Category: Libraries

Newest Palm Beach County Library Branch Opening January 11, 2025

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What is the most amazing way for a librarian to start the new year?

By opening a brand-new library branch of course!

I’m excited to share that my library system’s newest location, the Canyon Branch, is opening on January 11, 2025. Over the past five years I have been working on this project alongside our architects, interior designers, construction contractors and a host of library and County staff. It is the first location that I was involved in creating from the ground up. Now all the hard work that the Palm Beach County team has put into the project is about to come to fruition.

Thank you to all the people whose support made this new branch possible, including our library district residents, County Administration, and the Board of County Commissioners.

Do you want a sneak peek at the library before our official opening? On Tuesday, January 7, the Friends of the Palm Beach County Library System will host tours of the Canyon Branch from 3-6 pm as a fundraising event. Friends of the Library members pay $10 per person for the early access. Not a Friends member yet? Become one at the door for as little as $25 or sign up now through their website.

If you live in or near Palm Beach County, I invite you to attend the ribbon cutting on January 11, 10 am. Can’t make it that day? Then drop by anytime afterward to visit the new library. It will be open seven days a week all year round.

The Canyon Branch is located in the Canyon Town Center at 8915 Senator Joe Abruzzo Ave, Boynton Beach, Florida 33472, about a mile west of the Florida Turnpike exit.

Below is the press release for the opening day. I look forward to seeing you at the Canyon Branch library.

Press Release

The Palm Beach County Library System is excited to begin the official countdown to the grand opening of the Canyon Branch Library. The culmination of this momentous project is set for Jan 11, 2025, where the branch will officially open to the public. This has been many years in the making, with the official planning for the new branch library beginning in 2019.

A six marble column art installation called “Opening Minds,” designed by Brad J. Goldberg, graces the front of the building. The columns feature famous quotes and titles from American and World history and binary code representing the intermingling of the traditional and digital world. This installation reinforces the Library’s vision of opening minds to a world of unlimited possibilities.

The new building features an open and spacious design. It boasts a collection of 130,000 library materials, a beautiful atrium, a bright Children and Teen Area and our largest meeting room space.

Located in the heart of the lively and up-and-coming area of Canyon in western Boynton, the Palm Beach County Library System hopes to provide the community with a space that connects, inspires and enriches the lives of its members.

Library Director Douglas Crane stated, “We are excited to welcome residents to the new Canyon Branch. It will offer a wealth of resources, programs and services designed to meet the diverse needs of our community.”

Follow the Palm Beach County Library System on social media for updates and sneak peeks of the branch, @pbclibrary, on all platforms.

Why You Should Join a Professional Organization

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As we move towards the new year, many professional associations are reaching out to retain existing members and invite new people to join. In my case, I am a proud member of the American Library Association, the Public Library Association, CORE, the Florida Library Association, and the Palm Beach County Library Association.

Some people resist joining an association because they don’t see the value in spending money on the membership. However, there are many great reasons to join a professional association and take full advantage of their offerings.

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Here’s my top seven reasons to join a professional association.

Networking Opportunities: Professional associations host events, conferences, and online platforms that allow members to connect with their peers. Access to a community of like-minded professionals fosters collaboration and an exchange of ideas.

Career Advancement: Many associations have job boards, recruitment events, or exclusive listings that help members find new work opportunities. Also, associations provide access to training programs, certifications, and workshops that enhance skills and share new ideas.

Industry Knowledge and Resources: Many professional associations publish journals, articles, and white papers that provide insights into trends and research findings. Members also have access to webinars and speaking events to hear from leaders in the profession.

Credibility and Recognition: Being part of an association can boost member’s credibility and establish them as a respected professional. Many associations set standards and ethical guidelines, helping ensure that members uphold expectations of quality and professionalism.

Advocacy and Influence: Professional associations often lobby for policies that benefit their members and industry. Being a member allows you to have a voice in these advocacy efforts. Some associations offer legal support or resources on hot topic issues.

Leadership Opportunities: Volunteering for committees, boards, or events within the association can develop leadership abilities and help members stand out. This is especially helpful for those who are seeking supervisory experience to improve their resume.

Support and Mentorship: Associations often offer formal mentorship programs that connect less experienced professionals with leaders in their field. Having a network of people in similar positions can provide advice, support, and insight into career challenges.

Give yourself the gift of professional growth by joining an association today. For library workers and supporters, both FLA and ALA lowered their membership rates this year. So now is the perfect time to invest in yourself.

Florida Library Association Membership Drive – Join Today, Grow Today

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This year there is a great opportunity to join a collection of dedicated library professionals in their quest to grow, serve, and enhance libraries across the state.

The Florida Library Association has launched a membership drive. The goal is to get the organization up to 1,000 members by January. As Immediate Past President of FLA, I invite you to join Florida’s premiere Assocation for library workers and professionals.

To reach that goal, FLA has reduced its membership rates to make them more affordable for all library workers and supporters.

I have been a proud member of FLA for over a decade. Membership allowed me to expand my professional horizons, make lasting friendships, and voice my advocacy for the great work our libraries do every day to connect communities, inspire thought, and enrich lives.

Here are benefits that Individual members receive.

  • Participate on committees and the Executive Board – develop leadership skills
  • News and Support on fast breaking issues
  • Continuing Education Webinars and Trainings – professional development
  • Networking Events – meet people from across Florida
  • Awards presented at our FLA Annual Conference
  • Eligibility to vote in association elections
  • Discounts on registration to our Annual Conference 
  • Eligibility to form or join Member Groups on topics of interest
  • Access to member communications and mailing lists
  • Florida Libraries journal and eligibility to be featured in the publication
  • Exclusive online resources, including our member directory

Never been a member before? Thinking of returning as a member? Or simply renewing your membership?

All the information you need to commit to membership can be found on the FLA membership website. Please consider joining today!

Your support will go a long way in ensuring that libraries of all types will continue their mission to serve the residents of Florida. In return you will be part of a proud organization that has supported Florida’s libraries for over 100 years.

I look forward to seeing you as an FLA Member!

Celebrate National Library Week

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Do you love libraries? Do you believe they are vital institutions in our communities? Do you value their role in our educational system? If so, please join me in celebrating National Library Week!

Every year in April is the annual celebration of the impact that libraries have on our nation. The American Library Association leads the way by setting the theme for the week. According to the ALA web site:

The theme for National Library Week 2024 (April 7-13) is Ready, Set, Library! National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature and Newbery and Pura Belpré-award winning author Meg Medina will serve as 2024 Honorary Chair.

What are some of the ways to celebrate National Library Week? For starters, the easiest first step is to visit a library. According to the ALA:

National Library Week is the perfect time to visit your library. Many libraries have special events planned for the week. Bring the kids or invite your friends. Meet the librarians. Check out books or other great items in your library’s collection or attend a program. Take time to learn all your library has to offer!

Learn more about National Library Week, including special Celebration Days such as The Right to Read Day, by visiting the ALA’s site.

Kris McGuigan on Courage

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In these trying times, we all need to build more courage in our lives. The question is how to do it!

As the current Florida Library Association President, I am very excited about our upcoming conference in Orlando May 15-17. At the top of my list for the event is listening to our Keynote Speaker, Kris McGuigan. She is the author of The Requisite Courage, a book designed to help build confidence and clarity in your life in order to overcome any obstacle. As Kris describes of the book on her website.

Life is full of disruption: whether suffering a loss, altering your environment, or gaining a new leader. The Requisite Courage offers the precise know-how for navigating change, taking control of your destiny, and creating long-lasting results.

If you want to align your corporate strengths to personal values or just need to stop clinging to the status quo, The Requisite Courage is the direct and fearless approach to problem-solving you’ve been missing.

I am excited to share that Kris will be doing an exclusive Q&A with FLA members on Tues. March 5, 2 pm EST. This will be a great opportunity to meet Kris for a discussion about courage and other topics.

Also, see highlights of Kris as a speaker by checking out her Speaker Demo Reel on YouTube.

Registration is now open for the FLA Conference. I hope to see you in Orlando.

7 Surprising Ways Your Library Card Can Save You Money

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Do you know which card in your wallet might save you the most money? It’s not your fancy points credit card, or your AAA membership. It is mostly likely your library card!

While it is common knowledge that people can check out books for free at the library, and in fact, many libraries have even dropped overdue fines! However, there are multiple ways to get value out of your local library than simply borrowing books. This past week NPR reports Marielle Segarra and Audrey Nguyen published an article called 7 surprising ways the public library can help you save money. For the first way they highlight unusual items that some libraries lend out.

Libraries offer all kinds of items on loan. “Video games, musical instruments, board games. Some libraries have bakeware collections where you can get baking pans,” says Threets.

Akhila Bhat, branch manager at Harris County Public Library in Katy, Texas, says her library system has a seed library. “Patrons can pick up seeds to start a garden and drop off seeds for others to take home and plant.”

Meanwhile, libraries like the Providence Public Library in Rhode Island have tools you can check out. That includes a cordless drill, safety goggles and a laser level.

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Another way that the authors highlight the value of the library card is through the free activities and events happening monthly at your neighborhood library.

Save money on live music by checking out what your local branch has to offer. The New York Public Library’s performance art space, for example, has upcoming concerts featuring a choir and a quartet. And people can watch a classical guitarist or a harpist perform at different libraries in Los Angeles County.

Learn about the other five ways to save money with your library card by reading the rest of the article on the NPR website.

Thoughts on Management: Improving Meetings and Communication

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Adapted from my presentation to the Library Journal Management Training group on Oct. 24, 2023.

No organization can succeed without effective management. Grand strategic plans and lofty visions mean nothing without dedicated middle managers mobilizing the boots on the ground to turn these dreams into reality.

For six years I was a branch manager in the Palm Beach County Library System. Those years were some of the most enjoyable, challenging, and growth inducing I have faced as a professional. During that time, I honed skills and sought understanding of how to make my role more effective not only carry out the library’s mission, but also to support my branch staff in the process. During this time, I discovered that there are many factors that impact managers. Some of the most important ones are running productive meetings, handling change, and practicing effective communication.

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While middle managers are often derided, such as famously on the TV show The Office, for many people they are wonderful positions. A middle manager in libraries is often in a sweet spot where they are close enough to the front lines to see the direct impact of the service, while also far enough back to get perspective and be part of broader system-wide projects. The key tension for managers is handling the responsibilities that flow to them from both above and below. Managers need to ensure that the front-line work is done effectively by offering support and guidance to their staff. At the same time, they must interpret policy and directives coming from administration and communicate those effectively to their team.

Read the rest of the article on the Efficient Librarian web site.

The Overwhelming Cost of Book Banning

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BOOK CHALLENGES in libraries are nothing new, but until recently they generally involved a single title, in a single library, being filed by one person. Such challenges are best handled locally, where those raising questions have, in most cases, acted in good faith. But today we are seeing the weaponization of school and public library policies by a small number of people, filing an unmanageable number of challenges that grind our public institutions to a halt.

Thus begins an article called The Overwhelming Cost of Book Banning published in the New Hampshire Union Leader. Written by Katherine Towler, Sy Montgomery, and Peter Bromberg, the article explores the current state of book challenges. It notes that the vast majority of challenges are being done by very few people. Amazingly, their impact on operations was deep.

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How few people are filing complaints? The Washington Post studied more than 1,000 book challenges and found that 11 people were behind the complaints. In one Utah school district, a married couple were behind 199 out of 205 challenges. The district reported that the challenges required 10,000 hours of staff time and cost more than $100,000. In Texas, documents show that more than 16 employees spent more than 225 hours at a cost of $30,000 on a single book challenge at the Spring Branch ISD.

How can libraries respond to this sort of disruption? The trio propose several things that would remove the ability for a few people to have an oversized impact on library operations. One of the ideas has to do with placing appropriate limits on public complaint.

One policy proposal is simply to allow for public comment and feedback on public policy and law, but clarify that feedback about operations (book selection, programming, spaces, services, etc.) while welcomed, will not automatically lead to a formal, time-consuming review. 

To learn more, please read the rest of the article.

Preview the New Library Website

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I’m proud to share that the Palm Beach County Library System is upgrading its website. Right now, we are offering a preview of the new site to get feedback from the public. Take a look by visiting: https://palmbeach.bibliocms.com/

The new site features:

  • easier to navigate drop-down menus
  • an upgraded catalog overlay to more effectively display search results
  • easier to sort event listings
  • “staff pick” book lists
  • and quick links to all of our electronic media offerings

Please use the new contact us page to provide your thoughts on the site.

We look forward to launching the new website by October 1.