The Everywhere Library
RSSDodie Ownes -- Library Journal, 11/04/2008
- Librarians dicuss services they provide that put their facilities front and center for patrons
- Webcast sponsored by Polaris
A library discount promotion with local retailers, a Power Plus library card for students that gives them free public transportation in exchange for their using library services, a virtual outpost with the city's largest employer, book and DVD vending machines in public places or where there is no library. These are a few of the innovative community offerings some 500 attendees heard about in a webcast on The Everywhere Library: Strategies for Connecting with Busy Communities. Moderated by Dave Bendekovic and Kathryn Miller from Polaris Library Systems (which sponsored the webcast), the October 29 event brought together several librarians to talk about services their libraries provide that put the library front and center for patrons, wherever they may be, and make the library central to the community.
Panelists who detailed their programs included Elliot Warren, manager of collection development and technical services, Contra Costa County Library (the library kiosks), Kerry McGeath, city librarian/deputy director community services, Southlake PL, TX (the Sabre corporation collaboration), Tracy Thomas, programs coordinator, Louisville Free PL, KY (Power Plus student library cards), and Becky Kempf, public relations coordinator, Boone County PL, KY (the library discout card with local retailers).
In every case, panelists emphasized the need to continually look for ways to reach out and connect with all members of the community and to keep enhancing their programs. While all of these programs have some costs associated with them (Library-A-Go-Go high, Sabre outreach low), the panelists agreed that the payoff is worth it. The Everywhere Library webcast is archived and will be available for a year at the Library Journal archive.
