WORTH IMITATING
by Marylaine Block
While researching for my new book, I've been looking at a whole lot of library web sites over the past couple of weeks, and I've come across some wonderful ideas that seem to me well worth imitating.
I've come across lots of "Library Stores" on these web sites, which offer some interesting merchandise. The Fletcher Free Library (VT), for instance <http://www.fletcherfree.org/store.htm>, offers "Carnegie Building Centennial Anniversary Note Cards," with "color and sepia-tone images of the Carnegie Library from four different old post cards." With a package of 20, they throw in a copy of "A Short History of Vermont’s Carnegie Libraries."
Many sites give their users a chance to contribute to the library more directly, and in some interesting, imaginative ways. Greenville County Library System (SC), for instance, encourages people to buy engraved bricks to be placed near the entrance of each of the new branch libraries <http://www.greenvillelibrary.org/about/fundraising/buyabrick_form.htm>. In collaboration with the Texas Kennel Club, the Dallas Public Library <http://dallaslibrary.org/> sponsors a Pet Memorial Fund; for a donation of $25 or more, the pet's name is commemorated in a Pet Memory Book and a bookplate in the book purchased with the money. And a number of libraries have established a Wish List at Amazon; patrons can click on the Amazon list to buy the library a book from that list.
All libraries do programs, of course, but it must be admitted, some programs are more intriguing than others. Among the most interesting events I saw advertised on library web sites were the "Quilt Me a Story" contest at the Pelican Rapids Public Library (MN) <http://www.pelicanrapids.lib.mn.us/index.php>; Friends of the Library partnered with the Pelican Rapids Multi-cultural committee to ask people to create quilts on the theme of Global Village, the winner to be displayed in the library this coming June.
The Princeton Public Library <http://www.princeton.lib.nj.us/index.html> (whose director is 2006-2007 ALA president Leslie Burger), is offering a three-session program on civic life in New Jersey called Politics NJ 2005. Other events it's sponsoring include a 4-day, 15-film Human Rights Film Festival and "Unquiet Fridays, featuring the Princeton Country Dancers in a program of traditional dances of the US and Britain."
King County Library System in Washington <http://www.kcls.org/> offers several intriguing programs, my favorites of which are Read to Your Grandchildren, a series honoring National Older Americans Month, and a program for teens called Read Three, Get One Free. The Dayton Metro Library <http://www.daytonmetrolibrary.org/>> sponsored a Free Comic Book Day to promote its graphic novel collection.
Among its many programs, Ohio's Stark County Library <http://www.starklibrary.org/> will be presenting a one-day workshop on grants for nonprofit organizations, and a program about its partnership with the Stark County Parks District.
Although it's hard to find it on the Smithtown (NY) Library website <http://www.smithlib.org/>, that library is sponsoring a sports book reading group, a nice way to encourage men to join book discussions and use our libraries.
Smithtown's web site does something else that's interesting: a prominent feature, Database of the Month. Using a little of your site's prime display area to introduce just one thing (at a time) that most people don't realize you offer seems to me like a good idea. Similarly, New York's Middle Country Public Library Online <http://www.mcpl.lib.ny.us/> uses a rotating signboard at the top of the screen to highlight services and coming attractions. It currently is featuring an International Museum Day program, a Community Resource Database, wellness programs, and career counseling services.
Many of the libraries whose web pages I was exploring had just won local referendum issues, and I was pleased to see that several of them thanked the voters prominently on their web sites AND, as in the case of King County Library System's "Your Library Investment" pages, give full, ongoing accounts of how the money is being used; in my view, complete openness about our stewardship of public funds is essential to building public trust.
Libraries with building projects often include architectural sketches, building plans, and construction photos. Princeton's library provides a wonderfully comprehensive view of its completed new building, with photos, a fact sheet, an overview of its public art, information on tours, etc. <http://www.princeton.lib.nj.us/new/photos.html>. Many libraries post their budgets and their strategic plans for the next couple of years.
Don't just take my word for it about the interesting and useful things libraries are doing. Go out exploring. Using the web to scout the competition can pay big dividends. Remember, the sincerest form of flattery is imitation.
And if you're already doing things that are every bit as nifty as these, I want to hear from you. As the song doesn't quite go, "If you tell me, I could write a book..."
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COOL QUOTE:
At the root of the problem is a kind of indifference bordering on neglect on the part of library patrons, and a kind of neglect bordering on negligence on the part of public officials. There is hardly anyone who is against libraries. Rather, library budgets are being cut or restrained almost by default to fund other, more tangible services. No one's life is in danger because they can't get their hands on one of Shakespeare's plays, and so libraries are often undervalued by local officials bent on preserving "essential services."
But in fact, libraries are essential. Reading is still the most basic survival skill in today's information-driven society. Moreover, the gap between rich and poor is widening, and the libraries level the playing field.
A danger greater than closing is that if we keep pauperizing libraries, they will deteriorate to the point that it will not be worth going at all. For children from homes where the only book is the telephone directory, the library is their one great hope. But if they go and find nothing to read, they will soon be watching television instead.
William Ecenbarger. "Libraries Are an Essential Service, Too." Christian Science Monitor March 11, 2005 http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0311/p09s01-coop.html
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