In these hard times where the government do not hand out as much as we would like to see in the libraries it may be better to take a close look at how you manage your collection!
Say a library system has a main branch with 3 larger branches and 3 smaller ones.
You can no longer have all the magazines that you want, but may only have them at the larger branches. You may want to add some more electronic magazines, preferably team up with the local community college, and share the expenses, that way you get most for your bucks. Perhaps add some dumb terminals only to handle the electronic newspapers/magazines. Depending on how many terminals divide the opening hours up so that you have at least 3-4 terminals at the bigger branches and give 1/2 hour slots.
Best sellers and other deemed necessary books/cds/dvds and other media should be at all branches, but should one really have that many copies of say James Patterson. After a mere 3-4 months the interest has dropped drastically and you now have an overflow of duds. I know that some libraries "rent" from book companies and maybe a larger percentage should be allocated to these "rentals".
If not then maybe the customers need to wait a little bit. Or, horror of all horror
maybe we need to explore the electronic books more.
Non-fiction books and materials should be of the categories,
1. what all branches should have, popular of a loose kind
2. at the central and at the bigger branches - more specialized non fiction
3. each branch should be designated a certain specialty, say foreign fiction and nonfiction, depending on the population around the branch
4. the Central Branch should be the one with the deepest possible collection
and the other branches should be designated as specialty branches, meaning the the East branch has science, nature, biography, plus magazines in their field
West branch has religion politics, education,plus magazines in their field
North branch has art, science, travel, plus magazines in their field
the smaller branches could be allocated some kind of sub specialty if needed depending upon where the branch is, (thinking of a local museum, township, historic marker)
That way you could get more bang for your buck, and even add more titles to your collection and add depth. Granted, patrons have to wait a little longer, and the reserves list will be much larger, so you have to weigh the pro and cons.
Why not ask the the customers, after all if you would put it out there, I am not sure that the customers would not be after more titles, even though it meant waiting longer!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Scalding opinion - Leaders should lead
I am of the opinion that leaders should be the first
to recognize the following:
Friendly environment is preferred
When you ask your employees to be courteous to your
customers it is sine qua non that you should apply
the same rules to yourself towards your employees.
Whether you are the top dog and your employee is
a humble hourly. They do the dirty work at less pay
and are easily worn out. After all they are your
customers in the sense that you have to show them
the way.
Say hello the first time you enter a room every day
or when you see an employee enter the first time.
Talk with your employee - not to your employee.
If you have a problem with the employee deal with
him/her directly, do not relegate to the "supervisor".
If two employees have problems with each other -
have them talk it out with you, after all you are
the boss, that's why you get paid.
Show that you can handle whatever it is you are
required to handle, after all you get the big bucks
and that's why you are a manager.
Managers please adhere to these simple rules!
to recognize the following:
Friendly environment is preferred
When you ask your employees to be courteous to your
customers it is sine qua non that you should apply
the same rules to yourself towards your employees.
Whether you are the top dog and your employee is
a humble hourly. They do the dirty work at less pay
and are easily worn out. After all they are your
customers in the sense that you have to show them
the way.
Say hello the first time you enter a room every day
or when you see an employee enter the first time.
Talk with your employee - not to your employee.
If you have a problem with the employee deal with
him/her directly, do not relegate to the "supervisor".
If two employees have problems with each other -
have them talk it out with you, after all you are
the boss, that's why you get paid.
Show that you can handle whatever it is you are
required to handle, after all you get the big bucks
and that's why you are a manager.
Managers please adhere to these simple rules!
Friday, June 19, 2009
Morning walk
I have finally picked up my old habit of
walking for 1 hour in the morning so I set my
alarm clock to 6:30 and I walk after breakfast
from 8 to 9. That way I can beat the heat before
it gets to wild. This morning was odd, the sky a little
bit cloudy and the flies which I normally don't see
(in Danish we call the Thunder flies) indicated
that we would have a shower later on, and sure enough
one hour after I had hung my clothes out to dry
in the alley I had to rescue them before the rain.
Almost a tropical storm for a little while.
I have had men coming looking to see what kind of
work needs to be done. They all knock on the walls
and depending on where it is in the house they make
funny noises just like in Frances Mayle's Under the
Tuscan Sun.
walking for 1 hour in the morning so I set my
alarm clock to 6:30 and I walk after breakfast
from 8 to 9. That way I can beat the heat before
it gets to wild. This morning was odd, the sky a little
bit cloudy and the flies which I normally don't see
(in Danish we call the Thunder flies) indicated
that we would have a shower later on, and sure enough
one hour after I had hung my clothes out to dry
in the alley I had to rescue them before the rain.
Almost a tropical storm for a little while.
I have had men coming looking to see what kind of
work needs to be done. They all knock on the walls
and depending on where it is in the house they make
funny noises just like in Frances Mayle's Under the
Tuscan Sun.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Time
Sometimes it flies, sometimes it slows -
it just doesn't stop and when you walk
along a country road in the morning it
is of the languishing variety and when you
run down to the market before noon it runs
For a friend of mine here it is not an
easy time because he just got diagnosed
with a cancer - so for him it runs and he
wants it to stop - just like all the ones
that have died, unless it is painful.
The passengers aboard plane or in a car
just before the crash - time is an eternity.
This afternoon I am going to swim in
friends' pool and enjoy the sun which is very hot at
the moment. So my afternoon will be long and lazy
and for that I am thankful.
it just doesn't stop and when you walk
along a country road in the morning it
is of the languishing variety and when you
run down to the market before noon it runs
For a friend of mine here it is not an
easy time because he just got diagnosed
with a cancer - so for him it runs and he
wants it to stop - just like all the ones
that have died, unless it is painful.
The passengers aboard plane or in a car
just before the crash - time is an eternity.
This afternoon I am going to swim in
friends' pool and enjoy the sun which is very hot at
the moment. So my afternoon will be long and lazy
and for that I am thankful.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Concert?!
Walking down in my little village this morning
I had almost forgotten that I had been invited
to listen to preparations of a concert. It was
almost 11 before I remembered, or to be honest it
was one of my numerous acquaintances who reminded
me. The only other lady who was the one who originally
had told me was there and waved at me.
Three dedicated musicians the organ player, the trumpet
player and the soprano were working on the repertoire
for the concert they are going to give in honor of
two priest retiring. (Can priest really retire?)
What a morning feast for the ear. The trumpet
player sang on his trumpet, and once in a while they
had to go over their stuff. Sometimes they joked but the
music - Bach - Mozart - some French stuff I had not heard before
and then Vilja from the Merry Widow by Lehar was the
feast for my ears this morning.
I had almost forgotten that I had been invited
to listen to preparations of a concert. It was
almost 11 before I remembered, or to be honest it
was one of my numerous acquaintances who reminded
me. The only other lady who was the one who originally
had told me was there and waved at me.
Three dedicated musicians the organ player, the trumpet
player and the soprano were working on the repertoire
for the concert they are going to give in honor of
two priest retiring. (Can priest really retire?)
What a morning feast for the ear. The trumpet
player sang on his trumpet, and once in a while they
had to go over their stuff. Sometimes they joked but the
music - Bach - Mozart - some French stuff I had not heard before
and then Vilja from the Merry Widow by Lehar was the
feast for my ears this morning.
Monday, June 1, 2009
It is a quiet day in Languedoc, sun is shining
the horizon will show you both the Pyrennees
and Beziers, not too far away, if you stand on
a special vantagepoint a little north of my
village. The vineyards are everywhere even though
the growers have to cut back a certain percentage of
the production this year according to the European
Community. They are not happy about that.
Languedoc wine was not known for their quality
but the last decade or so in order to compete and survive
the vintners are trying to produce a better quality.
the horizon will show you both the Pyrennees
and Beziers, not too far away, if you stand on
a special vantagepoint a little north of my
village. The vineyards are everywhere even though
the growers have to cut back a certain percentage of
the production this year according to the European
Community. They are not happy about that.
Languedoc wine was not known for their quality
but the last decade or so in order to compete and survive
the vintners are trying to produce a better quality.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
France - Languedoc random raison d'etre
Taking time off for good or bad behavior, I, for now, reside
in a little village of 4000 people in a little house
with three floors and needing somewhat a gentle hand.
I am not that hand,(my hubby is) but I get by. If I don't
remember not to use the microwave at the same time as the
light in the bathroom I blow an old-fashioned fuse.
The natives are welcoming especially if they understand you
try and speak their language. I live in the old quartier
of the town, each part is different, and one part of the
village seem to know each other, but they know few in the
other part.
to be continued
in a little village of 4000 people in a little house
with three floors and needing somewhat a gentle hand.
I am not that hand,(my hubby is) but I get by. If I don't
remember not to use the microwave at the same time as the
light in the bathroom I blow an old-fashioned fuse.
The natives are welcoming especially if they understand you
try and speak their language. I live in the old quartier
of the town, each part is different, and one part of the
village seem to know each other, but they know few in the
other part.
to be continued
Friday, May 15, 2009
Thoughts on what a modern public library should have - I can dream - can't I!
First of all I do not like the term "should have",
but being a "classical" old fogey (who still laments
the fact that the card catalogue died, that old musty smell
of dust and olden days and wisdom, when you had to remember
a lot of stuff,) I do think that a modern public library
should have:
- Much of the current fiction from the last five-ten years:
persuade customers for a longer wait of the new titles
the library is not a book store and due to current economic
restraint we cannot buy that many copies of a book, because
once the interest dies down, the library has a lot of duds
on its shelves and that does not bode well for seriousness.
- Certainly most of the classic novels and short stories
including many of the world classics from prior centuries
- a variety of good translations of foreign modern and
most of the classical literature (including plays and poetry)
- many experimental novels and short stories (for the eclectic
borrower) That means a deep selection should be desired
- a broad variety of the current non-fiction and a sparingly
choice of dvds,supplementing the collections, but not take over
the books, because even though you can see a feature on Peru,
the person who is looking for a guidebook is not going to have
any use for the dvd, except as a background material.
Computer books should not be over 5 years old, some not even over three.
The classical texts of the economy and then in today's world
newer solutions the current economic mess. The same goes for
the political books.
The music on various media, now cd's, should be held to the same criteria
as the written material. However, in the opera field, it is brilliant
to have all dvds of most known operas.
Audiobooks in multiple media, again should be held to the same criteria
as the written books, but maybe only the newer texts.
Selectors should be people who works not only as librarians, but
come in contact with the real folks. Of course, each branch
should also have some special selectors, because each branch
in any library system is different due to the catering of a different
population of that branch, and, therefore, you can utilize the special
knowledge that the branch people have. Do not assume that one branch's needs
is similar to another. That way the system can actually have more titles,
just not as many copies.
Last, but not least: a public library cannot aspire to have everything,
none are like the Library of Congress. The only item one can hope for with
the current economic restraints is that with the reduced budgets smart choices
can be made without giving up the quality. After all, a public library
should still, first and foremost, educate, inspire, inform, and become
a community center where people can gather and learn and be enlighted.
but being a "classical" old fogey (who still laments
the fact that the card catalogue died, that old musty smell
of dust and olden days and wisdom, when you had to remember
a lot of stuff,) I do think that a modern public library
should have:
- Much of the current fiction from the last five-ten years:
persuade customers for a longer wait of the new titles
the library is not a book store and due to current economic
restraint we cannot buy that many copies of a book, because
once the interest dies down, the library has a lot of duds
on its shelves and that does not bode well for seriousness.
- Certainly most of the classic novels and short stories
including many of the world classics from prior centuries
- a variety of good translations of foreign modern and
most of the classical literature (including plays and poetry)
- many experimental novels and short stories (for the eclectic
borrower) That means a deep selection should be desired
- a broad variety of the current non-fiction and a sparingly
choice of dvds,supplementing the collections, but not take over
the books, because even though you can see a feature on Peru,
the person who is looking for a guidebook is not going to have
any use for the dvd, except as a background material.
Computer books should not be over 5 years old, some not even over three.
The classical texts of the economy and then in today's world
newer solutions the current economic mess. The same goes for
the political books.
The music on various media, now cd's, should be held to the same criteria
as the written material. However, in the opera field, it is brilliant
to have all dvds of most known operas.
Audiobooks in multiple media, again should be held to the same criteria
as the written books, but maybe only the newer texts.
Selectors should be people who works not only as librarians, but
come in contact with the real folks. Of course, each branch
should also have some special selectors, because each branch
in any library system is different due to the catering of a different
population of that branch, and, therefore, you can utilize the special
knowledge that the branch people have. Do not assume that one branch's needs
is similar to another. That way the system can actually have more titles,
just not as many copies.
Last, but not least: a public library cannot aspire to have everything,
none are like the Library of Congress. The only item one can hope for with
the current economic restraints is that with the reduced budgets smart choices
can be made without giving up the quality. After all, a public library
should still, first and foremost, educate, inspire, inform, and become
a community center where people can gather and learn and be enlighted.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Sydney Central Library - Australia
Sydney Central Library is to be found in the old
Custom's building, a beautiful edifice with two floors
to their name. Very close to the harbor.
The computers were only for the city residents and
you had to pay a fee to be a member.
They have 8 branches, and is pretty much organized as
our libraries.
The most exciting item was that the terminals they used
were like my blog, bright red.
http://cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Library/Branches/
Custom's building, a beautiful edifice with two floors
to their name. Very close to the harbor.
The computers were only for the city residents and
you had to pay a fee to be a member.
They have 8 branches, and is pretty much organized as
our libraries.
The most exciting item was that the terminals they used
were like my blog, bright red.
http://cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Library/Branches/
Thursday, April 9, 2009
It is the world
At least people in America are aware that
there is a world outside this half of the this continent.
When Bush was president of the USA he only knew
where oil, Texas, the US, and the Fertile Crescent were.
How marvelous to read the speech of President Obama when
he went to Turkey.
Been down under and the bushfires created havoc and yet
when you looked att those trees - burned and all they spouted
new growth. So being an eternal ambivalent optimist there is HOPE.
there is a world outside this half of the this continent.
When Bush was president of the USA he only knew
where oil, Texas, the US, and the Fertile Crescent were.
How marvelous to read the speech of President Obama when
he went to Turkey.
Been down under and the bushfires created havoc and yet
when you looked att those trees - burned and all they spouted
new growth. So being an eternal ambivalent optimist there is HOPE.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Comment to the government
http://www.whitehouse.gov/StrongMiddleClass/
Check this out. If you want to comment on the website for the whitehouse.
this is your time. Back in the dark ages of Bush and Cheney this was not possible.
And that is less than 2 months ago.
Vive l'Amerique.
Check this out. If you want to comment on the website for the whitehouse.
this is your time. Back in the dark ages of Bush and Cheney this was not possible.
And that is less than 2 months ago.
Vive l'Amerique.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Long time to reflect!
Ok, since this started has a library blog, time has changed,
and the focus of this must therefore be altered a slight tad.
I shall now be writing about various and sundries
which is why I really picked the name.
http://climatepoliticstea.wordpress.com/
I recommend you all to read this blogger's thoughts because
I truly believe she is going to become a Nobel Prize recepient
one day.
and the focus of this must therefore be altered a slight tad.
I shall now be writing about various and sundries
which is why I really picked the name.
http://climatepoliticstea.wordpress.com/
I recommend you all to read this blogger's thoughts because
I truly believe she is going to become a Nobel Prize recepient
one day.
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