PVLD Director's Blog

Giving thanks

Every year has its ups and downs, but for me 2012 was one of those roller coasters where the downs were steeper and the ups were higher than we've experienced for some time.  There were plenty of moments (and days, and even a few weeks) that I hope never to have to live through again, but there were also many blessings.

A good portion of the blessings have to do with where I work and who I get to work with.  The PVLD staff is an amazing and energetic group that continuously seeks out ways to make our libraries better and better.  This year we've taken on some really major projects - from overhauling our library collection to a comprehensive renovation of the Miraleste Library - and countless more incremental improvements to services, programs, and operating practices.  Much of the work on all of these projects was done by the staff in addition to their normal daily and weekly duties.

We also have more than 200 vwonderful olunteers, from teens through older adults, who help with everything from shelving books to library programs to fundraising.  Without them we simply could not deliver the quality of library services we do.

Plus I am blessed with 5 wonderful bosses on our Board of Library Trustees.  Next month we will be saying farewell to Trustees Nancy Mahr and Bill Lama, who have served on the Library Board for my entire tenure as Director and welcoming Jim Moore and Debby Stegura both of whom have all of the attributes necessary to provide the leadership the Library District needs.  I am grateful that both Bill and Nancy have indicated their willingness to continue their involvement with the library and that they will have such capable replacements.

I've also been fortunate to be able to serve with many wonderful community members on the Palos Verdes Chamber of Commerce Board.  They are a hardworking bunch and dedicated to sustaining the Peninsula as a wonderful place to live and work.

Lastly I am blessed to have a spouse who is willing to do more than his share of cooking, cleaning and yard work so that I am free to spend the time that my job and community/professional commitments demand. 

On this Thanksgiving eve I am feeling very blessed despite the personal and family challenges the year has brought.  Thank you to everyone who has supported me this year, and a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all!

Turkey Jon

The Palos Verdes Library District serves a generally affluent community, and one that is a bit off the beaten path (far from a freeway, up a big hill, limited access by public transit) so unlike many public libraries we do not have many patrons who appear to be indigent or homeless...but we do have some.

Perhaps because seeing someone who appears homeless is not a common sight in our libraries, our patrons (and sometimes our employees) don't always know how to react.  We have had patrons ask if "people like that" should be allowed in the library  - the answer is yes, we are a public building and anyone is welcome to enjoy our facilities provided they comply with our policies.

It may be a sign of the continued economic pressures but recently we seem to have had more visits from people who appear to be homeless, along with incidents of use of our restrooms for bathing (not allowed), sleeping for an extended period (upright while sitting in a chair - allowed as long as it isn't interfering with anyone's ability to make use of the library in comfort), bringing in luggage or multiple bags (allowed as long as the person retains control of their items, does not block aisles or access, and does not interfere with others' use of the library), and severe odor due to lack of bathing (if the odor is so strong it makes use of the library unpleasant for others the person can be asked to leave). 

In these situations it can be tempting to react to a person's appearance and make assumptions about their personal situations - that the person in layers of torn clothing  or the one dragging a battered suitcase and caring several plastic bags of clothing is homeless - and then base our actions on those assumptions rather than the person's behavior as it relates to library use.

The reality is that appearances can be deceiving.  That is why I loved this article from the front page of yesterday's Los Angeles Times about "Turkey Jon" Burt, who is a familiar sight around the Beach Cities where I live.    Based on this description from the article, it would be easy to assume that Mr. Burt is homeless:

Burt is a huddle of clothes, hunched over the handlebars, white plastic bags hanging as sentries. "Stuff for the beach," he says of the contents.

He is wrapped in layer upon layer of warmth topped by a flannel jacket, ripped in places. Windbreaker pants fend off the stiff ocean breezes that come with sunrise.

Affectionately called Turkey Jon, he rolls along Hermosa Avenue. Rumpled, grizzled, wearing moccasins with his big toe poking out of the left one, Burt seems out of place in this town of bikinis and flip-flops.

And yet the reality is very different.  He has a home, a family who love him, and many friends. 

As I read the article I wondered, if Mr. Burt came to our library how would he be treated?  I hope it would be as a welcome guest, and not as someone to be viewed with suspicion.

Strategic Planning?

Over the course of a 20+ year career in management, I've been inculcated with the idea that every organization needs a Strategic Plan and that developing one is a Serious Undertaking preferably involving a consultant, lots of input from stakeholders, and many hours of discussion to develop clear, measurable goals and objectives.

Lately I've been wondering whether strategic planning as traditionally practiced is really a sacred cow rather than an essential tool, and it seems that I am not alone in this heresy.  I've had a number of recent conversations with people from a variety of backgrounds and in a variety of organizational contexts, all of whom seem to be wondering whether it is more important for an organization to develop a shared culture and a shared vision of the desired future (whether or not that vision is documented in a traditional "vision statement") and then turn people loose to make it happen than to spend a lot of time, energy (and often money) developing a document that is pretty much out-of-date as soon as it is written.

Here at PVLD we've now been through a number of iterations of strategic planning processes, and while each has been valuable I think that is as much because they helped move our leadership team towards a shared vision of what we want to achieve together as because of the specific objectives, goals, and measures that the plans contain. 

Our last Strategic Plan was written nearly three years ago, and as it nears its expiration date I am wondering what to do next...and thinking that maybe we are at the point articulated in thisquote from Herb Kelleher of Southwest Airlines, creator of one of the great corporate cultures of our time:
Thanks Swissmiss for sharing .

Book Bike

Just because it is a beautiful day for a bike ride, and instead of  being at my desk writing my monthly report I wish I were out and about on one of these!  Thanks Patrick Sweeney for sharing

http://tucsonvelo.com/news/book-bike-will-take-library-for-a-ride/9635