR codes, and one experiment that might prove me wrong

Catherine

QRcodes_photo

QR codes. Are we really still talking about this? Yes? OK, fine.

My thoughts can be summed up in two ways.

  1. Should I Use A QR Code?
  2. Implementing QR Codes in Libraries

BUT

I finally had the opportunity to see the Free Library of Philadelphia’s Virtual Free Library at Suburban Station. As both a Regional Rail rider and avid FLP user, I had been really interested in this project, even though it wasn’t at my primary station. And then I saw the QR codes. I’ve had my iPhone for more than a year and a half, and I still don’t have a code reader. I understand the appeal here — people need quick and easy access to the information so they can get the materials before their train arrives — but I’ll still be curious to see just how much use the codes get versus the simple (yet harder to find) URL.

I keep waiting for someone to prove me wrong on the usefulness of QR codes. Maybe FLP will be the one.

In the Workplace

Leading Academic Libraries to Excellence (Program Recap)

Catherine

I spent Friday at the ACRL-Delaware Valley Chapter spring program, Leading Academic Libraries to Excellence. Even as a nonleader, I found the day’s talks and the panel discussion to be incredibly inspiring. Here are selected notes and comments.

Steven Bell, current ACRL president, opened the day with a talk about grassroots leadership, which he defined as leading from anywhere, not just the top.

A few key points from his talk:

  • Leadership is about creating change.
  • There are some things formal leaders just can’t do.
  • Look for opportunities and gaps libraries can address with our resources, and then do it.
  • Recommended reading: Enhancing Campus Capacity for Leadership

Joe Lucia, who will be moving to Temple University this summer (who else is excited to see what happens when he and Steven Bell are in the same library?), talked about getting everyone involved in change. Libraries can be paralyzed by culture, he said, but we have to be willing to try the unknown and take real risks. We need a compelling shared vision and shared celebration of success. Partner and collaborate. Encourage experimentation at all levels, and cultivate a sense of playfulness.

Overall, I loved the positivity put forth by the speakers and attendees. When I signed up for the conference, I was hoping for a palate cleanser, something to push me from getting through the day-to-day to truly being excited about the profession. This was all that and more. Thanks to everyone involved. Let’s go do great things!

Weekly Links

Great Links for Librarians, Grabbag Edition

Catherine

This was a crazy week. My reading was all over the place, as a result, and my apologies as you skip from one thought to another right along with me.

How to act on what you read: Crucial information for us binge readers. Between my to-read pile and my obsessive blog reading, it’s essential I be able to process and use all the information.

Take control of your personal brand: Much more than just your brand, but creating a whole new you for the next step in your career.

How to ask for great advice (and get it!): I had two wonderful networking coffee meetings this week, and this advice is spot on for preparing for and following up on these meetings.

Busy is the new lazy: Much like stress, busyness is not a game. Let’s stop making it one. Maybe we can all finish our work in time for dinner.

Trying to motivate people to change? Reward them.: Beef up your marketing with a clearer answer to “What’s in it for me?”.