Innovation in Readers’ Services Staffing

Polli Kenn, Readers’ Services CoordinatorLawrence Public Library

Innovating Readers’ Services?

Front line staff are the most approached and least trained for Readers’ Advisory service.

Patrons “hate to bother us” and don’t ask for reading suggestions.

Libraries rarely evaluate the effectiveness of what they have been doing in RA.

Our Vision of Readers’ Services

Lawrence Public Library will connect people with the stories that enrich their lives.

GOAL ONE

Fuel Lawrence’s passion for reading, personal growth and learning.

A. Build community around books.

A1. Re-imagine the Library's role in introducing readers to new books and helping readers to choose the next book.

A2. Provide more ways for people to join conversations about books and culture.

From: http://teensleuth.com/hauntedlibrary/?p=8841

And you get a book, and you get a book, and you get a book...

Actions in support of Goal One

Creating the Readers’ Services Department.

Investing in Bibliocommons, which boasts rich Readers’ Advisory content. (And is totally rad.)

Add form-based RA, more social media, more book talks and clubs, more outreach once capacity is established. (With actual deadlines.)

Goal Two

Provide training and opportunities for Readers’ Services staff to provide the community with expert resources and services.

A. Position Readers’ Services staff to encounter more readers and have comfortable, skilled and non-judgmental interactions.

B. Position Readers’ Services staff to be

specialists in the collection and support Collection Development goals.

I’m blowing your mind right now, aren’t I?

http://teensleuth.com/hauntedlibrary/?p=8841

Actions in support of Goal Two

Training. (Like, Olympic-level training.)

No desks. (No, seriously, no desks.)

Notice trends and formalize feedback to Collection Development. (Perhaps not “innovative”, but often overlooked.)

GOAL THREE

Create and use appropriate individual and departmental evaluative tools.

A. Regular self-assessment of reading styles and RA skills to determine areas of strength for our staff.

B. Multi-faceted evaluation of service provided to patrons.

C. Evaluations will be used to improve service.

From :http://teensleuth.com/hauntedlibrary/?p=8841

Gurl, don’t be hatin’... be evaluatin’!

Actions in support of Goal ThreeSurvey Monkey survey for entire staff and detailed surveys for RS staff.

Create meaningful methods of collecting valid data - qualitative and quantitative.

Results get used, not just filed.

“I've often hesitated in beginning a project because I've thought, "It'll never turn out to be even remotely like the good idea I have as I start." I could just feel how good it could be. But I decided that, for the present, I would create the best way I know how and accept the ambiguities.”

~ Fred Rogers

Go, and Do Good! Nancy Pearl

(Many thanks to David Wright, Barry Trott, Joyce Saricks, Cindy Hulsey, Linda Raphael,

Rebecca Vnuck, Rebecca Howard and anyone who has let me talk their ear off in the last

month.)