Reading Material

Creating Great User Experiences: A Guide for Museums, Parks, Zoos, Gardens & Libraries

Thanks Stephanie! First chapter down (it's good). I'm looking forward to reading the rest on the plane.

Library 2.0: A Guide to Participatory Library Service

Somewhere around mile marker 80 on US75 between Lexington and Nashville this past week, I finished reading the last chapter of Michael Casey's & Laura Savastinuk’s thought-provoking and recently published title, Library 2.0: A Guide to Participatory Library Service.

In reading the 172 page contribution to the field, I was struck most by the book’s overall theme – purposeful change – which ironically seemed to mirror mpow current reorganization process (aka 2010). From chapter 4: A Framework for Change to chapter 8: Maintaining Momentum, I felt as if Casey’s & Savastinuk’s recommendations for creating a participatory library 2.0 climate were already well underway here at PLCMC. And as the date for unveiling of our new org structure approaches, I’m looking forward to embarking on new challenges and new partnerships (both internal & external) that will enable our library to continue to reach, serve, and engage our users in meaningful ways.

In many ways the final chapter summed it up best for me …

“Library 2.0 is about change. It’s about making change in your organization easy and routine. Its about updating services we offer and creating new services that will reach out to community members who do not yet use our great facilities and offerings. Library 2.0 seeks to bring staff on board and include them in decision-making processes…

It is important to remember that changing your organization structure cannot happen overnight. You also need staff, administrators, and possibly members of the governing board to buy into the organizational changes. Although this can be difficult to deal with, it can be done. It may take months to years for your organization to run smoothly under the Library 2.0 model. One thing to consider is, are you really running smoothly now? It is worth a try to make your library more appealing and useful for your users?”

Thanks Michael & Laura for a great read! And to answer your last question above ... from my perspective, Yes! It’s definitely worth it. :)

Is your iceberg melting?

Thanks to a recommendation I picked up Our Iceberg is Melting this afternoon and just as George had said, it was an interesting & easy read. (you can read it in an hour)

When a colony of penguins discovers their beloved home is melting, a sense of urgency is created. But how does a colony that’s never know anything but their comfortable frozen turf move forward when presented with this problem? The parable is interesting.

In reading the story, it’s easy to see similarities in every field and profession. Change happens, it’s inevitable. But it’s how people as a group react to it that makes the cultural shift either a success or a failure.

Within MOPW, we’re undergoing a lot of unknown change right now in the form of a pending reorganization. No one knows what the outcome will be, but after reading this short story, I’m beginning to feel a little like Fred (the penguin scanning the horizon) and a lot like one of the “scouts.” (helping the clan search for icebergs that offer something better).

Anyway, for those who are interested in the story in nutshell, here’s the 8 Steps of Leading Change:



PS: Yeah! I earned my Hero of Change medal on my first try - and mastered both levels of the game in only 49 seconds. :)