MLA 2009 Day 1 DLDS Update

After lunch and a lovely stroll on the beach, I went to the DLDS update. This was a whirlwind overview of all the Division of Library Development & Services did for Maryland libraries during 2008. I wrote copious little notes to myself but then was able to pick up the MAPLA Year End Update May 2009 which covered everything that my chicken scratch missed.

The website is http://www.maplaonline.org/DLDS/ and the file is found here http://www.maplaonline.org/DLDS/adobe/Update09.pdf

This was useful and informative and kept me thinking beyond my own library.

MLA 2009 Day 1 Legislative Challenge

After the opening session, I tried to go to Moving Reference Beyond the Desk but it was SRO out the door. Reexamining my conference program and seeing what was around, I walked into The Legislative Challenge: Library Advocacy in 2009 and Beyond. I had looked at this session originally and also recognized Natalie Edington inside so this session was it.

Most of the session was spent in discussing the MLA Legislative Panel and I learned a lot more about what our organization is doing to represent library interests. The panel includes representatives from MLA and various libraries throughout the state. They monitor legislation, give testimony, build relationships with elected officials, let the membership know what's going on and help coordinate advocacy efforts.

Denise Davis (Legislative Officer, MLA Legislative Panel) and Natalie (Assistant Legislative, Office MLA Legislative Panel) highlighted some of the items they addressed during the past legislative session most of which focused on budget cuts.

Next, Kristin Murphy and Lynne Bradley of the ALA Washington Office gave a brief overview of advocacy efforts on the national level. There wasn't a lot of time left in the session but they gave us a Checklist for Library Advocates:

• Talk, talk, talk - keep saying it, don't hound/annoy but it takes time for messages sink in and mean something
• Keep informed
• Get to know your legislators & staff
• Work on handouts, newsletters, etc.
• Attend or host town hall meetings
• Use in-library events - real & virtual tours
• Lobby
• Press events
• Work with all types of libraries & supporters
• Build your network - before you need it

Not always a choice of funding this or that but how to fund both

Libraries are the most efficient use of taxpayer funds $1=$3.8return (didn't write down where this study was conducted but think is was in the Midwest).

MLA 2009 - Opening

The weather was much better this year and my conference began with a breakfast for the Maryland Library Leadership Institute. It was a wonderful way to start the day, Mimosa's, conversation and watching the dolphins swim! I wished more of my MLLI class was there but I did run into several more throughout the two days.



The opening session was captivating, with Paul Holdengraber from NYPL in a discussion with Elizabeth Cromwell and Darell Batson about the successes of the "Live from the NYPL" program. Although, everyone was quite intimidated by the sheer volume of NYPL's program and that we might not be able to even come close, there were lessons that we took away.

Here's my list:

• Always look for ways to innovate and attract customers
• Don't be afraid to try
• Shoot for the moon and you'll at least fall in the stars (a wording from a previous experience but one that I needed to be reminded of)
• Do the unexpected
• A successful program is a bit of a chemistry experiment

MLA notes Day 2

Ok, ok, I know. I said I'd post these notes a long time ago and I'm horrified at how long I've actually put it off. I guess my only excuse is that we've been real busy with a lot of year end deadlines and the beginning of Summer Reading but only you can forgive me.


A Prescription for Teen Services - Erin Lockledge, Editorial Director, Rosen Publishing

This was my first session after the business meeting breakfast and it was about health information geared for teens. It was nice to see how much work Rosen Publishing was doing in this arena but it doesn't help much if your system doesn't pay for this service. I did learn some new things anyone can use:

We discussed Evidence Based Practice, using quantitative data to support your results - what is your program and it's benchmarks (# of attendees/feedback/change in circ patterns or usage reports). Erin stressed that community health impacted leadership, voting rights and overall citizenship.

Places to go for ideas: YALSA listserv, Chase's, community groups (Health Depts), Howard County has some good toolkits with A+ Partners in education and also Multnomah County's teen health site.


And the Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth - Melissa Rabey, Teen Librarian, Frederick County Public Library

This session was an excellent end to my conference and Melissa was a very knowledgeable and enthusiastic presenter. She began with a discussion of participatory culture which is not a new things but it is new in it's methods. The culture is ending up with more Prosumers (produce + consume) who aren't just consuming what they find but producing and morphing content. This can be found in thousands of years of literature with authors taking and building on each other (Shakespeare and Homer are two great examples)

This will affect libraries as customers expect more and up to date technology, services, programs and methods of providing service. Our customers have high expectations, although, we will still find those to whom we need to teach technology. However, she pointed out that we have a wide variety of entertainment products Blockbuster or bookstores will never have: Internet, Books, CD's and the most importantly social interaction and community.

The title of the session was did appear as she talked about programs and outlets libraries can provide. Some ideas: RPG (role playing games) including book based - be characters from Harry Potter and make your own story lines; fan fiction writing workshops which are story driven since characters are already fleshed out in original and develop writing style; and digital video editing and image manipulation workshops.

There are many challenges to this participatory culture. The first and most dicey is copyright since there are laws but much is still in flux with the new media and mashups. Not always clear what is protected or prohibited. For library programming, it is best to avoid any audio and video that is not self produced as these industries are cracking down. The next challenge is to keep our technology up to date which is always tricky but even worse with bad budget years. The last issue to consider is staff doubt. Many of us encounter staff who don't think that a program or service has any value or place in a library.

On the other side, there are great rewards such as serving new demographics, increased visibility, redefinition of the library's role, creation of community connections, and being an active participant in creating culture not just being the archive for it.


Overall this was a great conference and I look forward to going again. Not only were the sessions excellent, but the site and set up were conducive to making it enjoyable. After ALA where you had to run all over and choose one session over another since you just couldn't get there in time, it was great to have everything in the same hotel. In addition, there was enough down time and social activities to meet local colleagues and get to know those in your own system.

MLA notes Day 1

The 2008 MLA conference began with Peter Forni addressing the general session on civility. He stressed that life is a relational experience that is defined by our connections. The quality of our life depends on the quality of these relationships and thus the relational skills that we possess. He was an excellent and engaging speaker and now I want to delve into his books. This topic translated well to the library world since by performing reference services, we are aiding in creating connections whether it's through computer access or programs or community information.


He shared some useful information for us on how to deal with incivility. First of all he stressed that you must be prepared - don't be surprised when confronted with rudeness. You aren't supposed to expect it and therefore send out the wrong vibes but that in order to counteract rudeness you can't be taken off guard. Second, don't take it personally and third decide how you will react. As public librarians, knowing how to act is such a necessary skill that it's good to be reminded of this.

Some other tips:
Be secure - think of yourself as an accomplished person who doesn't need to prove anything
Practice empathy
See others as ends in themselves
Financial gain is a means not the end
Diffuse stress
Get to know people - end anonymity which encourages inattention and careless attitudes
Don't be hostile and shift hostility to others

IDK! Teen Service Made Simple - Stephanie Ewell & Jessica Smith-Harper from Wicomico Co.
This session discussed how the county obtained a grant to improve their teen services. It was good to hear the experiences of another system but much that they did would just be to difficult to staff or find a location in the library for. I did really like the "rave card" model they used to promote their programs which they said was their best response method. In addition, they put on a program even with one teen or else that kid may never want to come back., however, this seems to be a rare occasion for them. They explained out they set out high interest materials to draw the teens during the programs and didn't prep ahead of time but let the kids set up and be part of the process.

Using Ipods to get students and staff to tune in to reading - Lisa McKenney & John Taube from Allegany Co. and Mike Fiscus from NE Elementary
The last session of my day made us all very envious. The library and the school partnered to create book backpacks with an Ipod preloaded with the audiobook and added literary content. This was a really cool project but a bit pricey for many of us to dream about without a grant. They showed how the audio aided the students in fluency and expression and the content hat they created increased the understanding of the stories.

The coolest thing was PhotoStory 3. This is a software package that allows you to take still digital images and create a slide show with text and audio. This impressed many of us and the presenter of a Day 2 session mentioned that she was more excited about what they could do with that. Allegany County used similar technology to create online computer classes and info about their wifi. I wondered about introductions to the library and it's services presented in other languages (a colleague had recently mentioned that we should have a video for our new Spanish speaking customers so that they fully understand what we can do). So many cool possibilities.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnxsCKC6Lsg Photostory

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUtk8alria4 Audacity clip

MLA - Maryland Library Association Annual Conference

I went to Ocean City for the first time to attend this year's MLA conference. This was a wonderful two days of ocean and bay views coupled with library learning, networking and fun! I promise to post session notes in the coming week but click HERE for a taste from another colleague.

The new Ocean City library was lovely and the staff were great hosts for a conference reception. Great atmosphere and music! Check out the brand new building:
http://www.worc.lib.md.us/library/newoclib.htm