All Hail the Library Card
By Pam Fitzgerald
We’ve said it over and over again: public libraries may be under pressure to keep up with technology, but the digital age has only brought more traffic through their doors.
Word on the Blog
The Latest Thoughts from Ivy Library Consultants
Good ideas bubble up at the strangest times...too bad we can't blog in the shower!
Archive: October 2011
(10 Posts)
Spare Change and Big Bellies
By Catherine Alloway
Here’s an easy way to get donations at your library. The “big belly banks”, available from a variety of sources online, are a fun way for library visitors to donate their spare change.
Calling All Libraries! (Well, Rural Ones)
By Katie Speace
Imagine an organization 100 percent devoted to providing children’s educational resources to rural libraries. Actually, no need to imagine. The Libri Foundation does just that.
What’s In a Library Code?
By David Belanger
The Pennsylvania library code is 50 years old. Along with companion regulations, the code establishes the State Library, organizes the Advisory Council on Library Development (a quasi board), and spells out standards that qualify a library for state aid. Over the last 50 years, the code and regulations have become tangled and outdated. An amusing example: to meet the technology requirements, a library must have a telephone listed in the phone book, and District Centers must have at least 300 16mm films (or their equivalent. (Lucky for us, “their equivalent” was added!
NJSL Laces its Boots for Library Basic Training: Round 2
By Pam Fitzgerald
The New Jersey State Library has invited Nancy Davis and Pam Fitzgerald to facilitate a second round of strategic planning bootcamps for library directors and board members. We first introduced this workshop series in the spring as a response to the State Library's requirement that all libraries assess and plan for community needs before returning unexpended funds to municipal coffers, as mandated by a new state law.
E-book mania: Will HarperCollins adjust its cap?
By Katie Speace
In March, we reflected HarperCollins’ new e-book policy for libraries. The publisher capped circulations at 26 to howls of protest from librarians. HarperCollins hasn’t lifted or adjusted its restriction, yet the demand for free e-books continues to increase. According to the Pew Internet & American Life Project, e-reader ownership is multiplying. One study found the number of Americans who own e-readers jumped from 6 to 12 percent between November 2010 and May 2011. The American Library Association estimates 66 percent of libraries nationwide currently lend e-books to customers. And the demand is growing exponentially!
CKPL: It's a Wrap! Plus, Online Toolkits
By Pam Fitzgerald
Another happy client. We recently wrapped up a project for Chatham-Kent Public Library (CKPL) in Ontario, Canada. We had the pleasure of working with the lovely Tania Sharpe -Coordinator of Public Services- to develop a new strategic plan for the Library and design marketing materials, including an online toolkit.
Let Go of the Perfectionist and Just Get It Done
By Pam Fitzgerald
Our strategic planning workshops were a big hit in New Jersey this May. We had some really great feedback, such as this quote from a library participant:
Paper and Digital, Side By Side
By Pam Fitzgerald
Some thoughts on last week's piece in the New York Times, "Publisher Limits Shelf Life for Library E-Books":
Maximize the Potential of Your Public Library
By Pam Fitzgerald
Three cheers to Alan Bobowski, Director, Rockbridge Regional Library System for inclusion in ICMA’s groundbreaking study.
I asked the reference librarian, "Where's the self-help section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
Contact Ivy Library
Please call 1-800-IVY-1250 for more information about our services or visit www.ivygroup.com to learn about our parent company, The Ivy Group, Ltd.