FutureLibrary

You won’t need Sinatra to get ’em in June 27, 2009

I often cringe when I see that Library magazine in the staff area where various libraries report on activities going on in their organisation. It’s usually a lame picture of an arkward looking librarian dressed up as some sort of character, or a sparcely attended event where they have dragged a few people in through the doors and they can’t wait to                                                                          escape.

I’m probably being a bit unkind, but I think things can be done better. Make sure your event people are passionate, knowledgable and good marketers. Don’t do events for the sake of it, make sure they are planned, well staffed, and ooz energy. They don’t always have to be “library” related as well. Promote activities which reach all pockets of your community.

Example I can think of are discussion groups, State of Origin nights, expert speakers, pool competitions, careers nights. Any area that your staff have a passion for, make an event out of it. Give them full reign to research it, promote it, and run it. If it’s a flop, well hopefully lessons have been learnt and the next one will be better. An added advantage is getting more library staff known to the community in a social environment, rather than having them chained to their desks.

To those who think these activities are not related to libraries, I say take up the challenge and make the library an even more popular and indispensable part of the community, or you will soon see the world literally pass you by.