Category Archives: Big Ideas

OMG! We got a JCD!

Posted on May 7, 2013 by

Recently, I received two great phone calls within a few weeks of each other.  The first was from Chapel Hill, NC, offering me the position of director at the Chapel Hill Public Library. The second was from the John Cotton Dana … Continue reading →

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Social Media on the Move – Part 1

Posted on January 8, 2013 by

As a $19 million renovation and expansion project begins, my library – Lawrence Public Library – is in the process of moving into temporary headquarters.  We are closed for two weeks while we move our collections and offices into – … Continue reading →

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Reader’s Advisory Goes Graphic!

Posted on August 13, 2012 by

No, this is not a post about 50 Shades of Grey or graphic novels.  This is a post about the power of graphic images to replace words and convey information in a fresh, interesting, and relevant way. This flowchart made the rounds this summer.  … Continue reading →

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Putt-ing the Fun in Library Fundraiser

Posted on May 10, 2012 by

As with many public libraries these days, Lawrence Public Library is not a quiet place with shushing librarians and silent stacks. But for one weekend every year, things get really crazy with the Lawrence Public Library Foundation’s Caddy Stacks Mini … Continue reading →

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Three Reasons to Love World Book Night

Posted on April 30, 2012 by

It’s 11:00 pm on Monday night.  This time last week, I was cruising the main drag in town with two colleagues, passing out copies of Ender’s Game, chatting up folks of all stripes, and hoisting a pint with many of … Continue reading →

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Top Five Take Aways from PLA

Posted on March 28, 2012 by

PLA 2012 in Philly was a great one - a conference that revealed the hard work and innovative thinking of librarians around the country and the world.  It’s taken me a week to recover!  I went to a great preconference, saw some amazing … Continue reading →

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Taking the Temperature of a Capital Campaign

Posted on February 29, 2012 by

Fundraising thermometers are almost always presented literally as thermometers, often painted on sturdy plywood and posted at a busy intersection or campus gateway.  When a fundraising milestone is met, the thermometer is filled up to that point, a process that is repeated until the … Continue reading →

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