Discovering Opportunities In Challenging Times: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 Southwest Florida Library Network A Workshop for Librarians presented by Pamela MacKellar [email protected]
Aug 29, 2014
Discovering OpportunitiesIn Challenging Times:
Tuesday, May 26, 2009Southwest Florida Library Network
A Workshop for Librarians
presented byPamela MacKellar
1. Introduce yourself, your position/the work you do, your library
2. Are you experiencing obstacles or barriers in your library or in your work?
3. What are some of them?
4. How are you handling them?
Welcome
Librarian with >25 years experience in public, tribal, special, school, post secondary technical school libraries, state library agency
Author
Speaker and trainer
Independent library consultant
My Story
Basics of libraries and librarianship Importance of your library’s mission, vision and
plan Meeting community’s information needs Designing goals and projects to meet needs Funding library projects with grants Removing “barrier thinking”****
How Can I Make a Difference?
Share what I have learned about:
Removing Barriers
Chapter 14
www.accidentallibrarian.com
Take a closer look at obstacles and barriers
Learn techniques you can use to change your mind about obstacles
Learn about opportunities for librarians
Start on an action plan you can use
What We Will Do Today
A Closer Look atObstacles, Barriers and
Challenges
Part 1
Obstacle Exercise – 10 minutes
Fill in as many blanks as you can on the worksheet.
Be honest with yourself. You will not be asked to share what is on
this worksheet. It is for your use only.
CBS News story “The Economy and Libraries”http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?
id=4771080n
Are you experiencing any of these things?
Yes, These are Hard Times
Sometimes things have to get really bad before we take action
This is a wake-up call from our bad behavior Now we have to change Adversities ahead will teach us lessons An abundance of opportunities are surfacing
The Upside
Obstacles are negative thinking patterns that result
from internal or external events, factors or
circumstances
What Are Obstacles?
Block positive thought Prevent you from seeing opportunities Intolerant and inflexible Drain your energy Cause stress, worry, illness Cause anger Block creativity Win-lose Reduce productivity Resist new ideas
Results of Negative Thinking Patterns
When you focus onNEGATIVE THOUGHTS
you make them stronger
When you focus onWHAT IS MISSING
you attract what is missing
Reality is ever-changing If something is a reality now it doesn’t mean
it is always going to be a reality How we frame or perceive reality is our
choice We can flip a negative into a positive
A Short Lesson on Reality
When you see mostly
and you remind yourself and others about them
over and over,day in and day out,year in and year out,eventually …
They become your reality
Negative thinking patterns are learned
and they can be unlearned.
Martin Seligman
The Good News Is …
Approach a person, thing or situation Open to new ideas and experiences Broaden our resources People like us better We engage Coalitions are more likely to establish Mental set is tolerant, expansive and
creative
What Results from Positive Thinking Patterns
Event Positive(Opportunity)
Circumstance ChoiceFactor Negativ
e(Obstacle)
“We are troubled not by the things of the world
but, rather, by our perception of those
things.”Marcus Aurelius, 2nd century AD
“If you think you can – or if you think you can’t … you’re
right.”
Henry Ford
If you can create your own reality
Why not choose to focus onseeing opportunities?
Techniques You Can Use
Part 2
Become Aware and Observe
Learned Optimism Test from Dr. Martin Seligman’s book
Human Mind Project Optimism/Pessimism Test
Spirituality & Health Optimism Test Psychology Today Optimism/Pessimism Test Happier.com Positivity Test and Optimism
Test Univ. of Penn. Positive Psychology Center
Self-Test Examples
Learned Optimism Test from Dr. Martin Seligman’s book - http://www.stanford.edu/class/msande271/onlinetools/LearnedOpt.html
Human Mind Project Optimism/Pessimism Test - http://www.learnmyself.com/personality.asp?p=Optimism-Test
Spirituality & Health Optimism Test -http://www.spiritualityhealth.com/newsh/items/selftest/item_236.html
Psychology Today Optimism/Pessimism Test - http://psychologytoday.tests.psychtests.com/take_test.php?idRegTest=1320
Happier.com Positivity Test and Optimism Test- http://www.happier.com/assessment.htm
Univ. of Penn. Positive Psychology Center - http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/Default.aspx
URLs
Take Action
Adjust Your ThinkingChange What You Say to Yourself
“You and I are infinite choice-makers” Deepak Chopra
Natural defenses sometimes kick in before we have a chance to think
3. Be Less Reactive and More Responsive
Eliminate these words Replace them withthese words
We can’t We canI don’t think I knowWe don’t have enough ___
We will make enough ____
I’m afraid of I’m confidentIf I willDoubt Expect the bestIt’s impossible All things are possible
4. Watch Your Language
Give what you are doing your full attention
Complete one task before going on to the next
5. Do One Thing at a Time
Know your library’s plan, mission, vision and goals
6. Focus on Library’s Plan
Know where you are going
Writing a Mission Statementhttp://www.docstoc.com/docs/2135622/
sample-personal-mission-statement
7. Update Your Personal Mission Statement
“After my house burned down, I saw the moon more clearly.”Old Zen saying
8. Cultivate the Optimism Habit
Notice what is right
9. Look for Opportunities
Write down any opportunities you see
10. Keep a Notebook
MaintainIT WebJunction TechSoup Library Open Source Webinars (nominal fee) SirsiDynix Institute archive 100 Free Library 2.0 Webinars and Tutorials Sarah Long’s Podcast State Library Agency/Library
Network/Consortia Read
Extra!11. Take Advantage ofFree Webinars, Podcasts Etc.
MaintainIT - http://www.maintainitproject.org/ WebJunction - http://www.webjunction.org/1 TechSoup - http://www.techsoup.org/ Library Open Source Webinars (nominal fee) -
http://librarywebinars.blogspot.com/ SirsiDynix Institute archive -
http://www.sirsidynixinstitute.com/archive.php 100 Free Library 2.0 Webinars and Tutorials -
http://www.collegeathome.com/blog/2008/05/29/100-free-library-20-webinars-and-tutorials/
Sarah Long’s Podcast - http://www.librarybeat.org/longshots
URLs
Finding Opportunities
Part 3
Invite Opportunities
Grants Partnerships Volunteers Outreach
Where are They?For Starters …
New Funding OpportunitiesAmerican Recovery and Reinvestment Act
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/wo/woissues/washfunding/fedfund/arra101.cfm
FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Bill contains $171.5 million for the Grants to State Library
Agencies program within the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=2291- an increase of more than $10 million over last year
Library Grants Bloglibrarygrants.blogspot.com
Be prepared◦ Projects, plans, data, documented needs ready
Stay up-to-date with new developments re ARRA
Sign up for grants alerts It’s about the people not the money Collaborate and partner
Grant Tips
Local businesses and corporations Local agencies, non-profits, organizations Schools Other departments in your organization Other libraries – reciprocal borrowing,
combined programs, collaborating on projects
Museums
Partnerships
Identify jobs that need to be done Assess volunteers’ skills Match volunteer with the jobs requiring
skills Interview and evaluate Consider project-based or temporary
volunteer jobs
Volunteers
You have an audience – libraries are visible Reach out to people who don’t use the
library Meet new community needs Tell community about your plans, projects Be vocal Market the library
Outreach
Library Value Calculator
Leanne Hathcock Maureen O’Connor Martha Liebert
Librarians Seizing Opportunities
Leanne HathcockAztec Public LibraryAztec, NM
Digital Media Arts Program
Fulfills need in community Goal and purpose driven Funded by multiple sources Multiple partners involved New “library paradigm” model for
community
Aztec UFO Symposium Alien Run Mountain Bike Competition Disney movie
Also at Aztec Public Library
Aztec UFO Symposium - http://www.aztecufo.com/home.html
Alien Mountain Bike Competition - http://www.alienrun.com/
Disney movie - http://www.nmstatelibrary.org/docs/hitchhiker/hh%201681.pdf
URLs
“Small town” thinking Breaking out of “libraries don’t do that”
paradigm Lack of support from some town leaders Lack of support from some library board
members
Biggest ChallengesLeanne Hathcock, Director, Aztec Public Library, Aztec, NM
Stay committed Think big Strive for a purpose or goal Stay in your power Keep trying Be fearless Don’t listen to criticism Just jump into it Believe in yourself
Overcoming BarriersLeanne Hathcock, Director, Aztec Public Library, Aztec, NM
Solution to challenging after-school situation Provides positive atmosphere for youth age
7-15 Activities that help them succeed Funded by NYS Div Criminal Justice Led to more opportunities for library
Maureen T. O’ConnerLaurelton Library Youth Empowerment InitiativeQueens Borough Public Library
Librarians Choosing OpportunitiesSummary
First have a plan, vision and mission Know your library’s goals Know your community’s needs Be brave Believe in yourself Be persistent Think outside the box Focus on solutions
Look at your Obstacle Exercise Pick 3 obstacles from the list On the back, write 3 positive statements
responding to the 3obstacles
For 30 daysConsciously practice these 3 positive
statements when responding to the corresponding obstacles
Action Plan Idea #1
Pick 3 things from the 10 Things Handout Write down what you will do to cultivate
each one Consciously practice this for 30 days
Action Plan Idea #2
What negative thoughts about your work situation go through your mind regularly? (See Self-Evaluation)
What thoughts about your work situation must you face to turn your attitude around?
Write down one attitude you want to adjust or thought pattern you want to redirect.
Practice changing this attitude or thought pattern for 30 days.
Action Plan Idea #3
Your Action Plan
At first try something easy Start small Enjoy the process Be flexible Loosen up, it doesn’t have to be perfect Spread the word about your success Don’t forget to look for opportunities
Implementing Your Action Plan
Good luck!