I love clothing maker Zappos’ core values. Which ones resonate when you think about public libraries?
- Deliver WOW Through Service
To WOW, you must differentiate yourself, which means doing something a little unconventional and innovative. You must do something that’s above and beyond what’s expected. And whatever you do must have an emotional impact on the receiver. - Embrace and Drive Change
We must all learn not only to not fear change, but to also embrace it enthusiastically, and perhaps even more importantly, to encourage and drive it. We must always plan for and be prepared for constant change. - Create Fun and A Little Weirdness
One of the side effects of encouraging weirdness is that it encourages people to think outside the box and be more innovative. When you combine a little weirdness with making sure everyone is also having fun at work, it ends up being a win-win for everyone. - Be Adventurous, Creative, and Open-Minded
By having the freedom to be creative in our solutions, we end up making our own luck. We approach situations and challenges with an open mind. - Pursue Growth and Learning
We grow because we take on new challenges, and we face even more new challenges because we’re growing. It’s an endless cycle, and it’s a good thing: it’s the only way for a company to survive. But it can also feel risky, stressful, and confusing at times. - Build Open and Honest Relationships With Communication
Open, honest communication is the best foundation for any relationship, but remember that at the end of the day it’s not what you say or what you do, but how you make people feel that matters the most. - Build a Positive Team and Family Spirit
We are more than just a team though — we are a family. We watch out for each other, care for each other, and go above and beyond for each other because we believe in each other and we trust each other. - Do More With Less
… we need to continuously innovate as well as make incremental improvements to our operations, always striving to make ourselves more efficient, always trying to figure out how to do something better. We use mistakes as learning opportunities. - Be Passionate and Determined
We are inspired because we believe in what we are doing and where we are going. We don’t take “no” or “that’ll never work” for an answer. - Be Humble
… we carry ourselves with a quiet confidence because we believe that, in the long run, our character will speak for itself.
