Comments on: Lessons from the City of Champions http://yalsa.ala.org/blog/2009/06/17/lessons-from-the-city-of-champions/ The official blog of the Young Adult Library Services Association Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:29:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Joseph Wilk http://yalsa.ala.org/blog/2009/06/17/lessons-from-the-city-of-champions/comment-page-1/#comment-10778 Joseph Wilk Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:31:06 +0000 http://yalsa.ala.org/blog/?p=4821#comment-10778 Thanks, Emily! You are correct. Point #1 is definitely a contentious one open to discussion, especially when I believe that some of the key tenets of library services are what you just described: to be reflective, responsive, and inclusive of just about everyone you could conceivably be serving at any point in time. I definitely tried to temper that message with some qualifications and a warning that by no means should building a lasting "culture" (or attitude, core tenet, or however we should interpret that word) make you inflexible in the actual services or infrastructure you provide. Pittsburgh has remained the "Steel City" without having a steel infrastructure for decades. This is similar to how I imagine the Ann Arbor District Library (aadl.org) to be the "Gaming Library" despite it offering far more than that. My feeling is that if a library is struggling to appeal to a broad base, it can try remaking its image to a specific message to attract teens who might not feel inspired by an amorphous entity. For example, I am thinking of the NBA. It's a league with a very distinct, star-driven mentality with a simple message: "Where amazing happens." That library could mimic that by focusing on its own circulation and library "stars" and the message "Where reading happens." A lot of teens like to feel "part of something," whatever that may be, and a clear message and attitude lets them do just that. It's definitely not for every library, but something to consider if all else fails. Thanks, Emily! You are correct. Point #1 is definitely a contentious one open to discussion, especially when I believe that some of the key tenets of library services are what you just described: to be reflective, responsive, and inclusive of just about everyone you could conceivably be serving at any point in time. I definitely tried to temper that message with some qualifications and a warning that by no means should building a lasting “culture” (or attitude, core tenet, or however we should interpret that word) make you inflexible in the actual services or infrastructure you provide. Pittsburgh has remained the “Steel City” without having a steel infrastructure for decades. This is similar to how I imagine the Ann Arbor District Library (aadl.org) to be the “Gaming Library” despite it offering far more than that.

My feeling is that if a library is struggling to appeal to a broad base, it can try remaking its image to a specific message to attract teens who might not feel inspired by an amorphous entity. For example, I am thinking of the NBA. It’s a league with a very distinct, star-driven mentality with a simple message: “Where amazing happens.” That library could mimic that by focusing on its own circulation and library “stars” and the message “Where reading happens.” A lot of teens like to feel “part of something,” whatever that may be, and a clear message and attitude lets them do just that. It’s definitely not for every library, but something to consider if all else fails.

]]> By: Emily http://yalsa.ala.org/blog/2009/06/17/lessons-from-the-city-of-champions/comment-page-1/#comment-10775 Emily Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:05:41 +0000 http://yalsa.ala.org/blog/?p=4821#comment-10775 what a cute post! i'm not sure i agree with #1 but i see what you're getting at. i'd rather market the library as a reflection of the communitys recreational and educational desires. whatever the teens want the library to be (what we lend and what programs we put on) that's what the library should be (in reason, of course). we are an amoeba, in constant adaptaion to the ebb and flow of the town/neighborhood/institution that we serve! flexibility, my friend. not to say that there aren't some standard, core bulwarks that do not change - promotion of literacy, esl classes, etc what a cute post!

i’m not sure i agree with #1 but i see what you’re getting at. i’d rather market the library as a reflection of the communitys recreational and educational desires. whatever the teens want the library to be (what we lend and what programs we put on) that’s what the library should be (in reason, of course). we are an amoeba, in constant adaptaion to the ebb and flow of the town/neighborhood/institution that we serve! flexibility, my friend. not to say that there aren’t some standard, core bulwarks that do not change – promotion of literacy, esl classes, etc

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