Image credit: National University of the Health Sciences.

My Library Is... (and Was) Still Open!

1 July 2020
Dan Bostrom
Comments: 0

When a librarian at one of the state universities called to survey this academic library about our plans for re-opening from the pandemic, our response that “we never closed” was met with shock.

Well, actually we did close for a few days between trimesters. But other than that, the library at the National University of Health Sciences in Lombard, Illinois, has remained open to its students and faculty.

While other academic libraries have provided some remote services to their communities, this library has kept its physical space and collections accessible during the COVID-19...

How to Answer the "Why Do We Need Libraries?" Question

16 June 2020
Mary Witt
Comments: 0

What would you say if someone (a library user, potential user, administrator, funder, colleague, friend, relative, neighbor, elected official, etc.) asked you any of the following questions and you had less than 30 seconds to answer before losing the interest of your audience?

  • Why should I use the library when I need information? Google is all I need.
  • Why should I care if the library (in my community, organization/company, school, etc.) gets funded? A lot of organizations aren’t getting the funding they need these days.
  • Why do we need librarians anyway?
    • ...
COVID Chronicles. Image credit: La Grange Public Library.

My Library Is... Collaborating with Our Local Writers Group!

8 June 2020
Dan Bostrom
Comments: 0

We are excited to share a recently completed anthology created by the Brookfield Writers Group (BWG) and the La Grange Writers Group (LGWG) titled "Covid Chronicles: 19-word Stories." While this anthology is a record of individual experiences and perspectives during this pandemic, it is also a demonstration that creative collaboration is possible during a time of social distancing! Twenty-three writers contributed to this collection. Some individuals belong to one or both of the writers groups that are hosted by the Brookfield Public Library (BPL) and La Grange Public Library (LGPL). A...

Rock Island Public Library Calls in the Cooks

2 June 2020
Dan Bostrom
Comments: 0

Anyone seeing the shortages of yeast, flour, and eggs could tell there was a whole lot of stress baking going on during the COVID-19 stay-at-home order. To document this historically significant time, the Rock Island Public Library cooked up The Quad City Quarantine Cookbook project.

After seeing a post about the Evanston Public Library’s Coronavirus Cookbook, Rock Island Reference Librarian Rachel Ippolito was inspired by the opportunity to document a historically significant time in the making. As people cooked and baked together in quarantine, many rediscovered old favorites,...

Sidewalk Obstacle Course.

Sidewalk Obstacle Course

19 May 2020
Dan Bostrom
Comments: 0

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all of us in one way or another.  Businesses have closed their doors.  Many of us know someone who has been sick or may have gotten sick ourselves.  The worst was having to tell our patrons, “No, we don’t want you coming to the library.”  What are we if we cannot offer services to the community?

In very short order, we had to adjust what we do and how we do it.  We encouraged patrons to use digital resources rather than physical ones.  We developed virtual programming and introduced YouTube story hours.  We did everything we could to encourage...

Image credit: Claire Ong.

Keeping in Touch with the Public Through Videos

14 May 2020
Dan Bostrom
Comments: 0

Libraries are the gems of their communities. In no other place are people from all walks of life and socioeconomic backgrounds welcomed and serve as a space for us to encounter the “other,” no questions asked.  We respect your privacy; encourage you to participate in our programs, use the computers; help you research, look for materials and much more. 

Meeting at the library has not been possible since the closure but, we in the library world prefer to think of what we can do.  And, I knew that if I was missing my library, many others were, too and with this video, could reach out...

The Importance of a Director in Charge of the Academic Library.

Statement on the Importance of a Director in Charge of the Academic Library

4 May 2020
Dan Bostrom
Comments: 0

At its December 2019 meeting, the CARLI Board of Directors discussed the issue that some members’ organizations are not filling the library director position when the incumbent leaves, for example, retires or resigns. The college or university simply “assigns” the library to a campus administrator, like a vice president or assistant provost, who may have many other responsibilities. Sometimes a mid-level library staff member is named as “in charge” without title or compensation change. These assignments erode the effectiveness of the library in many ways, but also dramatically diminish the...

Photo credit: Saint Charles Public Library District.

Providing Library Senior Services in a COVID-19 World

28 April 2020
Dan Bostrom
Comments: 0

How to provide library service to seniors, the most vulnerable population affected during COVID-19, has been the question raised by outreach librarians across the United States. While we might not be able to visit our seniors or facilities in-person for the foreseeable future, libraries can reach this population while we shelter in place. Below please find tips and tricks that the St. Charles (IL) Public Library’s (SCPL) Outreach Services Team (David Kelsey, Dana Hintz, Lynda Spraner, Christine Steck) recommends in serving the senior demographic during COVID-19.

  1. Provide virtual...
My Library Is... Champions training videos

Become a My Library Is... Champion!

10 February 2020
Dan Bostrom
Comments: 0

You agree with the concept: libraries need more resources to help them tell the story. You like the resources: a whole website full of those resources. But now you're wondering, how can you help with the My Library Is... campaign? 

Great question! You can start by becoming a My Library Is... Champion! What is a My Library Is... Champion? It's anyone that can invest the time to participate in the campaign by doing one or more of the following activities:

  • Adding materials to our Sharing Showcase
  • Capturing a library story...
marketing plan written on notepad

The Beginner’s Guide to Writing Marketing Plans

6 February 2020
Nicole Zimmermann
Comments: 0

So you’ve been tasked with writing a marketing plan, and I’m guessing walking on hot coals sounds more enjoyable right about now. There is just something so terrifying about having to put all of the ideas and plans floating around in your head on paper that causes the words “marketing plan” to make you want to jump out of your skin. Luckily, I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be this way. You are capable of writing a marketing plan, and it won’t even cost you your sanity! So sit back, relax and discover the secrets to writing a marketing plan.

Before we jump into how, let’...

Pages