Innovation in Readers Services Staffing Polli Kenn, Readers Services Coordinator Lawrence Public Library

Innovating Readers Services? Front line staff are the most approached and least trained for Readers Advisory service. Patrons hate to bother us and dont ask for reading suggestions. Libraries rarely evaluate the effectiveness of what they have been doing in RA.

Our Vision of Readers Services Lawrence Public Library will connect people with the stories that enrich their lives.

GOAL ONE Fuel Lawrences passion for reading, personal growth and learning. A.Build community around books. A1. Re-imagine the Library's role in introducing readers to new books and helping readers to choose the next book. A2. Provide more ways for people to join conversations about books and culture.

From: And you get a book, and you get a book, and you get a book...

Actions in support of Goal One Creating the Readers Services Department. Investing in Bibliocommons, which boasts rich Readers Advisory content. (And is totally rad.) Add form-based RA, more social media, more book talks and clubs, more outreach once capacity is established. (With actual deadlines.)

Goal Two Provide training and opportunities for Readers Services staff to provide the community with expert resources and services. A.Position Readers Services staff to encounter more readers and have comfortable, skilled and non-judgmental interactions. A.Position Readers Services staff to be specialists in the collection and support Collection Development goals.

Im blowing your mind right now, arent I?

Actions in support of Goal Two Training. (Like, Olympic-level training.) No desks. (No, seriously, no desks.) Notice trends and formalize feedback to Collection Development. (Perhaps not innovative, but often overlooked.)

GOAL THREE Create and use appropriate individual and departmental evaluative tools. A. Regular self-assessment of reading styles and RA skills to determine areas of strength for our staff. B. Multi-faceted evaluation of service provided to patrons. C. Evaluations will be used to improve service.

From : Gurl, dont be hatin... be evaluatin!

Actions in support of Goal Three Survey Monkey survey for entire staff and detailed surveys for RS staff. Create meaningful methods of collecting valid data - qualitative and quantitative. Results get used, not just filed.

I've often hesitated in beginning a project because I've thought, "It'll never turn out to be even remotely like the good idea I have as I start." I could just feel how good it could be. But I decided that, for the present, I would create the best way I know how and accept the ambiguities. ~ Fred Rogers

Go, and Do Good! Nancy Pearl ( Many thanks to David Wright, Barry Trott, Joyce Saricks, Cindy Hulsey, Linda Raphael, Rebecca Vnuck, Rebecca Howard and anyone who has let me talk their ear off in the last month.)