What do patrons think are the important factors in the success of your library? Funded by an LSTA grant, the Researching Communities to Prepare for the Future study interviewed over 140 residents in 15 communities across Illinois, to discover what communities want from their libraries in the future. In this What’s New @ WJIL you can learn from the results, read the Community reports and train your staff on the top 6 factors for a successful public library.
Contents: Resources | Courses and Learning | Community | What could I do with…? | What’s New RSS Feed 
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Resources
Researching Communities to Prepare for the Future: Final Report
- The focus of this study was to find competencies which would help public libraries to be successful. This was accomplished by compiling a list of 25 important service competencies in four general categories (See Appendix A). Partner libraries were recruited (See Appendix B) from around the state, and researchers went to their communities and talked to people. The Q Method was used to ask community members to rank the competencies and emerged with three important groups of library users as well as competencies generally important to them all.
- Path: [Library Management » Customer Service & Interpersonal Skills » Researching Communities to Prepare for the Future (IL)]
Community Reports for Participating Libraries
- Completed Community Reports in PDF format for Arlington Heights, Barcley Warrensburg, Bartlett, Belleville, Bloomington, Edwardsville, Effingham, Galesburg, Mason City, Nokomis, Palatine, Pinkneyville, Rochester, Salem.
- Path: [Library Management » Customer Service & Interpersonal Skills » Researching Communities to Prepare for the Future (IL)]
Preliminary Q Data Report Researching Communities Project
- A short overview of the results from the Researching Communities. The report includes the three patron groups that developed from the survey results.
- Path: [Library Management » Customer Service & Interpersonal Skills » Researching Communities to Prepare for the Future (IL)]
- In easy to print card format, these are the 25 competencies used in the Researching Communities project. They can be printed at your desk on standard business card paper.
- Path: [Library Management » Customer Service & Interpersonal Skills » Researching Communities to Prepare for the Future (IL)]
Courses and Learning
Following the completion of the study training was developed by researchers to assist other libraries with the development of the top 6 identified characteristics of a successful library. Each training module consists of an archived online session and accompanying ppt.
1. Library Staff who are Friendly and Knowledgeable
- During the study we learned that patrons and residents want a friendly, knowledgeable library staff. This training course provides ways for staff to refamiliarize themselves with building job skills, handling conflict and presenting a positive attitude. Directors and supervisors might want to use this course to guide discussion during staff development training..
2. Ease of Finding Information
- Patrons want the independence of locating and using library material on their own. This training course provides ways for staff to relook at the library to see how the library highlights its services, Directors and supervisors might want to use this course to guide discussion during staff development training.
3. Library as a Safe Place for Kids and Teens
- Patron safety, especially for children and young adults, was an expressed concern during the study interviews. This training course provides ways for staff to familiarize themselves with both physical and cyber safety, additionally disaster planning is reviewed. Directors and supervisors might want to use this course to guide discussion during staff development training.
4. Cultural Programs and Exhibits
- Patrons want their library to be at the cultural center of the community with programs and exhibits. This training course encourages staff develop programs highlighting the cultural diversity of the community and region. Directors and supervisors might want to use this course to guide discussion during staff development training.
- Patrons of all ages are concerned their library does not offer services and programs for impaired patrons. Often, the interviewed resident didn’t know the services the library was already offering. This training course provides ways for staff to refamiliarize themselves with serving impaired patrons, and promoting the library’s services. Directors and supervisors might want to use this course to guide discussion during staff development training.
6. Web 2.0
- Residents looks to their library to be experts in all things, but especially technology. Web 2.0 was not originally a competency, but quickly became a topic in the study interviews. This training course provides ways for staff to become familiar with various technologies being used by patrons and libraries. Directors and supervisors might want to use this course to guide discussion during staff development training.
Community
- Use this template for creating your own community report based on the structure and analysis of the Researching Communities project.
- Share your thoughts and ideas about the research and training by clicking on the Discussion tabs on each page.
What Could I do with…Researching Communities to Prepare for the Future
The research from Researching Communities to Prepare for the Future allows Illinois public libraries to determine future library services and focuses. This is the first known library study to use the Q-Method, a research technique to study the viewpoint of participants.
Prepare your library staff for the future by utilizing the training developed as a part of this research. Take the time during staff meetings to view the archived online sessions, or ask your staff to view the training on their own and then discuss as a part of a staff development day.
I was recently at a seminar about growing a church and the comment was made that not only did the building need to be be handicapped accessible, but the signage and/or websites needed to show this in a very visible manner.