2018-07-24 SPLAT Curiosity Report: Volume 1, Issue 9
Featured Story
Design Thinking
Over the course of three trainings in March and April, 45 Idaho libraries were treated to a crash course in design thinking at the 2018 Make it at the Library. These trainings were provided by the Idaho Commission for Libraries with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the STEM Action Center. Arriving, the library folk excitedly anticipated getting their hands on the take home tech tools, but when departing, it seemed like no one could wait to make use of the design jam training.
What is design thinking? It is a process that can help your library become more useful to your patrons. By involving the user in the development of creative solutions, libraries can respond to the issues that are facing the community.
The steps of design thinking are:
- Empathize with your users, research, ask them!
- Define a problem that your users have from your observations
- Ideate brainstorm wild, creative solutions
- Prototype on a small scale, model some of your ideas
- Test your solution by letting your users take it out for a spin
These steps are not linear, so don’t be afraid to circle back to any phase to finesse your idea. For more in-depth explanation of these steps and models for getting your patrons to share, check out the Bootcamp Bootleg from the d.school at Stanford. Also, check out this free toolkit focused specifically on Design Thinking for Libraries.
Fail Forward
We’ve all been there. You pour your heart into a program, and no one shows up. You try something new, and you fall on your face. Sound familiar? Fail Forward is the place to share your failures, and give you the opportunity to share what you learned from them. Did you promote your program in a different way after no one showed up? Maybe you took a new approach to the new thing you were excited about? Awesome! Share your story via our online form so others can learn, and realize that failure is often part of the process.
The Difference Between Failing at Something and Being a Failure
The difference between failing at something and being a failure. There is a fantastic webinar available through webjunction.org, entitled Failing in the Right Direction, that I would recommend for anyone who has experienced failure and now needs some support in getting back up and trying again. The presenter, Joan Frye Williams, shares her insights on the mindset of failing versus being a failure and what you can do to overcome negative mindset.
Crush Corner
Is there a library you follow on social media who is always doing new and exciting things? How about a blog you follow that inspires you in the work you do? Library Crush Corner is a place for those working in Idaho libraries to share what inspires them, and who they’re crushing on… in a professional sense. Share your story via our online form so we can publish it in a future issue!
Salmon Public Library
I have been crushing on Salmon Public Library for a couple of years now. For a small town, they’re doing big things. I mean, things that are getting noticed at a national level! I always look forward to seeing how they’re building new connections in their community around active learning opportunities. It’s inspiring!
SPLAT explores new ways to build capacity and support library folk as they serve their communities. Library folk throughout the state of Idaho volunteer to serve on the Special Projects Library Action Team (SPLAT). Learn more about SPLAT at splat.lili.org
SPLAT is brought to you by the Idaho Commission for Libraries and is funded in part with a federal grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (LS-00-18-0013-18). The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.