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Why Inclusivity and Diversity Matter at Your Library

At the inaugural Wisconsin Library Association Leadership Development Institute in 2017, I heard Deborah Biddle speak for the first time. In that workshop, Deborah spoke on building relationships and collaboration. Along the way, she also brought in topics of diversity, inclusion, and bias. Her presentation resonated with me long after the Leadership Development Institute ended.

Last summer, I had an opportunity to see Deborah speak at the American Family DreamBank* where she presented on Inclusive Leadership, Unconscious Bias, Trust, and Decision-Making. It was an eye-opening two hour workshop that challenged my thinking and taught me a lot about myself and my leadership style - and how to improve it. I was also reminded that I really needed to contact Deborah and bring her to SCLS to share her knowledge and expertise with all of you.

On May 22, Deborah Biddle will be the main speaker at "Why Inclusivity & Diversity Matter at Your Library." Here's the description of the workshop:

An inclusive work culture promotes innovation, productivity, and profitability. How well do leaders and their teams embrace difference? In this session, we will discuss the team member and leader roles in embracing diversity, inclusion, and equality within the library, the characteristics of highly inclusive leaders and examine the impact of trust and unconscious bias.

In addition to Deborah Biddle, we'll start off the morning with an introduction to the Inclusive Services Assessment and Guide for Wisconsin Public Libraries with Mark Jochem and Shawn Brommer. Mark and Shawn both attended the Inclusive Services Institute where this assessment and guide were developed.

Here are the details:

• May 22, 2019 at the Fitchburg Public Library
• 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., registration & refreshments start at 9 a.m.
• Register here!

*If you're not going to WAPL, Deborah will be speaking at the DreamBank on May 2 from 12 - 1:30 p.m. The title of her presentation is Building an Appreciation Culture at Work.

 

Wisconsin Literacy's Plain Language Webinar

Every field is filled with jargon and acronyms and libraries are no different. ALA, PLA, ARSL, WLA, LD&L, WISL, ILL, and AC* are a few of the acronyms you likely read or hear about on a regular basis. In addition, we talk about topics cataloging, metadata, serials, and Dewey Decimal classification. Mostly these conversations are with other library practitioners so we have a mutual understanding of the language. Sometimes, though, we forget and use these and other words and acronyms in our conversations with our patrons, board members, and members of the community.

The upcoming webinar from Wisconsin Literacy, Plain Language, focuses on the fundamentals of plain language including the benefits of using it in the workplace. Several strategies for clear written communication including simplifying word choice, grammar tips, active vs. passive voice, and layout and design will be introduced. Participants will learn improved communication strategies that can be implemented immediately. Register here!

While the webinar will be recorded, the recording will only be available for one week. Plan accordingly.

This webinar is sponsored by IFLS, South Central, Southwest Wisconsin, Winding Rivers, Nicolet, Bridges, Arrowhead, Kenosha County, Lakeshores, Milwaukee County, and Monarch Library Systems.

*American Library Association, Public Library Association, Association for Rural and Small Libraries, Wisconsin Library Association, Library Development & Legislation committee, Wisconsin Small Libraries, Interlibrary Loan, and Administrative Council.

WAPL Conference Registration Open

This year's Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries (WAPL) Conference is from May 1 - May 3 at the Central Wisconsin Convention & Expo Center in Rothschild (just south of Wausau). Registration is now open.

Here are a few highlights from this year's exciting lineup:

• Poster Sessions featuring topics such as TEACH program, Leadership Development Institute, and Conference Orientation
• Luncheon with Michael Perry!! on Thursday
• Programs on Escape Rooms, Genealogy, Movies, Grant Writing, and much more
• Jessie Vieau, Madison Public Library, is the Friday luncheon speaker - one of SCLS's own!

For SCLS libraries, remember that your library is eligible for CE Grant funds to help your staff attend this - or other conferences.

I hope to see you there!

Email Overload & Productivity

Last fall, I read an article in Public Libraries about Efficient Librarianship by Douglas Crane. After I read the article, I went searching for more by Doug and found that he has a blog called Efficient Librarian. From there, I found a recording of a webinar called "Inbox Zero: Getting Out From Under the Email Avalanche" and I was hooked. While watching the webinar, I was going through my email folders and deleting old messages that I didn't need any longer. From there, I contacted Doug to see if he would be available to present a couple of webinar for us on email and productivity.

Happily, he was and his webinars are coming up on March 20 and 27. Doug Crane will be sharing his efficient librarian expertise with us in two webinars. Here are the details:

Overcoming the Email Avalanche: Three Steps to an Empty Inbox, March 20 from 10 - 11 a.m. Central Time. Register here!

Huge volumes of email are a fact of office life, yet it threatens to overwhelm our work.  Is there a way to get email under control short of mass deleting your entire inbox?  Yes there is!  In this fun and engaging class, participants will learn how to:

• • Clear out inbox backlog, no matter how large
  • Identify different types of actionable email and respond accordingly
  • Create an efficient organizational structure to their email client
  • Reliably locate archived email
  • Celebrate the joys of an empty inbox!

From Inbox to Completing: The Secrets to Successful Workflow, March 27 from 10 - 11 a.m. Central Time. Register here!

Is your inbox overflowing?  Is your work spilling onto every available surface?  Do you want to get more stuff done in less time while looking effortless in the process?  In this energizing class, you will learn the best practices for workflow management based on an internationally recognized system.  This includes discovering:

• • The definitive five phases of workflow
  • The key questions to ask about any item on your physical or virtual desk
  • The role of functional folders for later action or reference
  • The importance of a weekly review

Both webinars will be recorded if you're not able to join us live. Hope to see you at one or both webinars!

 

 

Customer Service & Community Engagement

"Just One Thing": Training Staff for Community Engagement is the title of an upcoming FREE webinar (February 26 at 1 p.m.) from the Public Library Association. I'm always looking for new ways to talk about customer service and sharing your resources so I signed up for this one right away.

In case you missed them, there were many excellent webinars at the Wild Wisconsin Winter Web Conference in January. I wanted to highlight a couple of them for you. Great Expectations: Customer Service and the Future of Libraries is about the Maricopa County (AZ) process to develop a customer service philosophy (slides, handout). I saw these presenters at the Public Library Association Conference in 2018 and have adapted some of their ideas to workshops that I've done. It was great!

Another one is WHY-brarian with Jeremy Bolom of Louisiana. In this webinar, Jeremy talks about finding your purpose - your Why. Based on Simon Sinek's Golden Circle principle, this is a great reminder of why we do what we do (slides, handout).

One of my all-time favorite webinars from the Wild Wisconsin Winter Web Conference is from 2016. It's called Hospitality in the Library and features Sally Ijams from the Darien Library in Connecticut. It's a great, great webinar about customer service or hospitality in the library. I've also incorporated many ideas from this webinar in the service workshops that I do for SCLS.

Happy learning!