Building a National Brand for Libraries

Building a National Brand for Libraries is a poster in the 2020 PNLA Virtual Poster Session. We encourage you to engage in discussion by leaving a comment on the page. The author of the poster will respond to comments the week of August 4-7, 2020.

Presenter: Stephanie Hlywak

Track: Academic, Public, & School Libraries

Abstract:
Since 2015, Libraries Transform has endeavored to create a national “brand” for the modern library in all its permutations. In the years since, the campaign has mobilized library lovers across the world with easy-to-use graphics and messaging for marketing, advocacy, fundraising and more.

ALA’s poster will share statistics and information about the campaign, including its original goals (Increase AWARENESS of and support for the transforming library; shift the PERCEPTION of libraries from “obsolete” or “nice to have” to essential; ENGAGE and energize library professionals and build external advocates to influence local, state and national decision-makers), key messages (Libraries transform lives; libraries transform communities; librarians are passionate advocates for lifelong learning; libraries are a smart investment) and results (more than 15,000 libraries and supporters have joined Libraries Transform from all 50 U.S. states as well as international libraries in more than 100 countries). Additionally, we’ll share our formula for creating the central building block of the campaign: the “Because…” statement. We’ll also have plenty of examples of how libraries across the US have used Libraries Transform in creative and effective ways to increase awareness and funding.

Finally, our poster will also share some of the challenges and lessons learned along the way. Attendees will gain an understanding of the opportunities and obstacles to implementing any kind of public awareness campaign for a cause or concept.

Learning Objectives
Attendees will leave the session informed and inspired about creative ways to use ALA’s free Libraries Transform toolkit. Specific topics include print and digital marketing tactics, raising public awareness on a tight (or nonexistent) budget, and finding the right messaging for your unique audience.

Poster:

About the Presenter: A communications leader with extensive experience in all aspects of public relations, digital marketing and social media, Stephanie Hlywak is the director of the American Library Association’s Communications and Marketing Office. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and her master’s degree in the humanities from the University of Chicago, where she concentrated on creative short fiction. A committed educator, she currently teaches online courses on Social Media Marketing at The New School. Stephanie lives with her family in Chicago.

 

The Culture of Care in Librarianship

The Culture of Care in Librarianship is a poster in the 2020 PNLA Virtual Poster Session. We encourage you to engage in discussion by leaving a comment on the page. The author of the poster will respond to comments the week of August 4-7, 2020.

Presenter: Donna Langille & Sajni Lacey

Track: Academic Library

Abstract: Librarianship continues to be a highly feminized field where workers, especially marginalized folx, are often expected to provide an unhealthy and unsafe amount of emotional labour for their patrons and colleagues. Extended emotional labour can lead to emotional exhaustion and burnout and is deeply connected to the vocational awe associated with librarianship and library work (Lowe & Reno, 2018; Ettarh, 2018).

Despite these risks, the COVID-19 crisis highlights the importance of empathy, a kind of emotional labour, in building relationships with patrons and providing support that meets their needs (Bruce, 2020). As we move our traditionally physical services to online (e.g. helpdesk support, reference consultations, instruction), we must not only engage in the labour of providing these new virtual services, but we should also extend empathy and consider the individual experience of patrons’ within the context of COVID-19. In addition, what role does empathy play when we are creating spaces in this online context that reflect an inclusive practice? Questions to consider with our patrons: Are they an essential worker? Are they taking care of a sick family member? Do they have children? All of which will undoubtedly affect the interactions that we have with them and the ways in which we do our work. This consideration must extend to our colleagues as well.

How can we extend empathy towards not only our patrons but also our colleagues and ourselves in ways that will resist burnout? Our poster will highlight actions librarians can take to practice empathy and adopt an ethics of care in their work while acknowledging some of the barriers that prevent a culture of care in librarianship.

Works Cited

Bruce, S. (2020). Teaching with care: A relational approach to individual research consultations. In the Library with the Lead Pipe. http://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2020/teaching-with-care/

Ettarh, F. (2018). Vocational awe and librarianship: The lies we tell ourselves. In the Library with the Lead Pipe. http://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2018/vocational-awe/

Lowe, M., & Reno, L. M. (2018). Examining the Emotional Dimensions of Academic Librarianship: Emerging Research and Opportunities. IGI Global. http://doi:10.4018/978-1-5225-3761-8

Poster:

Loader Loading...
EAD Logo Taking too long?

Reload Reload document
| Open Open in new tab

Download [432.89 KB]

Supporting Materials:

About the Presenters:
Donna Langille (she/her) is Community Engagement Librarian at the University of British Columbia Okanagan campus. She lives and works as an uninvited guest on the unceded, ancestral, and traditional territory of the Syilx Okanagan Nation. Her professional interests include open education, public/digital scholarship, and knowledge exchange. Contact Donna at donna.langille@ubc.ca

Sajni Lacey (she/her/hers) is a biracial, cis-gendered, able bodied, settler woman. Sajni has spent her entire professional career in academic libraries. She would also like to acknowledge that I live and work as an uninvited settler on the unceded territory of the Sylix Peoples. Contact Sajni at slacey01@mail.ubc.ca

 

Professional Librarian Development with Lynda.com

Professional Librarian Development with Lynda.com is a poster in the 2020 PNLA Virtual Poster Session. We encourage you to engage in discussion by leaving a comment on the page. The author of the poster will respond to comments the week of August 4-7, 2020.

Presenters: Niki Sutherland, Devon Tatton, Caitlin Ottenbreit, Leah Pearse, Deborah Van Der Linde, Katie Gunther, Delia Filipescu, & Megan Clark

Track: Public Library

Abstract: During Covid-19, Greater Victoria Public Library used Lynda.com for librarian professional development. Librarians saw an opportunity to use their learning to co-create a community of colleagues using Lynda tutorials as a discussion platform. This poster explains the impact, challenges and opportunities of librarians learning with Lynda.com

Poster:


Librarian Professional Development with Lynda.com

About the Presenter: This large group of Canadian librarians work in Public Services, in portfolios ranging from Early Literacy to Creative Technology and Arts, Culture and History. We have a combined library services experience of over 70 years.

Leading Through the Chaos

Leading Through the Chaos is a poster in the 2020 PNLA Virtual Poster Session. We encourage you to engage in discussion by leaving a comment on the page. The author of the poster will respond to comments the week of August 4-7, 2020.

Presenter: Karen Yother

Track: Public Library

Abstract: Fear. Frustration. Anxiety. Uncertainty. Confusion. Worry. Stress. Sadness.

On a good day, managing staff dealing with just one of these emotions can be difficult, but when your entire team is feeling most of these emotions on a daily basis for weeks on end, how we lead can be the difference between tidal waves that capsize the boat or calm seas ahead for everyone.

The recent pandemic shone a spotlight on what I do well as a supervisor and what my team does very well on a daily basis, but it also highlighted some areas that were lacking and gaps in how we interact and communicate with each other.

In this poster session I will share how we improved communication, created a stronger support system, the lessons we learned, and how to sustain it all moving forward. From shifting to a virtual platform and setting aside summer plans for a new model just weeks prior to kick-off to learning to listen to what people aren’t saying and practicing being bendy, small changes in our behavior and actions can have a significant impact on staff. You can be the calm in the storm for your team starting today.

Poster:

Loader Loading...
EAD Logo Taking too long?

Reload Reload document
| Open Open in new tab

Download [3.70 MB]

About the Presenter: As the Youth Services Coordinator at the Community Library Network, Karen leads a talented and amazing team of Super Librarians. She has served on various PNLA, ILA and CSLP committees since 2003. She received the Coeur d’Alene Schools “Inspiration Award”, the Hayden Chamber of Commerce Youth Award, was named Librarian of the Year by ILA, was a PNLA LEADS emerging leader, and was selected as one of the Top 30 Leaders Under 40 from the North Idaho Business Journal. Contact Karen at kareny@communitylibrary.net

Not All Heroes Wear Masks (But Maybe They Should)

Not All Heroes Wear Masks (But Maybe They Should) is a poster in the 2020 PNLA Virtual Poster Session. We encourage you to engage in discussion by leaving a comment on the page. The author of the poster will respond to comments the week of August 4-7, 2020.

Presenter: Robert Perret

Track: Academic, Public, School, & Special Libraries

Abstract: There will be many challenges facing libraries as they reopen, but one of the most challenging may be trying to manage safe behaviors in patrons, particularly if your library is taking a soft approach to enforcing efforts like social distancing and masks. This poster will describe methods for suggesting desired behavior to patrons through environmental design and behavior cues even if you do not have the budget (or authority) to make big changes. We can make the library safer for patrons and ourselves with practical, thoughtful approaches to patron services and patron spaces.

Poster:

About the Presenter: Robert Perret works in Special Collections and Instruction at the University of Idaho. Years of experience with classroom management have informed best practices for encouraging the best behavior in patrons even when there may be no hard and fast rules.

Abolitionist De-Escalation and the Library

Abolitionist De-Escalation and the Library is a poster in the 2020 PNLA Virtual Poster Session. We encourage you to engage in discussion by leaving a comment on the page. The author of the poster will respond to comments the week of August 4-7, 2020.

Presenter: Katy Anastasi

Track: Academic Library

Abstract:
As calls for abolishing the police gain momentum in the United States, academic libraries and library workers are confronted with our own relationship(s) to white supremacy, racist policing, and the prison-industrial complex (PIC).

Without awareness of police violence, deescalation tactics, and alternatives to policing, library workers may feel that dishing off an issue in the library to armed security or police is the safest or easiest option (or, even, a policy). Increasing the presence of officers with lethal weapons and track records of racist, sexist, and ableist violence, however, can further endanger the lives of many library patrons and staff — and especially our Black and disabled community members.

The grassroots abolitionist organization Critical Resistance reminds us that PIC abolitionists strive to “create lasting alternatives to punishment and imprisonment.” Abolitionists call for investing in community-based systems of care, support, safety, and accountability. As most libraries remain physically closed due to COVID-19 while local police and federal officers brutalize Black Lives Matter protesters across the country, I argue that libraries have not only the opportunity, but also the responsibility, to take steps towards eliminating our complicity in the PIC.

Drawing from my experience as a new-to-the-field, part-time reference librarian, my presentation explores PIC abolition and deescalation as they relate to libraries. Grounded in an abolitionist framework, I propose possible steps and resources for library workers interested in joining the movement to abolish policing as we know it and, together, build a safer and more just world.

Poster:

Supporting Materials:

About the Presenter: Katy Anastasi (kathryn.anastasi@gmail.com) is an academic librarian and advocate of open educational resources (OER). She most recently worked at Portland State University as a part-time Reference Librarian and OER Publishing Assistant. In 2019, she graduated from the Graduate School of Library and Information Studies (GSLIS) at Queens College, CUNY. During her time as a CUNY student, she also worked as an Adjunct Librarian and OER Fellow at Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC). Katy is a weaving novice, a seasoned basketball player, and a fiction-lover. She will join Clark College as a Reference & Instruction Librarian in September 2020.

 

What’s in Your (Leadership) Toolbox?

What’s in Your (Leadership) Toolbox? is a poster in the 2020 PNLA Virtual Poster Session. We encourage you to engage in discussion by leaving a comment on the page. The author of the poster will respond to comments the week of August 4-7, 2020.

Presenter: Pam Henley, Montana State Library

Track: Academic, Public, School, & Special Libraries

Abstract:
Since an in-person, multi-day leadership institute is not possible at this time, PNLA is offering a virtual option: a series of book discussions lead by alumni from various leadership institutes. Each will recommend a favorite leadership book for the group to read, and lead the discussion. Join the group as either leader or participant as we all work to develop new leaders for the association.

Poster:


What’s In Your (Leadership) Toolbox? by Pam Henley

About the Presenter:
With 20 years of school and public library experience, and 7 years as a statewide consulting librarian, Pam is still improving her leadership skills.

 

Get the Most Out of a Virtual Conference!

Get the Most Out of a Virtual Conference! is a poster in the 2020 PNLA Virtual Poster Session. We encourage you to engage in discussion by leaving a comment on the page. The author of the poster will respond to comments the week of August 4-7, 2020.

Presenter: Pam Henley, Montana State Library

Track: Academic, Public, & School Libraries

Abstract:
Virtual events offer great opportunities but also present new challenges for both presenters and attendees. We’ll share tips and tricks on keeping attendees engaged, best practices for participants and more!

Poster:

About the Presenter:
Pam worked in public libraries for over 20 years, and is now a consultant with the Montana State Library. She’s participated in many virtual meetings and trainings over the years.