When discussing how great the recent conference in Bretton Woods was at the Seacoast Co-op meeting this morning, I remembered that I had promised to post the collective wisdom gathered at the program on libraries and community relations.  Hope that you find these ideas as worthwhile as I do!

How to create and sustain positive Library and Community Relations

• Need to educate town government—
  1. Newsletter for town department
  2. Making pertinent statistics available on a regular basis
  3. Showing a cost/benefit ratio for services
• Use Event-Keeper and link it to town departments.
• Put library information on light bills, water bills, town notices.
• Do you have equipment another department could use, e.g. a typewriter?
• Give complimentary copies of books to stakeholders, target audience.
• Create a community contacts book, with web contacts when available.
• Have a brochure of services for newcomers.
• See if you can help realtors create a “Welcome” kit for newcomers.
• What to do if there are less-than-perfect relationships with town departments—
  1. Show appreciation
  2. Ask advice
  3. Invite them to your library or to co-sponsor events
  4. Ask them to judge a contest
• Attend/participate in department meetings and communicate library happenings.
• Be a librarian OUTSIDE of the library.
• Join a service organization.
• Serve on a town committee.
• Teach people how to use databases that will help them in their work (e.g., “LearningExpress”).
• Purchase locally when possible.
• Ask to be a speaker for your library at various organizations.
• Host a non-profit showcase.
• Hold a candidates’ night.

Respectfully submitted,
Judy Haskell 

What an informative, elegant, and just plain fun (and funny) conference last week at the Mount Washington Hotel.  I learned a lot more that I expected, and laughed while I was learning, which is by far my favorite method.

I have a suggestion for a “track” for the 2008 NHLA Conference, and after several discussions with various other people in other roles within their libraries, think that it would be fairly popular.  It would start with…

1. Hiring the right person for the job and the library

go to…

2. Training for excellence
3. Evaluations of staff and directors by directors and trustees
4. Raises (scales, COL’s, merit?)

and end with…

5. Dealing well with personnel problems

Any comments?

Thanks committee!!
Mary Ahlgren

Sign up now!  An extension has been arranged for registration at the spring NHLA Conference!  Not only can you still register for the conference, but you can register to stay at the Mt. Washington Hotel at a discounted rate through the weekend. 

For more information about conference and hotel registration, visit http://nhlibconf.org/.

If you have questions, please email me at hshumway@hooksett.lib.nh.us

I hope to see you all there!

Heather

Today is the cut off date to reserve a room at the unbelievable rate of $119 a night!  If you are coming to the New Hampshire Libraries Conference, you may not know that the hotel extends its $119 rate for the remainder of the weekend to conference attendees.  Previously we thought the Taste of New Hampshire was following our conference which is a plus for some and a minus for others.  It turns out that the Taste of NH is the weekend before, so we have most of the hotel to ourselves.  There is a lap pool, a heated outdoor pool, and a six-person jacuzzi at the hotel.  There is also shuttle access to the Bretton Woods sports complex, all a part of your accommodations.  The main dining room will be open all weekend that includes an ala carte menu and Stickney’s on Friday night.  The hotel also provides free shuttle service to Fabyan’s restaurant (train station).  It is also possible for you to get room service anywhere on the main floor, so you can eat by the fireplace if you want.  Laura Knoy is our dinner speaker on Thursday night.

For more information on the conference, go to http://nhlibconf.org/.