Curb Appeal - Webinar (03/08/22)

You're proud of your collection, your programs, your staff, and your services. But the physical details of library also are what people remember and can encourage them to return. 

There may be issues that don’t bother you even though other people have brought them up: dim bulbs, drab walls, a weird smell in tech services, broken concrete by the loading dock. What would a stranger notice first driving into the parking lot, walking up to the front door, spending time in the front lobby, or wandering around the basement, the stairs, or the stacks? Can you look at your library workplace with fresh eyes and find ways to make it shine, even on a limited budget? 

And what about accessibility? It might not be obvious to able-bodied staff members that a place for library customers to sit at a service desk might encourage more patrons, who need that extra comfort, to use the library’s services more often. Or that the lighting in the stacks is fine for the average person but not for visitors with failing vision. And, in the desire to create a destination library with concerts and performances, have you neglected those who still want a quiet place to read and study? Is the art in the children’s and teen areas what the kids like, or is what the adults think the kids like?

How does your library represent your community visually? What would a visitor learn about the people, history, geography, and cultures of where you live and work? What do successful retail stores do to make their spaces more inviting? Why are light and color important?

Topics include: first impressions, updating your operational plan, removing clutter, affordable fixables, and keeping the library safe for the elderly, infirmed, and younger children.

Virtual Trainer: Pat Wagner

Pat Wagner has been a library trainer and consultant since 1978. She has been producing and facilitating online programs for over 20 years. Pat has been a frequent visitor to Florida library and was a facilitator for the Sunshine State Library Leadership Institute.

This is an online class. Access information will be emailed one week ahead.

Cost: NEFLIN classes are free of charge for Florida library staff. Registration is required for all classes and NEFLIN members get priority.