Communicating with (Pessimistic) Patrons

NOTE TO SELF ... TRY THESE PHRASES:

I have noticed that ...
It seems that ...

I wish I could ...
I can ...

Even though I can't ____, I can ______

What questions do you have about ______

How would you like to see this resolved?

You did not receive good service, and I apologize for that failure on the part of our organization.

(I found these in a notebook without a citation.  They are probably from Communication Briefings: http://communicationbriefings.com/)

Ohio Libraries and Financial Literacy (Video Link)

"3/22/11 Ohio Library Council State Budget Webcast – Archive
On March 17, Lynda Murray, OLC Director of Government and Legal Services, presented a webcast on the introduction of the state budget and Governor Kasich's proposed funding of the PLF for the 2012-13 biennium. If you were unable to watch the webcast live, an archived version is available for viewing at your convenience at this link."  (from http://www.olc.org/news_story031011.asp )

FOR A FINANCIAL LITERACY LIBRARY PROGRAM: I'd like to show this website http://www.newmoney.gov/newmoney/dyob/index.html , and make it available on a laptop as one of four stations in a family program.

Leadership Quotes

"Leadership is not about maintaining the status quo.  It is about going into uncharted territory in pursuit of a well-articulated view of life.  It is about having ... the willingness to ... ask the unaskable question.  To voice the unpopular idea." 
-----from The How of Wow by Tony Carlson (11-12)

"There are a lot of different ways to get to your goal.  And that doesn't mean you have to stick to your original goal, either.  You can change goals.  But it's best to be striving for something." 
-----Sheldon Fegelman in The Horn Book Magazine January/February 2011 (46)

Investment in a New Year

http://www.ohio.com/editorial/commentary/112365744.html
"...we have to keep investing, so that we survive the downturn and emerge ready to thrive in the good times."

But let us invest in what is effective. Let us re-evaluate all current practices, and discuss alternative ways of thinking and working together.

"Now is the time to come together for the future ... and to make decisions wisely so that those who come after us can enjoy, just as we did ..."

Let us come together with some shared visions, and missions for our work. Let us work toward a common goal.

In the work of children's librarians, our shared goal is to effectively implement Every Child Ready to Read -- to educate and support caregivers and youth in the ways of loving to read and learn together.

Asperger's Syndrome and StoryCorps

At ALA Annual of this year, I caught the end of Dave Isay's presentation.  Dave Isay is the founder of StoryCorps.

I've found that I'm still thinking about this particular story in which a twelve year old boy (who has Asperger's syndrome) interviews his mother.  Here is the animated short.

I think about the questions he asks like, "Have you ever lied to me?" and "Was I the child you hoped I would be?"

I think about how his mother calmly responds, never skipping a beat: "You've exceeded my expectations ... You have made me grow so much as a parent. [I've had to learn to think outside the box, and I thank you for that.]"

In my personal life, I think about the people that I'm close to that face such different challenges than myself.

In my professional life, I think about the challenge of sharing stories and information with a group of developmentally diverse children.

I think about how by knowing and interacting with all those who are different from me, I have had such opportunity to grow as an individual.

Tattoos, Dialogic Reading, and Unity

Here's a train of thought:

I've noticed that more and more of the people (that I help at the library) have tattoos.  Perhaps my awareness has increased with my interest in them, or perhaps more people are getting them.

Whatever the reason for this observation, I have a positive outlook on body art that is akin to my love of picturebook illustration ... and I recently stumbled on a thought which brings value to body art as a conversation piece.

With any form of artistic expression (remember my brief cell phone/ring tone post?) or striking diversity, there is opportunity for sharing ... or listening to ... a story.  There is potential for learning something new or finding a commonality.

At the very least, dialogic reading shows us that an illustration provides a platform for bonding and conversation.

Conversation and communication (as I explored in my recent article) are keys to fostering unity.

Leadership Motivation Assessment

To take a leadership motivation assessment, go to: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_01.htm

I scored a 57 which just barely puts me in the "strong motivation to lead" category.  I'm definately still learning ...

I've been a quieter on this blog the last month because I'm researching and thinking about several projects (and seeking information from others on the various library related listservs ... feel free to comment on this post as well):

• special programming for newborn to sixth month olds (apart from 6 - 23 month olds) that also targets expectant parents and is a shorter version of our baby brilliant brain education workshops
• how to evaluate programs
• preparing more for children with special needs who may attend a program

I welcome any thoughts, and enjoy connecting with other professionals!

Networking for Introverts by WorkBuzz

Reading through ALDirect, I came across The Work Buzz Blog (which covers trends in the work place) and this article.

Active Listening for Unity and Leadership

I've recently submitted an article to the EMIE Bulletin within the Multicultural Review.  The article is entitled "Using Picturebooks to Foster Unity"

In my personal and professional life, communication, especially communication across differences, has been on my mind, and I've been exploring paths toward unity.  I've recently listened to 21 Ways to Defuse Anger and Calm People Down and have been observing my mentors as they listen and speak with others - the public and colleagues as well as friends and family.

The term "active listening," a term I first actively heard as an Emerging Leader last year, also offers some solutions.

According to Mind Tools, the five key elements of active listening are:

1. Pay attention.
2. Show that you are listening.
3. Provide feedback.
4. Defer judgement.
5. Respond appropriately.

Donald Clark's adds that "active listening" is when the "listener attends to the words and the feelings."  He also succintly outlines the barriers of communication.

Once again, I am thinking about the correlation of emotional intelligence and communication which result in leadership...

Marketing: Visual Presentation

An aspect of leadership that I see peeking through my posts (and within my life) is the topic of marketing or presentation.

I'm not only referring to how one presents oneself professionally to answer questions and resolve conflicts or how one should or could present a library program, I am also very interested in the physical, visual pieces of marketing such as the activity sheets handed out at storytimes or the displays and signage within the library.

If you look in the top right corner of this blog under "Youth Services Resources," you will find pictures of some of my displays (bulletin board and storytime set ups).  You can also visually compare my earlier storytime program handouts to my newer ones.  I am definitely working toward finding a user friendly, visually appealing, and informative take home handout that will enforce the Early Literacy Skills.

Speaking of visual presentation to market programs, I came across the MyFonts website while following a conversation on the YALSA listserv.  Use the website to determine fonts and use Da Font.com to download and choose others.

Visual organization (from websites to posters) is just as important as physical organization, and I think it is safe to say that Libraries do and are starting to recognize this in more detail.  (I'm thinking of the Information Architecture and Knowledge Management program at Kent State University.) 

I would be interested in hearing others' thoughts (and seeing others' visuals!) on this topic.

Successful Leadership Begins With Self (ppt)

The information below is quoted from the Ontario Library Association Super Conference 2008 website.  (Follow the link to access the PowerPoint.):

"Mary Ann Mavrinac, Chief Librarian, Hazel McCallion Academic Learning Centre, University of Toronto Mississauga.

Experiencing organizational change can be difficult, especially when the change is unanticipated and unwelcome. Let go, go with the flow, strategize, see opportunity, learn, and fulfill your aspirations! Sound good? Join us as we reveal the dynamic nature of protecting self, and provide practical, concrete leadership strategies based upon empirical research that can be liberating for the individual, and transformational for the library. Flourish and have fun in an unpredictable environment of ubiquitous change.

Resources:

Session Presentation (.ppt)           
Leadership Focuser Form (.doc) "

Learning: Emerging Leadership (Quotes)

The quotes below are from After the Ecstasy, the Laundry: How the Heart Grows Wise on the Spiritual Path by Jack Kornfield, pages xix - xx.  During ALA Midwinter 2010, Elizabeth Gilbert recommended this read-alike to her Eat, Pray, Love.
 
"Our intention was inspired by the humility and compassion of the Dalai Lama himself, always eager to learn, even from his mistakes."

"... wise speech ..."

"The wisest express a greater humility.  Abotts like Father Thomas Keating of Snowmass Monastery and Norman Fischer of the San Francisco Zen Center, for example, regularly say, "I'm learning" and "I don't know.""

Mo' Mo: http://www.mowillems.com/

Hayley McEwing (Me) and Mo Willems ... 2005?

His work, particularly There is a Bird on Your Head, has touched my life.

Mo is (print) Motivation to the Max!

Storyteller and REFORMA President (Video)

Cuban native Lucia M. Gonzalez shares her noche (night) story, complete with cucullos. After introducing herself this way, she retold Bossy Gallito.  Gonzalez opened for brain scientist Patricia Kuhl, hence Gonzalez's hint at phonological awareness (having the audience repeat the sounds in words).

(Yes, I took this video.)

Eye Contact

In January of this year, a few hours before my plane was to leave from Cleveland for Chicago and the ALA Mid-Winter Conference, I stopped in at the Solon Public Library to print my boarding pass.

(I feel pleasantly secretive when I visit public libraries ... critiquing and learning from what I see and experience ... reveling in community and accessible information and stories ... proud to be a contributing member of this institution...)

So as I was thinking these glorified thoughts, the clean-cut male librarian at the information desk greeted me. Clearly and succinctly, he conveyed the information about printing policies. Approachable and professional, he consistently made eye contact throughout the exchange.

That experience flashed through my mind this last week as I signed up hundreds of children for the Summer Reading Club.

How am I coming across? It wouldn't hurt to practice some more eye contact.

Another example of how story and experience bring meaning to read information.

Self-Evaluation (Personality and Qualities)

At the beginning of this year when I "discovered" the idea of emotional intelligence and how it relates to both leadership and story sharing, I came across this title:

Test Your EQ: Assess Your Emotional Intelligence with 22 Personality Questionnaires

A few months ago, I took a few of the quizzes and scored:

high in leadership factors

average emotionality (1 point away from "fairly emotional")

very closed personality (which now that I'm more aware of, I have been working on ...)

no evidence of a left or right sided brain bias (great! since I believe balance is key in life)

Quotes

"A goal without a plan is just a wish." Antoine de Saint-Exupery

"Leadership is not just saying a scary thing ... It's [in] the person who backs them up." Connie Paul, Emerging Leader Program Facilitator

"The pooling of many viewpoints and thoughtful consideration of them is obviously what makes worthwhile any international meeting." Bookbird 4/1967 (16)

"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." from Rowling's Chamber of Secrets

How Leaders Learn

"The true test of intelligence is not how much we know how to do, but how we behave when we don't know what to do." John Holt in How Children Fail (205)

While Holt's classic title provides ideas for leaders who work with children, general concepts can be applied to all areas of leadership. In the section from which the above quote is taken, Holt suggests that success occurs when one meets a new situation or problem openly, utilizing the mind and senses of imagination, resourcefulness, confidence and hopefulness. When anaylzing these initial behaviors, he or she is willing to accept and learn from mistakes.


In this same title, Holt discusses "real learning" (136-7) which applies to students of all ages. Something is understood when:

1) one can state it in one's own words
2) one can give an example of it
3) one can recognize the concept in various guises and circumstances
4) one can make connections between the new concept and other facts or ideas
5) one can utilize the new information in various ways
6) one can foresee some of its consequences
7) one can state its opposite or converse

Leadership, Emotions, and Education

“Great leadership works through the emotions.” from Primal Leadership: Realizing the Power of Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman (1)

The first slide for my upcoming presentation:

Good Morning! My name is Hayley McEwing. I am a children’s librarian with the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County. I am pleased to be here today to explore two of the mutual challenges of both educators and librarians – The first challenge is, how do we motivate others to learn? The second challenge is for ourselves as well as the individuals we serve, and that is, how can we all better understand the information we come in contact with?

While there are numerous possible solutions being acknowledged in the 21st Century and here at this conference, the following presentation focuses on the solution of story sharing. Demonstrations at the end will share stories embedded in science concepts.

10 Tools to Take Power

The following are my notes/interpretations from a speech given by American Library Association Past-President Leslie Berger during the Emerging Leader closing cermonies at Annual 2009:

Try these with yourself and with others.

1) Make a (collective) plan, and organize a group.
2) Give a persuasive argument. Frame the issue so it advances a shared goal or highlights the downside of no action.
3) Raise awareness of the plan.
4) Review existing policies and bylaws.
5) Create change in policy or bylaw, or create a new one.
6) Generate publicity or buzz through forums ... blogs ...
7) Use electoral process. Ask candidates questions.
8) Effect appointments.
9) Boycott or use consumer power against the institution if it is not making steps to address your concern/goal.
10) Use drama. Offer, then commit.