Back in Circulation Again 2024

The North Liberty Library transitioned away from Dewey classification for nonfiction in 2011, switching to a modified BISAC (Book Industry Standards and Communications) or more commonly, the book store model. We get frequent calls about the process, how we got started, and what reaction has been from the public. The process continues to evolve over ten years after we started, and we've learned a lot along the way. Using this book store model eliminates a lot of confusion and mystery that surrounds the Dewey Decimal System, and hopefully presents a less biased approach to organizing a nonfiction collection.

Step into the world of library Circulation Services with our interactive game show! Join in the fun as teams answer questions about access and circulation services, promoting teamwork, communication, and customer service skills. The game show format simulates real-life customer interactions at a circulation desk, providing participants with a dynamic and entertaining environment to enhance their customer service skills. The game show structure is designed with rounds of questions and challenges that are related to access and circulation services, incorporating scenarios and real-life examples. Teams will navigate these scenarios, applying their knowledge and problem-solving skills. Audience participation includes interactive polls and quick challenges, and participants are encouraged to share their experiences and insights during the Q&A session. Winning teams receive incentives, adding an element of friendly competition. This workshop is perfect for all library professionals, including paraprofessionals, librarians, and managers, who want a unique and entertaining way to explore access and circulation services. The workshop will run for approximately one hour, allowing for a well-paced game show experience and a Q&A session. Strengthen your teamwork and communication skills, enhance your customer service capabilities, and gain a deeper understanding of best practices in access and circulation services—all through an enjoyable and interactive medium.

What kind of "personality" does your academic library have? If it is anything like Fondren Library’s was pre-pandemic, it might be described as traditional, quiet, serious, or staid and the events offered by the library would probably fit into that description as well. That is until Fondren staff got the library party started by creating an events’ committee for promoting library resources and services! This session will explore the evolution of Fondren’s library events and events’ committee beginning with our offering of minimally planned "study breaks” organized by the Circulation department, to scheduling online events during the pandemic, to planning and implementing major year-round fun events involving all of the library staff and departments for library promotion. We will also discuss how to bring often introverted library staff together to form an events’ committee and provide practical tips as to how any library can get the party started! We will also review what events have been wildly successful at the library as well as some of our “duds'' and why the events turned out that way.

Session participants will learn how to plan and implement small to large events, how to make the events more inclusive, how to truly listen to students for the kind of events they would like to have, and how to include non-patron facing library staff in collaboration for the event.

Over the past decade, Kenosha Public Library envisioned space renovation and improved collection development. Despite facing the challenges of the pandemic, civil unrest, and the loss of our administration office building in 2020, we persevered, earning recognition as the Wisconsin Library Association’s Library of the Year in 2020 and an IMLS National Medal Finalist in 2021. In 2022, an unexpected opportunity allowed us to launch a design plan that propelled us three years ahead of our strategic plan, integrating innovative collection development goals. We genrefied our fiction collection, started the transition away from the Dewey Decimal System in non-fiction, and established a hybrid Pop Asia collection. Join us to dive into the details of our transformation, discover our process for deciding difficult taxonomy, explore the methods used for reshaping our collections, and learn about the significant outcomes observed a year later.

Libraries, especially public libraries, went through a major service model revamp as a response to the pandemic. As we reviewed services, programs, and how we interacted with the public, it also revealed how much public libraries need to rely on the perspectives and expertise of all staff to provide meaningful services and programs. As middle managers, how do we do that? In the past two and a half years as a branch manager, I have consciously attempted to share decision making and authority with employees while concurrently providing clear expectations and support. Join me in this discussion. I’ll share how I’ve built relationships with employees to help them identify their expertise and ability to problem solve with their colleagues and stopped being an obstacle for my employees being able to recognize and embrace their leadership skills and the challenges I encountered or am still encountering. I look forward to learning from participants what strategies have worked for them or what they are working on changing.

Over a decade ago, the Wisconsin State Law Library shifted many of its manuals and documentation to an internal staff wiki. Learn how the library set its initial goals for an online staff manual, and how those markers of success have changed over the years. Walk away from this session with a step-by-step plan to develop and improve your own knowledge sharing platforms.

Introduction:
Our presentation will commence with an overview of Qatar National Library, highlighting its vast collection, dynamic user base, and the annual influx of 30,000 new patrons. The increasing demand for library resources, reflected in over 400,000 physical checkouts annually, underscores the need for innovative solutions to manage this workload effectively.

Technological Innovations:
The core of our presentation will focus on the technological advancements implemented by the Access Services team. We will delve into the Automated Book Sorting System, self-borrowing and return stations, mobile app borrowing, Stack Map for efficient book location finding, and iPads strategically placed for catalog access. These technologies collectively contribute to a seamless and user-friendly library experience.

Future Developments:
As part of the library's commitment to staying ahead in the technological landscape, we will explore upcoming innovations. A new robotic system is set to join the team, addressing misshelving challenges and optimizing shelving arrangements. Additionally, the library aims to extend its reach by providing remote access through strategically placed library vending machines in various locations across Qatar.

Work Pressure Management:
Acknowledging the importance of maintaining service quality during peak periods, especially on weekends, our presentation will provide insights into the strategies employed by Qatar National Library. Attendees will gain valuable knowledge on how the library effectively manages work pressure, ensuring a positive user experience even during high-demand periods.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, our proposal promises an engaging presentation that goes beyond technology, offering a holistic view of how Qatar National Library navigates the evolving landscape of library services. Attendees will gain insights into technological implementations, future developments, and effective work pressure management strategies, positioning our presentation as a valuable resource for libraries seeking to adapt and thrive in the digital age.

Bringing books and materials to those that can no longer make it to the library because of health or mobility issues is a great library resource you can offer patrons in your community. Middleton Public Library started providing this service in 2022 and we will share how this successful program got started with a few volunteers and very little cost.

The two presenters for this program will be Katharine Clark and Megan O’Keefe, both with Middleton Public Library. Katharine Clark is the Deputy Director of the Middleton Public Library. She has previously worked at the Beloit Public Library, E.D. Locke Public Library in McFarland, WI and the Madison Public Library system. She has been actively involved with the Wisconsin Library Association for over 20 years, serving on many committees and most recently has been elected as WLA-President Elect. Megan O’Keefe is new to the library profession and a recent graduate from the University of Denver. Megan has also worked at the New Glarus Public Library and completed her internship at the Stoughton Public Library in Adult Services. She is currently an Assistant Public Services Supervisor for Middleton and has taken up coordinating Homebound Delivery Services.

What strengths do librarians who have previously worked in public libraries bring to the academic library environment, specifically the Access Services unit? Public librarians sometimes struggle to get their foot in the door when applying for academic librarian positions but often offer specific strengths to this new environment. Access Services, with its strong public-facing role in the library, can be a particularly good fit. This session considers the similarities and differences between public library and academic library Access Services as well as the strengths and different perspectives that public librarians bring to this area of the academic community, some of which may be overlooked. Pulling from her own personal experience transitioning from public to academic libraries and from research, the presenter will explore this experience to suggest our profession broadens our perspective when hiring.

Tour the library archives at the Wisconsin Historical Society! The Wisconsin Historical Society’s nationally known Library and Archives, located on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, collects, preserves, and makes available both published and unpublished materials about the history of Wisconsin, the United States and Canada. The Library and Archives also serves as the North American history research center for the University of Wisconsin-Madison and provides access to collections owned by the Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research. The archives are home to millions of historic photographs, negatives, films, architectural drawings, cartoons, lithographs, posters, and one of the biggest newspaper collections in the United States. Visitors can expect to traverse all four floors of the building, but there are options to take an elevator if preferred.

Please note that indicating your interest in this tour on Sched will NOT register you for the tour. To sign up, please follow this link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1cY6E2kRkwNqNTAzzLzptT9cmoL5KgLC4dvMIu5b9770/edit?usp=sharing

This on-campus tour examines the 12,000-plus years of human existence documented along the shores of Lake Mendota, particularly the history of the Ho-Chunk Nation, on whose ancestral land the university now sits. It is an award-winning, place-based walking tour that welcomes guests to learn about the First Nations of Wisconsin. Participants visit UW-Madison campus buildings, historical markers, and archaeological sites to discuss historic – and contemporary – relationships with First Nations.  The walking tour is not fully physically accessible due to sustained periods of walking over various terrain such as stairs and inclines in elevation (e.g., Bascom Hill). Participants are encouraged to dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes. Photographs and/or recording of any type are not permitted during the tour.


Please note that indicating interest in this tour on Sched will NOT register you for the tour. To sign up, please follow this link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1eRvPjAHmTRqqSQFvgslDjZcVCdNeztUGLHGWlMYTeH8/edit?usp=sharing