[OPLINLIST] Does the Shoe Fit?

Wed May 21 16:58:34 EDT 2014

Should you open a maker space in your library? That’s a lousy question. 
It poses a solution before it even states the problem. It’s the problem 
that’s worth discussing: What should your library be doing to meet your 
community’s needs?

At yesterday’s Data-Driven Innovation session, Anastasia Diamond-Ortiz 
and Tim Diamond shared some solutions from Cleveland Public Library and 
invited us to ask some tough questions. There are questions you might 
want to skip if you see a project succeed somewhere else or it’s just a 
project you like. We can probably use some practice asking questions.

    What Questions?

Here are the questions we asked yesterday, restated so they could apply 
to a potential future project.

 1. What is the community need this is supposed to meet?
 2. What other questions should be asked? (Who will use this, how much
    will it cost, which of the library’s needs will this meet?)
 3. What data should be gathered before choosing this solution?
    (Outcomes of similar projects at other libraries, available space or
    grant funding.)
 4. What conditions should be met before moving forward? (Funding in
    place, community partnerships, designating space.)
 5. If you go ahead with the project, what data would you want to
    capture to measure its performance? (Number of users, increased
    circulation or card-holders, number of joint projects with faculty.)

These questions often come up in conversation, where we talk about 
audience or funding or how we could measure success. A big benefit of 
documenting those conversations is that you don’t forget them.

These really are data questions, too, though there might not be that 
many numbers involved. This is research that helps you discover which 
version of an idea best fits your community or discover that the time 
isn’t (yet) right for it.

- Nathan Swartzendruber, Technology Educator

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    What Project?

SWON’s Maker Space Grant 
<http://www.swonlibraries.org/Maker_Space_Grant> is putting up $2500 
toward equipment for a maker space in one of SWON’s Supporting Member 
libraries. What kind of maker space? That’s up to you.

Whether you want to install a 3D printer or sewing machines 
<http://www.dezeen.com/2014/05/08/3d-printers-have-a-lot-to-learn-from-the-sewing-machine/>, 
applications will be judged by your answers to questions like the ones 
we asked yesterday. We want to help you make an impact; we want to know 
what impact you expect, and if you’re the winner, what impact your maker 
space actually has.

If you have questions about the grant or grant process, write or call 
us. Call soon! The deadline for applications is May 31. Click here for 
full details: http://www.swonlibraries.org/Maker_Space_Grant

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    What is Personality Theory?

Personality Theory helps people identify how they operate. Do they 
prefer a crowd or a few close friends? Do they make decisions based more 
on the hard facts or on their intuition? Personality Theory doesn’t 
place value judgments on the answers, but people do, so personality 
tests ask indirect questions that help you learn about yourself and in 
the process, about those around you.

A great place to get started with this is at SWON’s Level-Up Lab: 
Introducing Personality Theory. Melanie will lead you through the 
Myers-Briggs personality type indicator and help you learn how 
personality theory can help you understand and manage conflict. Register 
today: http://bit.ly/personality-type-lab

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Connect to SWON online: Website <http://www.swonlibraries.org/> : 
Calendar <http://swon.evanced.info/signup/eventcalendar.aspx> : Facebook 
<https://www.facebook.com/SWONLibraries?sk=wall> : Twitter 
<http://twitter.com/swonlibraries>
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Calendar excerpts from the next two weeks. (Please register for online 
classes at least two days before they take place.)

  * *SWON Closed for Memorial Day* - (5/26/2014)
  * *Weeding: The Action
    <http://swon.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails.aspx?EventId=920>* -
    (5/22/2014) - Online
  * *Be a Great Boss
    <http://swon.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails.aspx?EventId=913>* -
    (5/22/2014) - Online
  * *3D Printers, Pens and Trends
    <http://swon.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails.aspx?EventId=910>* -
    (5/29/2014) - Online
  * *ALAO Instruction Interest Group Spring Workshop
    <http://www.alaoweb.org/events?eventId=871935&EventViewMode=EventDetails>*
    - (5/30/2014) - North Canton, OH
  * *Outreach Services (SIG) Meeting
    <http://swon.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails.aspx?EventId=2944>* -
    (5/30/2014) - PLCH, Main Branch
  * *Government Information Day: Navigating Patents, Trademarks & the US
    Census
    <http://www.eventbrite.com/e/government-information-day-navigating-patents-trademarks-the-us-census-tickets-11529913281>*
    - (6/2/2014) - NKU
  * *Shhh! Do You Hear What I Hear?
    <http://swon.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails.aspx?EventId=2931>* -
    (6/3/2014) - Online
  * *Public Library Adult Program Planners Network (PLAPPN) SIG Meeting
    <http://swon.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails.aspx?EventId=890>* -
    (6/4/2014) - Boone County PL, Main Branch

SWON Libraries - http://www.swonlibraries.org<http://www.swonlibraries.org>
10250 Alliance Road, Suite 225
Blue Ash, OH 45242
phone (513) 751-4422 - fax (513) 751-0463
To subscribe or be removed from SWON's Events list, click 
here:http://lists.swonlibraries.org/mailman/listinfo/events
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