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Simple Accessibility
When thinking of accessibility guidelines, most people’s minds go directly to the size of doorways, having ramps verses stairs, restroom accommodations, and all those physical requirements necessary for our patrons with disabilities to use the library. However, one of the simplest ways to make your programs and building accessible has nothing to do with the…
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Taking the Complications Out of Vendor Relationships
Successful collaboration with vendors is crucial for acquiring, providing, and maintaining resources and services that best support the needs of your staff and your end users. In my many years of working with all types of vendors, I’ve developed some practical guidelines for navigating vendor relationships and related activities that will result in positive outcomes…
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Getting into the Assessment Mindset
George Orwell said that, “To see what is in front of one’s nose needs a constant struggle.” Though he wasn’t talking about libraries at that time, he was challenging the assumption that what is right in front of us is effortlessly understood (and by consequence accepted as good enough), emphasizing the need for a vigilant…
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Mission Not-So Impossible
This blog post will not self-destruct in five seconds. When I dove into the internet pool to find a good definition of a mission statement, the one I liked best was Wikipedia’s. #irony A mission statement is a short statement of why an organization exists, what its overall goal is, the goal of its operations;…
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A Little Recognition Can Go a Long Way!
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”~ Aesop For many libraries in Pennsylvania, and indeed around the country, volunteers are the lifeblood of our organizations. They are our community of tireless, unpaid, dedicated workers that make much of the daily work we do possible. They fulfil many of the roles and…
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Building on a Legacy
As we close in on the end of Black History month, which honors the remarkable achievements of African Americans, let’s pause to recognize the impact of just a few Black technology pioneers: Garrett Morgan, Marie Van Brittan Brown, James E. West, Frank S. Greene, Dr. Mark E. Dean, Dr. Shirley Jackson, Otis Boykin and Gladys…
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Inclusion Infusion: A Spotlight on Pottstown Regional Public Library
Recently, I visited the Pottstown Regional Public Library and was extremely impressed with their Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) efforts to support the needs of their community in the face of shifting demographics. During my visit, the Youth Services Department was buzzing with Spanish-speaking families seeking books for their children. Melissa Velez was interacting…
