Presentations

• Siobhan Riordan – State of the Library
• Elizabeth Fitzgerald – Culinary Literacy
• Andrew Nurkin – Enrichment & Civic Engagement
• Shara Pollie – Development & Fundraising
• Sara Moran – Strategic Planning
• Miriam Holzman-Lipsitz and Tanya Rios – Friends and Advocacy

• Siobhan Riordan, director of The Free Library of Philadelphia and her team of leaders provide inspirational and relevant presentations on how that library engages with the communities in Philadelphia. The topics included: Enrichment and Civic Engagement, Developing & Fundraising, Strategic Planning, Culinary Literacy, and Friends & Advocacy.

Tania Rios explains how the library provides space and support for challenged communities such as the Puerto Rican community after the devastation wrought by Hurricane Maria last year.

Liz Fitzgerald providing a presentation on the value of a kitchen within a library – “Cooking is a vehicle for learning”
-science and math literacy
-historical and cultural literacy
-nutritional health literacy

Libraries are the heart of community just like the kitchen is the heart
of a home.

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With his signature wit and timing, Phil Bowermaster provides insight into issues which affect us all as we travel through life in an environment of accelerating change.

Phil’s program was presented in two parts: Part 1: Accelerating Times, and Part 2: Facing Reality. The presentation included break-out sessions where the attendees had the opportunity to discuss their thoughts and concerns about their libraries’ futures over such discussion questions of: ‘What new and emerging capabilities do libraries need most?’ ‘How have libraries served as a resource for post-scarcity up to now and how can they do so in the future?’, and ‘Should libraries focus on helping people to build a better reality?’

A big take-away from the workshop is that although the future is uncertain, we need to do our best to be ready for the next big developments. Another take-away is that we can look at scarcity and changes in the ways we’ve always done things and turn them around to become benefits/abundances. Change gives us opportunities to excel in a different way.

To track future trends, Phil recommends the following news sites: Boing Boing, Wall Street Journal, The World Transformed, Gizmodo, io9, The Speculist

The challenge for each of us going forward… will be to anticipate as best as possible what might happen, to work on shaping what we can in a positive way and to be nimble enough to change direction as the situation warrants.

The complete Power Point presentation can be found at:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/14WFg4Vew2eO33L7IOafvsPZfr6oSDP8O/view
Pleased be advised that this file is very large and may require additional IT support.

To view the handout materials click Acceleration Inventory

The introduction of an important theme: 

The future is unfolding at an ever accelerating pace which creates uncertainty. However, the world can change for the better if we give issues the attention they need.

                   Provocative images from the Power Point presentation

                  Group Discussion and Lunch at the Monmouth County Library 

                                            
Rakia Reynolds bringing great speaking style and energy to her presentation.

Explaining “the blocks to build your brand.” Right.

Rakia helped guide the leaders through important steps in branding and storytelling in order to promote the librarians as well as the library. Helpful suggestions included remembering the Who? What? When? Where? and Whys? of your story. Who are you and what do you do?

Other expert advice: Add CRED in your ‘Elevator Pitch.’

• C = Clarify & Communicate
• R = Repetition – Repeat important words and phrases
• E = Energize & Employ your Expertise – Cross promote
• D = Distill – Extract information and concentrate your plan

Be sure to define your brand message before you begin marketing.
Don’t wing it!

      
Rachel Burt, Aaron Pickett, Keisha Miller and Catherine Folk-Pushee participate in a Brand Storytelling exercise.

Rakia entertaining questions with Peggy Cadigan. Mary Ellen Rogan, C.L. Quillen and Eric Schwarz. Far left.

Dale Colston with Rakia Reynolds

To access Rakia’s presentation click here.
To access the Elevator Pitch Worksheet click here.

Seth Turner offers first-hand knowledge and advice on Library Advocacy with his presentation, ‘Communicating with your Legislator: What Works and What Doesn’t.’

People want to get engaged and involved. People are doing it all wrong.

Karin Finnegan participates in Key Storytelling Elements exercise.

To access Seth’s presentation click here Advocacy Training-Storytelling.

Dr Hughes provides his trademark wit along with
expert demographic data at 4th session of Leadership
Academy

New Jersey takes lead as state of wealth and diversity, and is considered quite strong with its transportation infrastructure

Technology plus millennials are causing a perfect storm

Danielle Haubrich with Christine Nemphos (Left),  Amy Atzert with Dr Hughes, and Elizabete Pata with Lynn Mazur

To access James Hughes’s presentation click here

Kristin Fontichiaro begins her presentation on Understanding Community
Needs and shares helpful ideas on how to look at data. Be sure to review her favorite websites for gathering data in the Community Needs Workshop below.

Data is not a dictator. Data is a flashlight illuminating corners
you may not have seen.

Data Sharing exercise below

  A casual moment: Kristin explains where Ann Arbor is located

To access Kristin’s Community Needs Workshop click here