Library 2.0: I can do it myself!

Last night I gave my second presentation to the Orangevale-Folsom PC Users Group – and they blew me away again with their interest and enthusiasm! A while back, I presented “Use your library @ home,” featuring remote use of our subscription databases.  The group’s web site and e-mailed agenda built up my last presentation so much, I didn’t see how I could possibly follow that act.  Last night, the same crowd showed up for “Library 2.0: I can do it myself!” and it was gratifying to see their interest, answer their questions, and help make the library a useful place for them.

We talked about our new online library card application process, which gives new users a temporary number they can use immediately to log in to the databases, our new Book Bulletin subscription, Link+, the grandCENTRAL blog, the opt-in reading history feature of the OPAC, e-mail notifications, and a brief run-through of updates to the web site, OPAC, and database line-up – notably Morningstar and Culturegrams.  The audience asked good questions, and several stayed afterwards to talk some more.  I overheard one gentleman comment that he hoped the club would make it an annual event! Go Library! And many thanks to Dennis, Lois, and Luann for the invitation, and to Alison for her moral support.

Managing

Today I attended an InfoPeople workshop called “Moving Into Management“, led by Nancy Bolt, former Colorado State Librarian. She and the other participants validated my feeling that management is inherently stressful, especially for new managers, for at least the first full year. A particularly valuable part of the workshop was the handout of the collected observations of real managers, remembering their own first management positions and offering advice for new managers. The bottom line was that becoming a manager is a career change, regardless of whether you stay in the same industry or not. Unless you treat it as such, you will encounter difficulties with staff and your own achievement.

Another important point our instructor mentioned as recurring in every management book is that it is vital for the new manager to engage in self-reflection, self-analysis, and self-understanding. This theme recurs, because if you don’t understand your own needs and tendencies, it’s impossible to deal with the needs of those you supervise and those who supervise you. It’s also OK to come to the conclusion that management may not be for you.

A third component of the workshop stressed the need for networking, expressing in action the vision of administration for the library, and of making yourself visible by volunteering to lead projects.

Lots to think about, especially in these times of staff and budget shortages. It’s easy to fall into the self-pity trap, but for those with motivation and ambition, for those with a vision of what they want to achieve, there is still room at the top.

Tax Season Arriveth

Every year, during the last week of December, Telephone Reference begins receiving calls from go-getter patrons looking for tax forms. For the next four months, staff will be living, breathing, and distributing answers to tax form questions.

Our library distributes a few of the most frequently-requested federal and state forms and booklets, provides links on our OPAC to the IRS and Franchise Tax Board forms pages, prints handouts with urls, phone numbers and filing addresses, and even, at some branches, provides free tax preparation help for seniors and low-income families. Other resources include links to the taxing agencies of each of the other states (Legal Forms Online), and a directory of other places people can go for free tax prep help. This year, we are working with InfoLine Sacramento, who will handle the scheduling of tax prep appointments for three of our branches again this year.

My involvement comes with the management of our Telephone Reference Service (TELIS). Ours is THE phone number for the library system, and from now until April 15, our calls will more and more frequently concern the availability of forms and tax prep help. I poll the branches about which forms they are distributing, whether they are hosting tax prep help, and whether an advance registration or same-day sign-up is required. I will need to prepare the flyers we distribute at the service desks regarding assistance from the two taxing authorities, and keep all the information current for the entire season.

Today, from 12 to 1 p.m. I was alone in Telephone Reference, and by 12:30 there were NINE callers in the queue. By 12:45 they started dropping out, and by 1:00 the queue was manageable, at 1-2 callers. Sigh… I need to ask for a higher staffing level until April 15.