BARTOW FOCUS GROUP – APRIL 18
 

Question 1: What are the challenges that are facing libraries today and for the next few years? (In priority order)
 
• Staffing issues: qualifications, training, coping with changes
• Changes in technology: making the best choices from all the options
• Funding
• Multicultural changes: language, collections/ resources
• Interlibrary loan: the need to obtain broader scope of materials than library can afford to purchase
 

Question 2: What are the things that TBLC does well that help you address these challenges?
 
• Changing technology and other new library stuff: TBLC presents forums on these innovations, making it easier for libraries to cope with changes
• Customer Service: staff is personable, helpful, knowledgeable; always have time for you and listen to your concerns.
• DLLI Delivery: need to plan for expansion
• Training: good variety; cross training (academic/public, e.g.)
• Bibliographic services: need to make sure this continues at the level we are used to (clone Ellen)
• Brings in excellent speakers
• Have quality staff at TBLC
 

Question 3: What should TBLC add, change or improve that would help you to better meet the challenges ahead?
 
• Ask a Librarian: librarians who staff it need to make sure they communicate on a level the patron can understand, not use acronyms; maybe need more training on determining age of patron since that is harder on the Internet. Not all librarians show up for their shift, making it harder on those who do. There is a “virtual school” that sometimes clogs up the system (a lot of kids online at once). Seems not quite as efficient as when it started.
• Delivery system: be prepared to expand
• Training: need more for academic librarians
• Standards: help needed at both regional and national level to maintain staffing, training, and other standards.
• Serve as a clearinghouse for the region: for new software, training, speakers, seminars.
• Help libraries draw on resources of the region (and people’s experience): will need to do more of this as libraries have budget crunch.
• More variety in multicultural offerings: more languages, for example, as different ethnic groups come into region.
• Continue to make improvements in iBorrow.


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