The Relevant Library

At a time when libraries are no longer the leading proprietors of information, many library professionals find themselves rethinking their purpose. In this collection of new essays, contributors share their experiences and ideas for keeping libraries integral to changing communities.
Innovative approaches and best practices are discussed for strategic planning, packaging, branding and marketing, funding issues, physical spaces, collection needs and trends, partnerships, programming and services, professional education, and staffing.

Vera Gubnitskaia has worked as a library manager, consultant, and reference librarian in public and academic libraries in Russia and the United States. During her career as a writer and editor, she contributed chapters to several professional publications, edited multiple anthologies, and published book reviews. She is currently an art fellow at Crealde School in Winter Park, Florida.
A Michigan resident, Carol Smallwood has practiced in school, public and special libraries. Her primary interest is practical librarianship, and she is the author of journal articles and editor of numerous books.

Edited by Vera Gubnitskaia and Carol Smallwood
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 298
Bibliographic Info: 20 photos, bibliographies, index
Copyright Date: 2018
pISBN: 978-1-4766-7029-4
eISBN: 978-1-4766-3317-6
Imprint: McFarland

Foreword (Scott Walter) 1
Preface
Vera Gubnitskaia and Carol Smallwood 3
Part I. Enhancing Partnerships
Orchestrating Collaborations: A Systematic Approach to Gaining Campus Allies (Jamillah ­Scott-Branch, Vernice Riddick Faison
and Danielle M. ­Colbert-Lewis) 5
Getting Things to POP: How Collaboration, Umbrellas and Popcorn Machines Changed the Relevancy of the Auburn University at Montgomery Library (Jessica B. Hayes, Samantha Lynn McNeilly and Phill Johnson) 14
An Academic Library Partnering with TRiO SSS to Increase Student Success (Carrie Girton, Krista McDonald and Jamie E. Viars) 23
Part II. Reevaluating Collections
Paradox in Resource Development and Knowledge Organization: Negation of the Negation (Hong Cheng) 31
Open Educational Resources: Why Libraries Are Incentivizing Open Content Creation, Curation and Adaptation (Stacy Katz) 39
Digitizing the Community Monthly Newspaper (Matt Cook) 47
Redefining Collections: Circulating Kits for Playing and Making
(Jezmynne Dene and Holly Jackson) 53
Leaving a Legacy for 21st-Century Learners (Margaret Lincoln) 61
Part III. Redefining Information and Digital Needs
The Need for Digital Coaches in USVI Public Libraries Anita Davis 71
Integrating ICT Literacy Through OERs (Lesley S.J. Farmer) 78
Collaborating with Campus Partners to Promote User Cyber Security
Awareness (Theresa R. McDevitt, Stephanie A. ­Taylor-Davis and Sara Parme) 88
A Research Librarian in Every Pocket: Research Genius (Ben Rawlins and Andrew Adler) 97
Innovating for the Changing Demographics of Students and Faculty Around the World Through Information Literacy Webinars (Emily Scharf, Judy Geczi and Jodie L. Borgerding) 103
Part IV. Expanding Creativity
Leveraging State Arts Funding to Promote Literary Events in Libraries
Mira Tanna) 111
African American GLAM in Missouri: Creating Successful Art Programming—Incubator Space at a Historically Black College Academic Library (Kymberly Keeton) 119
Sounding Out: Texas Tech Libraries’ Crossroads Recording Studio, a Creative Process Service (Curtis L. Peoples and Kaley Daniel) 126
Makerspace/Cakerspace: Making Space for the Makerspace at a Community College (Susannah Kopecky) 134
Part V. Emphasizing Data Gathering
A New Approach to Space Planning in Libraries: The Image + Text Survey (Rebecca Barham, Caroline Hallman and Mary Ann Venner) 141
Using Data Strategically to Optimize Library Planning and Impact
(Lesley S.J. Farmer) 150
Action Research, Effective Communication and Your Library Program
(Rebecca Marcum Parker) 159
Part Vi. Extending Accessibility
Opening Community Dialog with Wisdom Cafés (Wendy Pender) 169
Diversity and Inclusion: Libraries as Accessible Places of Learning
(JJ Pionke, Anna Ercoli Schnitzer and P.F. Anderson) 179
Becoming a ­Dementia-Friendly Library (Mary Beth Riedner, Karen Maki and Miriam Anderson Lytle) 187
Part VII. Rethinking the Environment
The Sky’s the Limit: Providing ­E-Book Access to Airport Travelers
(Kim Becnel and Karen Pate Moore) 195
Sustaining Community Gathering Places and Useful Work Spaces
(Heather Terrell) 202
Learning Commons in Action: Connecting Innovative Learning Outcomes to the Library (Brittney Thomas) 209
Rebranding the Library Environment (Megan Mac Gregor) 217
Part Viii. Transforming Programming
Public Libraries Helping Patrons with Legal Needs: Virtual Pro Se Clinic of Colorado (Deborah Hamilton) 225
Family Engagement at the Library: Bringing Families Together to Learn, Grow and Have Fun (Sara Roberts and Rebekah Mitchell) 234
Research and Retreat: Stress Relief in Libraries (Kristen R. Moore) 241
Part IX. Boosting Professional Enrichment
Eight Tips on Creating a Diversity Committee: What to Do?
(Vandella Brown) 249
Public Library Rx: Adapting the Residency Experience (Dawn Coppin and Cindy Mediavilla) 258
“Yes, and!” Using the Rules of Improv to Improve Library Service
(Amanda D. McKay) 266
Libraries as Catalysts for Service Engagement (KT Lowe, Ann Tobin and Frances Yates) 271
About the Contributors 279
Index 285

• “Highlight[s] the many ways in which librarians engage with their dynamic and diverse user populations…chapters provide insight into various libraries’ strategies to stay relevant”—Library Journal
• “Erudite and invaluably informative…recommended”—Midwest Book Review
• “Presents the latest creative innovations to offer library users the most up-to-date services from technology through data gathering to access and programming.”—Aline Soules, California State University
• “Every great innovation starts with an idea. Learn how libraries transformed their idea into reality with this practical guide to library services.”—Danielle King, Orange County Library System; “A great resource for non-librarian educators who support readers and lifelong learners of all ages.”—Catherine Hiles, WUCF TV, Central Florida PBS
• “Frank and relevant with ideas not only cutting-edge but practical, too.”—Nicole Heintzelman, Winter Park Public Library; “Librarians looking for innovative ideas concerning collections, outreach, programming, and space will definitely find plenty of inspiration in this practical book.”—Giovanna Badia, Liaison Librarian, McGill University.