Just went to a program conducted by Rangeview Library District (CO). Located in Adams County, population 315,000, budget $12 million (from $4 million before recent ballot measure passed), and 7 locations. The program chronicled the evolution and revolution from tired old libraries to experience-based libraries rebranded as "Anythink" Libraries. It is obvious they spent a TON of money on PR and branding to push their agenda forward. Some of what they discussed included:
- Staff-Appreciation Task Force - to find ways to develop ideas for appreciating staff (included a staff appreciation breakfast and lots of outside the library events like bowling night, hikes, health fair, trivia night)
- Look at Conventions - basically look at the things you have always done and re-examine them (fines and fees, Dewey, refdesks, etc.) As a result of doing this, they have eliminated fine altogether, have eliminated their reference desk (now only "service points") and have eliminated Dewey. They are doing a program on Saturday that I may try and catch about no Dewey.
- SRP - did away with number of books or pages to read requirement and the prizes - focused on creating an experience instead.
- Performance evals moved from skills based to competancy based - instead of mentioning every program people did, evaluate on topics like "I am customer service oriented," "I am innovative," "I am emotionally mature" etc.
So, basically people were trying to show how they changed so much of their everyday business from traditional to experiential. Oh yes, they did say "we invented the library experience..."
MP
Michelle Perera, Rancho Cucamonga Library
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I'd like to know more about their summer reading club and will have to make contact. Do you have email addresses?
ReplyDeleteThis has been a fascinating post! I have heard some of these points before.
ReplyDeletePerry Branch Library (AZ) - no Dewey. I toured Perry when they first opened. They had a *TON* of other "cataloging stickers" - so that their pages and staff could try to organize things.
Cerritos - "The Experience Library" - was that before or after this one?
I was actually on a customer service team that also focused on staff experience as well at LSSI - "STARS team". The focus was to create a training/service system to help guide staff and customer experience.
We also had a leg that focused on staff morale/reward. We tried planning staff morale events - picnics (no one came), sports nights (no one came) - I think people were tired after working all week and didn't want to do more stuff. I tired to tell them that if they planned exciting stuff for the whole family - people would go (Disneyland - everyone would bring their family and go).
I like their health fair idea and trivia is fun (not sure abotu a night though - I liek lunch better - or ongoing in back).
I really like that they are focusing on experiences. I was very surprised by the staff evaluations. I would love to be a fly on the wall there!
I also thought SRP was very interesting. The goal is to encourage reading (not competition) so I am intrigued about how they entice / encourage reading through experience.
Interestingly - they also re-wrote all the job descriptions from page, clerk, librarian, etc. to wrangler, concierge, and guide. *Everyone* had to re-apply for jobs! They were all guaranteed to get a job and receive the same pay, but they had to prioritize their job preference. Sounds like *almost* everyone got their first *or* second choice! Interesting way to get some people out of a job they shouldn't be in in the first place!
ReplyDeleteWow! I think that is a really interesting idea!
ReplyDeleteWhen we toured Cerritos one of the higher ups touring us, Jan I think her name was, was telling us that Cerritos did the same thing befor ethey opened.
They cataloged the team's strengths, looked at what areas they needed, and rewrote positions based on their needs and team.
We do that at my house - I am not good at building things so I don't do that (my tv cart and bathroom caddy I built were all tossed in the trash by relatives during moves). I am good at eating sugar - so I do that!