ARSL 2013 Journal

This is my first time attending the annual Association for Rural and Small Libraries Conference.  So I  am sharing some highlights.

Wednesday

ARSL Pre-Conference .. Shifting Sands

It is a beautiful late September afternoon that I find myself in downtown Omaha, Nebraska at the Association of Rural and Small Libraries Annual Conference.  I have the opportunity to share this 3-day educational experience with other Idaho Library colleagues, including Kevin Tomlinson, Jane Somerville, Jezmynne Dene, Josh Barnes and Susan King.  By the way, staff from Idaho's small, rural libraries have an opportunity to experience this conference next September as it will be held in Tacoma, Washington!  It qualifies for a First Time Conference Attendee Grant, if you have never attended this conference.

What is special about this conference?  About 400 individuals from rural and small libraries throughout the nation converge to share and network, with conversations centering on the joys and challenges of small, rural libraries. It is an amazing group.

Back to Omaha ... I spent an engaging afternoon in a workshop called "Shifting Sands" presented by  Bonnie McKewon, Library Consultant for Northwest District of Iowa Library Services.

Her high value content was interspersed with interesting games and activities.  Dividing the four-hour session into four distinct segments, Bonnie emphasized the importance of digital literacy and community engagement in all aspects of library services, especially trustee development, staffing, library spaces, and collaboration.

We know change is the only constant, however how we deal with change determines the sustainability of our individual libraries.  Here are some key points from the presentation:

1.  Trustee/board meetings need to be greener.  Such as posting board documents on line or sending by email.

2.  What are the technology competences that trustees should have?  (Food for thought!)

3.  Educate the board by demonstrating electronic resources, data bases and library services at board meetings.  Share news, articles, and websites.  Bring training to board meetings.  Some resources include Netted by Webbies, Techsoup and United for Libraries or speak with your Public Library Field Consultant.

4.  Open staff training to board members.

5.  Use a community-based planning process with the service priorities established in Sandra Nelson's Strategic Planning publication.

6.  Create policies for results.

7.  Collaborate with colleagues .. Share the wealth and information by staff exchanges.

The PowerPoint slides can be viewed at http://arsl.info/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/ShiftingSands-Slides.pdf.