Your library is overwhelmed with community demands. How can you meet expectations with limited resources?
When your library is overwhelmed by community demands, it's crucial to find ways to maximize your resources effectively. Here are some strategies:
What strategies have been effective in your library?
Your library is overwhelmed with community demands. How can you meet expectations with limited resources?
When your library is overwhelmed by community demands, it's crucial to find ways to maximize your resources effectively. Here are some strategies:
What strategies have been effective in your library?
-
Focus on delivering what community want rather than what you think a good library should have. Listen to what community are asking for, look at demographics of the local area and tailor your service to suit. For example, if your community is largely young families, focus on children's collections and programs with a small amount of popular adult fiction / non fiction to give the parents something to look at when they bring the kids. Likewise, if you're community is primarily new migrants from CALD backgrounds, focus on collections that suit the ethnic backgrounds of your community sand look to partner with organisations that support new migrants. Don't try to be all things to all people, just be great at what your community want most.
-
Emphasize your care about users needs and help them understand your limitations. They are your best advocates and you are their resource.
-
Beatriz Hernando Robledo
Librarian
(edited)La realidad es que a veces con los escasos recursos económicos y de personal que se suele tener en las bibliotecas españolas las soluciones pasan por realizar horas extras para mantener el servicio de préstamo abierto y las salas de lectura con horario ampliado. Por otro lado, las administración emplean subvenciones para dar servicios como talleres lo que ocasiona que a veces están limitados temporalmente. Otra de las soluciones pasa porque el bibliotecario sea el encargado de realizar todo: cuentacuentos, talleres de radio, talleres de formación de usuarios, préstamo, redes sociales y gestión. Y no olvidemos de privatizar ciertos servicios, con lo que el trabajador sale a menor coste.
-
Cuando los recursos son limitados pero el compromiso es grande es importante estar atento a las demandas del lector/cliente, concentrarse en pocas acciones culturales y/o organizativas que dinamicen la atención y participación colectiva. Trabajar según necesidad y no según los ideales de lo que debería ser una biblioteca, apelar a esa sensación de pertenencia a una comunidad lectora implementando canales de comunicación directa entre los miembros del equipo y el cliente, incluirlos en la toma de decisiones y hacerlos sentir escuchados
-
Considering the demands of the community , and thinking of developing any existing concepts, measures and to introduce any new suitable concepts and measures. Since a good, solid collection, with unique concepts and great measures which will support the growth of your library
Rate this article
More relevant reading
-
Library ServicesWhat are the most effective ways to steward donors for library services?
-
Nonprofit ManagementWhat are the best ways for non-profits to build trust with communities?
-
Nonprofit ManagementHow can you build trust with skeptical community members?
-
LeadershipWhat are the most effective strategies to keep volunteers engaged with your organization's mission?