Management Conference
University Plaza Hotel and Conference Center
May 21-22, 2008
Make your hotel reservation by April 30 to receive OLC conference rate.
Library managers are entrusted with the safe guidance and shepherding of a variety of resources: time, materials, facilities, and technology. But the most important resource managers manage is people. Looking internally at the library and staff and externally at community and customers, skillful managers comprehend the many-facets of their job: creating a positive organizational culture, analyzing the workforce and its needs, developing engaged employees, moving projects from planning to implementation, honing communication skills, planning for succession and success, managing toward public service, and nurturing their own professional growth and development. The goal of this conference is to inspire and re-energize both seasoned and newly appointed library managers by providing them with programs that are both visionary and practical.
Agenda
Wednesday, May 21st
10:00 AM
Registration
10:30 AM
Welcome and Introductions
Meg Delaney, Conference Program Chair
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Opening General Session
What's in Your Management Tool Kit?
Tom Galante, Director, Queens Library, New York
To be successful in their roles, library managers need a variety of skills ranging from the diplomatic to the pragmatic. |
In the varied roles they play within the hierarchy of libraries, managers are alternately “go-betweens”, coaches, outreach specialists to their communities, mediators, and customer-service mavens. They have to acclimate to changing times, changing service patterns, changing demographics, and changing technologies---just to name a few of the changes they face. Tom Galante, having served Queens Library since 1987 in a broad variety of senior management positions, is well positioned to challenge and inspire library managers to regularly inventory the skills in their personal toolkits and to upgrade those skills through continuous learning and professional development. In his presentation, Tom will give not only practical tips and anecdotal information about his library but share straightforward expectations of the qualities he seeks in skilled library managers.
Queens Library leads the United States in circulation setting a new national record of more than 21 million items circulated in fiscal year 2007. Queens is known nationally and internationally as a leader in innovative library services, particularly in serving diverse, multilingual communities. Tom is a popular speaker at library and business conferences on topics such as library technology, change management, and staff motivation. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from St. Bonaventure University, a Master of Business Administration with distinction from Hofstra University, and a Master of Library Science from Queens College, City University of New York. |
11:30 AM
Lunch
12:30 PM
First Breakout Session
Chocolate, Elephants & Wrinkle Remover – Simple Branding Tips and Tricks for Everyday Libraries
Kordell Norton, Synergy Solutions LLC
In this humorous and highly interactive session you'll discover the elements of your library brand and how to create marketing that will improve customer service, increase patron use of the library, and make your library programs have snap and sizzle. |
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| Come and discover this "upbeat and infectious" program as you discover the secrets and tricks used by America 's greatest organizations as we look at chocolate, wrinkle remover, diamonds, elephants and grocery bags and how they can help you make your library more marketable. |
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Public Speaking Tips and Techniques
Angela Krile, Cochran Group Inc.
Excellent leadership requires excellent communication. This program will focus on the three keys to effective communication - providing applicable tips and techniques to help ensure that your message is heard, understood and remembered. |
| Whether you must address a group of 2 or 200, you will walk away from this program with new ideas and information that will help you become more confident in front of others while also ensuring that your message is clearly delivered to the intended audience. The program will be presented by Angela Krile a seasoned communications consultant who has worked with numerous libraries and educational organizations across the state as well as statewide trade associations and Fortune 500 Companies such as Coca Cola. |
Through the Years: Exploring Generational Differences
Jeffrey Jones, State Library of Ohio
In our workplaces today it is not uncommon to hear "These Gen Xers have no work ethic." or "I love my job, but when 5:00 o'clock hits, I am outta here! I have a life. You Baby Boomers are workaholics." Or maybe from the Traditionalist: "I paid my dues and have earned your respect. I'm the boss--that's why." Today's workforce comes from four distinct generations. It is imperative that leadership understand how the life experiences of a generation can and are impacting how the workforce functions. Not only are life experiences impacting our workforce, but those experiences directly impact the service expectations of our customers. This session will explore generational differences, examine the beliefs, values, and motivation of the generations, and develop strategies for dealing with a generationally diverse workforce and customer-base.
Adapting Staffing for Results @ Your Public Library
Wayne Piper, Ohio Library Council; Margaret Danziger, Meg Delaney, and Patricia Crosby, Toledo-Lucas County Public Library
Organizations benefit from introspection. In this session you'll learn how one library staff (management and labor) "looked inside," worked together, applied and adapted PLA's "Staffing for Results" to staff work and the information needs of their customers, and then reduced the collection development routines for quicker delivery to the public shelves. No matter the size of your library, you'll learn six basic steps in the design of a staffing project and methods to help you analyze the work data collected that can help make your workflow more efficient and effective.
Keeping Up With The Customers: Technology You & Your Staff Need To Know & Use
Stephen Hedges, OPLIN
Chances are you agree that technology training should be an ongoing priority for library staff. After all, it can help library staff perform their job duties more effectively and efficiently and is absolutely key to professional development in today's society. All too often, however, staff training falls by the wayside as a result of the "fire-fighting" that librarians are called to perform on a daily basis. Keeping on top of technology changes is certainly challenging, but it is also essential to the well-being of an effective 21st century library. With this in mind, this session will explore technology resources that you and your staff can use to stay current in the ever-changing information industry. Resources discussed will include: using an RSS reader to aggregate relevant industry reading materials, participating in web-based trainings (WebJunction, WebEx, etc.), and understanding the need to embrace advancements in library technology.
1:45 PM
Break
2:00 PM
Second Breakout Sessions
The Clash of Wills: Improving Conflict Prevention and Resolution Skills
Jeffrey Jones, State Library of Ohio
This interactive session will provide the participant with knowledge, skills and abilities for conflict prevention and resolution. Participants will review and analyze the messages one has learned about conflict; be able to differentiate personal versus organizational sources of conflict; assess one's effectiveness at resolving conflict; identify one's conflict resolution style; and be introduced to the concepts within Emotional Intelligence and how this relates to conflict. New and veteran managers can benefit from the information and activities used in this session and can adapt activities used in this session to a variety of workgroups and workplaces.
Is Your Library Full of Shhh?
Nancy Fisher, Wickliffe Public Library; Abby Noland, Preble County District Library; Bossie (BJ) Loggins, Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library; Nancy Levin, Rocky River Public Library
How does your library deal with the conflict—if you have one—between many aging patrons' auditory and cognitive needs for a quiet library environment and many young patrons' wishes for a library that permits noise? Nancy Levin and BJ Loggins will speak about THE SPOT for teens at Cleveland Heights University Heights Library. Nancy Fisher, director of the Wickliffe Public Library, will share her experiences when your library is located next to a school and the school stops busing kids. Finally Abby Noland, director of Preble County, will speak about how her rural library deals with the challenges of teens and seniors in the library. There will be plenty of time for questions and answers, so bring your dilemmas!
Fast, Cheap, Good -- Pick Two
Judy Shiddenhelm, Grandview Heights Public Library; David Siders, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County; Angela Johnson, Pickaway County District Public Library; Karl Colón, Greene County Public Library; Mark Mabelitini, Tipp City Public Library
The "quantity versus quality" issue in library technical services is a given, a constant. But can "versus" be replaced with "and"? Is it possible to maximize quantity and quality, and still meet your budget? Join us for a lively panel discussion as both technical and public service managers discuss the issue of providing library materials and services quickly, efficiently (cheaply) and accurately. Some discussion, suggestions and lots of sharing!
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Embracing Culture to Enhance Customer Service
Charleta B. Tavares, Multiethnic Advocates for Cultural Competence
Charleta will help you to define cultural competence in the workplace. She'll stress the importance of becoming culturally and linguistically competent in order to better serve and meet the needs of our patrons and our communities. |
| The session will also outline a cultural competence continuum model and explore the customer service case for moving towards cultural competence. |
Management: "Business World" versus "Library World"
Tena Wilson, Cleveland Public Library
Are we librarians living in “our own little world”? If you've spent your entire career as a librarian, join us for a fresh look at basic management principles from the business world – and a discovery. If librarianship is your second career, come share your perspective in this interactive session. Tena Wilson, a liberated vendor-become-librarian, shares her perspective on the differences and similarities between the two worlds. This workshop will delve into personal management styles, evaluation of personnel, politics, and customer service...and how to go from "good" to "great."
3:15 PM
Break
3:30 PM
Third Breakout Sessions
Holding the Alligators at Bay or Developing Leadership
Andrew Mangels, Westlake Porter Public Library
When you are up to your neck in alligators it is difficult to remember your goal was to drain the swamp. With the demands placed upon us it is often difficult to focus on the things that make us a leader let alone develop leadership among our staff. There are many books and programs available for developing leadership so how can libraries recognize which program will work best for them? Westlake Porter Public Library has chosen True North as a guide for developing leadership and will share how to get started with a program. Come learn what to do when you seem to be outnumbered by the alligators!
Creating a Culture of Training: Utilizing In-House Expertise
Diane Daniels, Dona Garber, and Susan Roberts, Mansfield/Richland County Public Library
The 2007 OLC Innovation Award winners will show you how they developed and implemented their staff training team. Presenters will share practical and effective tips on how to assess the training needs of your staff and ways to provide a wide variety of inexpensive training opportunities. Includes a detailed example of a practical and successful in-house workshop on reference techniques, developed by a team member. Managers at any level will be able to utilize ideas from the M/RCPL Training Team experience to create a "culture of training" for their staff.
Open Session on Open Source
Glen Horton, SWON Libraries and Shawn Walsh, NEO-RLS
Hearing a lot about open source lately? From library systems to public computers, open source software is being used in all areas of libraries. Are you interested, but unsure if it's right for you? To make an informed decision, managers need to understand the benefits, support options, and costs involved. Shawn and Glen are open source advocates and help libraries of all sizes implement open source solutions. Join them for a frank discussion on the practicality of using open source software in your library. Managers will learn where to start and how to ensure a successful solution. There will be plenty of opportunities to share your experiences, concerns, and have your questions answered.
Conflict Management: Are You the Problem?
Angie Hollerich, CEP CCA, Brass Ring Productions Ltd.
Conflict is an inevitable and important human process and is likely to increase in times of change. |
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| Recognizing that you may be the problem is essential to the atmosphere you are experiencing at work.This session will provide the participants the tools for self assessment:
• Learn the skills needed to manage conflict in creative ways
• How to build rapport
• Handle criticism and difficult situations
• Better understand yourself and others
• Increase your self-confidence
• Recognize hidden verbal and non-verbal signs in yourself and others that may be fueling conflict
You will learn the about interpersonal gap, the stages of problem solving, how to manage conflict, the positive results of conflict, the negative results of conflict, and most importantly if you are a turtle or a skunk! |
Raising Your Replacement: Mentorship, "Mothering," and Millennials
Evan T. Struble, OHIONET; Marcus Mabelitini, Tipp City Public Library
You hear it whispered at conferences: “What can we do with these Millennials?” Nowadays, every library has them on staff. Believe it or not, these young, newly-minted librarians are just thirsty for guidance. However, they will ask for it in different ways than other generations may be accustomed. Join Mark Mabelitini and Evan Struble as they share both statistics on the benefits of mentorship, the differences surrounding the way these different groups of people approach library work, and anecdotes from their time together as mentor and “men-tee.” Attendees can expect to learn ways in which to identify potential mentorship opportunities within their own libraries, as well as open up lines of dialog between management and the often-misunderstood Millennials.
4:45 PM
Day One: Wrap-Up
As the first day of the conference winds down, program committee members and OLC staff will be on hand to informally offer suggestions on evening activities and events in Columbus. You may just want to retire to your room with a good book but if you're looking for a good restaurant or some “retail therapy” organizers of the conference will happily provide suggestions and directions.
Thursday, May 22
8:00 AM
Full buffet breakfast
9:00 AM
Fourth Breakout Sessions
Second Life 101
Laura Solomon, OPLIN
Virtual worlds such as Second Life are growing at incredible rates. Learn what Second Life is, how libraries and educational institutions are using it, and about the InfoIsland Library Project that became an archipelago of more than 20 large islands in less than a year. Discover the opportunities and challenges of working in this type of environment and why a presence in this kind of environment may or may not be beneficial for your library.
Training for Great People
Jessica A. Curtis, Westerville Public Library
"Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em" - William Shakespeare. For those that need the extra push, there are trainers. In this session, learn what it takes to ensure that all those coming in to your organization have the tools they need to make them and your library shine. Whether you want to evaluate your own training procedures or you're just looking for new ideas to implement, this seminar can help any who routinely have to teach others. You'll learn to:
- Choose the best trainers out of your existing staff
- What qualities are needed in trainers
- Figure out your training guidelines
- Interaction and training techniques
- And evaluative processes.
All of this, to ensure that you have knowledgeable and confident staff for whatever tasks you and your library need.
Back Scratching with Businesses
Rachelle Miller and Sandy Prell, Dayton Metro Library
Forming partnerships with area businesses is good for the community and the library. It opens up resources to businesses they're unaware of, but it also shows the relevance of the library to the movers and shakers in your area. In this session, you'll find out how you can locate organizations to partner with and what those partnerships can entail, and you'll learn about partnerships that unite Dayton Metro Library with an entrepreneur education foundation called Aileron and with Business First, an economic development program for Montgomery County. You'll leave with ideas on where to find partner organizations as well as knowledge of what to do—and not do—when forming a long-term relationship with an outside organization.
Survey Research and Design for Libraries
Howard Fleeter and Jennifer Olejownik, Fleeter-Driscoll Associates and Wayne Piper, Ohio Library Council
The objective of this session is to discuss the basics of survey research and design. A well-designed and executed survey can be a powerful tool for understanding the strengths and weaknesses of an organization and the needs and desires of its customers. Readily available software can make designing and disseminating a survey seem like a snap! However, beware the principle of "garbage in, garbage out" A poorly conceived survey can ask the wrong questions and an improperly disseminated survey can get the wrong answers. This session will provide library staff with information they need to ask the right questions to the right people, thereby providing the most useful information necessary to guide policies and decision-making.
Change and the Library: Making It Work
William Young, Library Success
Because library change is inevitable, managing library change is critical.
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| But when changes are made, many employees lack the broader knowledge of why new systems and structures are necessary. As a result, frontline managers and human resources professionals must partner to help organizations in the task of managing change. Does even the slightest hint of change at your library create behavior ranging from resistance to rebellion? You are not alone! In this program, you'll become an expert in managing change and learn how to work with library personnel in ways that build support and ensure positive outcomes. We will explore the reasons that change initiatives fail, learn how to introduce change without creating emotional and stressful resistance, and we will demonstrate how to develop a working change model. |
10:15 AM
Break
10:30 AM
Fifth Breakout Sessions
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Designing Communication for Difficult Situations
R. Glenn Ray, Ph.D., RayCom Learning
This program gives participants tools to design and deliver effective communication in relationships and situations in which they struggle.
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| You will be able to create communication plans for these difficult situations using the techniques taught in the session. Outcomes include being able to eliminate circular communication with problem employees by first focusing on the dysfunctional behavior, then the pattern of undesirable behavior, and finally the negative impact on your relationship with your employee. Five questions to assess whether the behavior is driven by lack of motivation or lack of ability will be explained. Each participant will design permission statements to start the conversation, contrasting statements to focus on your business need, and mutual purpose statements to create feelings of commonality, and clear, effective feedback. |
From Friends to Funds: a Small Library's Case Study
Holly Manning Lynn, Burton Public Library; Jacqueline Samuel, Fund Raising Consultant
The Burton Library initiated a capital campaign to build a reading garden in 2000. Broad community support made it possible to build a $115,000 reading garden in 2004. Subsequently in 2004 an annual fund drive was launched. The library has since completed its fourth year fund-raising year and with growing success. This case study will examine how the fund raising efforts opened the door to building community.
Pay for Performance: Merit Based Pay Systems
Wendy Crosby, Columbus Metropolitan Library
Are you looking at new ways to revitalize your current compensation structure? Interested in paying for performance? Not sure what pay for performance is? Come learn about ways to coordinate your compensation structure with your performance assessment. The tips presented are doable for libraries of all sizes. Whether you're a ten person system or a 400 person system, you can implement pay for performance. Come learn how.
Using Comparative Public Library Statistics to Your Library's Benefit
Ray Lyons, Consultant
Comparative ratings from nationally collected library statistics, including rating systems such as HAPLR, can be a starting point for library self-evaluation instead of a defensive exercise. |
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| The practice of comparing libraries--individually or in groups--with their "peers'" based on standard statistics relies on a set of assumptions that is unrealistic and statistically flawed. This session will (a) enable library managers to understand the weaknesses of this popular evaluation approach; and (b) explore specific evaluation questions that can lead to fair and productive use of input/output statistics. |
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Building High Performance Teams
Greg Kozera, Learned Leadership
Organizations regularly use teams to solve problems or accomplish goals. Working with people is the key to individual and organizational success. Why do some teams fail and others achieve incredible success? |
| In this interactive session participants will learn the keys to building high performing teams that consistently archive their objectives and give their members a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction. Participants will practice first hand the "Keys to Building a High Performing Team". Greg Kozera has held engineering, sales and management positions in the energy industry for over 30 years. He has lead and been part of many successful teams and is a regular motivational columnist for several trade associations and for the Charleston (WV) Gazette-Mail. |
11:45 AM
Lunch
12:45 PM
Closing Summary Session
Reflections on a Conference
Tom Galante will have been not only the keynote speaker at the conference, but he will also have been a participant---attending sessions and interacting with participants at breaks and meal events. In this wrap-up session, Tom will reflect on what he's heard, seen and learned, as well as what he thinks still needs to be said, heard, and taught to make library managers the most effective they can be. He'll encourage questions from the audience and engage in discussion all who've participated in this professional development event.
2:00 PM
Adjournment
