Management Book Review: Leaders Eat Last

Leaders Eat Last
by Simon Sinek

Leaders Eat Last is a surprisingly bold book, with an author that is both forward-thinking (very TED Talk), yet also retro in philosophy. Simon Sinek maintains that as business leaders, we have increasingly looked at employees as statistics and cogs, instead of as human beings. Much of this new philosophy stems from layoffs and business practices of the 1980s (based on Reagan’s firing of air traffic controllers). This trend has led to leaders only looking at the bottom line. Their main goal, it seems, is to increase profit margins for their shareholders at the cost of taking care of their employees. Gone is the “Mother Merill” philosophy toward employees and its “long term greed” (be good to customers and they keep coming back to your business for years to come.) Rather, it is now all about how much profit you can make next quarter. This type of philosophy is creeping into companies and leading to poor decisions. Some of these decisions are what led to the Great Recession. He maintains that this needs to change and that there are very primal reasons we need to make these changes. It is better for employees, better for customers, better for business, and for our economy. 

True leaders have great responsibility and those that take it seriously will put their people first and their own ego last. They don’t force the organization in a direction that just benefits them and their bottom line, but one which benefits the organization as a whole. We are trained to look to leaders and trust that they will make the right decision on our behalf. When that trust is broken, chaos ensues, and that can lead to disastrous results.

The leader creates the culture of the company; they must have integrity and see their people as human beings, not just as statistics and output. Sinek places this as the top priority, which is really a return to the way most companies treated their employees before the 1980s, as people. 

This is a very powerful book that many business leaders and politicians should be reading. I have read this theme in multiple books from Thomas Piketty’s Capital, to Al Gore’s The Future. Having the main focus of making the numbers for the next quarter makes us toss everything else aside. With this mindset, we are only looking at the next three months. The decisions that we make last longer than a quarter; they last for years and decades. Short-sighted philosophies have long-term consequences. As Sinek points out in this book, this short-sightedness needs to stop. 

Favorite passages:

“What makes a good leader is that they eschew the spotlight in favor of spending time and energy to do what they need to do to support and protect their people. And when we feel the Circle of Safety around us, we offer our blood and sweat and tears and do everything we can to see our leader’s vision come to life. The only thing our leaders ever need to do is remember whom they serve, and it will be our honor and pleasure to serve them back. "

“A supportive and well-managed work environment is good for one’s health. Those who feel they have more control, who feel empowered to make decisions instead of waiting for approval, suffer less stress.”

"This is the most important lesson I can impart to all of you,” he offered. “All the perks, all the benefits and advantages you may get for the rank or position you hold, they aren’t meant for you. They are meant for the role you fill. And when you leave your role, which eventually you will, they will give the ceramic cup to the person who replaces you. Because you only ever deserved a Styrofoam cup.” 

“The goal of the leader is to give no orders,” Captain Marquet explains. “Leaders are to provide direction and intent and allow others to figure out what to do and how to get there.” 

“For leaders, integrity is particularly important. We need to trust that the direction they choose is in fact a direction that is good for all of us and not just good for them. As members of a tribe who want to feel like we belong and earn the protection and support of the group, we will often follow our leaders blindly with the belief (or hope) that it is in our interest to do so. This is the deal we make with our leaders. “

“Building trust requires nothing more than telling the truth.”

Your Library In More Places

I often tell people that I am a big believer in the magic of libraries. They provide inspiration and hope, no matter their size. Today, libraries can be everywhere. From the massive buildings that dominate a downtown landscape, to the small branches in malls where people shop, book machines on the walk home from school, and even on your smartphone, libraries are there. The biggest challenge is getting this message across. How do we find ways to tell this story to the local community? To get people excited about it, and ultimately change their perception and gain their support? I believe it is in this magic that we can spread that message. This misconception is an opportunity to surprise and delight. It’s our own shock and awe, and we can deliver that to our communities.

One of the key principles to this process is a motto from our Foundation: Your Library in More Places. The concept came up on a sort of whim. I have written a regular feature for the local paper about our library for several years. One of these articles was titled "Your Library in More Places." In this article, I discussed our book machine services and our efforts in renovating our libraries.

My main focus in the past few years has been outreach, specifically the library’s book machines and renovating our small rural libraries. It is amazing to see the impact these kinds of acts can have in these communities- a new library with state-of-the art services that they never would have imagined. Instead of dilapidated hand-me-down shelving, worn carpet, and old computers, they get the same new furnishings and finishes that are available in the larger branches. The custom carved book shelving, the early literacy computers, they are all there. It provides a big boost for the community to have these amenities and it demonstrates to the community that the library cares about them.

Book machines are the easiest and cheapest way for libraries to provide books and materials on a 24/7 basis in a remote location. We've provided these machines outside of schools, inside job centers, but most importantly, where books are simply not available. A lot of discussion today has been about how to get children school ready, as well as how to ensure children read at a third grade reading level by the third grade. Access to books is a key feature to that effort. There is much buzz about projects such as Little Free Libraries, but this alone doesn't address the problem of getting books into a community in the first place, especially in small rural towns. These machines provide 300 books to children on a 24/7 basis. They get such heavy use that we need to send staff out several times a week, just to replenish the machine. Most of these areas are without any resources and have no access to books or a library. Some of their schools do not even have libraries. It is in this way that we can provide the key ingredient to literacy, and in a way that has the greatest amount of access.

It's also important to keep ahead of national technology trends and apply them to local community needs. E-books, digital maker spaces, and other technology are key pieces to the library's immediate future. Throughout a community, if someone looks at their smartphone for information, a library app can be there, complete with e-books, magazines, videos, reference materials and research. Even tutoring help is available! Now more than ever, libraries have the tools to show up in unexpected places and demonstrate their value.

It is a critical time to be involved with libraries. People are increasingly without resources when they most need them. Libraries provide community space for children and adults alike, to have access to books in any format, free access to that knowledge, learning, and reading. We provide that advantage. I've always thought that libraries will exist as long as curiosity exceeds one's budget. Whether it is reading or information gathering, libraries play a role no one else can. Libraries are a beacon of hope in so many communities throughout the country. There are those who seek magic, and libraries are the place to find it. 

Management Book Review: Multipliers

Review below also appeared in the latest edition of the California Library Association Management Interest Group Newsletter LEAD.

Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter

by Liz Wiseman & Greg McKeown

The book Multipliers, in my mind, falls into the category of servant leadership: encouraging employees to give their best, providing the resources they need, and getting out of the way. Authors Liz Wiseman and Greg McKeown take this a bit further to create a better definition of the concept.

There are two kinds of managers, multipliers and diminishers. The main goal for multipliers is to get employees to think for themselves, come up with creative solutions, and harvest their potential. It’s not about the manager or the leader, but about the employees who are making things happen. Intelligence and capability can be multiplied in this way, without getting more staff or more resources. Diminishers, on the other hand, make everything about them. They have the great idea; things must always be done their way. It’s much like the Red Queen from Alice in Wonderland. The employees cower and hope to get transferred, or work somewhere else very soon. These employees don’t give their best; they focus on getting away. The authors are very detailed on how to become a multiplier, how to identify a diminisher, and remind us that anyone can have both traits without intending to do so.

There are five key disciplines for a multiplier:

1. Attract and optimize talent
2. Create intensity that requires best thinking (remove fear of failure and create safety for best thinking)
3. Extend challenges
4. Debate decisions
5. Instill ownership and accountability

There are also tips to identify talent:

1.  Look for talent everywhere
2.  Find people’s native genius (they might not realize they have it)
3. Utilize people at their fullest
4. Remove the blockers
5. What do they do without effort, better than everyone, without being asked, without compensation?

This book helped hone some already believed truths. It provides a more concrete idea to help an organization act smarter, be more efficient, and have employees who love what they do. I really enjoyed the read and felt it provided a clear path for me to follow, as well as pitfalls to avoid.

More Straight Talk #clanoise

I recently wrote an article for the California Library Association Management Interest Group Newsletter LEAD covering the program that I moderated at this year's annual conference. I'm posting it below.
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More Straight Talk by Jeff Scott, County Librarian, Tulare County Library

I had the honor to host another Straight Talk program with some of the best library minds in the state, Directors: Jose Aponte of San Diego County Library, Julie Farnsworth of Pleasanton Public Library, Robert Karatsu of Rancho Cucamonga Public Library, Jan Sanders of Pasadena Public Library, and Rivkah Sass of Sacramento Public Library, were captivating as they discussed the trials and tribulation of today's modern library director.

I really enjoy putting this program together. Library directors are always so willing to tell their story and to help others. Often, people can be too intimidated by directors, particularly with a group as prestigious as this one. However, they are all incredibly down-to-earth and willing to help. My thought behind providing this program was that I hoped it would not only inspire those new to the profession, but would also demonstrate how human these directors are; they started out just like everyone else. I gathered some notes from the program which were particularly poignant for me.

Don’t Follow the Crowd

In their own way, each director had advice on being innovative. Jose Aponte said it was important to look outside of the profession, in some cases getting out of the profession for a time to gain perspective. It leads to a different outlook and attitude when coming back. Robert Karatsu said that the only way to know the future is to change it. If we follow everyone else, we will always fall behind; by taking our own path we can create something new. Julie Farnsworth said that those drawn into being a director must possess a heart-pounding drive to do good things. All members of the group reminded us that politics make strange bedfellows. In order to get things done you have to look to the people to make alliances with and put party politics aside.

Say Yes

It's important to look for opportunities, be willing to say yes, and build a culture of the same, according to Rivkah Sass. It‟s important to be fearless and be willing to move backwards or sideways in a career in order to make the big leaps forward. I particularly liked Jan Sanders point when she said, “Dragons be damned” emphasizing the importance of pushing through despite heavy opposition. Robert Karatsu further expanded on this by suggesting it is important to stir things up.

One is the Loneliest Number

All of the directors reminded us that it can be very lonely at the top. It's important to know oneself since the ego will be often bruised. One of the most frustrating things, brought up by Julie and Jan, was how the slightest phrase can be taken out of context and twisted. Rivkah had the best comments on the topic stating that words can be twisted, making you out to be a monster. It's important to have a trusted circle. It's also important to be a good poker player.

The real point of this program for me is to allow library directors to speak directly and honestly about how they got where they are, what others can do to be successful, and where the profession is going. While others may panic during budget cuts and a changing climate, these directors have seen it all. The benefit of this experience can be very calming for those new to the profession or experiencing tough times for the first time. I always appreciate their honesty. Even with the same questions, each time it takes a different tack, the less formal the better. Straight Talk is a straight answer about the library field, past, present, and future.

Tulare County Libraries Start New Chapter

A couple of months ago the Visalia Times-Delta featured a great article on our libraries. Unfortunately, it is no longer available on the newspaper's online archive. However, I am currently including it in a project, and have uploaded the article as it appeared in the newspaper, as well as the full text document.


Libraries start new chapter
Bridge to the future built on technology, multimedia, convenience and community
By Kyle Harvey

Excerpts from the article:

"It's an old profession in a new frontier."

For better or for worse, the 21st century has brought a new level of connectivity, accessibility and flexibility when it comes to the gathering, altering and distributing of information, art and ideas. This new information age has contributed greatly to the evolution of the traditional library. Once the guardian of information, libraries are changing, becoming hubs outfitted to organize and redistribute the world's vast wealth of online resources in the formats that are most compatible with its communities' needs and desires.

In Tulare County, librarians have been charged with the task of meeting the needs and desires of several groups of people‚ children who read traditional books but who are also technologically inclined, teens and young adults who consume much of what they read on a mobile device, and older adults, who could be either completely faithful to traditional printed media, or eager learners of their children's and grandchildren's gadgets. But the strategy for staying relevant goes beyond simply adding technology. There has been a concerted effort on the part of our public libraries to re-brand themselves as not only information centers, but also community centers‚ places where learning is social.

A tech-driven tomorrow begins in Visalia today
While community engagement is an integral part of the Tulare County Library's plan for the future, the transition to the library of tomorrow is very much technology-driven. During the fiscal year that ended June 30, the Tulare County Library checked out 20,000 ebooks. While 20,000 checkouts constitutes only about 3.5 percent of total library transactions, it becomes significant given the fact that there were zero e-books being checked out four years ago. Today, Tulare County is invested in three digital library services, the largest being OverDrive, which houses most of Visalia's digital collection.

"December 2010 was the e-reader Christmas," County Librarian Jeff Scott said. "We got OverDrive because it was the tipping point for e-books. It was either get them or get left behind." Getting left behind in the digital age is precisely what Scott says will not happen in Tulare County. Patrons of electronic reading material have a considerable selection from which to choose here. The Tulare County Library boasts more than 32,000 digital titles‚ a number that Scott says is larger than that of libraries in comparable markets elsewhere. "We have a Fresno-sized collection in a Visalia-sized market," Scott said.

In addition to catering to clients who already own and operate their own e-reader devices, Tulare County Library is taking an active role in introducing the latest in electronic reading technology, whether it be Nooks, laptops or tablet computers, to library card holders. Grants have enabled the library to begin loaning out Nooks, which are preloaded with bestsellers and other requests, for guests to take home. The opportunity to participate in workshops and use a mobile device free of charge has helped to spread awareness and increase the library's clients' proficiency with technology, many clients wind up purchasing or being given some kind of mobile reading device as a gift. With older adults who already frequent the library going digital and younger e-reading adults returning to the library for the first time since childhood, the result is an ever-increasing digitalonly clientele that is checking out more and more electronic media every year.

But what does the new media cost? Does it cut into the print budget? Right now, about 20 percent of the $500,000 annual collection development budget is spent on ebooks, leaving 80 percent to traditional print books, according to Scott. In addition, the digital collection has benefited greatly from donations from the Friends of the Library and Tulare County Library Foundation, as well as private donations from individuals totaling $200,000.

How far does a digital dollar go compared to a print dollar in terms of buying new material? Are gadgets making books harder to come by? How far a digital dollar goes is hard to pinpoint, Scott said. To purchase a digital copy of an old novel is pretty inexpensive. And the upside of a digital copy is that even if the initial cost is more than that of a hard copy, it has a limitless shelf life. There are no pages to tear, no binding to come unglued, and thus, no replacement copies ever needed.

The situation is different, however, when it comes to purchasing the latest bestsellers. Each of the big six publishing houses have different, and ever-changing, rules about library usage rights. A digital copy of a bestseller, which may cost $75, is still a good deal if it never has to be replaced. After all, by the time the library purchases several replacement copies of a heavily used bestseller that sells for $15 apiece, it about breaks even.

But the drawback is that the exorbitant initial investment in an online book does not help with short-term high demand. An electronic book can only be viewed on one device at a time. So while it may have good long-term value, the cost of purchasing several digital copies of a popular item all at once is astronomical.

New gadgets are not just for reading. 

Thanks to grants, teens who participate in the awardwinning TCL Teens program will have the opportunity beginning in the fall to check out iPad Minis for the purpose of creating their own personal documentaries with a "Day in the Life of..." theme. The kids will then be trained to edit their footage into a short film. Gunner Santos, 15, a student at Mt. Whitney High School, is an eager participant in the TCL Teens program. "It sounds really fun, showing people what I do," Santos said of the documentary program. "I'm really excited about that." 

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Read the full article as it appeared in the newspaper or in a text document.

Straight Talk Panel at CLA 2012 #calibconf

Straight Talk: The Directors Speak featured five prominent directors whose contributions to our profession are quite substantial. The program was sponsored by the Management Interest Group, and was presented at the California Library Association Annual Conference in San Jose. I was honored to moderate the panel, and excited to assist in providing such a valuable program. It’s inspiring to gather a group of some of the best minds in the library world to hear them talk about their experience as directors and their views on where we are headed as a profession. As busy as this group is, I was amazed that they so readily agreed to serve on this panel. The panel members are Librarian of the Year winners, library management school instructors, and Eureka program mentors, in addition to being inspiring library directors.

Luis Herrera, San Francisco Public Library Director; Rivkah Sass, Sacramento Public Library Director; Patty Wong, Yolo County Library Director; Brian Reynolds, San Luis Obispo County Library Director; and Robert Karatsu, Rancho Cucamonga Library Director, sat down with me to talk shop. The California Library Association Management Interest Group and I gathered questions to ask. The responses were insightful, inspiring, and surprising. It takes a lot to be a library director, and even more to be an inspiration to others.

I asked them five questions:

1. What made you choose the path to become a director?

2. What has surprised you about being a director?

3. If you could give someone just coming out of library school one piece of advice what would it be? Keeping in mind that this might affect the path they choose to take.

4. Given the current trends in technology and funding, where do you think libraries will be in 5 years?

5. What are some of the most important lessons you have learned as a director?

The Responses
No blog post could possibly compare with having been a member of the audience. For those of you who were not able to attend, here are some of the notes that I gathered as they were speaking. Some of it of course may have been shortened and/or paraphrased. Organized by speaker, from left to right.

Luis Herrera, San Francisco Public Library Director

Organizational citizenship behavior: you are an ambassador to the organization. You contribute to the health of the organization. It's about creating a stronger and healthier organization. You are responsible beyond your job. If we are going to thrive, we need to blur our organizational lines. 

We can identify trends to prepare us for the future. The publishing industry will be a big impact on libraries. It also hinges on the consumer. We need to be part of that trend to be part of the future. Staff need to plan programs. Not just what has happened, but something entirely new. E-learning is a great idea working with vendors. Lifelong learning: libraries will be people's university. We are facilitators of learning. Collection management is going to be our one biggest concern. How do we balance media vs. print. We need to be storytellers. 

Political nature of the job- once you accept that you will do a much better job. 60% of the job is dealing with politics. You can broaden the political environment if you do not personalize it. Don't take it personal. You want to be liked, but it is part of a process to believe in what you are doing. You will not please everyone. High tolerance for change. Tolerance for ambiguity. Top down library management is out. Need a bottom up approach. Suggestions coming from the staff can be more accepted than it came from top down. Culture of engagement.

Brian Reynolds, San Luis Obispo County Library Director

You become a really big pebble. What you do or don't do matters. It affects everyone. Need to be compassionate and common-sensical. People are relying on you to be steady. Do you have what it takes to deal with difficult people and stay sane? You have to have that. 

We serve too small of a community. We only serve a small part very well. Need to convince half of the population that we matter. Not to look at just libraries, but also look towards the community.

Acquire and attain good staff. Create working additions that provide that environment. Don't let people know you are doing that. It is a political minefield over time. To improve morale, better to go after the bad staff rather than praise the high achiever. You have to be willing to fix it. 

Rivkah Sass, Sacramento Public Library Director

It's okay to make mistakes. We'll only get better if we make mistakes and own up to them. When you make a mistake, know how to fix it. Admit your mistakes. There are people who will not like you.  She used the Winston Churchill quote, "You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life."

Directors need to be optimistic about libraries. Well-educated community members over 50 are coming in running our programs as volunteers. Embedded community inside our libraries helping us solve community problems. Libraries that will thrive will not be wallpaper. Use our community in ways we never thought of before. It's the talent and skills that our community will give to us. Eureka program is a great harvester of our future. Convergence of community technology and people, with the library as the nexus. The library is the place that will help them learn what they want to learn.

Everyone has a set of strengths. Don't be afraid to hire someone with a skill set that you don't have. Different skill sets make a whole.


Patty Wong, Yolo County Library Director
The Director job is very unstructured. Need to go beyond the MLS. Getting it and being done is not ok. You need to be continually learning. Continue to grow. Need to make connections outside of libraries. Build community through others. You are responsible for your own growth. Go make the world a better place.

Need to be relevant with our own funding. Can't rely on the same resources that we have always relied upon. Find new sources of revenue and new partnerships. Work with local government organizations. Need to be stronger advocates for our diversity in funding. We can influence policy as a neutral organization. Access to information cannot be just through the smart phone. Internet Access is not as universal as we think it is. Libraries need to be at the forefront. Abundance thinking, not scarcity thinking. 

Directors can have same level of importance as politicians and other government officials. You are that important. It's important to know where your money comes from. Leave your ego at the door. You need to have partnering skills. Surround yourself with people who know more than you do. Team building support is necessary. You just need one more person to stand next to you and you have a team. Bridge builders! 

Robert Karatsu, Rancho Cucamonga Library Director
You are ultimately responsible for everything.
Be creative, do new things. Start a program and then let others borrow.   
We can't get in front of the technology. We can't predict the future. Find the right path. 

Libraries are not silos. We need to create relationships. There are always opportunities to partner with other organizations. As Library Director, he is part of the Emergency Operations Center because librarians have those crisis skill sets. 

Librarians Rebooted: ALA 2012

One of the greatest benefits of attending a conference is the encouragement received from other librarians. Currently, most libraries are likely  under so many budget cuts and restrictions that the answer to any new idea is probably "No." Over time, it begins to not only wear on a person, but it discourages innovation. The obvious problem is that we need new innovative ideas now more than ever. We don’t provide better services by cutting; we only do that by innovating.

photo courtesy of Jazzy Wright 

I've spoken at the California Library Association and at Internet Librarian, but it was a special thrill to speak at the American Library Association's Annual Conference. I spoke about our "Job in a Box" program for E-Government in Action - Matching People with Jobs. This is part of our concept "Your Library in More Places" proving that our library can indeed be everywhere, when and where you need it. 




We've been expanding our book machine program for some time. We recently purchased two more machines: the first to be deployed at one of our branch libraries, making it a 24/7 library, and another one near a school, much like our Cutler machine. Because our purchase of the machine was so close to ALA, PIK Inc. asked if they could display our machine in the exhibit hall. It has a new fun design on the side that will hopefully catch the attention of patrons.

Additionally, I participated in the ALA Outreach and Diversity fair for the California State Library's Literacy and Outreach programs. They also highlighted our book machines and other programs to help connect patrons with jobs. 

The opportunity to participate in committee work is another benefit of attending a national conference. I currently serve on the Library Leadership and Management Association (LLAMA) for the Leadership Skills Committee and now also the Human Resources Management Committee. LLAMA is at the forefront of providing programs that will help librarians step into management and leadership roles. To further this goal, LLAMA recently revamped the mentoring program.

National and state conferences contribute to the vitality and development of our profession. Participating in these conferences is beneficial to the individual librarian, but also to the home library and community. This work is invigorating, but one of the keys to maintaining that passion is to find ways to replenish it. Conference is a great way to do that and come charging back with fresh energy! 

A Future of Reading: The Barnes and Noble Nook Check-out Project

We recently launched an e-reader project at our library with great success. Barnes and Noble currently has a program that offers support for libraries thinking about circulating Nooks. I wasn’t aware of this project until last Fall during the California Library Association Conference, at which time I was approached by a Barnes and Noble representative about the program.

The Origin: Sacramento Public Library

I first learned about the Sacramento Public Library’s Nook project as part of the "Great in the State" presentation highlighting ideas that libraries could adopt. I was part of the panel there discussing our "Job in a Box" project and book machines. They were circulating the Barnes and Noble Nook to patrons, pre-loaded with books.

A Different Approach to Circulating E-Readers

Over the past several years, libraries have experimented with checking out e-readers, so the concept itself isn’t new, but having the blessing of the organization certainly is. I remember the “wink, wink” approach from other vendors suggesting that libraries could do that and they won’t say anything, but they won’t offer support.

A surprising aspect of Sacramento's presentation was that they brought their own Barnes and Noble representative and she worked with them every step of the way on their project. I was even more surprised to discover that the rep was looking for me at the conference.

Doing More with Less

We aren’t the wealthiest of libraries, but we do have a very healthy and robust e-book collection. Through her research, the rep found that we had the most e-books per capita, per expenditure in the state of California. In short, even though we didn’t have a lot of money, we still thought e-books were important. And they certainly are. Since the e-reader Christmas of 2010, the demand for e-books in libraries has sky-rocketed. We only launched our collection in June of 2011, but the demand was already there. Heavy promotion of our collection, as well as the Kindle compatibility announcement from Overdrive, led to a significant financial contribution to expand our collection. We are in tune with community demand and therefore, we were in a perfect position to take the next step.

Sacramento has done an excellent job promoting its program. I saw them at CLA, the Edgy Librarian, and more than a few webinars. They have also done an extensive job documenting their project (http://www.saclibrary.org/?pageId=1465) For a library with our resources, we planned to do the stripped down version.

Our Version of Circulating Nooks

We purchased 30 Simple Nook Touches at around $100 each. We also purchased the Nook satchels that Barnes and Noble sells. The complete check-out kit includes: the Nook, a cover for the Nook, a usb cord, power connection, instructions, all placed in the satchel.

The rules for transferring titles to devices is six devices per book. Therefore, we performed the math- 30 Nooks, five genres, six books per Nook. We distributed the project among the collection development librarians responsible for the genre including:  fiction bestsellers, non-fiction bestsellers, romance, mystery, and young adult. The books would have a normal check-out rate with late fee charges and replacement charges consistent with how we check-out similar materials. Those who check-out the Nooks must sign a form stating that they will accept the replacement charge if they break, damage, or lose the device and any of the parts. The project in general cost around $4,000 to run with 30 Nooks. 

Great Press Coverage, Great Success

We plan to expand the program based on its recent success. We also received heavy press attention for the venture. The local ABC News covered the program and we received great coverage in the local paper:

Visalia's Library to offer e-book readers

http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/article/20120517/NEWS01/205170320/Visalia-s-library-offer-e-book-readers?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFrontpage

The Nooks are coming to Tulare County Library

http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/article/20120516/ENTERTAINMENT06/205190308/1040/ENTERTAINMENT

The extensive coverage resulted in all of the Nooks being checked out in the first two days of the program. We announced the open-house program to check-out Nooks for Friday at 2PM. We actually had people lined up as soon as we opened at noon, waiting to get one of our new Nooks! In the first five minutes, all of our Fiction Bestsellers were checked-out and most of our Non-fiction. Saturday morning, all the Nooks were checked-out, a marvelous success. Our next steps will be an assessment from patrons to see if they liked the format, the titles, and how we can improve the program. The general idea for this kind of program is to introduce our community to the future of reading. They have the opportunity to look at the device and see how it works. It also helps us promote our Overdrive e-book service. In utilizing a relatively cheap and easy to use device, a patron can have access to their reading material 24/7, all provided by their local library!

Some brief notes about the Digital Public Library of America West Program #dplawest

 Digital Public Library of America is a vast program attempting to encompass everything from rare archival information to the modern best sellers- all through a single interface that will enfold all human knowledge. A rather ambitious endeavor. A great deal of this is born out of the wreckage of the Google Digitization project that was shut down by the courts due to copyright issues. In order to restart the program, the steering committee is rebooting the program on its own.

There is a good overview of what they want to do in the LA Times Opinion Page:


A universal digital library is within reach
"But the dream of a universal digital library lives on. Now a coalition of libraries and archives has come together to create a Digital Public Library of America to fulfill the original vision of a digital library for all. It could well be that an effort without commerce in the mix will have an easier time of it."

There is also far more thorough overview by Peter Brantley in Publisher's Weekly:
At West Coast Meeting, Digital Public Library of America Begins to Take Shape 



My initial observations after attending DPLA West last week:

The plan is to include everything, even the obscure paper that existed for a few years in a tiny rural community- a problem of unique, but obscure content. Negotiating the copyright to include the big newspapers, as well as modern popular authors, is a legal hurdle.

I was generally heartened about the support for rural libraries. A big problem that I see is that we are not moving fast enough. A lot of private companies want to digitize library content (especially newspapers), with quick and dirty techniques. Using simple OCR techniques is not enough; the text can be found, but the context is lost. We need the metadata and that is what Harvard just recently released.

Coordination strategy is important, but formal process even at the state level is too slow. They don't have the staff or the funds, and neither do local libraries. If we don't get the funds and the staff then how are we going to digitize anything?

If this gets off the ground, we would really have an accurate view of cultural content. Look up a topic and find everything- from web pages and images, to books, archival newspapers, and oral histories. Research that encompasses everything in one search, rather than using different websites for each type of research.

Digitize older books or negotiate for books in copyright; both take time and money. Which one will take priority? New books are sexier, but history is just as essential.

Program had a tough time with the ebook lending aspect. What is available and how is it getting distributed? We do need to get ahead as an organization, otherwise a private group will develop one and we will again be a bottom priority. We need movement on this issue.

This ambitious program faces the chasm and the wall. There is a chasm that represents the lack of digitization of archival materials. Libraries all across the country have such rich cultural collections that need to be scanned and preserved, but there isn't the funds, staff, or equipment to make it happen. There is a wall that represents the big publishers and authors. If we cannot gain the rights for distribution of this content, then not only will this project stall, but it places libraries in jeopardy. There is obviously a lot at stake here. It is an encouraging project despite these facts. DPLA is on the right track and with the right moves it can unleash the kind of service libraries have only dreamed about.

Job in a Box CLA presentation 2011 #calibconf

(I am posting the slides and text from my California Library Association conference presentation. It provides a little more detail from when we unveiled the machine back in June. Feel free to contact me for more information.)

Job in a Box CLA presentation 2011 #calibconf

View more presentations from Jeff Scott

Intro

Good Morning. My name is Jeff Scott and I am the Deputy County Librarian for the Tulare County Library. Our program is about our Job in a Box. This is a $60,000 LSTA project that would place a Brodart Lending Library book machine in the Visalia and Dinuba Workforce Investment Board One Stops. We fill the machines based on feedback from library staff, library circulation statistics, and job coaches at the One Stops.

Pitch an idea

For those unfamiliar with this new way of applying for LSTA grant, I will provide a little background. The program is called Pitch an Idea. Instead of investing the blood, sweat, and tears over a grant that may not get funded, the state library has simplified the process here. You get a notification that these grants are available and you have one week to write up your elevator talk, develop a total cost, and submit that to the state. The State Librarian, with a group of experts, then makes conference calls with questions about your proposal. If you make a compelling case, your project gets funded. I really like this approach since it saves a lot of time for library staff and it’s an opportunity to be very creative.

Inspiration

What inspired the project? This project was actually one of two we submitted to the state library. For those of you familiar with Pub-Lib Robert Balliot you may recognize the phrase, "There’s a Book for That." That was actually the title of our other project that we had submitted. The idea behind that was that we would place a machine in community centers around the city with a focus on that center’s purpose. For instance, if there was an Art Museum or non-profit center, we would place a machine in there and create a collection based on the users needs. If it is a history museum, we would place a machine in there and have materials relating to museum displays. Lastly, we included Work Investment Board One Stops. After carefully considering the work that would be involved in placing several of these machines in the city and throughout the county all at once, we decided to focus on the biggest need, job assistance.

Segway to partnership

Last year, the State Librarian’s office held a conference to help library directors collaborate with their local Workforce Investment Boards. The Department of Labor had recently instructed their local boards to work with their local community specifically targeting libraries.

De-facto job centers

For many years, libraries have acted as de-facto job centers. We help with resumes, set-up email addresses, and navigate an often complicated online application process. Even though we often receive no recognition (monetarily speaking anyway) for these efforts, it has become particularly critical for libraries to take on this role during our recent recession. We are the safe place to forage in this harsh winter of recession.

Funding

The biggest objective for a library to build a partnership with the Workforce Investment Board is funding. When you turn on the news and you hear about job bills that are trying to get pushed through Congress, much of that funding is going to your local Workforce Investment Board. Most of the money that they receive is distributed to partners in the area. Adult Literacy and Job Assistance are two of the key sources of funding. The key to receiving funding is to partner with WIB and put yourself in a position to receive distributed funds. One of the key aspects is to find out more about how your local WIB operates.

Libraries and WIBs are Similar     

WIBs and Libraries work in a very similar fashion. If you were to enter a facility and ask for job services, you would fill out an application, and then be whisked to a computer center. These centers look just like computers in libraries. Some examples:

Computer Labs

There are no time restrictions in the WIB centers. They can actually be there all day on the computers. It’s interesting how reversed this concept can be. Even though a library computer lab does not have to have a specific mission, a WIB center obviously does, yet you can get completely unrestricted time. Customers can go in the center and not do one bit of resume writing or job searching. Furthermore, there isn’t anyone on the floor to help them with the computers. Typically, there is just a security guard available. A typical WIB center doesn’t receive funding to provide this service, therefore, support is minimal. And you wondered why you receive so many job seekers at your computer labs; you are the only one there to help them in your communities.

Job Coaches

Most of the steps taken by serious customers involve Job Keys, Job Coaches, and Placement. A customer comes in and asks for job services. The customer is brought over to the computers and takes a job keys test. This makes an assessment of their abilities. If their abilities are below what the One Stop can support, they can refer the person to other services. Often, the library will see those people who don’t make that cut as they may require literacy skills or someone that can provide technology training that WIB doesn’t provide. Those that possess necessary skills are passed onto job coaches. Job coaches work with the customer to find out more about what the customer needs. If they possess the right set of skills, they can more likely be placed. Those successfully placed at a job provide the revenue for One Stops.

Where WIB makes its money?

One Stops make their money on placement. How many of the unemployed can they find jobs for? They do this very well. For example, a recent grocery store chain Vallarta came into town needing employees. WIB already had the names and abilities of people that would fit right into the job on their rolls. They established the interviews in their facility and helped with all the paperwork. The grocery store was able to get up and running far more quickly with their help rather than having to do all of the work, the advertisement, the placement all themselves.

How do libraries fit in?

Libraries can fit into the funding cycle by searching for ways to partner. The local WIB in Tulare County has an Employment Connect Council that coordinates all job training efforts in the county. CSET, Proteus, and other private contractors all go to this meeting and report. They also get many of the magnets to come in and give a talk about what they are looking for in employees. We were able to become part of this council and talked about our computer classes, literacy programs, and job seeking assistance efforts. After this meeting that the State Librarian coordinated, we got a seat at the table and began discussions on how we can partner.

Gaining a Foothold

One way the library could integrate itself into the One Stop service flow was by providing resources at critical junctures. When a customer came in, the ones that have the highest potential for getting a job are provided a job coach. This person provides guidance and resources. The library can play a very strong role here by providing the needed resource. In the past, we had tried office hours (providing a staff person available to answer questions and help with library services), but we wanted something that had smaller staff time and higher impact. Job coaches often refer their clients to book resources. What better place to get that resource than at the library? However, an easier way to go about it was to provide the books at the point of need. They may make referral to us, but that doesn’t mean we will see that person. This is how we decided on using the Brodart Lending Library book machine inside the One Stops.

Previous Experience

We have had previous experience with these book machines. Last year, we were awarded a United States Department of Agriculture grant to provide library services in poor rural areas. We used the lending library and placed it in the small town of Cutler near a school. The circulation on the machine by children was more than we could have possibly hoped for. The first day we had the machine, the books were almost entirely cleared out. We decided that we can use this as a model to expand future library services with minimal staff impact.

One Stops

We decided to place the machines in the Visalia and Dinuba One Stops. We decided on those two since out of the four One Stops in the county, these were the only two that were run by our library (Porterville and Tulare libraries are run by the city, but there is still potential to partner with them to expand the book machines there).

What needed to be accomplished

The many problems with this plan were manifest. We could place a book machine in the one stops, but who would choose the books? What would happen if they didn’t have a library card? What are all the obstacles that we could face? Furthermore, how could we encourage One Stop Customers to be full library patrons if they didn’t have to come to the library to get materials? What cross training was needed for WIB and library staff so that we can know what we both do?

Our plan was to coordinate the unveiling of these machines with a program that was paid for through the state grant. The grant would pay for cross training of both WIB and Library staff. Furthermore, Paul Clayton, a popular motivational speaker for One Stops, was hired to have the kick-off program in April of this year. Our main problem was how to solve these operational problem between February and April.

The Collection

What material would go in the machine? The library already had a strong test collection that includes GED, ASVAB, and SAT prep, but we had to research the most popular items that would be most beneficial for job seekers.

We surveyed our reference librarians and ran circulation statistics in the areas of 658 (business), 373 (secondary school) as well as other areas. We also asked WIB staff, particularly the job coaches, what type of books we should have. The result was a list of over 300 titles.

The problem that we encountered with this was that even though the machine could hold 300 titles, we wanted to focus on a core list and purchase duplicate copies inside the machine. That way, there isn’t a title that is missed. As you can see from the machine, you can only see what is in the front row of the machine. In the case of job help, it’s difficult to recommend a book if it is buried in the back.

Some example titles would be What color is your parachute?, How to write better resumes, 48 days to the work you love, GED, high school equivalency exam and How to prepare for the ASVAB.

Even as we filled the machine, job coaches approached us on what we were missing. Many of their customers were veterans recently returned from their tour of duty. We ending up purchasing books on how to adjust to civilian life after a tour of duty and what to do next.

Some interesting problems with the collection I will describe in detail later on. One of which was a misunderstanding at one of the one-stops about what should go in the machine. While we had agreed on workforce books, she had thought we should put childrens picture books in the machine. More on that later.

Issuing Cards

Another issue that we had to tackle was what if customers weren’t library patrons. Sure the books were there, but if there is no way to get a library card, then they are useless. After cross training WIB staff we described the problem. Staff were willing to provide library card applications since they often need customers to fill out paperwork. However, they did not have access to our database so it could not be activated in real time. What to do?

Our plan was to create dummy cards that were created with names like OneStop1 so that the WIB staff would have a live card that would work on the machine. WIB staff would issue the card, connect the library card number with the paperwork and fax the paperwork in. We would then create the patron. This worked exceeding well and helped accomplish another goal of the project, getting more One Stop customers to become full-time library patrons and realize all the library had to offer. We also saw a dramatic change in perspective in regard to the library.

Surveys

We conducted a pre-survey of WIB customers and their perception of the library. We asked them how often they used the library, what did they think of when they thought of the library, and what would make the library easier to use. What we found in the survey results was that the more people used the library, the more they saw the library as other than a repository for books. After three months with the machine in place, we reversed the perception as more WIB customers became library patrons. Whereas only 18% saw the library as a place to get books in the pre-survey, 75% saw the library as a place for job resources and computers after the survey. Even though, ironically, we found a way to integrate library services into the One Stop using library books. Customers found something tangible right in front of them and once they see a small aspect of what they could do, they wanted to see all the could do. Getting a library card at a WIB One stop resulted in more customers becoming full library patrons and utilizing all of our services.

Caveats

Some things to keep in mind in regards to the machine. The machine can hold up to 300 books at one time. Providing a variety of books in each row will only block the books behind the front book. It’s important to try to find a small selection of the most needed books and provide multiple copies of them. Some of these books can be quite heavy as well. An entire row of a heavy GED book may end up straining the coiling system on the machine. Sometimes it is necessary to use every other slot in placing the books or using two different rows. The Brodart Lending Library can be used with or without a connection to your catalog. If you choose to connect it, there can be issues with the SIP connection dropping that can leave the machine inoperable. We chose to leave the machine offline so any transactions are stored on the local computer inside the machine. The information can be retrieved and then uploaded to our catalog. This can even be done remotely with an internet connection. We haven’t had any issues with authentication, but using the machine in a different environment can lead to some minor problems. Even if you choose to not connect the machine to the Catalog, you will still need an internet connection to the device so that the manufacters at PicInk can trouble shoot or re-boot the machine if necessary. It’s easier to make a connection inside a facility with an internet connection as the One Stops do have. However, even in a remote environment, a sprint card can be enough of a connection to troubleshoot issues with the machine.

You should also look into moving the collection around to add more books and take out ones that aren’t moving. This isn’t necessarily a hot check-out spot since the collection is very specific as is the clientele. We don’t need to check on the machine more than once a month as circulation is low. We check-out around 10-20 books a month at each location.  

Lastly, it’s important to have all One Stop Center coordinators on the same page. Whereas we felt we were clear about what we were doing with the committee that was formed with Library and WIB staff, some people misunderstood. We had a complaint from the Dinuba facility about the collection. We had first thought that maybe the machine wasn’t working properly or we had the wrong books in place. It turns out that she had expected regularly library books, particularly children’s picture books. We explained that the machine was for workforce development materials. She still insisted on getting children’s books and actually tried to work up several rungs on the administration ladder (both up and down) to change this. This kind of issue ties back with general WIB management. While most One Stops are dedicated to providing services to the unemployed, others are not so vigilant about what customers do on their computers (in some cases booking their cruise) and therefore, would prefer to have just general library books in the machines. A further point, an ironic one at that, was that the One Stop was only three blocks from the library branch.

The Results

In the end, we changed the perception WIB customers had of our libraries. We also changed the perspective of WIB staff and administration. Our partnership was highlighted both in the Library’s and the Workforce Investment Board’s annual reports. This partnership now puts us in a position to partner with WIB for future grant projects whenever another Jobs bill is passed. Furthermore, the project in of itself has generated more publicity for the library. It has demonstrated innovative thinking in tough economic times. Furthermore, it’s generated enough interest from our foundation to warrant using the machines for a fundraising campaign entitled "Your Library in More Places". There are many underserved rural areas in Tulare County and we could use these to quickly deliver service that is more reliable and more available than a bookmobile stop. We hope to see these pop up all over the county in the coming few years.