The Scholarly Kitchen has served up an interesting article for libraries this morning. In, Tackling the Data-Driven Funding Challenge — a New Skill for Nonprofit Managers, Alix Vance reviews initiatives to address one of the key challenges for libraries and other nonprofit organizations: When it comes to fundraising and donors, it’s no longer enough for
◊ Business of Libraries ◊
On getting patrons to use the databases
How do we get patrons to use the databases? We spend a lot of money on them and no one uses them. This question from a public librarian during one of the Reference Renaissance forums intrigued me. My first reaction was to wonder why a library would continually subscribe to resources patrons aren’t using and
Inching toward a National Public Library Corporation
At the Reference Renaissance 2010 conference in Denver earlier this month, I was encouraged to learn of various statewide and regional collaborations to foster more efficient operations and delivery of better library services. Conversations about these alliances arose throughout the conference and I would continually ask “why stop here, why not extend this across the
A patron gets a peek
I’ve been at the Reference Renaissance 2010 conference in Denver since Sunday and it’s been incredibly illuminating and energizing. Many thanks to the BCR Library Network for their invitation to be a plenary panelist, generous hospitality and assistance connecting me with talented people from around the country, England and Canada. What a priviledge it has
On engaging with the FOX News videos
So I’ve been summarizing my thoughts on the FOX News videos and noting how good it feels to experience powerful dialogue about the issues facing our public libraries. A common trope is to frame issues in polar, life-or-death ways and library rhetoric often falls into this trap. Two of the FOX videos do the same
FOX News: best info & context about public library issues
On June 28, FOX News affiliates in Boston, New York and Chicago each ran 5-7 minute segments on public libraries. Though I never imagined myself endorsing content distributed by FOX, these news clips have provided the best coverage I’ve seen of our public library dilemmas. They did a good job highlighting the value delivered by
Getting the brush off @ your library
It’s disconcerting how often I get the brush off when seeking basic service or information from libraries. Some examples: A few months ago, I phoned the ALA library in search of the photo used in Libraries – protect that brand. I described the photo clearly, shared that it was an American Libraries cover and that
Libraries as hubs of civic discourse
Oleg Kagan’s comments to my July 7 post and another librarian’s comment on the Lead Pipe blog suggest the idea of public libraries becoming hubs of civic discourse is worth exploring. Do citizens really want it? Oleg described an unsuccessful civic program at the Will & Arial Durant Branch library in Los Angeles: “we invited
Thinking ’bout library card statistics
I often see statistics on the number of card holders referenced in library materials. For example, in its recent promotional flyer How Libraries Stack Up: 2010, the OCLC compared the number of public library card holders to the number of credit card holders. I’m curious to know how this statistic is compiled and what it’s
Thinking ’bout library gate count statistics
On May 11, Jay Leno quipped “People here in Los Angeles are upset at the mayor’s proposed plan to cut the budget of libraries… they want to cut library budgets and this could affect as many as nine people.” City Librarian Martin Gómez responded to Leno “… these cuts are no laughing matter to the
