Librarianship: Strategies for Sustainability and Growth

1. Librarianship: Strategies for
Sustainability and Growth
Teresa S. Welsh, Ph.D.
teresa.welsh@usm.edu

2. Background: What are Libraries?
 “Libraries are the memories of mankind” –
Goethe
 “Medicine for the soul” - Inscription over
the door of the Library at Thebes
 “The only treasure-house open to all
comers is a library” - J. A. Langford
 “Cultural repositories” – T.S. Welsh
Mississippi Library Association Annual
10/20/2010 Conference, Vicksburg 2

3. Why are libraries important?
 Libraries are closely related to and important
for democracy:
 “Dissemination of knowledge is one of the
cornerstones of civilization” - John Budd
 “Perhaps no place in any community is so totally
democratic as the town library. The only entrance
requirement is interest” - Lady Bird Johnson
Mississippi Library Association Annual
10/20/2010 Conference, Vicksburg 3

4. Libraries Provide Data, Information;
Promote Knowledge, Wisdom
 Data = symbols
 Information =
data + meaning
 Knowledge =
useful collection of
information
 Wisdom =
understanding
http://www.systems-thinking.org/dikw/dikw.htm
Mississippi Library Association Annual
10/20/2010 Conference, Vicksburg

5. Origins of DIKW Hierarchy
 In his Futurist article, Cleveland cites T.S.
Eliot as the person who suggested the DIKW
hierarchy. Cleveland names it "the T.S. Eliot
hierarchy".
 In 1934 Eliot wrote in "The Rock":
Where is the Life we have lost in living?
Where is the wisdom we have lost in
knowledge?
Where is the knowledge we have lost in
information?
Mississippi Library Association Annual
10/20/2010 Conference, Vicksburg 5

6. What is the Role/Purpose of Libraries?
 To collect and
preserve information
 To organize and
provide access to
information
 To support mission
of the parent
organization.
Image courtesy of the Bodleain Library
Mississippi Library Association Annual
10/20/2010 Conference, Vicksburg

7. How important is planning?
Every library should have operational plan and
strategic plan
 Operational plan
 Short-term, a year or two
 Example: annual budget
 Strategic plan
 Long-range
 Mission Statement
 Goals
Mississippi Library Association Annual
10/20/2010 Conference, Vicksburg 7

8. http://21stcenturylibrary.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/strategicplanmodel.jpg
Mississippi Library Association Annual
10/20/2010 Conference, Vicksburg 8

9. What is the mission of a school
library/media center?
 Supports curriculum
 Promotes collaboration
with teachers
 Promotes reading
 Teaches information
literacy
http://isarsoileau.blogspot.com/  Computer literacy
 Database searching
 Evaluating, citing sources.
Mississippi Library Association Annual
10/20/2010 Conference, Vicksburg 9

10. What is the value of a school
library/media center?
 Relates to student
achievement
 Increases literacy
 Builds resiliency.
http://www.msad49.org/clinton/library/clinton_elementary_school_library.htm
Mississippi Library Association Annual
10/20/2010 Conference, Vicksburg 10

11. How Do Libraries Build Resiliency?
1. Supports and encourages education
2. Staff values teens, exhibits friendliness
3. Rules are consistent and clear
4. Rules, programs, and services are developed with input by teens
5. Promotes service to others, “required helpfulness”
6. Provides information about health, education, employment, recreation
7. Provides opportunities to develop and practice life skills such as
cooperation, leadership, decision-making, problem-solving, and
impulse control
8. Helps develop talents, hobbies, and interests
9. Provides opportunities to be sociable
10. Promotes reading.
Dr. Jami Jones (www.askdrjami.org)
Mississippi Library Association Annual
10/20/2010 Conference, Vicksburg 11

12. What is the mission of a public library?
 Serves community/acts
as community center
 Promotes reading
 Promotes resiliency
 Offers training
 GED, ESL classes
 Computer literacy
 Job application http://storyconnection.net/blog/category/summer-reading/
 Tax filing
Mississippi Library Association Annual
10/20/2010 Conference, Vicksburg 12

13. What is the value of a public library?
 Serves as community
hub, provides broad
range of services,
activities
 Provides public
computers, meeting
space
Image courtesy of Hattiesburg Public Library
 Can be "economic
engines" of downtowns
or neighborhoods.
Mississippi Library Association Annual
10/20/2010 Conference, Vicksburg 13

14. What is the mission of an academic
library?
 Supports scholarship
 Supports research
 Teaches information
literacy
 Determine info need
 Access info effectively
 Evaluate sources
 Use sources
 Cite sources.
http://librarynext.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/information-literacy/
Mississippi Library Association Annual
10/20/2010 Conference, Vicksburg 14

15. What is the value of an academic library?
 Important part of
accreditation
 Increases networking,
collaboration across
campus
 Related to grant
funding
 Every $1 invested in
Image courtesy of USM Cook Library
library = $4 grant
funding to university
(Tenopir, 2009).
Mississippi Library Association Annual
10/20/2010 Conference, Vicksburg

16. Marketing Strategies
1. “Never waste a crisis”
a. Create zero-based budget
b. Review each program and service -
does it support library‟s mission?
c. Ask “If we were opening the library
today would we still do this?”
Mississippi Library Association Annual
10/20/2010 Conference, Vicksburg 16

17. Marketing Strategies
2. Know you community – what are
community‟s needs… patrons‟ needs?
a. Focus PR on programs/services that
meet those needs
3. Seek sponsorships for special
events/programs
Mississippi Library Association Annual
10/20/2010 Conference, Vicksburg 17

18. Marketing Strategies
4. Create e-mail list of patrons,
community service groups, other
interested parties
a. Save postage - email overdue notices
b. Promote library with e-newsletter
5. Create wish list; post on e-newsletter,
Web site, and in building; include
donation policy
Mississippi Library Association Annual
10/20/2010 Conference, Vicksburg 18

19. Marketing Strategies
6. Begin fundraising for special projects
7. Establish community co-op for shared
purchasing of bulk items
8. Use Web 2.0 tools (RSS, Facebook,
blog, e-newsletter, YouTube) to
market library programs/services
Mississippi Library Association Annual
10/20/2010 Conference, Vicksburg 19

20. Marketing Strategies
9. Write column for local newspaper
a. “What‟s new at the library” should
include Wish List
b. Donations “in honor of” and “in memory
of” and donation policy
10. Start or expand “Friends of Library”
group; market to retirees, service orgs.
Mississippi Library Association Annual
10/20/2010 Conference, Vicksburg 20

21. Funding Sources
 Library Grants Blog
http://librarygrants.blogspot.com
 Foundation Center
http://foundationcenter.org/
 Sign up for grant alerts at:
http://www.grants.gov/
Mississippi Library Association Annual
10/20/2010 Conference, Vicksburg 21

22. Some new trends, ideas…
 New tools such as glogs (graphic blogs)
http://tattdlibrarian.glogster.com/supernaturally-yours?
 New programs or services such as Facebook
classes for retirees, glog classes for teens
 Educational gaming for children and teens
 Library branch/computer lab in shopping
mall.
Mississippi Library Association Annual
10/20/2010 Conference, Vicksburg 22

23. Selected Sources
 Fleming-May, R.A. and Grogg, J.E. (2010) Assessing Use and
Usage. Library Technology Reports 46(6): 5-10.
 Jones, J. L. (2006) The Library Media Specialist: A Vital Link.
School Library Media Activities Monthly 22(6): 22-4.
 Jones, J. L. (2003) „I build resiliency‟: The Role of the School
Media Specialist. School Libraries Worldwide 9(2): 90-99.
 MacKellar, P. (2010) Six Preparedness Strategies for Librarians
in Tough Economic Times. Computers in Libraries 30(3): 12-17.
Mississippi Library Association Annual
10/20/2010 Conference, Vicksburg 23

24. Selected Sources
 Senville, K. (2009) Libraries at the Heart of our Communities.
Planning Commission Journal 75: 12-18.
(http://www.plannersweb.com/wfiles/w412.html )
 Stearns, E. (2009) Top Ten Marketing Tips for Financial
Strength and Sustainability. Illinois Library Association Reporter
27(5): 8-9.
 Tenopir, C. (2009) Measuring the Value of the Academic
Library: Return on Investment and Other Value Measures.
The Serials Librarian 58(1-4): 39-48.
Mississippi Library Association Annual
10/20/2010 Conference, Vicksburg 24

25. Thank you for your attention.
What are some of your
ideas and strategies?
Mississippi Library Association Annual
10/20/2010 Conference, Vicksburg 25