Writing for the Web Refresher

Over this summer, I have talked to a number of my co-workers about website design and online content. At Chinook Arch, we are currently working on a new RISE website, an interface for Interlibrary Loan Services, and the Internal Website, so it has been a bit of hot topic.

Although I have taught website management classes in the past that included tips on creating content, I realized that was quite some time ago. In revisiting some best practices for content creation, I thought I would share some guidelines here for our member libraries.

• Omit Needless Words: This is the name of Steve Krug’s fifth chapter in his book, “Don’t Make Me Think.” His third law of usability is, “Get rid of half the words on each page, then get rid of half of what’s left.” Users will be able to find the information easier and faster.

 

• Classic Black: Stick with black, san-serif font. The human eye can most easily focus on black font against a white background, like books. Our eyes have even harder time focusing on computer screens than print, so make your content easy to see. 

 

• Use Plain Language: When creating web content, use common, everyday words. If you are writing for the library’s website, try for a friendly tone and use “you” for the user and “we” for the library. Write like a newspaper reporter and put your most important information in the first paragraph. 

By applying these simply suggestions, you will make content on your library’s website, or any website you contribute to, more visible, findable and accessible for your virtual visitors.

Let’s get Crafty! Giving Old Books a New Lease on Life

 Savvy Housekeeping

I really enjoyed Lauren’s post on weeding back in July. Coincidentally, I witnessed someone in my neighbourhood weeding out items from their own personal collection. I passed by a house that had an assortment of books piled up on their lawn with a sign above reading “Free Books.”  As I walked by each day the books never changed and no one ever picked them up (myself included). 

I started thinking about libraries and weeding and what happens to materials when they’re sent off to the land of misfit books. As Lauren noted, while weeding may come easy to some libraries, others may struggle a bit. 

One issue is the belief that the item will be sought after once it has been removed.  Every book its reader, right? Another concern is what to do with all these old books.  Book sales and donations help to find homes for these gems. Some items, however, never make it into new hands. Enter the 21 Uses for Old Books.  

These are my three favourite uses from this posting. I believe that some of these ideas could even become artsy programming ideas at a public library.

Warning: These require patience and a crafty approach. 

eReader Covers:  Ever hear a patron say that an eReader is just not the same as a printed book?  Well, hand them over a weeded book and put that person to work.  If the dimensions are right, you can detach the cover, glue in felt padding, sew in a couple elastic bands, and voila you have an eReader book cover. 

Secret Piggy Bank: This craft requires you to hollow out the pages in an old hard cover book so as to create a hidden space for money and other valuables.  I personally think this one has potential for those going to the beach. While you’re taking a dip in the water, thieves will never think to look in your hardcover copy of War and Peace, secretly hiding your watch and wallet (oh so clever).  

Greeting Cards: I’m partial to this idea because I come from a family who likes to make their own cards.  One can take the pages of a book and use them to design a cover or background on a card. This is a really nice and doable way to personalize greeting cards and can be used for all types of occasions.  

Coasters: glue page excerpts onto ceramic tiles and cover with a sleek varnish. A one of a kind housewarming gift! Or, keep them for yourself.

For those still seeking out ideas for weeded books, check out some of these neat ideas. 

Staying Green While Weeding - Public Libraries Online 

New Life for Old Books - Pinterest 

Project Management for Libraries

Have you heard of project management?

It's a term I was vaguely familiar with, I had heard it used in reference to tech companies but didn't really understand what it meant until I started investigating recently. Increasingly I've seen talk of project management in the library world and have adopted the method for my own project.

Project management is the practice of planning, organizing, leading and controlling resources in order to complete a goal or 'project'. It is a discipline that can be studied and there are different certifications recognized by professional project management organizations, but the coursework isn't necessary to use the concepts for your next project.


What makes a project?

A project is a temporary endeavor that has a definite beginning and end, goals and objectives as well as specific constraints (time, budget, and scope). Examples in the library world could include a renovation, building a local history archive, moving to a new ILS, or creating a new website. The outcomes of the project will live on but the work to reach the final product ends.


Project Management Basics

Projects progress in 5 unique phases:

1. Initiation: Ask why? What is the need for the project? What outcomes do we want to see? What will be the deliverables?
2. Planning: Who are our stakeholders - organization staff, funders, project staff & people affected by the deliverables.
3. Execution: Set aside some time to focus. Define your resources (staff, equipment, software and other tangible items needed). As project manager you will identify and define the tasks your project team will work on.
4. Controlling/Monitoring: Add dates to the defined resources to make a 'control schedule'.
5. Closing: Ensure project deliverables are within the parameters agreed to during initiation. Assess outcomes and evaluate the project.

I used these guidelines to develop documents that I could enter information to refer back to throughout my project. I answered the above questions and created a list of stakeholders. In addition I used a method in  Project Management by Peter Hobbs, in planning. Using sticky notes you create a visual road map of the project broken down into deliverables and tasks. Tasks can be assigned to team members and added/rearranged as necessary. This method has worked well for the team as it helped make the project tangible and transparent. Plus... we got to use colored sticky notes! My experience with project management so far has been great. It has allowed me to have laser focus on my project and to solidly know what I want to achieve. Using the method has helped eliminate creep (when other projects seep into each other and muddy the outcomes you want to achieve), but most importantly has helped me wrangle a large difficult project into manageable tasks.

My Project Management Plan

Further Reading

I highly recommend the book Project Management by Peter Hobbs, for learning the basics. It has a great balance of information for beginners and explains the concepts with plain language and visuals. Bonus - it's available in the system!

Sarah Houghton - Librarian in Black outlines her experience with project management at the San Jose Public Library when launching their website.

Annie Pho interviews Caro Pinto - Social Sciences and Emerging Technologies Librarian at Hampshire College about Librarians as project managers on the Hack Library School blog.

Ira Revels has written a great article on project management for librarians (and has an book out next spring) available through the ALA publication, American Libraries.

Standards for Not-for-Profits

Imagine Canada has launched a new Standards Program for Canada's Charities & Nonprofits. Its mission is to "build excellence within Canada's charities and nonprofits through common standards of practice and to strengthen confidence in the sector". This is a national program that encourages excellence in five key areas:

1. board governance
2. financial accountability & transparency
3. ethical fundraising
4. staff management
5. volunteer involvement

The Standards Program is (in the words of Imagine Canada) "first and foremost, a capacity-building initiative". Organizations can use the standards to improve and monitor their practices, and can even choose to participate in a voluntary peer-review-based accreditation process. This is an excellent tool for boards that wish to review and evaluate their own organization (which all boards should be doing anyways). For those organizations that wish to participate in the accreditation process it can be a great tool for strengthening confidence and trust in your organization. Imagine Canada lists the benefits of accreditation as the below, however even without the accreditation process many of the benefits below stand, and the practice of ensuring your board and organization can meet the standards should be a positive one for your organization:

1. Demonstrates to stakeholders that your organization has met externally established standards in key areas and is operating in a transparent and accountable manner.
2. Increases your credibility in the eyes of funders, the public and other stakeholders.
3. Strengthens staff and board knowledge and morale.
4. Enhances board, volunteer and staff recruitment and retention.
5. Provides a framework to mitigate the risk of inappropriate or ethical behavior.
6. Helps you identify areas of concern so they don't become big problems.
7. Fosters a culture of openness.
8. Helps ensure that board members and staff understand and follow legal and financial requirements.
9. Helps ensure that board members understand and are meeting their fiduciary responsibilities.
10. Requires the development of policy and procedures that promote the sustainability of your organization.
11. Ensures you have key policies and procedures in place so you can focus on your mission.

You can download the Standards Handbook from the Imagine Canada website for free and use it as a checklist for evaluating your board/organization.  The handbook is not long (only 16 pages) and includes easy to read tables that include 73 standards grouped into the 5 areas above. The standards are grouped into 3 levels, based on the size and financial capacity of your organization. Most libraries in the Chinook Arch region would fit into Level 1, although achieving many of the the standards at higher levels would be desirable.

More information on the Standards can be found at: http://www.imaginecanada.ca/standards, or you can download the handbook directly from http://www.imaginecanada.ca/files/www/en/standards/standards_program_handbook_may_2012.pdf

Weeding. It's not just for gardens.

In today's world of instant access, electronic resources and Google, it is more important than ever for libraries to maintain relevant collections. Unfortunately, many library collections are drowning in obsolete, unused, and unwanted materials. Many librarians worry because they don't have the budget to replace as many items as they get rid of.  This is a valid worry; however, shelves of items that are of no use or interest to anyone are just that: useless.  Weeding is an important part of maintaining your library collection and is something that should be done on a continual basis.  


If you're embarking on a major weeding project this summer, there are a couple different methods you can use (CREW and MUSTIE are good ones), but know that whatever method you choose is simply a starting point.  Use the criteria specified in the method, but also use your professional sense of what should be weeded. Consulting Services can provide you with a weeding list, just ask.


Your library board should also have a Deselection Policy to aid you in your weeding process.


Having said all that, this post is not about what to weed, but more about what NOT to weed and immediately toss in the book sale pile (again, use your professional judgement and only keep things that are right for your community).


Really think critically about weeding:
1. Local History Items
If you have one-of-a-kind items relating to your local history, that can't be replaced, you might want to consider not weeding these items.
2. Gifts and Donations
Many people think that boxes full of books from the basement will be welcome additions to the local library collection, and will be hurt if they later see the items on your book sale table. This is is why it is important to have clear policies on accepting donations in the first place.  You don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, so having a policy that states what you will and will not accept is important - be up front with the donor and explain that some items won't make it to the shelf.  For example, you should specify what types of material will not be accepted (eg. no magazines or textbooks) and what would be greatly appreciated (eg. gently used children's books less than 5 years old) - having clear guidelines and a policy that thanks the customer for thinking of the library avoids any misunderstandings and hurt feelings.
3. Memorials
Some libraries allow patrons to dedicate a book to a lost loved one with a book plate inside.  Weeding these materials is a sensitive task.  Here's what you can do:  If you need to weed the item because it is falling apart, outdated, etc., call the family (if they are still living in town) and explain to them that the "book has been loved to death" and that it needs to be weeded.  Offer the discarded item to that patron as a keepsake.  You could also invite them into the library to put a book plate in another book of their choosing.  This avoids any hurt feelings if you were to put the dedicated item in the library book sale.  


Remember, Consulting Services staff are happy to help you with your weeding project if you need further guidance.  Weeding.  It's not just for gardens.




Source: 
"Weeding Library Collections." Small Libraries...Big Ideas. http://olcsmalllibraries.wordpress.com/2009/05/04/weeding-library-collections/. Accessed July 20, 2012

The Library: Unexpected Checkouts and Services

Lately I’ve been taking notice of some unique services and lending materials that public libraries are providing. Many of these are a result of creativity and resourcefulness, some libraries are trying something new, and some are creating partnerships within their community.

Much of the public associates the library with books, however, the following list might take you “outside the box” of the library. I’ve listed a couple interesting services, checkouts, and partnerships:  

1. Pedometers:  Interested in becoming an avid walker? Step tracking pedometers can be found at the Mississauga Library System in Southern Ontario. The Mississauga Library System, partnering with the Ontario Trillium Foundation, is loaning out pedometers to their patrons. The small devices can be taken out for 6 weeks and renewed just like a book.
2. Life Jackets: Missoula Public Library in Montana has teamed up with Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks to offer patrons life jackets within their main branch as well as at their farmer's market booth.  The goal is to create a safer summer boating and fishing season and provide quality life jackets for those who may be doing a one-off trip or for those who cannot afford their own.
3. Downloadable Music: Edmonton Public Library is using the program Freegal to allow patrons access to download three songs a week.  These files are not temporary downloads, but they belong to the patron and never expire. They can be added to an iTunes library and downloaded to any mp3 playing device.
4. Cake Pans: Celebrating a quirky and unique event?  Need a duck shaped cake pan for a baby shower or birthday which you will never use again? Try the library.  Cake pans are being loaned out by the Burlington Public Library in Colorado.  
5. Passport Services: Planned that trip up north to Canada but need to get your passport renewed? Go to the Houston Public Library. In September 2011, the Houston Public Library in Texas joined the U.S. Department of State’s Houston Passport Agency to provide passport services for U.S. citizens.  The services include processing of documents as well as providing passport photo services.

 The possibilities are endless!

 

Your Library's Website: Helping You With EBooks

Since June 1, you may have noticed a new heading on your library's website: Digital Content. While you may have seen that “Downloadable Books” has been split into Downloadable eBooks and Downloadable eAudiobooks and that “Research a Topic” has been moved and renamed Articles and Tutorials, I would like to specifically talk to you about the “Downloadable eBooks” page. Due to the overwhelming interest in eBooks and the addition of the Freading service, the “Downloadable eBooks” page has been revamped as a one stop shop for all your eBook needs.

At the top of the page, you will find links to all of our eBook services and suppliers, including OverDrive, Freading, and our TumbleBookLibrary. Directly across from these links, you should see links to help information available on our and these services’ websites. At the very top, there is also a link to our in-house guide for setting up with Adobe Digital Editions.

In the middle of the page, we have created links to all of our eReader Help Guides and listed Popular Devices that use eBooks. Between Chinook Arch and Lethbridge Public Library staff, a total of nine guides have been created (see additional guides on the Downloadable eAudiobooks page.) We have also broken up the most popular devices into the categories of eReaders, Phones, and Tablets and indicated if they work with library eBooks and what software you need to download them.

At the very bottom of the page, we have added some Consumer Resource links under the "Thinking of getting an eReader?" section. With these links you should be able to gather more information about the devices available to you before heading off to the store.

If you or your staff have not yet had a chance to explore this page, I would strongly encourage you to do so. As many eBooks questions can be complicated and involve multiple steps, we are hoping that the information on this page will help you learn more about these services.