2023-06-26 SPLAT Curiosity Report: Volume 14, Issue 5
Featured Story
Innovations in Statistics
Here at Caldwell Public Library we are revamping the way we collect our statistics! A wonderful team here has come up with a system that will allow us to have a better way to present our statistics when needed. Todd Cagwin and Ellie Epperson presented to staff on the functionality of the new procedure and showed off how the statistics will be easily converted into graphs and charts. Our technology assistant team member, Emmanuel Galvan, put a lot of work into the software as well.
Statistics may not be the most exciting portion of our jobs, but it is a very vital part of what we need to support our programs, budget, and growth expectations. In my department alone, I use and maintain statistics to plan for each outing, as well as to help us plan out for the year ahead. We use them to help us target our grant funding and to receive assistance with special programs or outreach projects. For instance, in order to make sure I was planning well for our Summer STEM grant that we will utilize this summer from ICfL, I took a look at past attendance numbers and details such as what types of age ranges we can anticipate, how the space is that we will run our outreach events at, and even details like weather and shade. If you have ever made a grab and go kit that contains crayons, and in the middle of summer left them out on a counter for an extended period of time in the heat, then you know how weather can affect the functionality of certain items! Not that we ever did that
This is just one small example of how effective statistics help us plan and anticipate patron needs of the future. Our team constantly works hard on finding ways that will support our efforts of meeting these needs. The amount of time and attention to detail that this team has committed to our statistics development is so impressive to me. I feel like they have really been innovative in creating a system that works for now and for years to come. The thing I appreciate the most about them is that they approach a situation not with the limitations in mind, but instead, with the commitment to work around barriers and find solutions that best suit our needs. This kind of mentality has often helped our library to accomplish our goals while being mindful of our limited resources and budget. As a team, I feel like Todd, Ellie and Emmanuel really have shown us how to problem solve and overcome obstacles. Thanks for all your hard work, team!
By Monique Gaddy
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.
A New Place to Play
When the Board Game Standing Group at the University of Idaho Library started hosting Third Thursday Board Games each month, their original idea was that patrons would prefer to play games in a group study room. With this in mind, they reserved one and used it each month for a few years running. Sadly, attendance was meager for these events. The event was advertised, and sandwich signs were put out front of the library to little avail. It took an outsider to suggest that they move the event to the front space of the library so patrons could see what was happening and spontaneously join in. With that input, Third Thursday Board Games has moved to the front of the library and enjoyed a three-fold increase in participants.
By Jessica Fleener
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? What about a new idea, book, or resource that you want to share? Library Crush Corner is a place for those working in Idaho libraries to share what inspires them, and who or what they’re crushing on… in a professional sense. Share your story via our online form so we can publish it in a future issue!
Increasing Accessibility in Academic Libraries
In an article in Library Journal, North Carolina State University discusses their plans to address and increase accessibility not only in their physical spaces, but also in their collections and offerings. Some of their plans for their physical spaces include adjustable-height work surfaces and lighting, and more quiet study areas. They plan to offer sensory maps for autistic users in addition to the more traditional maps. For e-resources they have acquired tools such as Pope Tech to help identify missing alt text from images, poor color contrast, etc. Not only were these issues identified, but all 327,000 errors (across 14,000 pages) have now been fixed. They also developed in house the Readability Widget which allows users to customize their website by turning on a dyslexia friendly font, highlighting links, etc. Kudos to NC State Libraries and their dedication to accessibility!
Reference: Chiricuzio, S. (2023, 9 February). An ethical imperative: Expanding accessibility in libraries at NC State. Library Journal.
By Tania Harden
SPLAT explores the ever-evolving library world and supports library folks as they adapt to meet the needs of 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 https://libraries.idaho.gov/splat/
SPLAT is brought to you by the Idaho Commission for Libraries and was made possible, in part, by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (LS-246156-OLS-20). The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.