I first heard the phrase "don't waste a good crisis" from Joey Rodger at the 2009 PaLA Annual Conference. The concept, however, isn't "new" for us. It is one that Michael Kumer used in the board training sessions. He asked boards/directors to list their current obstacle; then he asked them to brainstorm why it is a positive thing for the library. Amazing the answers that were brainstormed. He would fill an entire flipsheet page of "positives" from just one "negative".
That is what we are doing with the regional one-card network. Making lemonade from lemons.
If you live in a cave and haven't noticed, things aren't "great" for libraries. Not here in PA; not elsewhere in the country. The most recent American Libraries Direct mentions branch closings and layoffs for Charlotte-Mecklenburg (NC), Dallas (TX) and Illinois's nine library cooperative. The city of Los Angeles anounced major budget cuts for their library as well. Google "library budgets cuts" and scan the amount of posts for 2009 and 2010. Staggering! This really IS the best time for libraries to "regroup", "reinvent" and "restructure". In other words, make the most of the crisis.
As we move forward with our regional one-card project, we have set aside May (and some of June) to visit every library board in the region. The goals being to "inform"; discuss the "importance" of such a project; "instill" posibilities & enthusiasm; and most importantly to "involve" them in the bigger picture. To get everyone "in-tune"; singing the same song. Unity!
The "wig" brand and the regional network are a "proactive vision". And, as pointed out to me by a district library director "Vision cannot be taught. It is something you either have or you don't." So, what do we do about the library board members that don't have "vision"? Michael Kumber taught us that our board meetings are to be about "the future". Not the present;and, not the past, but looking ahead--the vision. Take another look at your board meetings. Are you creating a map for going forward; or, are you stuck in the same old ruts?
Those of us visiting and presenting at the board meetings can definitely tell which boards or individual board members "lack vision". Yes, we will now know "who you are". So, now would be a perfect time to "reevaluate" your board; recruit new members who have vision and reach high setting lofty goals.
One of the best comments (so far) from the board visits was made by the Donora board. They made it clear that "our library is here to stay, and we're doing whatever it takes to make that happen."
So ask yourself, is your library board making lemonade?
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