Maryland Library Association presentation. May 2014

1. Doing More with Less
Andrea Berstler, Executive Director
Wicomico Public Library
Marilyn Pontius, Branch Manager
Washington County Free Library
MLA/DLA Conference, May 2014

2. Scholarship from WMRL to attend
ARSL Conference

4. About ARSL
• History
– 1982 - part of Clarion University
– 2007 – First Board meeting
– 2008 – First independent Conference
– 2013 – First Sold Out Conference

5. About ARSL
ARSL Vision
As the premier organization representing rural and small libraries, ARSL
recognizes the uniqueness of small and rural libraries and is committed to
providing an environment that encourages excellence within this community
of practice, supporting their goals of service and speaking on behalf of this
important constituency.
ARSL Mission
The Association for Rural & Small Libraries provides resources and support
that empower those in small and rural libraries to deliver excellent service for
their communities.

6. About ARSL
• To organize a network of members
• To provide opportunities for the continuing education
• To provide mechanisms for members to exchange ideas and to meet on a regular basis;
• To cultivate the practice of librarianship and to foster a spirit of cooperation
• To serve as a source of current information
• To partner with other library and non-library groups
• To collect and disseminate information and resources that are critical to this network
• To advocate for rural and small libraries
The eight highlighted leaves in the tree of our logo represent the eight central objectives of our association. In
order to grow, thrive and be who our members need us to be, we strive to accomplish these objectives.

7. Geek the Library
 Community awareness campaign
developed through a grant from the Bill and
Melinda Gates Foundation, administered
though OCLC
 Highlights the vital role of public libraries
 Educates the community about the
challenging funding issues many public
libraries face
 Helps start important local library funding
conversations
Jenny Powell, Field Marketing Manager, OCLC
Geek the Library Campaign

8. Geek the Library
 Campaign phases: Before Launch; Phase 1
Create Awareness; Phase 2 Generate
Engagement; Phase 3 Encourage Action
 Campaign Management Center Support
 Materials, Blog, Webinars, Handouts,
Presentations, Samples
 Free professional materials
 Posters, handouts, T-Shirts, table cloth, bumper
stickers, book marks, bags
 Must enroll by June 30, 2014 and
implement campaign by June 30, 2015

9. Geek the Library
 Before Launch
 Marketing plan development
 Steakholder bye-in

10. Geek the Library
 Phase 1 Create Awareness
 Educate the public to the vocabulary
 Launch

11. Geek the Library
 Phase 2 Generate Engagement
 Take the message to the community
 Involve staff

12. Geek the Library
 Phase 3 Encourage Action
 Funding focus
 Geek the Library Week

13. Dazzling Displays
Leah Krotz, Director
Belleville Public Library
Belleville, KS
schoollibrarydisplays.blogspot.com

14. Dazzling Displays
Content:
Attractive Library Materials
Basic Structure
Background
Signage
Props
Toolkit:
Hammer
Tape measure
Poster putty
Utility knife
Scissors
Fishline
Magnets (hooks and flat)

15. Tips for Dazzling Displays
• Book Bubbles
• Book of the Day
• Keep an eye out
for Props
• Change displays
to correspond
with length of
check out
dclibrary.org

16. Makers, Mentors, and More
Timothy Owens
Senior Program Officer, IMLS
Travis Porter
Librarian/Branch Manager, Ada Victory Branch, Boise, ID
Kieran Hixon
Technology & Digital Initiatives Consultant
Colorado State Library

17. Makers, Mentors, and More
 Importance of developing creative problem solving
skills
 Rethink what constitutes Maker spaces and Maker
programs

18. EXCEL at Rearranging Your Library
Chris Ripple, Central Kansas Library System, Great Bend, KS

19. EXCEL at Rearranging Your Library
Grocery store model :
• Customers enter at front of store
• Essential items on the perimeter-require
customers to walk through entire store
• Large signs tell people what is in isles
• Sale items on the end of the isles

20. EXCEL at Rearranging Your Library
• Wide power paths that lead patrons around library
(everyone)
• Secondary traffic zones (most people)
• Tertiary traffic zones (few people)
• Merchandizing hot spots – displays everyone will see

21. EXCEL at Rearranging Your Library
Tips
• Consider patron comfort
• Use large signage for large
areas (Adult Fiction,
Childrens, etc)
• Don’t use Dewey on signs
• Put everything you can on
wheels for flexibility

22. The Future is Now
Follow the Rules
Make the Rules

23. Innovation is necessary
How much time do you
spend thinking about your
library’s future?
How much is 1% of your time?
A 35 hour work week is 2100
minutes
1% of 2100 minutes is 21 minutes
Is your future worth
the investment of
21 minutes a week?

24. There is no box. . .
http://noboxbook.com/blog/

25. Tasha Turner
“No book is ever perfect
No piece of art is ever perfect
No meal I cook is ever perfect
But at some point we have to
eat...”
Perfection is a myth. . .

28. Thomas A Edison
Many of life's failures are
people who did not realize
how close they were to
success when they gave up.

29. Join us for the
2014 Conference
Tacoma, Washington
September 4-6, 2014
Hotel Murano - $99 per night