 |
Small
Libraries Roundtable
July 2007 |
Topic: Making the Most of a Small Space
Notes
from the July 2007 Meeting @Staatsburg
NOTES
FROM THE SESSION:
*visual
aids
Programs
- Dual functioning
areas
- Moveable
furniture/shelving (i.e. on wheels)*
- push furnishing
to sides of the room to create space in the middle
- Stackable chairs
*
- that can be stacked
onto a rolling card
- Folding chairs
- Tip: good teen
volunteer job to set up and break down folding chairs for programs
- Folding tables
- lightweight, sturdy,
portable
- recommendation:
tables that fold in half with a handle for carrying*
- for multiple collapsible
tables have a cart they can be wheeled on
- Use outdoor space
- Have programs during
"closed hours"
- Barter for space with
neighboring nonprofits: fire house, churches, schools, park, senior housing,
local historical or environmental site
- Tip: Template your
programming flyers so that even when a program is held off-site people
know it is still a "library event"
Collections
Advertising/Displays
- Slatboard*
(end of stacks and on wall space above shelves)
- Mobile display units*
- Only have room for a small display
area?
- rotate displays frequently
- choose items from your collection
that are undercirculating
- newer non-fiction, knitting,
cookbooks suggested
- Bulletin Board
tips:
- Centralized
bulletin board for library announcements
- maintained
and up-to-date
- "Purpose"
other bulletin boards (i.e. one for outside agency postings or one for
the Friends)
- Have
a posting/exhibit policy
- Outdoor signage
- swingboards*
- changeable lettering
- Tip: regularly check
that pranksters haven't rearranged your letters!
- Program Flyer Sizing
- postcard
- business card
- handbill
- Kiosk
- Standardized
library signage
- Clear plastic
sign and display frames (viewable from both sides)
- Consolidated
literature/magazine displays
- Hanging Systems*
- Ledges*
Technology
- Thin
Clients / Userful
DiscoverStation
- Compact computer
tables/seating*
- Computer tables
with tower holders*
- Corner tables
- Moveable desk
- Public access
laptops
- barcoded
- security
straps
- wireless
network
- flat panel monitors
- all-in-one machines:
printer/copier/fax/scanner
- How to stop "fax
spam" or "junk
faxes"
Administrative Areas
- Record
Retention / Document Destruction [MHLS]
- Weed your files
- Only print what you
need
- Back up electronic
files and emails
- Desk sharing
- Director Privacy: When
there is no separate space for the director sesitive phone calls and meetings
along with the security of personnel and patron data is a challenge.
- Tips from the group:
- have locking,
portable file storage
- safe
- make calls
during closed hours or from home
ADA Compliance
- Outline
of Activities for ADA Compliance [Kansas State Library]
- Resources
from MHLS
- Tips:
- board should
annually review barriers to service and continually pursue solutions
- identify what
is unique to your library and create a procedure to help someone
unable to physically able to access that area of your library
- commission
an engineering study to assess costs for an entrance that is no
accessible and keep it on file
- Sample
policies [MHLS]
- Service Animals
Next Meeting:
Topic: Managing
Growth
@Coxsackie
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