One of my favorite things about the MN Library Assoc. (MLA) conference is the opportunity to hear what other libraries are doing around the state and to bring those ideas back home and tweak them to fit our community and library spaces.
This year I learned about:
– the old Viking craft of lucet, which involves using a fork-like prong to weave cord. As a bonus, the presenter handed out a few lucet tools that they had made on their 3-D printer. We have a local Society for Creative Anachronism, and they are interested in having a class on this technique
– “welcome” totebags given to new members in the community who come in to get library cards. The totes are made by volunteers at a crafting session and then filled with local and library info. Two programs in one!
– a group exercise on finding similarities among disparate items to encourage teamwork in preparation for a trip to the moon and beyond. Will come in useful for next summer’s program theme!
– how to share your vision and passion with community members and local businesses. Ask what you can do for them.
– holding teens to a high standard of behavior. If they chose to misbehave and need to leave, then always, always say you’ll see them next time, that they are welcome the next day or program.
– podcasts are a useful tool for staff development. I’m not quite ready to jump in, but the equipment is not cost-prohibitive, so I feel more empowered to give it a try. Soonish.
Thanks again to Prairielands for funding my attendance at this year’s MLA conference. I’ve been to several previous conferences, so this time it was also a pleasure and privilege to introduce a newer staff member to the conference and all she could get out of it. Having Prairielands’ support was the only way this would have been possible!
