Touching the Meaning

If you know me well at all, you have likely heard me talk about the “Two Ms” that I think are important to the work we do…I usually phrase this as “Maximize with Meaning.” The “maximizing” is often cause for much hard work and is likely to be more obvious: a higher door count, more program attendance, impressive stats. The “meaning” part is generally a bit more allusive…and still it goes deep. Today I had a long moment where I touched on the meaning, and in some way it had shifted and tugged at me and I stand in awe at the very nature of the work that libraries do and the depth we can reach. The short version of the story:

Last week a library user asked to have an appointment with me. I checked my calendar, we made the appointment and I thought that perhaps this was a community member wishing to discuss a concern or perhaps even a local vendor wanting to make sure the Public Library knew about her service. Instead, when I walked out into our administrative office area, I was greeted by a gentleman who wished to share a story of gratitude with me.  I sat down beside him and he told me that his homeland is Iran and that he is Muslim. For many years he tried to gain his American citizenship unsuccesfully. He began coming to Boulder Public Library’s public program on citizenship as well as the Conversations in English programs that run throughout the week. He gained both knowledge, confidence and belief in himself. He reached into his small canvas briefcase and brought out a navy blue binder. It was slightly bent on the edges from wear. He opened the binder to show me his certification as an American Citizen. With joy and gratitude in his wise eyes he said “welcome” and “thank you” to me (me, who has been in this wonderful city for only a month). He continued to tell me that one of our strong and dedicated librarians (Laura) who had witnessed his long desire to become an American citizen had written a letter of recommendation for him to receive his citizenship. Our Outreach Librarian Ghada had helped arrange for him opportunities to strengthen his English. He pronounced the library as the very cause for the certificate of American citizenship he held in his hand. I stood in awe and mutual gratitude. This long moment touched on the meaning that we all seek to find in our work as we plow through the paperwork, troubleshoot the new technologies, rally the strong and faint at heart on a daily basis.

As this kind and gentle man put his beloved certificate back in his bag and stood to leave, I was speechless with my heart pounding. “I welcome you and thank this library,” he said. I stood in a moment of meaning so gloriously quiet and deep. This is why we do it.

The photo above is from Free Use Photos Group. Check it out. Join. Use.

Nellie McKay & What It’s All About

Only a few minutes ago I returned from the Nellie McKay performance at the b.line in Boulder.  I walked home with a feeling of inspiration, wonder, creativity and call-to-action. The performance was somewhat raw and honest, insightful and alarming with a strong dose of absolute humor and charm. As utterly abnormal as it may seem to those outside the Library world, on the walk home I couldn’t help but think how this wisp of a performer embodies the very essence of Libraries. Youthful yet wise, simple and still layered with complexities that drew the audience’s attention and at points so straight-forward there was no room for misinterpretation (image: the  songstress walked off the stage and passed out a clipboard so that audience members could be sure to get the web site address for a cause she supports : Non-violence United . Moving seemlessly between full-out performing to nimbly going into songs that the audience members called out (“Clony!”), she also showed she’d done her homework about Boulder–she created a song on-the-spot about a local restaurant and encouraged people to be aware of a local rezoning issue! Note to Self: Nellie McKay is a likely candidate for a featured song on Library Tribute Album.

Form & Structure

I’ve been thinking quite a bit about form and structure lately. The literal form and structure our libraries take on is a strong indicator of the presence we have in the community. It says much about our community itself–a reflection of the community mind and intent, if you will. There is another type of form and structure that is not so literal. It is what holds up all that is tangible, but is seldom seen in an obvious way. You can call it our mission, vision, core values. I often like to speak about it as our “commitments.” And let me tell you, these are felt and are as real as brick and mortar. What is the structure that holds our organizations together?  What is the form that we build around, that gives us some since of balance in uncertain times or when we need to remember who we really are?

The entrance to the Main Library in Boulder is a stunning glass and metal conoid that is an abstraction of the grande Flatiron Mountains that watch over the city. I find myself thinking much about this conoid and how it is a strong symbol of the structure and form that makes up community mind (aka, libraries). It is an obvious structure, reflects the familiar and  yet still makes one wonder and imagine all the sky that can be seen through it. I think this is much the way the form and structure libraries and community organizations can (and often strive to) be.

Can you feel the structure you’re working and developing within? Is your structure and form still allowing room for glancing the sky beyond?

Ready, Set, Start!

Want to know a great way to start your own day or someone else’s? Here you go:  Make someone smile and laugh out loud!

Here’s what I found on my office door this morning–my first day at Boulder Public Library. Thanks, BPL for making me smile, laugh and feel so welcome on this first day in a great city in a great library system!

Balancing Act

Is there anything like moving (especially moving far away) to make you look at all the elements in your life (both concrete and abstract) and at the same time stay in a constant state of motion, movement, decision-making and plain-old-life-stuff? In this past week, I’ve moved over 1,600 miles from the place I’ve lived for more than 10 years. I’ve sifted through so much of the flotsom and jetsom of my life and have made some necessary, bold and sometimes wrenching decisions and conclusions about where I am, what I wish to accomplish, and the spirit in which I want all this to happen. It’s real-life stuff happening. And, again, nothing like a move to bring all this to the forefront. In my experience, there has most always been that solid, balanced idea that holds it all together, a small force that moves it all forward, especially when I put one foot in front of the other and don’t resist the quiet brush to move along and get on with the business of my life.

What does all of this mean? In this past week I’ve been reminded that there is a balance to all matters that rises up and delivers. As I sit here in Boulder reflecting on the past several months that have moved me from there to here, I am feeling a sense of balance even though tomorrow officially opens a new chapter in my career, I’m living in a (beautiful) stikingly different part of the world, and I now have a fraction of the furniture under this roof as the one in Charlotte. But balance is there. It is so interesting how this reminder can come out of one of the most frenetic times in life.

My family and most of the world I know is almost 2000 miles away and yet I am delighted to be here in Boulder and beginning my work with Boulder Public Library. Balance in Boulder. Sounds good.

Here are 3 ideas that have come to me over the past few weeks that can help remind us of that undercurrent of balance (and keep our feet–and mind–moving forward):

1. Look at the evidence. What do you really know that is actually happening; the real and obvious things you can name (not speculations, well-meaning warnings from others or worries).

2. Get away from the pressing issue for a whle. Even one hour of activity unrelated to the “big item” in your life can allow you to refuel, catch some perspective and get a new idea about what your next move should be. Dig in the dirt. Go shopping. Take a nap.

3. When you don’t know what to do, ask for your own advice. What would you tell a friend who was juggling several new projects and still dealing with a life matter? Can you tell that to yourself…and then act on it?

Balance. It sounds so calming, so easy. We all know that it often feels like work. It’s there, though, through it all. I have a week that felt like a year to show for it. Happily, I’m moving forward (as balanced as possible) into a new community, a new job that I already love and with people who have made me feel so welcome. Now that is good, balanced evidence.

Chatter about Twitter

I’m finding that twitter has created much more of a buzz (chatter, hum, you name the word) than most of us figured it would when it first surfaced. Last night I read this article  about the genesis of the little idea that could–and has! Interesting to see how something seemingly so simple has been so wildly successful. This certainly is one more big mark for the dreamers-and-doers of the world! Much coming down the pike for the 2 guys that put their idea into action. Check it out:

Twitter Took Off From Simple to “Tweet” Success

Focus, Manage, Control or Synchroneyes

Yesterday, the Boulder Daily Camera posted an article about the “classroom management” software Synchroneyes that has been installed in almost fifty schools and colleges throughout Colorado. The article focuses primarily on the fact that the software allows teachers to monitor what is on the screens of their students (ie, “no Internet surfing during class”). Taking a look at the company’s web site, I see that they package the message quite differently:

…offers a variety of features that enable you to keep students focused on learning and redirect their attention if they go off track.

In the Daily Camera article students and teachers were interviewed and they share very different opinions on the necessity of the software in the classroom.  One statement from the article jumped off the screen at me most rapidly:

Emilio Bernabei, director of software and content for SynchronEyes, said the application allows teachers to be in charge of learning.

Could this approach be what has prompted a couple of Internet sitings of video and instructions posted by students on how to uninstall the software? One comment I found, posted obviously by a student,  left little room for guessing:

Synchroneyes is one of the most annoying programs the teachers have at their disposal and this is how you… end the process quickly and easily.

The student goes on to give simple instructions for disabling the software.

Whether such monitoring software is helpful or controlling is certainly a matter of opinion and approach.  What I find very interesting is the differing slants on a single product, how various aspects can be a positive or a negative depending on who is asked.

After doing a quick scan, I found a small handful of schools or colleges who use the product which has been around for what looks like at least 3 years. 

Two sides (or twelve) to every story.

Murketing (with a Red Bull Chaser)

Over a month ago I listened to an interview between Diane Rehm and writer Rob Walker about what he has coined”murketing” in his new book Buying In: The Secret Dialogue Between What We Buy And Who We Are. My ears perked up at the very mention of a made-up-word that I immediately understood (when you’re able to make that happen you strike gold in the world of language!). I hastily scribbled notes from the interview in my DEAL notebook that morning. Alas, the notebook has been unearthed from the rubble of moving boxes and piles of packing items this very morning. Here are some of the points that struck me at the time. And one big question that I was left with: Did Red Bull change the way we market products and services (this was the example that was used like a refrain throughout the interview)?

-“Murketing” is the murykying of marketing

-“Buzzing” a new product or services gives a feeling of being on the forefront of something new; marketers love to use this

-Many marketing efforts are moving toward smaller but intense events that spread the more directly and pointedly about a product

-Perhaps the best case study of one of these intense marketing efforts to present a new product was the release of Red Bull; no one really new what Red Bull was at the time (energy drink? new age soda? what was “torine?”)

-Many marketers (like the Red Bull case) are not  really saying what “the message” of the product is, they are allowing the public to decide  (yep, that could get murky…but meaningful!)

-Advertisers/Marketers are learning how to create desire in consumers unconsciously without directly telling them what to do/buy

-Allowing the public to “complete the marketing process” (Tony says: I love the idea of this used with integrity to market the library to our users)

-The Ramones have sold 100% (?!) more T-shirts than albums!

-“The 100’s”–movement that is supposed to be rejecting brands but have in actuality created their own brand (California vibe…)

-Having an “indy brand” feel is a strong selling point

-Red Hat Society started as an informal gathering of women and now they are a company! Spread completely by word of mouth (and obvious visual)

-“Consumer Empowerment” is not about complaining about a product on a blog, it’s about what you buy and don’t buy. This is what drives product survival or improvement. (we vote with our dollars…still)

-Companies often “dupe” consumers by changing the product imaging (packaging) instead of actually improving and responding to need

-“Open Model Marketing”-allows consumers to fill-in-the-blanks in what the message of a product is

-Common advertising/marketing practice: trigger and emotional response in the consumer

-Branding is not only about supporting a logo buy also and image, characteristic (think: American Apparel)

-People make decsions on “short hand notions” whether it is who they vote for or what type of energy drink they grab (Red Bull, once again).

Yes, it applies across the board–whether in corporate America or a one-branch library. Reading, talking and thinking about marketing (murketing) stirs up how we present ourselves and ultimately how to make ourselves more relavent.

For more kicks check out the Murketing Blog.