Record Breaking Attendance at 2007 Town Meetings

More than 470 people from around the state attended this year's 2007 Town Meetings:  "Extreme Library Makeover:  You can do it!"

The morning session included a skit by the Town Meeting Players (Sheryl Bissen/Barbara Peterson, and State Library staff Beth Marie Quanbeck, Mary Wegner, Michele Leininger, Steve Cox, Marie Harms and Sandy Dixon).  The skit was titled "Trying Transformation at Twiddlebury Public Library" and it was a hit with the audience.

The afternoon classes included "Library Merchandising," "Collection Development Makeover:  Rethinking Buying and Weeding Patterns," and "Making the Most of Your Library Web Site."

Some quotes from people who attended Town Meetings this year: 

"The Town Meeting players were so hilarious this year. I think we could all relate to that!"  "I feel everyone did a wonderful job and were knowledgeable in their topics."  "All of the presenters were professional and highly informative. I am proud to be a library professional in Iowa."

Photos shown here were taken at the Town Meeting in Iowa City.

A Librarian's Manifesto was included in participants' packets.  If you missed Town Meetings, here it is:

1.  I will recognize that the world of information is changing fast and that libraries need to respond positively to these changes to provide resources and services that customers need and want.

2.  I will educate myself about my customers and look for ways to incorporate what I learn into library services.

3.  I will not be defensive about my library, but will look clearly at its situation and make an honest assessment about what can be accomplished.

4.  I will become an active participant in moving my library forward.

5.  I will recognize that libraries change slowly, and will work with the board, other staff and the community to expedite our responsiveness to change.

6.  I will be courageous about proposing new services and new ways of providing services, even though there will be resistance.

7.  I will enjoy the excitement and fun of positive change and will convey this to others.

8.  I will let go of previous practices if there is a better way to do things now, even if these practices once seemed so great.

9.  I will take an experimental approach to change and be willing to make mistakes.

10. I will not wait until something is perfect before I release it, and I'll modify it based on customer feedback.

11. I will not fear new technologies but rather will explore them and take advantage of those that will be of greatest benefit to my customers.

12. I will avoid requiring customers to see things in librarians' terms but rather will shape services to reflect customers’ preferences and expectations.

13. I will be willing to go where customers are, both online and in physical spaces, to provide library services.

14. I will express, through my actions, librarians' vital and relevant role in the world of information.

Adapted from A Librarian's 2.0 Manifesto posted by Laura Cohen, 11/06/2006, Library Web Administrator, University of Albany, State University of New York.