Executive Summary of SALS 2010 Survey Responses

Library staff and trustees were asked to complete a satisfaction and use survey as required by the SALS Plan of Service 2007-2010.  Fifty-one people began the survey.  Here are some of the survey highlights.

100% of the respondents are satisfied with our services.

SALS services rated the most used and most valued:

  • Delivery and resource sharing among the membership
  • Polaris and Polaris Support
  • Continuing Education and Consulting
  • Administration and Advocacy

Chart 1 – Use and Value of SALS services

Continue reading

Literary Speed Dating

Public libraries across the country have found a new and interesting way to attract 20 and 30 somethings — literary speed dating.  The idea behind the program is that each person brings a favorite book to use as an icebreaker to get the conversation going with their “date”.  As with traditional speed dating, the men rotate around the room meeting with each woman for only a few minutes at a time.  Once the speed dates are over, the hosting librarian tallies the scorecards and matches up those people with a mutual interest.  For more ideas on hosting your own literary speed dating event, click here.

Connecting Teens with YA Books

While the common belief is that teens don’t read anymore, they are in fact reading–just not books.  In her article, “Using Social Networking to Connect Teens with Young Adult Literature” in the May/June Public Libraries, Janet Hilbun states that “In fact, research shows that teens read constantly–text messages, e-mail, MySpace and Facebook, magazines, instant messages, websites, required school reading, and books.  Even teens who say they are non-readers or do not like to read spend a great deal of each day actually reading.”  So, connecting teens to books they might really enjoy means giving them the information in a way that best suites their reading style.Continue reading