Tag Archives: #10MinuteInternationalLibrarian

The 10-Minute International Librarian #61: Think of the last time you attracted a non-user

 As part of libraries’ mission to serve every member of their communities, a key question is how to bring in new users.

Among those who do not currently regularly visit library buildings or websites, there may be some – or many even – who are missing out on opportunities that could help them.

To address this, we need to be able to identify what is holding them back from using libraries, and how to overcome any barriers that might exist.

What works in helping them to understand how coming to the library – or its website – can benefit them? What assumptions or concerns need to be tackled?

This is also helpful in advocacy, when you may well also be trying to convince people who do not use our institutions – or have not done so for many years – of why they are so important.

So for our 61st 10-Minute International Librarian exercise, think of the last time you attracted a non-user.

How did they find out about the library?

What had prevented them from using the library before, and what made them change their mind?

Think about what lessons you can draw for wider efforts to engage non-users, including among decision-makers.

Share your stories in the comments box below.

Good luck!

 

This idea relates to the IFLA Strategy! Key Initiative 3.3: Empower the field at the national and regional levels.

As we publish more ideas, you will be able to view these using the #10MinuteInternationalLibrarian tag on this blog, and of course on IFLA’s Ideas Store! Do also share your ideas in the comments box below.

The 10-Minute International Librarian #60: think about how you enable users

Too often, different degrees of access to information or skills can create economic, social, and democratic divides.

The lucky are enabled, ready to exploit the possibilities open to them, while others are left behind, unaware or unable to do so.

They are left without the capabilities necessary for development.

Tackling this is a key question in any effort not only to promote equality in society, but also to ensure that we are mobilising every talent we have.

It is also traditionally part of the work of libraries, which work to ensure that no-one need be disadvantaged because they cannot afford books, other materials of learning opportunities.

With COVID having underlined the divisions that exist in our societies, it is an important time to underline this role, and ensure that libraries are recognised as contributing.

So for our 60th 10-Minute International Librarian exercise, think about how you enable users.

What examples can you give of how you help them find the information or develop the skills they need to fulfil their potential?

Can you explain it in a couple of sentences, including noting how the work of libraries can change lives for the better?

While the word ‘enable’ itself can be complicated, it is core to the nature of libraries to work with users rather than simply telling them what to do!

Let us know your examples in the comments box below.

Good luck!

 

This idea relates to the IFLA Strategy! Key Initiative 1.1: Show the power of libraries in achieving the Sustainable Development
Goals.

As we publish more ideas, you will be able to view these using the #10MinuteInternationalLibrarian tag on this blog, and of course on IFLA’s Ideas Store! Do also share your ideas in the comments box below.

The 10-Minute International Librarian #59: Think how you can amplify your voice

If decision-makers are to make choices that favour libraries, it’s important that they know about you.

It is a cliché, but often it will be those who shout the loudest who gain the most attention!

Of course, you need to be smart about your work to advocate for libraries.

You should ensure that your arguments are based on fact, and avoid exaggeration.

But our institutions have a strong case to make, and one that’s worth being heard!

We’ve already had a few exercises about the possibility of working with partners who can speak up for you (exercises #5, #18, #24).

But you, based on your understanding of where you live and work, will have an idea of what works best.

So for our 59th 10-Minute International Librarian exercise, think how you can amplify your voice.

How do other people involved in advocacy manage to do it? What is the most successful advocacy effort you are aware of?

What options do you have to reach out, effectively, both to decision-makers and to the people that influence them?

Let us know the most original way you have used for ensuring that the voice of libraries is heard!

Good luck!

 

This idea relates to the IFLA Strategy! Key Initiative 1.3: Work with library associations and libraries to identify key legal and funding challenges to their work, and advocate for action.

As we publish more ideas, you will be able to view these using the #10MinuteInternationalLibrarian tag on this blog, and of course on IFLA’s Ideas Store! Do also share your ideas in the comments box below.

The 10-Minute International Librarian #58: Define Scenarios

We often tend to think of the future in terms of individual developments, for example in technology, environment, or social issues.

The rise of AI, climate change, or inequality of course all do have an important impact on libraries, shaping the tools we use, the physical environment we inhabit, and the people we serve.

However, on their own, they may only give us an incomplete picture.

And indeed, they may interact in unexpected or complex ways – for example, technology can both help us save energy (and so mitigate climate change), but at the same time consumes plenty itself (potentially intensifying it).

This makes it helpful to go one step further, and in doing so, get closer to being able to think through how things might look in reality.

So for our 58th 10-Minute International Librarian exercise, define scenarios.

You can do this by bringing together your thinking about some of the trends you can see shaping society. Combined, what sort of world could they lead to?

Try to define a few scenarios – you can include ones that are more likely, and ones that are less likely, from your point of view.

Once you have these, you can then think through what they might mean for your library, and how you could prepare for them, or even make the best of them!

Let us know about your experience in doing this in the comments box below!

Good luck!

 

This idea relates to the IFLA Strategy! Key Initiative 3.3: Empower the field at the national and regional levels.

As we publish more ideas, you will be able to view these using the #10MinuteInternationalLibrarian tag on this blog, and of course on IFLA’s Ideas Store! Do also share your ideas in the comments box below.

The 10-Minute International Librarian #57: Celebrate a failure

It’s great when things work out.

But that’s not always the case – inevitably, some of the things we try will fail.

Yet this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

When things don’t work, we have an opportunity to reflect on why this is the case – what could the causes be? Can we do anything about it? What could be done better next time?

Indeed, there can be more to learn from failures than from successes.

So for our 57th 10-Minute International Librarian exercise, celebrate a failure.

Take it as an opportunity to think about your own practices and the circumstances, and how these could have influenced thing.

Even if there is an element of unluckiness, could you mitigate the risk in future?

And be ready to share your lessons with others, including through the comments box below!

Good luck!

 

This idea relates to the IFLA Strategy! Key Initiative 3.4: Provide targeted learning and professional development.

As we publish more ideas, you will be able to view these using the #10MinuteInternationalLibrarian tag on this blog, and of course on IFLA’s Ideas Store! Do also share your ideas in the comments box below.

The 10-Minute International Librarian #54: Think of a way in which your work supports creativity

This week, the Conference of the Parties of the UNESCO 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions takes place. IFLA will be observing, as well as taking an active role in today’s Civil Society Forum.

But delivering on the goal of the Convention – to encourage and support creativity by all, everywhere – is not just a question for international-level discussions.

Rather, it is something that requires mobilisation and engagement in every community.

Libraries have an important role to play here – arguably one that has often been underestimated.

Because while it can be easy to think of access to information being simply about making use of the works of other people, it is also a vital precondition for people to be able to create themselves.

Added to this are the possibilities libraries offer, through spaces, programming, and support, to encourage people to use their imaginations.

Around the world, we benefit from a stronger understanding of how libraries are key players in supporting creativity and innovation.

So for our 54th 10-Minute International Librarian exercise, think of a way in which your work supports creativity.

Once you have an idea, think about how you can explain it clearly, for example to a library user, an artist, or a decision-maker.

Are there other things you could do to support creativity among the community you serve?

Let us know your ideas in the comments below!

Good luck!

 

This idea relates to the IFLA Strategy! Key Initiative 1.1: Show the power of libraries in delivering the Sustainable Development Goals.

As we publish more ideas, you will be able to view these using the #10MinuteInternationalLibrarian tag on this blog, and of course on IFLA’s Ideas Store! Do also share your ideas in the comments box below.

The 10-Minute International Librarian #53: Think of a successful shared action

Collaboration, arguably, comes naturally to the library field.

From in-person teamwork to provide services and events, to cross-border collaborations in order to provide access to knowledge, we achieve more by working together.

There is also, of course, ever greater emphasis on the value of working with partners outside of the field, combining the unique strengths of libraries with those of other organisations or individuals.

While it’s not always easy, collaboration can be fun, and is often a great way to innovate by crossing ideas, insights and experiences.

It is also at the heart of the IFLA Strategy , which is focused on looking for alignments and opportunities for cooperation.

So for our 53rd 10-Minute International Librarian exercise, think of a successful shared action.

Look at your own experience, and times where you have achieved things by working with others, in particular those outside of your immediate circle.

What made it work? What lessons did you learn? What can you bring to future collaborations?

Let us know about your examples in the comments box below!

Good luck!

 

This idea relates to the IFLA Strategy! Key Initiative 3.2: Support virtual networking and connections.

As we publish more ideas, you will be able to view these using the #10MinuteInternationalLibrarian tag on this blog, and of course on IFLA’s Ideas Store! Do also share your ideas in the comments box below.