Small libraries can do BIG things!

Welcome to our Twitter Chat. We are talking about small libraries doing big things today! #mclschat

Welcome to our guest @CaptainchrisD from the Williamsport, IN Public Library! #mclschat

@mclsorg @CaptainchrisD Thanks Michelle and MCLS for hosting this. #mclschat

Welcome to everyone else. Tell us who you are and where you are tweeting from! #mclschat

Anne from Mount Pleasant #mclschat

@anneheathen Greetings #mclschat

Stephanie from Houghton Lake. Hi! #mclschat

@stephanie1839 Hi! #mclschat

MeL here in Lansing at Library of Michigan - hi all! #mclschat

Ann from Eaton Rapids MI #mclschat

Anna* #mclschat

@AnnaZichiCurtis Hi Anna! #mclschat

@meldotorg Hey There! #mclschat

We'll be asking @CaptainchrisD questions, but jump in anytime with your own thoughts or questions. #mclschat

Q1. Tell us a little about your library. How small are you? #mclschat

@mclsorg Budget of 202,000, staff size of 6, population served 2,280; #mclschat

@mclsorg A1. there are no stop lights in the county, 1 high school and three elementary. #mclschat

How many of those 6 are full time? #mclschat

@AnnaZichiCurtis Only two. #mclschat

a1 three very small libraries serving approx 1500 people, 3 FT staff members #mclschat

@anneheathen I know how that is. #mclschat

@mclsorg A1. We do have four contracts with other townships which take us to around 3,600 patrons. #mclschat

Q2. What are some of the challenges that small libraries face? #mclschat

@mclsorg A2. Budget constraints are always an issue #mclschat

@mclsorg A2. affects programs and materials same goes for limited staffing. #mclschat

A2 staff spread very thin, limited budget #mclschat

@mclsorg A2. It’s often hard to get out of the library to do programs or outreach, even attending prof dev sessions. #mclschat

(That's one reason I like these twitter chats so much!) #mclschat

@anneheathen I totally understand. #mclschat

@CaptainchrisD :) #MCLSchat

@mclsorg A2. We often relay on our friends group, local community foundation, where we have two trusts that we receive dividends. #mclschat

@AnnaZichiCurtis Things like this and webinars are perfect for small libs. #mclschat

Q3. How can libraries with small budgets offer programs that people will attend? #mclschat

A2. Each spring we send out a letter asking for donations to cover our programs.we garner anywhere from $2,000 to $4,000 annual. #mclschat

A2. The letter outlines our past programs and tells the agency what we are planning for the coming season. #mclschat

Who do you send those letters to? Local businesses? Individuals? #mclschat

@AnnaZichiCurtis To all. even civic orgs. churchs, private indv, anyone whose donated in the past. #mclschat

My Library hasn't asked for donations before... Where do you start? #mclschat

@AnnaZichiCurtis we keep a file on all donors. #mclschat

ask other orgs for their mailing list, some may turn you down, but some want. join other groups and they will share #mclschat

Keep a list of who donates books to book sale they may want to support in other ways #mclschat

@mclsorg A3. I have tried many different approaches to getting people in the library. Some will flop, while others flourish. #mclschat

A2: visit local businesses/groups in person so they can make the personal connection. #mclschat

@meldotorg totally agree with that #mclschat

@mclsorg A3. Author talks and book signings do not go over well. #mclschat

@mclsorg A3. Programs that offer life enrichment do the best. Or programs were celebratory such as parties where food is involved #mclschat

@mclsorg A3. Feed them they will come. #mclschat

@mclsorg A3. Our Holiday Open house we will see over 500 people in one evening. #mclschat

@mclsorg A3. We decorate with 30 themed trees, cookies, food, live entertainment, Santa, kids progs, children get a free book. #mclschat

A3: tap into local interests & talent. provide a platform for them to share their skills, knowledge. #mclschat

@meldotorg We do that as well #mclschat

How do you advertise your programs? #mclschat

@AnnaZichiCurtis We have a local weekly newspaper, which is often ineffective promoting our programs; #mclschat

@AnnaZichiCurtis We rely on signs at the local store, laundromat, gas stations and such. #mclschat

@AnnaZichiCurtis But the most effective means is social media. Our facebook page gets more traffic than our webpage. #mclschat

Q4. What alternate sources of funding do you have? #mclschat

@mclsorg A4. Grants are nice when available but they are often hit or miss. #mclschat

@mclsorg A4. Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try, they can’t so no if you don’t ask and sometimes they say yes. #mclschat

A4 we apply for lots of grants (and are awarded some) #mclschat

@anneheathen Yeah! #mclschat

@mclsorg A4. Having a good rapport with your community is the smart venture. #mclschat

@mclsorg A4. If I need funds or help with programs I go to our comm agencies, companies and social orgs, they rarely say no. #mclschat

look outside traditional library grant sources. Many companies have community engagement/support funds that go unspent. #mclschat

@mclsorg A4. Never turn down and opportunity to speak to a group about your library or to develop a program for their event. #mclschat

@meldotorg Yes they do our local nursing is great for that! also the hospital #mclschat

@mclsorg A4. Partnerships are key to our success. #mclschat

Q5. Who are your partners and how do they help? #mclschat

@mclsorg A5. One of best partners is the Warren Co. Parks Program. #mclschat

@mclsorg A5. We partner for the summer reading program by incorporating reading and sharing of resources and programs. #mclschat

@mclsorg A5.We are able to do twice as much with a guarantee of over 100 kids. #mclschat

@mclsorg A5. Others are local social orgs, hospital, schools, and our learning center. We are always looking for new associations. #mclschat

Q6. What about libraries that are limited by their space/size? #mclschat

@mclsorg A6. Have programs and will travel #mclschat

A5: a natural partner are local schools, parent associations, #mclschat

A5 we try to partner with other departments (our libraries are part of a larger organization) for programming -mutually beneficial #mclschat

@mclsorg A6. don’t have space at the library take the library to them. #mclschat

@mclsorg A6. I do programs all over the county. #mclschat

A6 we are definitely limited in one of our 3 locations - you make do and make it work #mclschat

@anneheathen Other libraries and our state lib are always good partners and resource sharing ops #mclschat

@CaptainchrisD indeed, we also partner with several local and nearby library systems for our automation system and other things #MCLSchat

@mclsorg A6. Much of the Summer Reading program is outside. #mclschat

@mclsorg A6.we have an Amphitheater that was built with a grant. We host summer concerts, family movie night, magic, puppet shows #mclschat

@anneheathen @CaptainchrisD That's great! #mclschat

A6: what about "virtual" programs? offer short webinars, create & post short videos on youtube, do a twitter chat! :) #mclschat

@meldotorg We love Twitter chats! #mclschat

Q7. What are some advantages that small libraries might have? #mclschat

@mclsorg A7. We know our community, their needs, their likes; #mclschat

@mclsorg A6. Over 200 people can attend our amphitheater programs. #mclschat

@mclsorg A7. We have a connection unlike a large library or community. If I need something the community will respond in kind. #mclschat

@mclsorg A7. I am a good neighbor and it’s hard to turn you down when you’re a friend. #mclschat

A7 it's easier to get to know your patrons than in a larger system - making personal connections is very valuable #mclschat

Q8. How can a small staff keep up with professional development? #mclschat

@mclsorg A8. This one is tricky, as I stated it is so difficult to attend sessions when staff is limited. #mclschat

@mclsorg A8. Webinars a great! And programs and lectures through itunes and youtube help. #mclschat

@mclsorg A8. We do use and train volunteers and our friends group to help fill-in. #mclschat

@mclsorg A8. Sometimes when we can only send one person, we have a staff meeting and that person will share what they learned. #mclschat

A8: use a news aggregator like Flipboard to follow topics & stay informed. loaded on work iPad - books, library cool, literacy, #mclschat

Q10. What are the three most important things that a small library can do #mclschat

@mclsorg A10. 1. Be a com member, participate in other orgs functions, serve on boards, committees, and be visible in your area. #mclschat

@mclsorg Be Relevant! Go to schools, nursing homes, Rotary, Lions Club #mclschat

@mclsorg A10. 3. Don’t sell yourself short (small building doesn’t mean small thinking) #mclschat

@mclsorg A10. 2. never turn down an opp to speak or do a program, especially outside of the library. #mclschat

@mclsorg A10. See what other libraries are doing even large ones, you can probably modify the program to fit your community. #mclschat

@mclsorg A10. Don’t be afraid to fail, even those attempts you can learn from. #mclschat

Q10 look for partners and opportunities to cooperate - you don't have to do everything yourself (even tho it feels like it) #mclschat

@anneheathen Volunteers are great! Use them. #mclschat

How do you find volunteers? What sorts of things do they do? #mclschat

@mclsorg In our friends group, retired people, students #mclschat

They work the desk, shelve books, help with cleaning, landscaping (Master gardener) #mclschat

What is the greatest show of community support you have had? #mclschat

@mclsorg 10 years this month our library burned. we lost everything. I was devastated. our library was only 4 years old. #mclschat

@mclsorg The community come out in waves, from all over the state , nation, even the world. #mclschat

@mclsorg cards, letters, donations, books, supplies. we were over whelmed at first. but it showed us how much we were appreciated #mclschat

@meldotorg It just proves that there are so many good people in the world #mclschat

@mclsorg  http://www.wthr.com/article/williamsport-library-destroyed-by-arson-fire … #mclschat

@mclsorg even through it all we have come back better than ever and feel that we are the library the world rebuilt. #mclschat

@mclsorg  http://www.wthr.com/article/fire-destroys-williamsport-public-library … #mclschat

sm.rural libr. built a new bldg 2 blocks from old. Community created a human relay brigade to move all the bks to the new site. #mclschat

What is YOUR small library most proud of? #mclschat

I increased our program participants by over 400% last year #mclschat

Any last words from @CaptainchrisD? #mclschat

@mclsorg @CaptainchrisD Thanks for the opp. its been fun, if anyone wants to contact me email: cbrown@wwtpl.lib.in.us #mclschat

Thank you #mclschat

Next month's 3rd Thursday Twitter Chat will be on team building with Beka Lemmons of the Huntington (IN) Public Library as guest! #mclschat

As always, a great way to spend an hour "chatting" with fellow librarians & making new friends. Thanks! #mclschat

Thank you @CaptainchrisD for sharing your advice about your GREAT small library! #mclschat