Library Proud

Library Proud

Two winners have been randomly chosen in the Library Proud Contest! We’ve outfitted the staff at the winners’ community libraries with special edition Library Proud t-shirts.

Pride at the library is so important because it’s a conversation and a commitment that the Library recognizes the existence of different genders and sexualities amongst our own staff and the community we serve. We need to acknowledge and depend on the queer community in Calgary, and on those of us who are LGBTQ+ and work at the library. Nothing accomplishes that more easily than the visibility of the rainbow and involvement in Pride Week activities.

The Library has not always been active in pride, so it means a lot to me personally that we are more involved and I hope that commitment continues moving forward.

–Christine Pinkney, Service Design

Service Design in their Library Proud T-Shirts

I am proud of Saddleteam, the group of people that I work with. We come from many places in the world, with many different cultures. We are from many different religious groups and different sexual orientations. We also have different work backgrounds, and we work in different positions with different job descriptions. Despite these differences, our staff work as a team that is welcoming and respectful of any new staff member who joins the Saddleteam. SADDLETEAM IS LIBRARY PROUD!

–Lorraine Groot, Saddletowne Library

Saddleteam in their Library Proud T-Shirts

STAR Award Winners

Our peer recognition awards are a way for staff to formally express appreciation for co-workers who make a difference above and beyond expectations, and to reward positive actions and innovation. All staff, Permanent, Substitute, and Temporary, are eligible. All winners will be awarded a gift valued at $100.

To nominate a coworker, simply visit The Kitchen, click on the + button on the upper toolbar, and choose Peer Recognition Award. If you have any questions about the forms, please contact askhr@calgarylibrary.ca.

• Leanne Hooper (Village Square): Work Wizard, has worked relentlessly to bring quality programming and service into the East Sector community on a huge scale, accomplishing 49 outreaches and bringing the Library into 1250 Calgarians’ lives in a single month. She’s also a key member of the Book Truck and Integrated School Support Project (ISSP) team, and has an ability to truly connect with high-needs populations. Congratulations, Leanne!

• Leslie Barnes and Robyn Taphorn (Crowfoot): Work Wizards, for their creativity, organization and dedication in supporting the TD Summer Reading Club activities through their creation of fun and wild animal ears staff used to promote the program.

L–R: Robyn and coworker Naomi, in their Library ears

• Brin Bugo (Central): Work Wizard, for her extraordinary efforts in supporting, overhauling, and championing of the ISSP program.

• Joanna Gabinski (Central): Work Wizard, for her diligent and consistent work in improving efficiencies and processes.

• Shelley Regnier (Crowfoot): Delivery Dynamite, for her outstanding customer service with a patron’s DVD requests.

Teaja in Nicholls Family Library

Teaja was the successful applicant to move into the Nicholls Family Library. Construction is already underway, and we look forward to opening the space in October. Teaja believes in environmental responsibility and their commitment to organic, local, sustainable and fresh food will provide our patrons with healthy choices. Find out more at teaja.com.

The SHOW Crew

A year ago, Service Delivery Director, Mark Asberg launched the Operational Principles for the Best Library in the World.* Mark added, “To reinforce the consistent application of the five [operational] principles in every location, a review process will be set up to visit libraries and assist library teams in continuous improvement of how libraries look and promote superior patron experiences. These reviews will also bring innovative ideas and opportunities to light, which will contribute to stronger principles and procedures going forward.”

Out of this, the SHOW Crew was formed. SHOW Crew lead, Allison Thomson, says, “it has been a great opportunity for the crew to visit the libraries. We share tips across the system and work with each staff member towards achieving the operational standards. Sometimes, we get so used to seeing something that it’s a real benefit to have a team member from another library come in and say, ‘how about trying it this way?’”

The SHOW Crew is making the rounds to review each community library once per calendar year. Reviews of Central Library are in progress, Fish Creek Library was recently reviewed, and Forest Lawn and Crowfoot libraries are scheduled in the coming weeks.

The SHOW Crew would like to ask community libraries to submit Service Requests to Facilities for the removal of:

• Old Fines and Fees signs. Nothing will replace these, and that’s ok!

• Free-standing or wall mounted “What’s Happening” signs. S-shaped signs will take their place.

• Read All About It (New Central Library stands): these were the former kiosks for displaying employment and volunteer application forms. Please display the New Central Library bulletins where possible.

*See the document for more information. SharePoint > Service Delivery > Announcements > Operational Principles for the Best Library in the World

New Central Library Service Plan

The New Central Library Service Plan ideation work is really gaining momentum as the Service Design team has dedicated many hours in design charrettes over the past three months. The newest Service Design Lead, Stephanie Nemcsok, has helped the team expand their creative practices with her expertise from her former work at Telus Spark. The team is grounding their creativity in practice by learning and applying human-centred design strategies, with patron observation and rapid prototyping at Central Library and in the community. For example, they spent time observing patron use of the quiet, focused spaces at Central on the third and fourth floors to inform program and service design of the TD Great Reading Room in New Central Library. They have also pilot tested several versions of a morning opening ceremony at Central Library, including a surprise high five welcome, to set a welcoming and exciting tone first thing as patrons enter the library.

The exciting part of this work will be testing and piloting the new ‘signature services’ that we’ve dreamed up for New Central Library ahead of the building opening. We’ll be in libraries throughout the system in 2017, working with Service Delivery to try out some of these ideas. We want to know what will work and what won’t before we open our doors to the public in 2018. It will be fun to have staff from all over the system involved in some new ideas.

Some fun ideas include a ‘readers advisory hopscotch’ board to help patrons discover the 4 Ps (people, place, plot, prose), a painted/footprint pathway from sidewalks around New Central Library that lead pedestrians to the entrance of the building, and motion-activated book stacks that talk to you when you walk by. “What are you having for dinner tonight?” ask the cookbooks in 641.

Stay tuned!

Coding Classes

Coding is the language behind computer software, apps, and websites—technology each of us uses many times a day. Most schools don’t offer computer science classes, so the Library has created a suite of coding programs for kids, teens, and families.

These programs present coding as a foundational skill that helps people understand and shape the world in which we live. See page 13 of the September-October Library Connect for more details.

Author in Residence

Micheline Maylor has officially started her term as the Library’s Author in Residence. She will be hosting free writing programs, as well as giving feedback on patrons’ writing. To find out more about Micheline and learn more about the writing programs, visit calgarylibrary.ca/author-in-residence.

Think Big: Mind. Body. Movement.

When a neurological disorder compromises your ability to move, can you turn it around, and use your body to re-train your brain? Join Think Big host Jay Ingram, with experts from the Hotchkiss Brain Institute at the University of Calgary, as they discuss different approaches to rehabilitation—from dance to robotic therapies.

September 30, 6:30 pm | Central Library

50/50 Winner

The 50/50 winner is Emma Farquharson! Congratulations, Emma.

The Foundation will temporarily stop the draws until late September or early October to implement new draws and improve the experience for all staff.