designing customized library services: book-a-librarian and bookmatch toby greenwalt...
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Designing Customized Library Services:
Book-A-Librarian and Bookmatch
Toby Greenwalttheanalogdivide@gmail.
comAn Webinar
September 14th, 201012:00 – 1:00 PDT
Infopeople webinars are supported by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.
Today’s Agenda
• Principles of Custom Library Services
• Designing 1-on-1/Book-a-Librarian Service
• Crowdsourced Service: Bookmatch
• The Long Haul: Promotion and Evaluation
Things Are Getting Busier
Skokie PL, FY 09-10:•Over 274,000 desk transactions (up 9%)•Face-to-face, phone, email, IM, Twitter, and Facebook•Staff juggling basic and in-depth questions
http://flic.kr/p/6YrKWT
Step Away From the Desk
• Create a more comfortable environment
• Eliminate “time pressure”
• Works toward a more participatory model (Lankes)
Personalize It: 2 Methods
Getting Started: Policy and Buy-in• Start with the skills
audit• Choose a “minder”
for all BaL sessions• Allow staff to set
their own availability
http://flic.kr/p/im9gn
Brainstorming Time: Perform a Skills Audit
1. Which questions are best suited for a 1-on-1 consulting session?
2. What do you think you could cover with a little practice?
3. Which questions should be off-limits?
Put the Audit to UseStaff name Strengths Avoid Availability Last
SessionNext Session
Don Business Computers Tues PMFri AM
6/15/2010 9/17/2010
Peggy Databases Wed AM 8/22/2010
Joan Computers,Blogging
Tues AMWed PM
8/2.2010
Pete Health, Computers
Mon AMThurs PM
7/8/2010 9/23/2010
Betty Genealogy Mon PMFri PM
7/30/2010
Roger Job-finding Computer Thurs (All day)
9/1/2010
Making the Appointment
• Schedule at least a week in advance
• Secure private space for session
• Will you need a computer?
• Contact patron 1-2 days before to confirm
Showtime
• Treat like a standard reference interview
• Set realistic goals for the allotted time
• “Teach a man to fish…”
http://flic.kr/p/7ihDXU
Know your limits
• Avoid liability-prone topics
• Provide referrals if necessary
• Determine follow-up protocol, and if subsequent sessions are necessary
• Provide evaluation
Bookmatch
• Based on Barry Trott’s Reader Survey
• Gives both patrons and staff time to approach reading interests
• Open to interested staff at all levels
Brainstorming Time: Readers’ Advisory
Which RA questions garner the best patron responses?
Creating the Survey
• Follow the inverted pyramid
• SurveyMonkey allows for branching paths
• Use a mix of multiple choice and essay answers
• Not every question will be answered
Rotating MindersStaff Rotation Patron Completed? Month
Pete Ken Cosgrove Sent August
Betty Trudy Campbell Picked up
Don Harry Crane Sent
Joan Lane Pryce Picked up
Peggy Mona Sterling Sent September
Roger Jimmy Barrett Sent
Pete
Betty (…)
Gettin’ Wiki With It
Survey pasted directly into Wikispaces page
Gettin’ Wiki With It
Discussion section used for book recommendations
The Home Stretch
• Minder has responsibility for compiling list
• Check for formatting issues, compatibility, and extras
Putting It Into Practice
• Hold test sessions with friends, family and staff.
• “Soft launch” for new services • Build opportunities for word-of-mouth
Promotion
Too much is a good start.
Evaluation
• Contact selected patrons for feedback
• What has worked? What hasn’t?• What features should/shouldn’t you
add?
Long-term effects: staff development
