Boone Tree Library Association

1. Boone Tree Library Association Member Survey 09-12-2005

3. What topics would you like Boone Tree meeting speakers to address? • technology issues • Things that pertain to elem., middle and high schools. • Information of academic and public libraries as well as the medical library. • How each of these can better serve the area and how we can all work together to put libraries out front. • Ways in which our libraries may cooperate. • Regional consortium initiatives • Library as a place • Imagination Libraries and how they are doing?

4. Some informative/educational, but some with more of an "entertainment" slant, too. • effective leadership, • "problem" patrons, • technological advances, • specific searching techniques/ • websites building construction and arrangement do's and don't's, • grant sources and writing, • cooperative networks/efforts • New resources/developments in libraries in the Boone Tree Association; • the future of the library in the electronic age; • how to improve ILL to meet the needs of patrons; • how to meet the needs of the community borrower and outreach patrons. • current issues in libraries • local events, • new library technology

5. Dealing with difficult patrons • New websites to assist patrons • Building Public library and school relationships Managing your time effectively • New trends in libraries and where TN is with those trends • salary/pay equity issues • stress and/or time management techniques • communication skills • Changing roles of academic/public librarians in the near future--a chance for open discussion Highlight Bristol Public Library when it is completed--a meeting there • Host a meeting with the JCPL Frankenstein exhibit--spring 2006 Regional interests, • information culture,

6. Current technologies (EDI, EOD, etc.) --all kinds of topics....good speakers/programs are more important to me than ones that are "library-related". • Current issues in library service - to include academic, school, public and special libraries - a balance is necessary to attract librarians from all types of libraries. (This has been done in the past few years!) • Recognition of outstanding programs and achievements. community outreach; • library promotions; education and community services • Is it time for someone to do a program on archival services? special collections at member libraries, • new trends in library service, • ways that we can collaborate across agencies. • Dealing with patrons, • internet usage info, including online searching, for patrons and staff, • issues of local concern

9. What suggestions do you have to improve Boone Tree? • recruit school librarians and Sherrod folks • Get the word to all libraries about this organization. All schools (public and private)need to be aware of this organization. Make sure that you do not get away from the bylaws that have been established. n/a • Choose different libraries for the meetings. Lately we seem to be going to the same ones. Continue to recruit enthusiastic office-bearers like the current ones. • meetings should be 6:30-9:00pm with emphasis on concluding by 9:00pm. • more activities involving area libraries

10. I think that we have gained a lot of momentum in the past few years. I just hope to see that momentum continue and for us to begin getting more new members in. • Also, I think that meeting more frequently (4 times a year), would help newer members feel more comfortable about seeking offices sooner. A newsletter that is available ONLY to current, "in-good-standing" members would also be nice -- I think that members might like to keep up with what other members are doing and/or what is going on in the region's libraries, as well as with the actual organization. • More publicity to reach library personnel • Schedule a meeting in each library of the Boone Tree Association

11. Meet 3 or 4 times a year but with shorter, more orderly meetings • Promote it as a time to network with other librarians and paraprofessionals • Publicizing this organization or explaining the mission of this group so more people can be involved. • Fund raising campaign to sell materials to boost treasury and provide paid trainers with BTLA as sponsors of workshop/seminars or other charitable projects. • Continue emphasis on multi-type library cooperative projects • A seminar or two aimed at some strong local need for education? Do not have the meetings on the same night. I seem to ALWAYS have a conflict. • A campaign to publicize what Boone Tree is and the benefits of communication/socialization of all involved in libraries in the area. The brochure and website are steps in this direction...maybe a concentrated personal contact is the next step.

12. As a school librarian, I've been going to Boone Tree for many years but have never felt that it was particularly interested in school libraries. Of course, that might be because there aren't more than a couple of school librarians who are members! I have always enjoyed the meetings--even hosted one in my library--because I believe that school librarians make a mistake in cutting themselves off from the larger community of library service in all branches. I always learn something that I didn't know before, maybe not even something that enriches my own library, but I firmly believe that all knowledge is valuable and affects your own relationship to the world. More opportunities for collaboration You do a good job and are good at communicating information. • Right now I am too busy to take full advantage of the meetings, but I hope to be able to do so sometime in the future. • work on membership - reach out to libraries/library employees who are not participating