Solos Helping Solos Blog

Fund raising: Gift baskets

In my region (Upstate NY) several library consortia have done fund raising efforts using gift baskets (example).  Looking at what they have done, it seems that this could be an effective tool for any library.  Howver, creating a gift basket -- especially one that is to be raffled or auctioned off -- may not be as easy as it sounds.  So here are five tips from Julie Briggs, co-owner of the Syracuse Gift Basket Company, on how to create a great gift basket:

1. Vary the sizes of the items you include in the basket. A variety of shapes and sizes will give you a more pleasing design than a collection that is close in size and shape. For example, instead of using 5 candles, use one candle and pair it with a bath pillow, some lotion and a journal.   
2. Odd numbers look better than even numbers, and an asymmetrical design will be more pleasing than a perfectly symmetrical one.
3. Place the tallest objects in the back and work down to the smallest in the front.
4. Choose a fun theme, and carry it out with the gifts and the decoration and the container. A “Mexican Fiesta” basket can have chips, salsa, margarita glasses, and a cookbook; it could be decorated with chili peppers, maracas, and a sombrero. You could use a chip bowl as the container.
5. Keep color in mind when choosing your gifts. It’s really hard (even for professionals!) to make a collection of gifts look nice when the colors clash. If there is something you really want to include and it doesn’t match the other items, wrap it in coordinating tissue paper.

More Advice:

When I created a gift basket for one of the raffles (photo), I had a difficult time finding items for the basket.  Why?  Because I wasn't clear with myself about what the theme was going to be as well as how big the basket was going to me.  So here are a four more tips from my experience:

1. Be clear -- before you begin to create the basket -- what the theme is.
2. Decide upfront how big you want the basket to be OR how many items you want in it.  After you've made that decision, then find an appropriate container.
3. Look at what you already own and consider if there is something that you should re-gift and place in the basket.  Is there a gift you have recieved -- and not used -- that would make a nice addition to the gift basket?
4. Consider adding a gift certificate to the gift basket.  Besides considering a gift certificate from a local business, consider if you have a service that would be useful or fun -- help planning a garden, consulting services, cooking dinner...

Creating a gift basket can be fun and a great way to help an organization raise money.  Doing a fund raiser with gift baskets can be a community builder as well as profitable.  Why not give it a try?

The International Calendar of Information Science Conferences

As someone (diglet) said, we could never attend all of these, but it is good to know that these events  exist.  This calendar lists international conferences that are expected to be of interest to those working in information science and related disciplines.  It is worth taking a peek at.

Writing: A necessity and bane

We all must write memos, letters, articles and sometimes books.  We write blog postings and web content.  Writing is something we all must do.  And as authors, we're always looking for help and suggestions in how we might write better.

Help has arrived!

Roy Peter Clark has written "Fifty Writing Tools: Quick List" to help authors.  The list is broken into subsections:

• Nuts and Bolts (e.g.," Activate your verbs.")
• Special Effects (e,g., "Play with words, even in serious stories.")
• Blueprints   (e.g., "Build your work around a key question.")
• Useful Habits (e.g., "Limit self-criticism in early drafts.")

Some of the tips may take a while to sink in, but all are useful. 

Also, Seth Godin has also written 19 tips for authors which are also worth reading.

What are you waiting for?!  Go read them and start writing!

Networking, Small Talk & Interview Prep

In the January 2003 Information Outlook, there was an article entitled "Job Power: Career Management Resources for Librarians."  In it were several resources for those job hunting, with some being good for people in any situation.  Need help networking or doing small talk at business functions?  Here are three books that may be of help to you.  (Look for them at your library.)

• When the Little Things Count...and They Always Count.  B. Pachter.
• The Fine Art of Small Talk. D. Fine.
• Vault Guide to Schmoozing. M. Lerner, et al.

The article also noted one book specifically for interview preparation, where being prepared is critical and small talk is not so small.

• Sweaty Palms: The Neglected Art of Being Interviewed.  H.A. Medley.

Ten Rules for the New Librarians

Michael Stephen has written the 10 rules for new librarians, which may be appropriate for librarian in any stage of his/her career.  The first five rules are:

1. Ask questions
2. Pay attention
3. Read far and wide
4. Understand copyright
5. Use the 2.0 tools

To read about those rules -- and to read rule 6 - 10 -- go here.

Library Success and NexGens

One of the resources I've recently found (and that's also listed under Resources on the Solo Division web page) is the Library Success wiki.  While every piece of it isn't applicable to solos or corporate librarians, it brings up many of the topics that we deal with on a regular basis and proposes solutions and best practices for librarians of all kinds.  Professional support in our jobs is vital, yet

As both a NexGen, a solo, and a corporate librarian, I find myself crossing many categories and constantly having to shift priorities to balance all of the responsibilities for all of these pieces.  While I spent some time as an academic librarian, I find corporations more challenging and faster-paced, but am always astounded by how few NexGens are in corporate libraries.

Are there any others of you out there?  Any NexGens who took the leap from public or academic to corporate, or originated there?   If you are a solo in a public, academic, or non-profit setting, what makes you prefer these over corporate librarianship?  I'd love to hear what everyone (not just NexGens) think!

--Trish

Making Connections and Where to Make Connections

Last year, Joy wrote some thoughts on how to be successful while in library school.  Among her tips were those on Making Connections (networking) and Where to Make Connections.  Her tips are worth reading for practicing librarians also (including solos who need to be making many connections).  Among her tips are:

...don't worry about making equal connections with everyone. Introverts don't have the energy to connect socially with each of thirty people in a classroom or fifteen people at a networking happy hour. Be pleasant to everyone, but it's just fine if you focus your attention on the two to five people who make you feel comfortable and welcome at any given event.

Great advice!

Be sure to read both Making Connections and Where to Make Connections for more good information.

Last Call for Volunteers...

Another year, another (successful) conference.

The exhibits have been packed away and the presentations are slowly making their way to the websites of their sponsoring divisions. Program planning is largely complete for next year's Denver conference and "conference buddies" have exchanged hugs and vague promises to see each other next year. After a week of constant activity, fast and furious notetaking, and feet that cry out for a break, what's left to do?

Volunteer to help with next year's event, of course.

The call to help was a recurring theme at this year's conference; nary a presentation went by without a mention of the benefits, and joys, of playing a leadership role within SLA. I opened -- and closed -- every session with a call to arms. But that's not why I'm posting... or why I posted a variation of this note on the SLA Conference Blog. And the DSOL Conference Blog.

After a year of frenzied phone calls, pleading emails and pulling my hair out, I'm pathetically grateful that the conference is over. I wore too many hats and tried to do too many things for too many people. Along the way, we lost volunteers -- a fundraiser here, a Chair-Elect there -- and felt like things were spiraling out of control more times than I can count. There are those who have taken potshots at my division for being "disorganized" -- and yet, disorganization wasn't the issue. Running a division, and putting on a full slate of programming under the guidance of two or three volunteers was the issue. We absolutely did the best that we could, given the circumstances. And I think we did a pretty dang good job.

My point -- and I do have one -- is that, despite the challenges inherent in holding a leadership role in a professional organization with committees staffed with volunteers, I've learned more in the last year than I even thought possible. I've planned events, created presentations, moderated a listserv, played at web design and coaxed volunteers. Okay, dragged them kicking and screaming. I spoke at six different events during this conference and attended more sessions than I even thought possible. With nary a panic attack to be had.

All of this from someone who, just a few years ago, had a paralyzing fear of public speaking. Who approached each conference with just a bit more than a bit of trepidation. Who knew a handful of people at every conference -- but nothing more than that. It's been seven years since I graduated with my Master's and entered the profession. Seven years during which I've had -- altogether now! -- more jobs than I care to count. All along, I've thought that I'd cultivated a tremendous support group through my involvement in SLA -- but never was that as apparent, or as invaluble, as it was at this year's conference.

Certainly, it's easy to have a reason why you cannot get involved. You already have countless demands on your time, after all, between work and family and church and life and sleeping and eating and shopping and playing chauffer and everything else under the sun. Within the Solo Division, a lack of time takes on a new meaning -- how many times have I heard "but I'm a SOLO. I don't have time to breathe, let alone..."  I understand that argument. I'm a Solo, too, after all. But what of those people who are members of -- and active volunteers for -- multiple divisions? Who are giving their spare time to the Engineering Division, for instance, and can't imagine that they could find the time to help SciTech or Solo, as well?

Each and every one of those reasons is valid. But, at the risk of sounding cliched, you have to look past the excuses and towards the benefits. Looking to move into a "techy" role at work? Perhaps you can enrich your skill set through a volunteer role. Nervous about your quarterly "State of the Library" presentation? Why not hone your public speaking skills in the supportive environment of SLA? For every reason not to get involved, there are two or three ways in which you could help your division, or chapter, while helping yourself. It's easy to stand on the sidelines and complain about the program offerings, or to criticize division (or chapter) leadership for making choices that you wouldn't have made. Get involved. Make changes. Have a voice. Lend a hand.

Why not give it a shot? Can't hurt.

Library newsletters

I understand that with the many responsibilities required of a solo librarian, creating a library newsletter may not seem like something of great importance. It's amazing to me, however, just how effective a marketing mechanism a library newsletter can be!

I create an electronic newsletter each month and post it on the library's Web site. I then send out an email to all Department employees announcing the latest issue. Soon afterwards, the requests for items mentioned in the newsletter begin to roll in. Often, I end up with waiting lists for materials.

What I didn't initially expect when I started sending out a link to the newsletter is the number of responses that do not address materials in the newsletter at all, but rather, contain reference questions or other requests for assistance. Not only does the newsletter's presence market the individual items in the library, it also reminds employees that there is a library and a librarian available to assist them. It periodically places my contact information in their inbox so they do not need to search elsewhere for it.

My library's newsletter is not elaborate. Some months it is merely a list of the materials we have on a particular topic. Sometimes I ask other employees to write a few sentences about a book they had checked out and found particularly helpful. These endorsements by peers increase the popularity of the materials they mention exponentially. By reviewing an item for the newsletter, it also seems to increase employees' sense of connection to the library.

I'd be very interested in seeing the newsletters other solos have produced for their libraries. What has been most effective for you? What has been least effective? What kinds of feedback or requests have you received?

You may view the latest issue of the newsletter for my Department's library at http://www.eenorthcarolina.org/library/checkitout.htm

Conference Time--Out of the Office

My name is Patricia (Trish) Losi, and I've also been posting over at the DSOL conference blog.  However, while I've been here in Baltimore, I've encountered difficulties with work being unhappy with my absence.  It is the first conference I have attended in 3 years, so took the whole week (arrived late Friday through today) for CE classes, sessions throughout the conference, and then a presentation at our Lippincott facility in Baltimore for Market Research, explaining what I do and how I can help.

However, I'm faced with the difficulty of having my job continue even though I'm away here, even to receiving a call on my cell phone at one point.  I take every opportunity to check e-mail, ILL articles through Docline, and otherwise catch up on my responsibilities at work at the same time, but it's difficult to balance the hectic pace of the conference with an additional 2-6 hours of distance work a day.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to lighten the load, particularly as a solo, since there's no one else with the same knowledge in the office I can rely on to get things done?  Are there any ways to minimize any disruptive impact from being out of the office for more than one day?

-Thanks, Trish