Kindness in the library

Patron service is the main focus in my work-life library. Everyone on the team–including student assistants and the technology guru–really work at helping our patrons. This attitude comes from the top; our head librarian is service-focused and supports and encourages our efforts to go the extra mile.

Many times I have walked a lost student to their class. The end of the semester means I am sitting panicking students, polishing citations and formatting final papers. I greet students as they come in, and everyone is treated in a welcoming, respectful way in my library. Many students are suprised at this.

I see my role NOT as the lion at the gate, but as the facilitator, the connector. I share, not just distribute information. Questions are not an interruption in my work, they are the reason I am working.

I smile. Its part of the job.

This attitude has recently been codified by the Darien Statements on the Library and Librarians (found on Kathryn Greenhill’s Librarians Matter.) I hope that this will become the defining statement for the next generations of libraries and librarians.

I know it is mine.

I <3 flowers

In December I helped a student with his bibliography on a final paper. He was a mature student returning to school after a long absence, and like most mature students CONFIDENCE was an issue. All of the internet tricks, the typing, the databases…everything was new to him and he was overwhelmed!

I had helped him in the library through the semester with small things, a bit of coaching here and there. But at the end of the semester he was completely frustrated and even emotional–I caught him at a desperate moment.

So one Wednesday I sat with him for maybe 45 minutes, going over the basics of MLA style and showing him some of the online resources/tricks that make the bibliography easier. We did the OWL pages, looked at the MLA book, and I showed him the citation tools in EBSCO. We did a sample ciation in his Works Cited page. All normal stuff I do with students every day.

But this was a huge gift to the student! Just having me coach him through the basics was a huge help to him. He was completely relieved and near tears with thanks!

The next day he brought me a pointsettia to thank me. I was (and still am) completely touched.  What a wonderful gesture!

Of course, this is not the only time I have been given flowers at work…I must be doing soemthing right!

I won a DIFFERENT grant!

On Monday nights one professor always drops in on the library before his class. He is a Economics/Business professor and teaches at multiple community colleges. For the last two years we have discussed various topics, from basic Interlibrary Loan requests to Nobel Peace Prizes.

When it came in to the library I read Banker to the Poor about Mohammed Yunus, the founder of the Grameen Bank. I was so struck by the entire idea–and the business model. Grameen does not lend to one man….it lends only to GROUPS of WOMEN who then pay the money back in installments. Microlending and peer pressure all in one. This has been very effective business model–the bank has a nearly 100% payback rate. Plus, it helps people immensely.

During the grantwriting season Mr. Professor asked me to help him with a grant, to come up with a list of books and DVDs to add to the library’s collection on Microlending and Social Entrepreneurship (he does a section on this topic in his classes.) I prepared a long list, found sources and prices, and discussed with the professor.

He submitted and (WOW) we won!

The size of the grant is not huge but I am still thrilled to win. The professor wanted me to be sure to get some credit for doing the work and I am thrilled to be included.

I wrote a grant!

During the recent Founder’s Day celebration, I attended a workshop on grant writing.

The library at Tyler is quite bare. We have one donated painting and one donated wall hanging. A coworker and I both brought in some plants, and I change the book displays regularly. Thankfully the space is filled with student which make everything LIVELY!

The John Tyler Foundation sponsors an art contest every year, and the winning piece is reproduced in poster form and use for promotion throughout the year. The library needs art–what better art to inspire students than student art?

I wrote a small grant to have the past five posters framed and placed in the library. I am hoping not only to get this grant, but also to have this be an ongoing program for the library. I would like the Foundation to donate the framed art every year.

My coworkers were pretty enthusiastic, and each helped me proofread the grant. I will not lose my chance becasue of a typo or spelling mistake! This also allows everyone to get behind the project, by being involved in the grant-preparing process.

I should hear the result in November.