ALA Annual - Trends in Librarianship

Before I share some highlights of what I learned at the conference, I want to relay what complements the Pratt received courtesy my badge labeling my place of employment.  EPFL was readily recognized for going fine free, for the wash and learn initiative, and for its architectural beauty and renovation.  I hope this kudos brighten your day by proxy.

Trends in Librarianship

One pair of sessions I attended speaks to the ever evolving nature of our profession.  “A Hard Look in the Mirror,” presented by Greater Victoria (Canada) Library (GVPL), shares how they reorganized librarians’ roles (with plans to augment library assistants’ in future) to be less about audience served – age and otherwise – and more about niches they call “portfolios.”  Librarians now split their time between branch operations and portfolio work that serves the whole system.  The idea is to look up from the mundane coordination and oversight to develop true leadership in librarianship.  The primary categories, “pillars,” involve lifelong learning, storytelling, and digital literacy; they are further broken down into specialties according to staff strengths and interest.  These are the result of two committees’ work: service design and service delivery.  It is stressed that libraries looking to follow suit explore and define how best this model works for their own communities.  In a nutshell, GVPL refers to their model as Community-Inspired Library Service.  A toolkit is available at issu.com/docs/hard_look_in_the_mirror_reflecting.

“Going Deskless” is right up our alley as we continually seek to diminish barriers – physical as well as financial.  Hillsboro (Oregon) Public Library (HPL) presents how they accomplished the feat of completely removing public service desks in favor of “orbiting” with the added tools of a “service layer,” ranging from a large logo button to the popular three-pocket apron, and technology “perches” stationed throughout the library.  Staff buy-in gets achieved by inviting input during planning, providing time to reflect, and empowering change adaptation.  None of the changes have been based on assumptions: a “design thinking” process involves staff and patrons alike, utilizing a variety of steps including focus groups and surveys.  All the while, staff are encouraged to practice “work like a patron day” occasionally as a worthwhile test and means to perspective.  HPL sums up their philosophy with a triad of points.  Libraries today are not about the books but service; we should not be transactional but interactional; and we use more and more automation and thus shift our focus to high-quality personal service. 

Health Outreach and Programming

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) and their National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM) – the latter with regional coordinators who collaborate with and assist all libraries in their jurisdiction, including public libraries – presented “Transforming Communities through Health Outreach and Programming.”  It is fundamental to support health literacy, especially in the face of both health disparities (e.g. abilities, genetics) and healthcare disparities (e.g. socioeconomics).

Their free information resources abound, and I share a sampling here.  Medline Plus is designed to be not academic but accessible for consumers and even offers a print quarterly for distribution!  HealthReach is multilingual and multimedia to help even more patrons decipher their health needs.  News in Health has digestible tidbits and offers its own print monthly newsletter to libraries.  Go4Life is especially for seniors. 

NNLM has the area covered in terms of programming.  Their Engage for Health materials help libraries teach community members how best to speak with their doctors.  The NNLM Reading Club has kits for a thematic book club and is always adding new titles.  There is a wealth of materials to uphold National Health Observances.  They even promote Tales & Travel Memories, a fun programming initiative for those with dementia.

I will wrap up rather than diving in to NLM’s support of Citizen Science.  But I will insist that EPFL be sure to join the NNLM for full access to and assistance with health resources and programming for Baltimoreans. 

Lauren Read

Periodicals

PLA 2018: South Philadelphia Library Tour

One of my favorite things to do when visiting a city during a conference is visit local libraries and
meet with the staff. As host library of the PLA conference in Philadelphia, PA, The Free Library of
Philadelphia offered tours of some of their newly renovated and modernized locations, including the
South Philadelphia Library. In June 2016, this branch reopened in the brand new South Philadelphia
Community Health and Literacy Center, which combines the services of a library, recreation center, city health clinic, and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) pediatricians’ offices in one building. As many of you may know, the Hamilton Branch Library serves as a safe, after-school space for approximately 100+ students in a neighborhood that lacks a much needed recreation center. I was therefore very excited to see how a library and a recreation center might coexist in the same physical space.

What I found was a beautiful, bright space for the library, located on the first floor. All the furniture is moveable and is easily arranged for programs, including small concerts. The second and third floors host the health clinic and pediatricians’ offices. The recreation center, complete with an outdoor playground and basketball court, can be found in the back of the building. Library staff indicated that the building partnership has brought in more customers and boosted circulation, particularly in the area of health education. The library even has blood pressure cuffs and kitchen scales to loan. The shared space with the recreation center has allowed children the best of both worlds – completing homework assignments and participating in programs in the library as well as blowing off steam playing in a supervised environment at the rec center. The South Philadelphia Community Health and Literacy Center is truly a result of responding to community needs. I see a similar need in Hamilton. How wonderful it would be to combine a library and recreation center in the same place, creating a focal space for the community.

Laura Millay
Hamilton Branch