"Anythink Libraries"

This morning I read the article, In the Country of Anythink by Norman Oder, Library Journal, Nov.15,2010, pp 18-23, and available online. I like the brand "Anythink" selected by the Adams County, Colorado libraries for their persona makeover. What a great idea. The library has also given new personas to their staff members: library aides, responsible for "materials handling" are Wranglers; library assistants, responsible for on-the-floor customer service are Concierges (a more liberal, Americanized term than its original French definition of an apartment building caretaker and message-taker), and librarians providing reference are Guides. The idea of re-naming those who work in libraries is actually a good idea since over the years it has become common to call anyone a librarian who works in a library regardless of their position. Furthermore, the label has become rather dreary and tired, even though The Adventures of the Librarian DVDs has added a more energetic image of librarians.

Their director, Pam Sandlian Smith, applied the G.A.S.P. (graphics, ambience, style, and presentation) guidelines that she used in West Palm Beach Library. We discussed G.A.S.P. when one of our staff members brought back slides of the renovation in West Palm Beach and I wrote about it here in April of 2007. It blends well with our additional key ideas of community, safety, charm, and triangulation (communication enhancement by triangulating seating and furniture.) I liked the photographs included in the article, particularly the one showing the "r e a d" light above one of the lounge enclaves. Very nice. I also like their stand-up service points, called a perch, although I think it is more realistic to include a real perch, that is, a "lean to" chair that one can use to relieve long periods of pressure on the feet, standing for hours at a time. I like promoting the library as a place of unlimited learning and "The Best Place to Get Away From It All," provided there really are areas for getting away from the din of the world to read, reflect, and imagine. I think their "fine-free" policy is excellent because it removes tedious work for the staff to give more meaningful and useful help; and perhaps a yearly funding event might bring in equal revenue. (Just a thought.)

Technology lending/purchasing (of iPads, Flip cameras, and other similar items) gives hands-on training strengthening staff skills and knowledge to assist patrons. Their efforts to brighten the library and parking lot, staff name tags and uniforms with their logos is a superb way to reinforce their brand and extend the playful, creative atmosphere. Good ideas we could implement.

While t-shirts with slogans like "SHHH is a four-letter word" is a bit more than I would pursue (LOVE is also a four-letter word), and I still believe the seven-letter word, SILENCE, is truly golden. However I do support all patrons having a welcome environment -- from active children's programming to student discussion areas, to silent reading, research, and study nooks and carrels.

I compared our county statistics to the chart, on page 21 of the article, and while I don't know what our per capital library budget runs, our number of branches and cardholders are higher although our population is about 60,600 less than Adams County, Colorado. Land area is the same, 2,000 square miles.

All in all, I like the idea of branding the library to increase appeal to our community; and I like the makeover personas for staff. What names could we come up with?

Transitions

Change is not new to us. It seems we are always in the midst of it. We are saying good-bye to the Los Osos Branch Librarian and to our Assistant Library Director.

The Arroyo Grande Branch Library is undergoing renovation and the staff at the City Library is exploring options for our own renovation. And our move to a new automation system, TLC, should move forward this fall of 2007.

Meanwhile, the County of San Luis Obispo is receiving increased revenues with a new tax rate implemented April 1st. However, the Library Department may not be included in the disbursements of those additional revenues. We still move forward with goals to increase customer service and improve the "retail" experience of our users. In addition to merchandising ideas used by the San Jose Public Library System we are studying the GASP process (Graphics, Ambience, Style, Presentation) used by the West Palm Beach Public Library to rejuvenate the user experience. If you'd like you can view a video presentation of their GASP process.

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