Road Trip Deadline Approaches!

It’s not too late to submit an itinerary for the First Annual George and Joan Keeping It Real Tour.  Some lucky group of libraries will win a week of FREE consulting from yours truly. Proposals are due May 15.  Click here for all the details.

–George and Joan

Road Trip!

The “Keeping It Real Road Trip” 2010 is accepting applications!

Library Leadership Programs

Several days ago, a public library director of my acquaintance asked for my opinion about the value Library Leadership Ohio. I’ve mentored seven times for these leadership institutes (Library Leadership Ohio three times, Snowbird twice, and Canada’s Northern Exposure to Leadership and California’s Eureka once each) so I’m a real advocate. Here’s what I told him:

I’m [...]

Holiday Podcast

We’ve just recorded a new holiday podcast for our friends at Infopeople.

A VISIT TO THE LIBRARY
by Joan Frye Williams (http://www.georgeandjoan.com)
with apologies to Clement Clarke Moore

‘Twas the day before Christmas, all still in the stacks.
Senior staff had already gone home to relax.
The materials nestled all snug on their shelves,
Though we’ve trimmed pages’ [...]

Code Words

We’re just back from presenting a workshop on Dealing with Change at Your Library, and I’m struck yet again by the phrases library folks use to describe certain kinds of uncomfortable situations.  Here are a few suggested translations:

“We need better communication” means “I disagree with what I’m hearing.”

“We need more training” means “We can’t agree on how this should [...]