Karen Hyman (hyman@sjrlc.org)Texas Library AssociationApril 4, 2003

Multi-type Multi-type

Regional CooperationRegional Cooperation

Multi-type regional Multi-type regional

cooperativescooperatives ??????[Multiple choice][Multiple choice]

A. “lead and encourage collaboration, A. “lead and encourage collaboration, resource sharing, staff development, and resource sharing, staff development, and innovations to insure that people receive innovations to insure that people receive excellent, up-to-date library services.”excellent, up-to-date library services.”

B. “are responsive to taxpayer’s B. “are responsive to taxpayer’s increasing wariness of any library increasing wariness of any library services that cannot be accessed by the services that cannot be accessed by the whole community.”whole community.”

C. “allow libraries to get in on the change C. “allow libraries to get in on the change and be part of a support group.”and be part of a support group.”

D. “are an outdated ‘70’s concept.”D. “are an outdated ‘70’s concept.”Answer: A, B Answer: A, B andand C ! C !

In New Jersey…In New Jersey…► Multi-type network since 1984.Multi-type network since 1984.► Four regional cooperatives – membership Four regional cooperatives – membership

organizations, established in law and organizations, established in law and regulation.regulation.

► Stable (or static) Network budget: $4.7 Stable (or static) Network budget: $4.7 million (augmented by $1.3 million for million (augmented by $1.3 million for databases, technology bond $ and LSTA.databases, technology bond $ and LSTA.

► Expanded definition of resource sharing: Expanded definition of resource sharing: from sharing our stuff to joint acquisition from sharing our stuff to joint acquisition and project development.and project development.

Resource Sharing of the Past Resource Sharing of the Past assumed…assumed…

► Resource sharing was an extra.Resource sharing was an extra.► Resource sharing was relatively unknown.Resource sharing was relatively unknown.► Communication was slow and limited.Communication was slow and limited.► Technology was proprietary and expensive – Technology was proprietary and expensive –

when there was any.when there was any.► Library resource sharing was the only game in Library resource sharing was the only game in

town.town.► People would drive, wait, and play by our rules.People would drive, wait, and play by our rules.► Giving money to libraries was a self-evident good. Giving money to libraries was a self-evident good. ► Majority of libraries in passive recipient mode.Majority of libraries in passive recipient mode.► Static programs and budgets.Static programs and budgets.

In NJ, in the past three years…In NJ, in the past three years…►Growth of Growth of

Web based services directly available to the end Web based services directly available to the end user: databases, Jersey Cat ILL, Q and A NJ, user: databases, Jersey Cat ILL, Q and A NJ, Tutor.com.Tutor.com.

Cooperatively staffed services – libraries provide Cooperatively staffed services – libraries provide labor.labor.

Regional administration of statewide services.Regional administration of statewide services. ““Opportunistic” services: statewide summer Opportunistic” services: statewide summer

reading, Governor’s reading club, One Book NJ.reading, Governor’s reading club, One Book NJ. Recruitment, leadership development, marketingRecruitment, leadership development, marketing Partnerships.Partnerships.

Highly successful regional networks are…Highly successful regional networks are…

research and development incubators.research and development incubators.

►Helping libraries get Helping libraries get in near the in near the beginning of a beginning of a change. change.

► Providing a support Providing a support group of others group of others working out the working out the issues as they move issues as they move along. along.

Highly successful Highly successful regional regional networksnetworks are… are… risk managers.risk managers.

► Helping libraries become Helping libraries become more adventurous, curious, more adventurous, curious, and technically proficient and technically proficient andand more willing to work outside more willing to work outside of their own comfort level. of their own comfort level.

► Helping libraries achieve a Helping libraries achieve a sense of equilibrium while sense of equilibrium while standing on a moving vehicle.standing on a moving vehicle.

Highly successful Highly successful regional regional networks networks are…are…

human resource developers.human resource developers.

►RecruitingRecruiting►TrainingTraining►Developing leadershipDeveloping leadership►EnergizingEnergizing►Making offers too Making offers too

good to refuse.good to refuse.

Highly successful regional networks Highly successful regional networks are…are…

advocates.advocates.►Developing and maintaining relationships Developing and maintaining relationships

business and industry groups, elected business and industry groups, elected officials and other opinion leaders.officials and other opinion leaders.

►Supporting member library advocacy Supporting member library advocacy efforts.efforts.

►Working with professional associations Working with professional associations and the State Library to establish and and the State Library to establish and promote library funding priorities.promote library funding priorities.

►Honoring library advocates at network Honoring library advocates at network “events.”“events.”

Highly successful regional networks Highly successful regional networks are…are…

planners.planners.► Involving people at Involving people at

all levels of the all levels of the organization. organization.

► Finding, listening Finding, listening and responding to and responding to every great idea.every great idea.

► Focusing on results Focusing on results as defined by the as defined by the end user.end user.

Highly successful regional Highly successful regional networks are…networks are…

excellent problem solvers.excellent problem solvers.

►Defining the big Defining the big problemproblem

►Focusing on the big Focusing on the big result result

► InvestedInvested►CreativeCreative►PersistentPersistent

Highly successful regional networks are…Highly successful regional networks are…savvy marketers.savvy marketers.

► Looking outward, facing Looking outward, facing the future, and seeing the future, and seeing the big picture as well as the big picture as well as the details that count. the details that count.

► Spearheading marketing Spearheading marketing campaigns.campaigns.

► Fostering market Fostering market research.research.

► Implementing and Implementing and packaging shared packaging shared services that resonate services that resonate with the public.with the public.

QQandandAANJNJ…Real feedback from real …Real feedback from real usersusers

► Interaction with a live person:Interaction with a live person: “I was talking to a real “I was talking to a real person not a computer!”person not a computer!”

► Professional help finding the answer:Professional help finding the answer: “The librarian found “The librarian found information that my Mom and I had been looking for and information that my Mom and I had been looking for and could not find no matter where we looked.”could not find no matter where we looked.”

► Always open:Always open: “I got the answers I needed, especially when “I got the answers I needed, especially when the library was closed.” “[My] first contact was at 2 am the library was closed.” “[My] first contact was at 2 am Sunday morning.”Sunday morning.”

► The Library came to me:The Library came to me: “I am house-bound …this “I am house-bound …this opportunity is greatly appreciated.” “I didn’t have to go opportunity is greatly appreciated.” “I didn’t have to go out in the rain.”out in the rain.”

► Fast:Fast: “I like the fact that you get an immediate answer to “I like the fact that you get an immediate answer to your question instead of having to click on a hundred your question instead of having to click on a hundred different links and still not find the information you need. different links and still not find the information you need.

Highly successful regional networks…Highly successful regional networks…

►Have a strong vision Have a strong vision for the future. for the future.

►Believe in themselves Believe in themselves and their collective and their collective ability to figure out ability to figure out how to make libraries how to make libraries and resource sharing and resource sharing work for people work for people today.today.

►Support highly Support highly successful libraries. successful libraries.

Contact Information:Contact Information:Karen HymanKaren Hyman

Executive DirectorExecutive Director

South Jersey Regional Library CooperativeSouth Jersey Regional Library Cooperative

10 Foster Avenue, Suite F-310 Foster Avenue, Suite F-3

Gibbsboro, NJ 08026Gibbsboro, NJ 08026

856 346-1222856 346-1222

FAX: 856 346-2839FAX: 856 346-2839

Email: hyman@sjrlc.orgEmail: hyman@sjrlc.org