Library Field Trips

The Northeast Kansas Library System organizes bus tours each year, taking library staff from the region to tour other libraries in the region. It's really popular! I think it would be cool to do a "virtual tour", too.

When I was traveling around Northern California on the bookmobile, I visited the Madelyn Helling library in Nevada City. During their technology plan committee meeting, they shared that they too, visit neighboring libraries to learn how others use technology. In particular, they wanted to know more about self-check stations, and visited several libraries to understand which models would work for their situation. I thought this was a brilliant idea! Not only did they learn about a specific technology, but their visits no doubt sparked new ideas and they also formed relationships with neighboring libraries. I love this idea!

When making major decisions that have a lasting affect on patron services or a large impact on the budget, it may be useful to take a deeper look by having key staff work at a library already implementing the policy or system. The experience provides perspective to better implement the change in your library or determine if the change is appropriate to your situation. So whether you are incorporating self-check systems with open shelving for patron holds; considering a new type of security system or RFID; proposing changes in your circulation configuration (such as receipt printers, different barcode scanners, or alternate security desenitizers); converting to roving reference (with or without tablet PCs); whatever-- see if you can find another library in your region or state that has implemented a similar change, and arrange to go or have some of your staff work or shadow there to gain actual experience. And be open to other libraries shadowing your operation! --John DeBacher, Public Library Administration Consultant Wisconsin Division for Libraries, Technology & Community Learning