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Rebound & Reconnect: Post-Crisis Management Strategies

The next All Directors Meeting is Thursday, November 17, 2022, at the Waunakee Public Library. The agenda for the meeting will be coming out in early November. The meeting will be available both in person and via Zoom. If attending in person, please register here and indicate if you'll stay for lunch (Taco Buffet from Cranberry Creek). If attending virtually, please register via Zoom.

The afternoon part of the November All Directors Meeting is a Continuing Education Workshop. This year, Rachel Arndt, will be presenting Rebound & Reconnect: Post-Crisis Management Strategies. Here's the description for you:

When crisis management ends, what comes next? Library directors are managing a return to “normalcy” after a long cycle of fast-paced change. Approaching business as usual may not result in the same benchmarks of success. This workshop will provide tools and strategies for rebuilding the connections vital to a library’s success. Participants will examine self-management tools, learn approaches to renew relationships with staff and patrons and identify prospective community partners.

Rachel Arndt has worked in public libraries for over a decade in front-line reference, archives, technical services, management, and library administration. As a library consultant, Rachel shares her knowledge and expertise to support the library community. She works from the belief that lifelong learning isn’t just for patrons; a successful practitioner continues to adapt and evolve over their career. Through Rachel Arndt Consulting LLC she delivers holistic and customized professional development to all types of library workers.

In addition to library directors, library managers and supervisors are invited to attend. Please register for the workshop here.

Note: This workshop will be in-person only. Rachel will present an online version on November 29 at 10 a.m.

 

Trustee Training Week 2020

Trustee Training Week registration is now open! Here's this year's lineup:

• Monday, August 24 -- Core Values of Librarianship with Jessamyn West
  Librarianship as a profession has a set of core values. But where do they come from, and what do they mean? Library technologist Jessamyn West will talk about the things that make up the core values of librarianship and discuss the tensions that exist between some of them.
• Tuesday, August 25 - Recruiting and Engaging Friends and Trustees Under Age 40 with Madeline Jarvis and Tess Wilson
  Millennials are more likely than other adults to have visited the library recently. However, most Friends and Trustee boards do not have even a single Millennial member (Pew 2016, ALA 2018). What accounts for this discrepancy, and how can we rectify it? Learn how to attract Millennials to your Friends group and Board of Trustees, and turn the largest generation of library users into your best advocates.
  
  
• Wednesday, August 26 - Public Library System Redesign (PLSR) Implementation Update with Bruce Smith
  Throughout the response to the public health event, the Department of Public Instruction Division for Libraries and Technology, Public Library Systems, Public Libraries and other partners have been extraordinarily collaborative in our efforts to support the Wisconsin library community. These efforts have allowed us to see new ways for how libraries and systems can be connected and work together in the spirit of PLSR. Through this lens of cooperation and continuous improvement as libraries bounce back from the impact of the pandemic, we continue to move our efforts forward to implement the recommendations of the PLSR Steering Committee. This presentation will include an overview of the PLSR process and an update on the progress of implementing the seven recommendations including information about specific activities and timelines. There also will be time for questions, comments, and input from attendees.
  
  
• Thursday, August 27 - Equity, Diversity, Inclusion: What Library Trustees Need to Know with Anne Phibbs
  Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) impacts all communities and all aspects of librarianship. Library Boards of Trustees have an important role in supporting EDI and related initiatives. This webinar will help trustees and library directors understand how to incorporate EDI into policy development, strategic planning, funding initiatives, board development, and more. Anne will present a variety of interactive scenarios in which EDI issues are a factor, with time for Q&A and discussion. In this webinar, Anne Phibbs, PhD, Founder and President of Strategic Diversity Initiatives, will give a basic introduction to EDI and discuss what library trustees and boards need to know about EDI.
• Friday, August 28 - Walk the Line: How Trustees Can Best Lead Their Libraries Without Overstepping Their Authority with Becky Spratford
  Being a Trustee is an important job. You are part of a team that represents the tax payers, oversees the Library Director, and advocates for libraries. However, where exactly do your duties end the Library staff's begin? This line, while very clear from a legal standpoint, can become a bit fuzzy in practice. Join Becky Spratford, a 20 + years librarian and 5 term library trustee as she helps you understand how to walk the fine line between being a leader and being in the way. She will go over how you as a Trustee can best help the Library thrive, noting when you should step in but also when you should back off, strengthening all of Wisconsin's Libraries in the process.

Webinars are from noon - 1 p.m. each day and will be recorded and captioned.

Trustee Training Week is supported by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), Public Library Development Team, with funding support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

                     

Professional Development Resources during COVID-19

Here is a list of continuing education resources for you and your staff. I'll keep adding to this list as I come across new items:

• Whitney Parillo, Director of Hutchinson Memorial Library in Randolph, shared this list of items for her staff to watch while the library is closed
• Center for Professional & Executive Development, UW Madison School of Business, has a series of 5 webinar recordings available including Culture: the Driving Force Behind Your Business Culture and more.
• Dr. Steve Albrecht's webinars on Library 2.0 (free registration required):
  • Library Safety * Security 2020
  • Interacting with the Homeless
  • Sexual Harassment of Library Staff: Responding to Incidents by Patrons or Others  
  • Security for Rural Librarians
  • How to Handle Challenging Patrons
  • Stress Management for Library Staff
  • Coaching Skills for Library Managers and Supervisors
  • Responding to an Active Shooter in the Library
• Public Libraries Respond to COVID-19, a free webinar series 
  • Note: registration may be closed for some of the webinars, but they will be recorded and available for future viewing
  • The Current Landscape, March 26 at 1 p.m. Central Time
  • Successful Ways to Work Remotely, April 2 at 1 p.m. Central Time
  • Managing Stress and Anxiety, April 9 at 1 p.m.
  • Innovative Solutions in Times of Crisis, April 16 at 1 p.m. Central Time
• Professional Development Opportunities, WI Libraries for Everyone blog post
• Librarian's Guide to Homelessness with Ryan Dowd includes Core training and bonus webinars:
  • Burnout/Compassion Fatigue
  • Advanced Body Language
  • Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault
  • Homelessness 201
  • Body Odor
    • All SCLS Member Library staff should have access to this. If you are having any trouble, please contact Jean
• WebJunction Course Catalog
  • Creating Pathways to Civil Legal Justice, a free online course starting April 6
• Infopeople
  • Webinars are free, courses are for a fee. SCLS member libraries may use CE Grant funds to offset the cost of courses.
• OCLC at PLA 2020, a YouTube playlist
• Wisconsin Literacy's Plain Language recorded webinar. Available until May 7

 

Census 2020 Webinars and Resources

Last month at the WLA Conference, Cindy Fesemyer from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) presented on Say Yes to Census 2020. If you weren't able to attend the in-person program, Cindy has offered to do a webinar version of the same presentation on December 3 at 1:30 p.m. You can register here. The webinar will be recorded.

In other Census 2020 news, ALA recently announced a FREE webinar called "Connecting Your Community to 2020 Census Jobs." This webinar will be held on November 6 at 11 a.m. (Central Time) and you can register here. If you haven't already, you can download the Libraries' Guide to the 2020 Census from the ALA 2020 Census website.

And last, but not least, SCLS created a 2020 Census Outreach Information (pdf) that you includes information from the DPI, American Library Association, US Census Bureau, AARP, and the Government Accountability Office. This is a great resource to share with your library patrons and staff.

 

Back to School for Library Staff

September is a busy month for Continuing Education at SCLS starting with Tech Days East next week at the Monona Public Library. The keynote speaker for Tech Days East is Chris Willey who will be speaking on Extending the Third Place.

Here's the list of everything happening in September:

• Tech Days East - Franklin, September 10
• Tech Days East - Appleton, September 11
• Tech Days East - Monona, September 12
• CCBC Shorts (webinar), September 18 at 9 a.m.
• It's a Trap: How to Avoid Giving Legal Advice in Reference Services (webinar), September 19 at 10 a.m.
• Substance Abuse & Mental Health Symposium, September 24 (Wintergreen Resort, Wisconsin Dells)
• Introduction to Talking Books (webinar), September 26 at 10 a.m.

Hope to see you at one or more of our upcoming workshops and webinars. Happy Learning!

 

Library Advocacy Webinars

This week is Trustee Training Week (TTW) and two of the webinars relate directly to library advocacy. The first was on Monday, August 12, and was called Governing Libraries that Inspire Investment with Rebekkah Smith Aldrich presenting. I, and many of the attendees, found her presentation very inspirational and helpful. The recording and slides are available for you to watch at your convenience.

On Wednesday, August 14, Connie Meyer and Kathy Pletcher spoke about Effective Library Advocacy. I especially appreciated their summary of advocacy: all politics are local; ongoing relationships are best; be respectful of their interests & time; be appreciative of any support/time; be informative; be strategic and opportunistic; and (my favorite) be joyful about the library! You can watch the recording and see the slides and handouts anytime.

And, if you're in need of more advocacy information, check out this upcoming free webinar from EveryLibrary Institute. Reaching Across the Aisle for Library Funding and Other Initiatives will be held on August 29 from 1-2 p.m. Central Time and you can register here. This webinar will be presented by Patrick "PC" Sweeney, Political Director of the EveryLibrary Institute - and presenter at Trustee Training Week 2018 - and Pat Wagner, co-owner of Pattern Research, Inc., and presenter at Trustee Training Week 2019.

Pat is presenting Recruiting & Retaining Library Directors and Staff on Friday, August 16. You can find out about all the Wisconsin Trustee Training Week webinars along with the recordings of this year's webinars and all past ones on the TTW site.

 

 

Substance Abuse & Mental Health Symposium

Join us on September 24 at the Wintergreen Resort in Wisconsin Dells for a day-long symposium on Substance Abuse and Mental Health and their impact on library services and library staff. Here's the agenda for the day:

9 - 9:30 a.m. Registration & Refreshments
9:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Addiction, Substance Abuse Disorder, Trauma, and the Human Brain: Information for Public Library Staff

In a recent South Central Library System survey, participants reported regular interactions with community members who struggle with addiction and substance abuse disorders. We are not alone: library staff across the country find ourselves in the heart of a substance abuse epidemic that is attacking entire communities and civic life. In this morning’s session, our speakers will address trauma, addiction and substance abuse from a people-first, anti-stigma, perspective. With an understanding of our roles as public library staff, our speakers will identify appropriate methods for recognizing and responding to potential overdoses in the library, will provide an overview of the neurobiology of addiction, and will discuss ways that library staff members can practice healthy mental and emotional habits.

Presenters: Sarah Johnson, Public Health Madison & Dane County; Skye Tikkanen, Safe Communities; Sheila Weix, Family Health Center of Marshfield

12:15 - 1 p.m. Lunch

1 - 3:30 p.m. Mindfulness: Skillful Responding During Times of Stress

Mindfulness has been shown to be beneficial to people in many ways. In particular, we’ll explore the application of mindfulness to the experience of stress and stressful events such as those discussed in the morning workshop. In this workshop, Michael will explore what mindfulness is, what the benefits can be, and how it can support library staff during times of difficult interactions with patrons. This will be a "hands on" presentation and will include exploring mindfulness practices.

Presenter: Michael Waupoose, Quartz Health Insurance

3:30 - 3:40 Wrap-up & Thanks

Register here! We hope to see you on September 24 for this important workshop.

Adult Services & Programming Workshop

A few years ago, the Wisconsin State Law Library (WSLL) collaborated with library systems to bring a workshop to libraries about the court system. As a former reference librarian, my favorite part of that workshop was the Legal Research presentation. The resources available at the WSLL are incredible.

As part of this year's Adult Services & Programming Workshop on August 8, WSLL offered to host our annual gathering and present a workshop called "It's a Trap! How to Avoid Giving Legal Advice in Reference Services."

Librarians can be at the front lines of the legal system. Helping users to access legal information and resources can be complicated. Where is the line between research help and giving legal advice? How can you determine which sources are authoritative or up to date? This session gives examples and practical tips, including phrases you can use to manage your users’ expectations. Discover online sources for case law, statutes, and regulations, and understand how the Wisconsin State Law Library’s website and services can be used to optimize your legal reference services.

In addition to the workshop, come prepared to share your top 5 programs from the last year. Was there a program that was a hit? Or not? We want to hear about it! This is your opportunity to network and connect with other Adult Services and Programming Librarians in SCLS. As I did last year, I'll compile a list of the program ideas and share with all attendees.

After the workshop, librarians from WSLL will give a tour to all interested. I hope you can join me at the beautiful David T. Prosser State Law Library for this year's workshop.

Details: August 8, 2019 from 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the Wisconsin State Law Library - Rare Books Room, 120 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Madison. Parking is available in a variety of ramps around the square. Register here!

 

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.

 

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!