"An open, flowing conversation is best to involve and engage everyone."
Michael Casey & Michael Stephens offered that suggestion and several others in their Library Journal column, "The Transparent Library" (9/15/09, p. 19).
Other things librarians should keep in mind ...
- Be kind -- How user-friendly are your policies and spaces? What message does your signage carry to your clinetele? Can you justify limits on services? How do you treat staff? How do you treat people (including others outside your usual clientele)?
- Be human -- Respond in a true voice to questions and concerns.
- Teach them -- Take every opportunity to teach your patrons how to access collections and get the most out of the library. Ranganathan said, "Books are for use." Everything in your building and online is for use. Make it as available to all as possible.
- Learn always -- "In the age of Learning 2.0 and the content-rich web, there's no excuse to fall behind on current practices and emerging trends."
- Shine, but be humble -- Do your best to help users and to promote the library and remember to acknowledge those who help you along the way.
- Encourage one another -- Everyone can be a star in some way. Celebrate little successes and big ones, outside achievements, and inside accolades.
- Say yes -- "New ideas, new methods, and new services can thrive in a culture of yes."
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