Ask Tim - CONNECT Forum

At the most recent CONNECT Forum, attendees participated in a Q & A session with Director Tim Rogers. Because of the importance of this session, we took the unorthodox step of recording it so that the widest number of librarians could share the experience, including those unable to attend. Some questions were submitted anonymously via an email form prior to the session and some questions were asked during the live event.

In keeping with the spirit of the CONNECT Forum, the recording is made available here on the intranet only to those eligible to attend CONNECT. We have also included the text of the questions below along with the time they appear on the recording.

After listening to this recording, please consider answering this short anonymous survey: https://metrolibrary.wufoo.com/forms/m1dk268o10z9toe/. Results are submitted directly to me and are completely anonymous. We'll use the information to plan future CONNECT Forum sessions. 

If you have any questions about the session, the survey or CONNECT Forum, please email me or any other member of the CONNECT Forum Planning Committee.

Buddy Johnson
CONNECT Forum Chair

Questions from Q&A session with Tim Rogers:

00:00
In light of the recent winter weather, I have been wondering how the decision to close or remain open is made by the administrative team. I understand that these decisions are complicated. Does the Metropolitan Library System currently have any standard procedures guiding the decision as to what constitutes closure of the libraries? If no recommended procedures are currently in place, would this be a helpful tool to develop, and what would the procedure to develop such a tool require?

16:35
You've said that you won't change anything for 90 or so days. Well, it's almost been 90 days! What projects are you working on that you can speak about?

19:20
What does it mean to serve?

22:10
We're big on stories around here. What's your library story? Did you use libraries a lot when you were a child? Who was the first librarian/library to make a big impact on you? What lead you to the library field?

27:40
Where do you see Metro Library is doing well and where do you see there’s an opportunity for growth/improvement?

30:11
Sometimes it seems to take a long time to fill positions in the system. What ideas do you have to possibly streamline the hiring process? What are your thoughts on promoting from within the system rather than going outside? How about a mentoring program?

36:43
What do you think is the library’s role in the community? What direction do you see public libraries moving? Do you see an increased emphasis and programming and different uses of space?

42:43
Many have said that being a librarian is a "dying" profession. With so many librarians fresh out of grad school and so many library employees interested in getting their MLIS, do you feel that the degree (and the job of being a full-fledged librarian) holds value anymore? Was the degree a waste of time and money when so many new hires and a growing number of new positions in the system do not require an MLIS?

47:35
Sometimes it's hard to stay motivated around here, especially when many of our customers tend to use us less as a reference resource and more as a tool to connect to their online entertainment, social media sites, or get a chuckle out of YouTube videos (not that that isn't important!) What would you say to frontline staff who feel a little burned out by this shift?

59:15
Regardless of the fact that same sex marriage is legal in Oklahoma, have there been discussions (and if not, can there now be) to amend the equal opportunity for employment language that is a part of our online job ads to include sexual orientation?

1:09:40
Training for librarians became an issue a few years ago with the advent of ereaders, tablets and other new technologies, to what degree do you believe librarians are responsible for their own training? What are your plans to encourage professional development for librarians?

1:15:42
A decade or more ago, those of us who do the majority of our work for and with children were called Childrens Specialists in recognition of the work we do but these days, depending who you talk to, we’re told that the system has no children’s librarians and no children’s departments. I realize it would be ideal if every librarian was equally skilled and had the temperament for working with children but we all know that just isn't the case. What are your views of a dedicated children's' department and dedicated staff for children programming?

1:25:49
What are your plans to change the culture of the system from a punitive environment to one that supports staff and their development?

1:30:12
A local media personality recently tweeted from the booksale that he learned “the library has disturbingly large inventory of Danielle Steel novels.” How do you feel about our having a deeper collection?

1:36:35
Many of our policies, like not buying TV shows on video or the nepotism policy, have seemingly not been reconsidered for decades. Do you see a way that these could be reviewed and what would that process look like to you? What role would you see the professional librarians having in that process, if any?

1:41:43
Do librarians have a role in teaching individuals information literacy or is it enough to provide digital content?

1:42:50
Carl-X: How long is our contract with them? Is that really the best company for our needs or is there a better one?

1:46:28
You've hit the ground running since you got here! It's got to be tough, getting up to speed on everything going on, meeting new people, figuring out what's what. How do you keep energized? What motivates you at work?