10 Things to Make Your Life in the Library Easier

As the realization sets in that the term information overload is a less a temporary affliction and more a social norm, you may find yourself asking, “Now what?” Fortunately, there several actions you can take to save precious minutes (and shreds of sanity) as you shake off the urge to change your name to Sisyphus. Below are 10 things that have helped me to better utilize more effectively what little spare time I do have in the library.

1.       Take the Plunge! Try Social Media Promotion

Libraries across the country are using social media to promote their services—as small as a rural K-5 school all the way up to NPL and LOC. As we all make the digital shift, virtual promotion can be one of the easiest and fastest ways to reach your patrons. Most of them are already using one or more of the “Big Three”: Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Running “Like Us” and “Follow Us” campaigns with prizes or incentives will help you gain a following. Once you establish yourself to your patrons, reaching them is as simple as sending a text.

2.       Make Destiny a One-Stop Shop

Destiny is more than just an online catalog. This powerful tool can help to promote information literacy and good search skills at every grade level. By incorporating academic databases via One Search, websites via WebPath Express, and digital resources with your current print holdings, your students and staff will have a trusted jumping off point when they begin their search for information. Destiny can also save you time with features such as emailing overdue notices directly to students, staff, and parents and running saved reports on a set schedule automatically.

3.       Get a Wireless Scanner and Download the Circulation App to Devices

Gone are the days of hauling books to the circulation desk for inventory and circulation. Have a rowdy class of kindergartners  Have them sit in line while you come to them with your wireless scanner rather than them rushing the circ desk. Need to inventory textbooks in a different room? Simply walk there with your scanner.  Also, you can download the Follett Destiny app from the Apple and Android stores which allows you to search for materials and patrons directly from your Smart Phone or tablet. Ever find a book out on the playground? Now you can snap a picture of the barcode with your phone to see who last had the book. Trust me; it will change your life.

4.       Use Student and Parent Volunteers

I am a huge proponent of student and parent labor. Each year I used to ask teachers to call for responsible students to help in the library at lunch. And if you don’t have takers right away, they can always be bribed with getting an extra checkout or bookmark.  With a little work up front to train your helpers, you will alleviate some of the menial tasks and save tons of time in the long run.

5.       Reach Out To Teachers for Collection Development Ideas

Collection development can be extremely time-consuming and many find themselves drawing a blank on what to buy for the kiddos with their limited budgets. Once or twice per year try sending out a short survey for teachers.  If you’re into tech, Google Drive—formerly Google Docs—has great forms that will organize your results neatly into a spreadsheet. Ask the teachers what they are teaching this year and if they have any new curricula. What would they like to see in the stacks? They will appreciate being included in the process and will take some of the guesswork off your plate.

6.       Reach Out To Others in the Field

Sometimes it is hard to believe, but no librarian is an island. Most of us are willing to share ideas, thoughts, and experiences in the name of literacy and library promotion.  Establishing a network of colleagues will save you oodles time in the long run. Conferences, webinars, social media (and ahem, library blogs!) are great ways to meet like-minded folks with whom you can talk shop.

7.       Collaborate With Local Public and Academic Libraries

Your students will not always be your students. They will grow up and move on and they should know what other types of libraries await them out there in the world beyond your stacks.  Local public and academic libraries are usually willing to come speak to your school about what their library has to offer or collaborate on events such as a library card drive.

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8.       Don’t Assume You Have To Reinvent the Wheel

If you follow tips #6 and #7, you should rarely have to reinvent the wheel. Need a good read-aloud for Valentine’s Day? How about a lesson on cyber bullying? Before you hit the word processor and put on your thinking cap, ask your library network for ideas. Better to adjust than to invent from scratch.

9.       Develop a Self-Circulating Collection Via eBooks

This is not something that happens overnight, but as you begin to develop your eBook collection and digital resource offerings, you may find yourself with extra minutes during circulation periods. Keep an eye on your reports to see if and how circulation is shifting toward digital media by comparing it to past months or years.

10.   Write How-To’s To Educate More Patrons in Less Time

Though How-to’s are time consuming up front, they will save you twice over what you put in. A handbook with screenshots is my little black dress of Professional Development and training. And if the technology or process changes, you can simply edit the handbook rather than trying to verbally retrain students and staff. Keep them handy in both print and digital format and if you can, link them to your Destiny homepage (see tip #2).


And I suppose if you remember nothing else, remember that just by enduring the chaos, the slashed budgets, the waves of pink slips and downsizings, by remaining true to your passion for your students and their literacy, you are giving both a chance thrive and grow in this ever-changing world. Here’s to you.

Ever onward!

Yes, I Have Information Overload. Now What?

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So now that we have established that we all have a little case of information overload, what do we do? I supervise--I really don't like that word and will often exchange it with support so... I support 30 librarians at 27 different sites and I find that one of the most common frustrations across the board is that there just aren't enough hours in the day to circulate, develop the collection, provide reference help, conduct story-times and book talks, and shelve, let alone learn about or promotion via technology, social media, and Web 2.0 (and soon 3.0) tools.

When it comes to integrating virtual patron outreach into our day-to-day, less is more. For the most part, everyone is overwhelmed. Take yourself for example.  Have you ever referred to a new social media outlet as "just one more thing to check"? Are you reading this blog on a whim because you had a few minutes and it had a catchy title? (I apologize to regular readers of my or any blogs and I salute you for your patronage!) Your patrons--for the most part--feel the same way. So pick one or two to start, and go from there.

Most people today use one or all of the big three: Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. There are dozens more, but if you are going to pick one, start with one of these. Each is different in what they allow you to provide your patrons.

Let's start with Pinterest. This social media tool is a virtual pin board where you can "pin" pictures from the web upload them from your computer. You can also drop in a little explanation (500 characters or less) with each picture. It's great for pinning book covers, infographics, and pictures of events held in the library.

A Helpful Reminder 
for Students :)

Next is Twitter. This is an extremely easy to use social media tool. Have you ever said something witty and only the walls are listening? Now you can tweet your witticisms out--along with any other 140 character headlines, newsflashes, and quick tips. All you have to do is get patrons to follow you. Think signage. And contests where they have to "follow" you to win.

Lastly is Facebook. This can be your virtual gathering place, news feed and photo album--all for free. Facebook encompasses Twitter's and Pinterest's features along with many of its own.

No matter which you choose, just be sure to keep up with it. Many "fans" and "followers" lose interest if you are not updating frequently and providing current material—sort of sounds like your print collection right? We’ll be talking more in depth on these tools in the coming weeks and I would love your feedback on how your library is (or isn't) using these tools. Tweet me @AskMissLIS or leave a comment below.

And now that you have had a little crash course on promoting your services to your patrons, next time we can talk about helping them help themselves through the shell shock of the information explosion. What are your patrons asking for help with the most? Tweet me @AskMissLIS or leave a comment below. 

Ever onward!