Core Dialogue with Directors Interest Group

Meeting Minutes: June 2015

30 attendees: Many first-timers and for the first time the majority were from public libraries.

Topics discussed:

• Internationalization

• Always keep a global perspective

• Support for study abroad participants

• Unique, targeted collections

• Collaboration with other local institutions and partners
  
  
  
  • Find synergies
  
  
  • Encouraging the larger parent organization to get ”involved”; library to lead down that path
  
  
  • Skill development
  
  
  • Share resources
  
  
  • Public library partnering with Jr college to offer Lynda.com
  
  
  • Public and community colleges sharing collections
  
  
  • Serves for children, especially college students with kids
  
  
  • Special collections promotions in and to other library audiences
  
  
  • Not duplicating efforts of other nearby libraries
  
  
  • Library card for local audiences, such as high school students
  
  
  • Big Read grant: library managed the programs and another did the displays
  
  
  • Teaser displays in other libraries
  
  
  • Shared spaces
  
  
  • Charter schools in library buildings, performance spaces
  
  
  • Challenge keeping track of partnerships and leadership knowing of this: trying to not cannibalize own audiences or resources
  
  
  • Partnerships must be give and take
  
  
  • Asking Trustees to partner and make connections to partner
  
  
  • 3 tiers in documenting partnerships: Program agreements, partner agreements, MOUs
  
  
  • Form to keep track of proposals and partnerships
  
  
  • Get Board approvals if needed
  
  
  • Academic library: Room policy that requires library to be part of meeting or program
  
  
  • Last copy agreements
  
  
  

• Mentoring staff to consider partnering
  
  
  
  • Reaching out to external agencies; leader made the first connection
  
  
  • Join local groups, such as Rotary (1 library paying for such memberships); group memberships possible and someone from the library always attends
  
  
  • "Outreach" librarian to target specific audiences such such as veterans and honors
  
  
  

• Politics and communication of new or remodel of library
  
  
  
  • Scope prepared well in advance
  
  
  • Raised floors for ease
  
  
  • Fighting with architects over look versus need
  
  
  • Student contest
  
  
  • Librarians need to be in consultation
  
  
  • Fighting with architects over space for books
  
  
  • Public libraries are giving up collection spaces for collaboration spaces
  
  
  • Who picked architect determines the politics and direction
  
  
  • Consider "zones" in the Library, collaboration versus space
  
  
  • Heat map of sound (Chicago library)
  
  
  • Plan empty space for program spaces and future needs
  
  
  • "Programming" phase to hear all voices
  
  
  • Need versus wants defined
  
  
  • Sight lines considered
  
  
  • Staff discussion for staff areas and do not short change the space needed
  
  
  • Public to define public areas
  
  
  • ”community analysis”; see Wheaton Public Library
  
  
  • Focus groups, community forums
  
  
  • "Users want what you have not given them”
  
  
  

• Fundraising for construction
  
  
  
  • Set and manage expectations early = needs
  
  
  • Raise money after plans
  
  
  • Strict separation between building and fundraising committees
  
  
  • Clearly defined decision makers
  
  
  • What is the pulse of your community?
  
  
  • Avoid design void, give ideas and data up front
  
  
  

• Mentoring, preparing leaders, succession planning
  
  
  
  • Library schools not preparing leaders
  
  
  • Management internship program to prepare future library leaders
  
  
  • Accidental directorship
  
  
  • Board relationships, policy decisions
  
  
  • Give opportunities for people to manage others
  
  
  • Age and generation differences
  
  
  • Mentoring allows people to make mistakes safely
  
  
  • Shadowing
  
  
  • Helping people understand what skills are missing
  
  
  • Thinking broadly and strategic
  
  
  • Being a manager and a leader
  
  
  • People skills
  
  
  • Mentoring between organizations by trading people for internships
  
  
  • Projects given to build skills
  
  
  • Political skills
  
  
  

• Management is tough and you will always be liked